Wellness is something which positively impacts all areas of our life, yet it often feels like just another task on an endless to-do list. However, incorporating small, meaningful rituals into your day doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
For today's episode of The Executive Coach Podcast, I spoke with wellness expert Mira Manek, who shared six pieces of advice and actions about how to make wellness rituals a simple and rewarding part of your routine.
Mira Manek
Mira, an author, speaker, and founder of the chai spice brand “Chai by Mira,” approaches wellness with authenticity and a focus on balance. Her rituals aren’t about grand gestures, but small, sustainable practices that fit easily into your day, helping you reset, recharge, and nourish your well-being.
1. Start small and keep it simple
Mira’s first piece of advice is refreshingly straightforward: start small. Rather than feeling the pressure to commit to long, complicated routines, begin with manageable timeframes. It could be a two-minute stretch, a moment of breathwork, or simply resisting the urge to check your phone first thing in the morning. These micro-habits build momentum and soon become a natural part of your daily life.
Take action: Pick one ritual for your body and one for your mind. For example, try a short stretch for your body, and a minute of mindful breathing to calm your mind. These can be as brief as two minutes, but done regularly, they’ll make a noticeable difference in how you feel.
2. Let go of perfectionism
A key theme in Mira’s approach is avoiding perfectionism. While it’s great to set aside quiet time to enjoy these practices, you don’t need an ideal environment. Whether it’s a quick self-massage with oils while watching TV or a short stretch between work meetings, rituals should integrate seamlessly into your life.
Take action: If you’re pressed for time, fit these activities into your existing routine. For example, oil pull with coconut oil for two minutes while getting ready, or do a quick breathwork session while waiting for your morning coffee.
3. Don’t expect immediate results
Wellness rituals are often long-term investments. Practices like headstands, face massages, and drinking from copper jugs have numerous benefits, but you might not notice them right away. Mira’s advice is to trust the process without expecting instant results.
Take action: Whether it’s adding saffron to your diet to boost mood or doing a headstand to improve blood flow, focus on the ritual itself rather than the immediate outcome. Over time, these practices will contribute to better health and well-being.
4. Choose rituals that serve you
Mira encourages a personalised approach to rituals, noting that everyone’s needs are different. Identify what your body and mind need most, and choose rituals that help address those specific areas. For instance, if digestion is an issue, try Ayurvedic practices which target that. If stress is your concern, gentle breathwork or legs-up-the-wall pose might work better for you.
Take action: Assess which areas of your life could benefit from extra care, and choose rituals to support those. Start by trying just one new ritual and see how it feels before adding more to your routine.
5. Embrace the power of touch and self-care
One of Mira’s favourite rituals is self-massage with oils, which she does daily. This simple act not only nourishes the skin but helps you connect with your body, easing muscle tension and promoting relaxation. Mira recommends using natural oils and minimal ingredients, avoiding heavy moisturisers with chemicals.
Take action: Introduce a self-massage ritual using an oil of your choice. You don’t need to set aside lots of time—just a quick massage before bed or while watching TV is enough to feel the benefits.
6. Detox the Ayurvedic way
For those new to Ayurvedic practices, Mira suggests starting with something simple like oil pulling. This involves swishing coconut or sesame oil in your mouth for a few minutes each day to pull out toxins. It’s a great way to cleanse the body and promote oral health. Pair it with tongue scraping for a deeper detoxifying effect.
Take action: Try oil pulling for two minutes before brushing your teeth in the morning. Follow it up with tongue scraping to remove toxins accumulated overnight.
Incorporating wellness rituals into your life doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By starting small, staying consistent, and choosing rituals that resonate with your personal needs, you can bring balance and well-being into your daily routine. Remember, wellness is a journey, not a race, and it’s okay to take it one gentle step at a time.
So, how will you begin to integrate rituals into your day? Take a small action today, and over time, you’ll feel the cumulative benefits of these practices. As Mira says, it’s about making your wellness rituals a natural and enjoyable part of your life—without overwhelming yourself.
Mira has several strings to her bow, having authored three books including the recently released Book of Chai, and in next week’s podcast episode I'm going to be picking her brains on how she moved from author and influencer to a physical business. We also peel back the curtain on how the Instagram platform has helped her career, the specifics of how that's worked for her, and the reality of being a business owner and influencer.
If you want to find out more about Mira, the power of rituals, or listen to part two of our conversation, you can catch up with The Executive Coach Podcast here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-executive-coach-c-suite-career-planning-goals/id1463542602 (Apple Podcasts)
OR https://open.spotify.com/show/12x8jhevqX6GtF085Nhtmt (Spotify)
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