Book Review: Reclaiming Wellness

Editor's Note:This review was originally published in Portland Book Review.

Jovanka Ciares

The health and wellness industry will benefit from the enhanced representation of diverse practitioners, who champion traditions that are sourced from various indigenous cultures. Afro-Latina Jovanka Ciares, a certified wellness coach and educator, breaks down seven fundamental wellness concepts that integrate healing of mind, body, and spirit. Ciares invites readers to reclaim age-old practices that are rooted in one’s ancestral and family traditions: plant-based eating, meditative practices, movement, and connection with community and nature. She discusses experiences and reflections about holistic practices from her Puerto Rican background, while also presenting best practices from practitioners of color who emphasize decolonization.

Reclaiming Wellness attempts to advance diversity and inclusion in the wellness industry by encouraging people from all backgrounds to remember and reclaim ancient traditions that supported healthy lifestyles for millennia. Ciares writes broadly for people from diverse, multicultural communities who struggle with chronic and life-threatening conditions. By showing concrete examples of common strands of healthful knowledge that occur in many cultures – for example, herbalism, meditation, and movement practices – Ciares opens the door for mindful cultural exploration. She invites a deeper understanding of the history and meaning of popular practices, to ensure that new practitioners tread responsibly in their pursuit of optimal health.

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