Dr. Susan Biali

I borrowed that question from Dr. Phil – I just came across his list of ten questions to ask yourself in 2009, in the January issue of O magazine ( which I’ve finally gotten around to reading).  I found myself really impressed by the way his questions were making me reflect on my life.  I'm a life coach and think about these things all the time, so it's not often that something comes along that surprises me, especially if it's so simple on the surface.

His question about relaxing sounds pretty general, but the specifics that he mentioned pushed some buttons in me –

He writes this:

“People who are unhappy in their lives rarely take a deep breath.  They don’t sleep well, don’t eat right, and carry tension in their bodies all the time.  If you’re overweight or feeling burdened by endless stress, your body is telling you something.  It’s time to start listening”.

I read this just now, while on a business trip to Edmonton, Canada. I’m getting interviewed by the three main TV network affiliates here, and in between shoots was looking forward to catching up on some extra work in a deliciously quiet hotel room (with plenty of long baths thrown in).  I also went for a long walk to the river – whenever I travel for business, I try to get plenty of exercise, and take a long walk outside whenever I can (the hotel gym is second choice, but is a must if I don’t make it outside).  Do you take the time to get active when you travel?  It makes a huge difference, and you'll find you never "get sick from planes" like everyone else seems to.

Anyway, I digress.  My walk was nice, but when I got back to my room I went straight back to work.  After a while, I started to get a headache, my back began to ache, and I wondered if I was starting to get sick.  I’d seen a Starbucks downstairs, and ran down to get some fruit blend juices and a granola, to see if that would make me feel better.  It did, but I also confessed to myself at that moment that I knew what I really needed - I needed to rest.  Prepping for the TV shows, and doing them, is an extra stress on top of my usual workday, so it was a mistake to try to do it all.

Even though I lead a “balanced” life, with work, dancing, writing, time for (some) friends and family, exercise, good food and usually enough sleep, I don’t stop and just rest often enough.  I'm happy with my life - but if I relaxed more, as Dr. Phil suggests, I'm sure I'd be happier.  Much much happier, even.

Just now, when I stopped to drink my juice and lazily flip through the magazine, it felt so good.  When’s the last time that you really stopped and rested – I mean really stopped.  Stopped so that your whole body takes a big sigh, and says thank you.

Find time to let your body get that relaxed and happy, every day, if you can.  I’m going to go back again, right now, for some more.  My work can wait until tomorrow – my body wants to relax, now.

Listen to your body when it says it wants to slow down.  It’ll protect you from illness, and recharge you. What things do you find most effectively relaxing, for you?  Let me know by writing in a comment below, and inspire us all!

About Dr. Biali

Audiences and clients have described Dr. Susan Biali, an award-winning medical doctor, media wellness expert, author, life coach and flamenco dancer, as “passionate", "real", and "powerful”.  Formerly a sick, depressed Emergency Medicine resident, Dr. Biali took back her own life and health by learning how to balance her life, listen to her body, and create a life truly worth living.  For the past four years, Dr. Biali commuted between her professional life in Canada and her passionate life in Los Cabos, Mexico, where she performed as a professional flamenco dancer for celebrities and exclusive audiences. She and her Latin husband, Armando, even taught Pink how to salsa dance! Today, Dr. Biali teaches others how to discover themselves, create vibrant health, and design the life of their dreams.  Frequently featured in media across North America, Dr. Biali is the weekly wellness expert for the national television program The Daily, and is currently developing her own television show with a team of producers. She has appeared on MSNBC, The Good Life Network, and in Self, Fitness and Hello! magazines, and was even invited to perform flamenco dance on E! Entertainment Television.

Watch for her upcoming book: “Your Prescription for Life: 7 Steps to Extraordinary Health & Happiness” (Beaufort Books, NYC, January 2010). www.susanbiali.com

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