Journey to Wellness by Rita Amaral

I would like to introduce you to an amazing woman who shares her inspiration wellness transformation story today! I can relate to so many aspects of Rita’s story. I hope it inspires you as much as me!

Personal Transformation Story

For the last couple of years I have been struggling with emotional eating disorders. I had a completely negative body image of myself. Thinking about it now, I guess I completely hated myself. I had a low self-confidence and self-esteem. Although there were times when things would slightly improve, either because my professional and emotional life was stable, as soon as something felled out of place, I would return to the black hole I had put myself in long ago.

I knew I wanted to get out of it, but I did not know how. I tried dieting, I became vegetarian, I exercised endless hours in the gym, I had psychiatric treatment, been under heavy antidepressants, but the problems would always surface, with binge eating, vomiting, use of laxatives, etc. I would always panic if I gained one pound and I hated myself for that. It was a vicious cycle that lasted for years.

It all started to change when I found Ashtanga Yoga. I was forced to pay attention to my body, start listening to its signals and be patient with it. And somehow something inside me started to change.

I suddenly became more interested in understanding the root of my problem, why I felt the way I did about myself and why I sought refuge in food and extreme exercise.

I started reading books on yoga philosophy, and had a strong desire to go to India. Luckily enough, my yoga teacher was organizing a trip to India with some of her students and I decided to join. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I completely fell in love with the country, its culture and its people. I felt a sense of belonging, like I was at home. More so because of my looks, everyone thought I was in fact Indian!

I knew I had begun a journey to discover myself.

While in India I went to a Vedic astrologist who told me that my life had began to change on the very same day I landed in Mysore (he did not know that, though! he only told me the date!) and that those changes would be greatest in May 2012, when I would have the possibility to choose a different path.

He was in fact quite right! In May 2012 I was living in New York, by myself, with no family or friends, and it was when all doors suddenly opened and I realized that life had so much more to it than I had ever imagined.

I became aware of how changes in diet, lifestyle and way of thinking could bring huge benefits and lead to a full transformation. I started reading a lot about nutrition, meditation, mindfulness and Ayurveda. During my research I found a workshop entitled ’40 Day Journey to Bliss’, which promised to provide the tools necessary to make positive changes in one’s life. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to do it.

That was how I met Nadya and May and a group of wonderful women, all struggling with same issues. During those 40 days I learned a lot about food, digestion, nutrition, body image, mindfulness, meditation and Ayurveda. I learned how to create a wellness vision to myself, and set goals to achieve it. And more importantly, by changing my diet and my way of thinking, by being mindful, along with the practice of yoga and meditation, I started to see changes in my body and in my mind.

I started to feel happier and to accept things as they are, living in the present moment. I learned to love my body and be gentle with it, and I started a new relationship with food! I even got rid of the strong migraines that haunted me for years!
Everything I was learning and applying to myself was transforming me in a whole new person!

Suddenly, I realized that I would like to help other people achieve what I was achieving. That I would like to raise awareness to how a healthy diet and life style has huge benefits and can change us. It can cure emotional and even physical problems. As I returned to my home city, Lisbon, I started writing a blog, My Wellness Revolution to share advice and tips on wellness, nutrition, yoga and Ayurveda, and started studying these subjects in detail on my spare time! In the near future I hope to become an Ayurveda life counselor and a wellness coach!

A new path was in deed presented to me, and I thank the Universe for it every single day!

If you are interested in starting your own Wellness Revolution, I would be happy to guide you in your journey. You can learn more about how I can help you here.