As a White Plains-based independent health-and-wellness concierge, Jamie Haro teaches her clients to prioritize their health and effectively manage stress by emphasizing the relationship between mind and body. “Taking time for your own personal physical and mental health is essential to long-term success,” says Haro. Below are some of Haro’s top tips for total wellness—tips that have worked for clients such as Olympian Shawn White, executives like Brandon Steiner of New Rochelle’s Steiner Sports Marketing, and two of the biggest names in Yankee history: Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez.
1 Reflect. “Take a personal inventory of your happiness in different areas of your life, including your career, relationships, and your physical and mental state of being. Write which parts of these areas you’re unhappy with and why. Then, write a vision for those particular areas so you can effectively decide what changes need to be made.”
2 Slow Down. “Prioritize your health and happiness by adding some ‘me’ time into your schedule. The key is to make this a ‘must-do’ task. It could be 15 minutes per day, an hour per day, or the entire day. Set this time first and build everything else around it. You can’t cancel this appointment, so you must treat it as the number-one priority of the day. If an absolute emergency comes up and you’re forced to change it, reschedule that ‘me’ time appointment immediately and say no to everything else until it’s in your schedule.”
3 Breathe. “Most of us don’t know how to breathe properly. Correct your breathing by lying on your back with one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Inhale deeply and make sure that the hand on your belly is moving and not the hand on your chest. Slowly exhale all the way out and allow yourself to relax. Belly breathing delivers a significantly larger amount of oxygen to your system, which helps relieve muscle tension and allows your brain to think more clearly. When you feel your stress levels starting to climax during the workday, walk away from your desk and complete this breathing exercise.”
4 Fix Your Posture. “Being stuck behind a desk for eight-plus hours a day can wreak havoc on your posture, leading to muscular imbalances and an increased risk for injury. Foam rollers are a great tool to help lengthen muscles and correct body alignment. Take 20 minutes of your day to connect to your body by using a foam roller and you’ll help realign your whole body.”
5 Bust Stress. “Aromatherapy is a simple and effective way to help keep you calm during stressful situations. Keep a small bottle of essential oil in your desk and try a blend of calming scents. I recommend TheraPro’s Stress Relief Essential Oil, which is a combination of orange, bergamot, and lavender.”
