Mental, emotional and spiritual therapist and integrative nutritionist Saps Uttam teams up with photographer Sara Black, a meditation coach and mindful living advocate, in a series of podcasts on Spotify and Anchor, which deals with practical holistic and wellness tips to navigate the current uncertain times.
By ALEX Y. VERGARA
No less than celebrity author J.K. Rowling criticized certain so-called “life coaches” recently for allegedly implying that people who don’t learn a new skill on lockdown while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on are losers. Apart from taking them to task for “shaming” people not on par with their standards, the author behind the Harry Potter series made one thing clear: “endless distraction cannot cure depression.”
And she seems to have a huge sector of the global community behind her. If there’s one meme that captures the general sentiments of people who just want to chill and ride out the crisis, this is it: “It’s okay to not be at your most productive during a f*cking global pandemic!”
Manila-based Saps Uttam, a mental, emotional and spiritual therapist and integrative nutritionist, wholeheartedly agrees. Together with model-turned-photographer Sara Black, a meditation coach and mindful living advocate, Saps has been doing a series of pre-taped podcasts over Spotify and Anchor on “practical holistic wellness tips to navigate the current times.”
This evening (April 7th), for instance, Saps will focus on nutrition and how it plays an important role in the body as well as ways to boost one’s immunity. As a bonus, she will also share her idea of “essentials” needed for a quick grocery or market run.
Sponsored by Maxicare (please refer to event photo for details) and dubbed as “From Me to We,” the series aims to teach listeners to better take care of themselves so that they can better take care of others. It’s a call to something bigger, in reference, of course, to how we try to help ourselves better deal with the raging pandemic, which has crippled and even decimated a good number of industries as well as upended and even snuffed out countless lives.
On April 11th, the topic will revolve around reflections, as Saps and Sara ponder on the meaning and message of Easter in people’s lives. Through the wonders of digital technology, the two women did the entire series of podcasts from their respective homes while they themselves are on lockdown.
“If you’re on Spotify, just click on Maxicare ‘From Me to We,’ and it will bring you straight to the freshest episode. I encourage people to listen to Episode 4, as I speak lengthily on ‘Mental and Emotional Health.’”
The two speakers are also inviting doctors to help better explain the still-evolving disease we have come to know as COVID-19 to the general public. For those who have no access to Spotify, they can click on a link, which will guide them in downloading the episodes off Anchor.
“This is a free podcast for everyone to benefit from,” says Saps.
Despite the bleak scenario that continues to engulf us every day, with people we know getting sick and even dying of the disease, there will always be enough room left in our hearts to remain positive and hopeful.
“To start with, perhaps we should continue with a routine and focus on what we need to focus on for the day,” says Saps. “Many people can do multiple things and that’s great. But for those who can’t, as they feel overwhelmed, then it’s best to take it one day at a time. Don’t be in a rush. Focus on what matters for now, focus on your health, for instance, both mental and physical.”
But there’s no point in denying (and you shouldn’t) certain feelings such as being overwhelmed, lonely, or even anxious. Such feelings, Saps insists, are normal given the enormity of the problems and the uncertainties the whole world is currently facing. We’re certainly not unique or any less braver or smarter than others for feeling weighed down during certain times of the day by the unknown.
She continues: “As human beings, we always need to know what is going to happen next. That’s basically who we are. If we do not know, then that causes us to go into a state of panic or worry, which can lead us into having bouts with anxiety.”
That’s why it’s important for us to check in on one another so that no one would have to go through such episodes alone. Also, there shouldn’t be any judgment around such “normal and valid” feelings.
Saps Uttam will also be tackling mental and emotional health as well as nutrition on Heilen Medical Wellness Center’s Facebook Page and Instagram. She will also release a free Mental Emotional Release for front liners. They can get in touch with her on Instagram @innerglowbysaps and Facebook @Saps Uttam.
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