Learning & Understanding

By Heather Barrie

I was catching the 06.34 to London, commuting for 4 – 5 hours a day and also working 8 hours in a stressful job.  I knew that I would not cope if I did not look after myself.  But I was also making other changes as this was not a situation that I wanted to live with beyond the very short term.  Registering for my Nutrition course with Kevala was part of that change.  Time available for studying fluctuated with the stress of the job but I kept my eye on the goal of a complete life shift and stuck with it. 

And I made sure that my well-being was my priority wherever possible.

Hours on trains gave me time to read but my tired brain wasn’t always up to the challenge.  But as I got into the course, my interest mushroomed and I found time to read beyond the course work and started to explore other areas of caring for the human body, mind and soul – I queried the norm, looked for alternatives and applied new ideas to my own well-being.

My studies may have had to be put to the side on several occasions during this time but I kept coming back to them and tried to see it as something pleasurable and just for me!  I know that my experience of a previously unknown commuter lifestyle will add immeasurably to my understanding of my client’s needs and this can only enhance my studies and my future career.

Listening to my body is something that I’ve learned to do more actively – it is a great experience to really understand how this fabulously complex mechanism can be tuned to perform through great food, exercise, care and love.  As we progress in our careers, it is crucial that we look after ourselves, physically and emotionally, irrespective of whatever else is happening in life – not only for your own well-being but for the understanding and empathy that can be gained for what your clients will be going through when they come to you for advice.  This way – not only is your own robust health a great advertisement for what you do, you also learn what it takes to make positive and lasting change in the face of any adversity.