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Wellness finds to live better, not perfectly

Welcome to Guessties, where we tap smart, cool folks in the health and wellness space to curate an issue with their favorite finds. These are products, services, and experiences they love that have made their life easier, healthier, or more meaningful in some way.

8 Finds from disability advocate and storyteller Nidhi Jaisoor

Portrait of Nidhi Jaisoor

Today’s issue is curated by Diversability brand partnerships manager Nidhi Jaisoor. Her favorites include a Muji neck pillow, a tri-folding exercise mat, and a wellness-based podcast.

About today’s guesstie…

Nidhi is a writer, mother, and disability advocate. A neck injury and hypermobility syndrome led to disabling chronic pain, and she spent years working on a better relationship with her body. She draws on her experiences in her writing and advocacy. She writes on themes of intersectionality, our shared humanity, and the body in her flash-fiction newsletter, One Little Story.

Your favorite wellness ritual? I love winding down at the end of the day after my preschooler has gone to bed. I’m usually in more pain at the end of the day and love to unwind by taking a warm shower, and then stretching. I’ll sometimes use an ice pack on my neck before I take a warm shower so that I get the benefits of both ice and heat for my sore muscles. I finish my unwinding routine by writing in my journal about one memorable moment of the day, however small, one thing that I’m grateful for, and one way in which I took care of myself. I’ll sometimes throw in a cup of decaffeinated chai while I write (see recipe below!).

What’s a project you’re working on? I’m working on transitioning my website of flash fiction, One Little Story, to a Substack newsletter. My stories are centered around nuanced perspectives and magnified moments that allow for an exploration of our shared humanity. And at Diversability, we’re working on our 2022 D-30 Impact List. Nominate a disabled leader here. Nominations close June 5th.

What does accessible/affordable wellness mean to you? Listening to your body and supporting it in whatever way you can, with products and hacks that work for you. With chronic pain, it took years for me to find a balance between pushing myself and listening to my body and accepting any limitations it might have. I finally realized it didn’t have to be either-or, but could be both. For example, I can only engage in exercise that’s gentle on my joints, so Pilates and aqua-based exercises have been my go-to even though I’ve always yearned to run. For me it also means pacing myself, as I have a limited number of spoons each day.

Nidhi’s Finds

Gallery of featured products

A cup of chai: I start my day with a cup of chai made with fresh ginger, cardamom, black tea, and milk. I’ve recently started adding tulsi (also known as Holy Basil, an herb that acts as an adaptogen) to my chai and noticed a calmer energy for the morning. While nothing beats fresh Tulsi leaves, I haven’t yet gotten around to growing a plant, so this is the next best thing.

You can substitute black tea with decaffeinated black tea to make this chai caffeine-free.

Accessibility note: This brand also has a chai tea bag so you don’t have to make your chai from scratch; just steep in water and add milk and sweetener to taste.

💰 $5.69 for an 18-count box on Organic India

Bulletproof collagen protein powder: I’m not a morning smoothie person. That said, I do appreciate a good protein shake, especially when I don’t have the time to scramble eggs. My favorite way to make one is with Bulletproof’s vanilla-flavored collagen protein powder. It has MCT oil as well as collagen. (It can also get a little sweet—to dilute it, I recommend doing one scoop with one scoop of the Bulletproof unflavored collagen protein.)

Accessibility note: I love that you don’t have to use a blender or one of those shaker bottles for this collagen-based powder because it's easily dissolvable in water. I just stir with a spoon and drink up!

💰 $43.95 without a subscription on Bulletproof

BrainMD Daily Essentials bundle: I also take these BrainMD supplements with breakfast. They contain EHA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, ginkgo biloba, and a bunch of other vitamins that may help with brain and immune function. I initially took it to help with some brain fog after a concussion and noticed that I felt a significant energy and focus boost. I started out with half the recommended dose to see how my body would react to it, and then adjusted accordingly.

Accessibility note: These supplement bottles have regular caps that don’t need to be pressed down.

💰 $114.62 without a subscription on BrainMD

Laptop desk for bed: Once my little one is at preschool, I spend some time on my writing. I often write while sitting on my bed whilst supported by pillows. I use this laptop table because it is height-adjustable to 15 inches, which means not straining my neck to look down at a notebook. It is also roomy enough for a laptop, a journal and a cup of aforementioned tea 🙂

Accessibility note: The desk weighs around 10 pounds, which is heavier than most smaller tables. However, it glides smoothly on my bed. It also doubles as a toddler desk on the floor.

💰 $89.99 on Amazon

Muji neck cushion: I’ll often use a neck pillow while sitting at my desk or in the car for extra support. This one has hands-down been the best neck pillow ever. I love that it’s malleable enough to conform to my space, but still feels supportive, and is lightweight enough that it doesn’t strain my shoulders. The clasp is adjustable and easy to undo.

Accessibility note: If you struggle with clasps, then you can just adjust the length of the clasp and loop the pillow over your head to wear and take off.

💰 $19.90 on Muji

The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast: I love listening to podcasts while I do my chores. My favorite wellness-based podcast is The Doctor’s Farmacy hosted by Dr. Mark Hyman. He presents concepts in a scientific yet easy-to-understand way, and I love that he always gives the listener practical tips. The best part of it, of course, is that it’s free!

Accessibility note: This podcast has transcripts available.

💰 Free to listen on Apple Podcasts

Anti-ableism resources: I spent years in chronic pain and transitioning towards identifying as disabled. Disability has so many aspects to it, so I love the nuances that are addressed in these three resources: Tiffany Yu’s anti-ableism series on Instagram, Diversability’s Instagram account with announcements on events, and Emily Ladau’s book Demystifying Disability.

💰 Tiffany Yu and Diversability are free to follow on Instagram, Demystifying Disability is $14.72 on Bookshop

Dr Teal’s body wash: This Epsom salt body wash is a must for my wind-down routine; it relaxes my muscles and feels like a treat at the end of the day:

Accessibility note: This brand has a foaming bath as well if you prefer baths to showers. You can also buy epsom salt lotions.

💰 $4.87 on Amazon

Folding exercise mat: I end my day with some stretches. When I do them, I love this 2-inch thick BalanceFrom exercise mat. It folds easily, is lightweight, and most importantly, gives my joints extra cushioning.

Accessibility note: If you need something wider, another option is a babycare mat that is rug-sized and can be used as a rug-plus-exercise mat. This one has a neutral, non-babyish design. It’s like an upgraded yoga mat; after all, it’s meant to protect little one’s heads and joints from falls. Another option if you can’t work on the floor-level is a portable, height-adjustable massage table, much akin to a physical therapy table. This is the one I got.

💰 Prices start at $34.99 on Amazon

Interested in guest curating an issue? Send an email to newsletter editor Melanie at: melanie@nesswell.com (or just hit reply!)

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