5 Cutting Edge Wellness Practices to Start Now

Michele Bolona and Francia Cooper. @maurizio_photo

Hi There! My name is Michele Bolona. I’m a wellness Influencer and one half of the pairing of @fitforfoodies on Instagram. We are not your typical Influencers though, we only focus on doing things to our bodies that provide maximum effect while keeping bodily stress down. Don’t get me wrong I like a HIIT class every now and then to test my limits with my agility, but keeping inflammation down is my main focus.

 Closing out 2018 there have been many new developments and strides in the wellness space, whether it be in nutrition or this new phenomenon known as biohacking. I have had the honor of trying out many of these new technologies and reversing damage to my body through nutrition by incorporating the following new (or maybe not so new) wellness practices:

 Stim or Electric Stimulation

The premise of E-stim is to create a forced muscle contraction which helps speed up recovery for muscle soreness or even pain within the body. Besides the physical therapy approach there are quite a few fitness studios popping up that offer E-stim workouts. Based on the intensity of the shock (that is all up to you) a 30 minute session is equivalent to 3 hours of strength training in the gym. 

I personally have noticed the difference in my body after doing this twice a week for eight weeks consistently. My mind and body is stronger, my muscles pop, and my agility is triple what it used to be. When I first started I could do 6 perfect push ups without compromising my form. Now I can do 20 perfect push ups. The shock basically acts as resistance while you’re working out with the suit on and you’re fighting against that resistance consistently throughout the workout. NOVA Fitness and 432 House are my go-tos for e-stim in the city.

 Fermented Foods

Although this is nothing new, cultures have been eating products like kimchi, miso, and yogurt for ages; there are new developments about the effectiveness of these foods on your microbiome (buzz word of the year!) Not only does having fermented foods every day assist in better gut health, but it reduces inflammation within the body, is heart healthy, and gives your immune system a boost. Pro tip: I keep a bag of sauerkraut in the office to snack on. It’s not exactly my desk neighbor’s highlight of the day due to the smell, but it helps balance your gut and may be worth the temporary contention in the office.