How to define and achieve wellness

Kaushal Nanavati, MD, explains how nutrition, physical exercise, stress management and spiritual wellness “are the roots of health, peace and contentment” in “Core 4 of Wellness,” a book he published in May.

“You must feed these roots if you want to make real, positive change in your life,” says Nanavati, an assistant professor of family medicine and the medical director of integrative therapy at Upstate.

The book is designed to help readers define and refine their values, goals and vision for life, and to figure out the source of any unhappiness or discontent. It provides exercises to help devise the best ways to handle stress, models for improving eating habits and routines for physical activity.

Nanavati provides guidance in how to pinpoint problems, so they can be solved, and how to remain calm and positive in any given situation by finding balance and peace.

“Core 4 Wellness” is for sale on Amazon.com.

Personal tales of inspiration

“Journeys by Heart,” a new book produced by Upstate‘s Center for Spiritual Care, contains 21 inspirational stories from people who work in the hospital.

Bimenyimana Onesime, known as Kofi, was an intern when he interviewed staff members and brought their stories to life in a book designed by Susan Keeter, Upstate's creative services director.

Onesime tells his own story of fleeing his homeland, the Republic of Congo, for a refugee camp in Tanzania and his life-changing immigration to Syracuse, where he flourished in high school. He now attends SUNY Canton.

“I could not believe that someone like me — who grew up in a camp, had no chance of higher education and struggled with the English language — was on his way to being successful,” Onesime writes.

Copies of this book, the fifth published by Spiritual Care, are available by calling 315-464-4687 or emailing [email protected]

The Rev. Terry Culbertson, who directs the Center for Spiritual Care, says the books have a special purpose. “Spiritual care is about what gives us meaning, purpose and hope in our lives, especially when challenged by suffering and illness,” she says. “It is our hope and prayer that these books are instruments of encouragement for all who read them.”

 This article appears in the winter 2017 issue of Upstate Health magazine. Hear a "HealthLink on Air"  interview with Nanavati on the four principles of wellness outlined in his book.