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Wellness with ‘Bahayogi’ - ‘The Spirit of Island Living’
WELLNESS WITH ‘BAHAYOGI’
By Alexandra ‘Bahayogi’ Kaufmann Photographs courtesy of Elijah Sands, Shawne Bryan and Alexandra Kaufmann
Birthed near the ocean with sunshine in my veins and the sound of crashing waves in my ears—I was born an island girl. The quintessential dream life begins on an island, beachfront, sandy toes and fresh coconut in hand. What a privilege it is to call this my reality. I live in paradise. But this life is so much more than just a picturesque view. Island living encompasses a greater connection to Mother Earth and our inner being. Island living is peace, gratitude, and respect.
A breath of fresh air is a breath of peace. In IQAir’s 2021 report on World Air Quality, The Bahamas ranked as the country with the cleanest air quality globally. So, how can we take advantage of this crisp, clean air? Take a moment, step outside and breathe. Find yourself in 10 deep belly breaths filled with intention and appreciation for the life it brings into your body. Want more? Get closer to the ocean and take a seat near the shoreline. Connect your breath to the natural ebb and flow of the ocean’s waves, and as you breathe in that salty-sweet air, take a moment to bask in the power of Mother Nature’s gift—salt. Salt is a healing property. According to the Lung Institute, ocean air improves lung function, thins mucus, and reduces coughing in individuals with lung disease and breathing issues. The ocean air contains tiny droplets of seawater, which contain salt, iodine, and magnesium. When we breathe, we inhale these restorative particles, which stimulate our immune system to help clear out any impurities. A few days on the beach can help significantly improve your mood, enhance breathing, and cultivate peace. And that’s the doctor’s order!
As an island girl, I am grateful for pristine beaches, breath-taking sunsets, freshly picked juicy mangoes that drain down my forearms when I eat them, and everything else that reminds me of how magical my country is. Yet, my gratitude delves even deeper into my maternal lineage rooted in Andros and Cat Island. When I step foot on these islands, my body, mind, and soul feel a sense of nourishment. As if my ancestors’ wisdom, power, courage, and love flow through me with every step and breath. I say this to remind you of the importance of sharing thanks with those that came before us and honoured this land, bringing it to fruition. And with those who continue to keep this land lush,
clean, and fruitful. So, whether The Bahamas is your home, your vacation, or your temporary destination, ask yourself—what am I grateful for?
Through gratitude, we understand the importance of respect. Our islands give us warmth, food, and shelter, amongst many other resources. It is our human duty to give back and do everything we can to ensure the longevity of these beautiful landscapes. I deepen my connection to this land through grounding, also known as earthing. Or, in Bahamian terms, by being a “hard-heel gal”. Connect to Mother Earth—remove your shoes, walk barefoot and listen to her requests through this soul/sole connection. This therapeutic technique can help to reconnect you to the Earth electrically. The central theory from one study is that grounding affects the living matrix, which is the main connector between living cells. You can also achieve this connection by lying on the ground, spending time in the water, and interacting with flora and fauna. When we deepen our relationship with the Earth, we align with initiatives to maintain a more sustainable atmosphere. A few ways you can share love and respect for our environment are:
Keep our surroundings litter-free by picking up after yourself and others. When you go to the beach, travel with a garbage bag and help by removing any trash left behind. Reduce single-use plastic to help decrease the devastating impact it is having on ocean wildlife.
Eat seasonal and local produce to help reduce your food’s environmental footprint and help support the local economy. Honour local fishing guidelines by catching only small amounts of seafood and within the correct seasons.
Protect and save bees by planting bee-friendly flowers like sunflowers, marigolds, and nasturtiums. Wild and domestic honeybees perform about 80% of all pollination worldwide, including 70 of the top 100 human food crops supplying 90% of the world’s nutrition. Bees are essential for our survival.
Conserve energy by switching the lights off when you leave the room and replacing your lightbulbs with low-energy LED lights. Consuming less power at home helps reduce power plant emissions emitted when generating electricity and helps conserve the Earth’s natural resources.
Save water by making changes at home, such as turning the tap off when brushing your teeth, taking a shower rather than a bath, and shortening your shower time. Also, you can save rainwater for certain chores like watering your garden or washing your car.
These are just a handful of simple ways to give back to our islands and planet. Share these tips with your family and friends to increase the impact.
As you can see, when we invest our time, love, and care into our islands, we receive a vast bounty chockful of nourishment, growth, and understanding. We develop a greater appreciation far beyond the aesthetic and much closer to the spirit of what authentic island living means. And that makes me a devoted island girl. UA
BLACK SAILS TOURS
HISTORY OF BLACK SAILS TOURS
The owners and operators of Black Sails Tours seized the opportunity to create memorable experiences for visitors to The Bahamas. Their goal is to ensure that every guest is comfortably immersed in the history, culture and beauty of the islands.
Black Sails Tours entered the tourism market and began offering day excursions in December 2020. The company, which is owned and operated by a group of young Bahamian entrepreneurs, offers commercial day excursions to the islands of Exuma and Eleuthera, and private charter tours are available upon request. UA
