Today we’d like to introduce you to Arezou Ghane.
Arezou, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was a National Science Foundation researcher doing work I was really proud of in the field of health psychology. However, I suffered severe stress-related symptoms. Intractable migraines, weight gain, insomnia, crippling anxiety and severe self-criticism. I endured some really challenging early life traumas and I lost my connection to my body. As an academic, I tried to ignore these symptoms and get lost in my work, but eventually, that lifestyle became unsustainable. Already feeling burned out. I was at a point where I had to make some life changes. As my research taught me more about the mind/body connection, the work I was doing became manifest in my real life. I started paying more attention to the food I consumed. I started moving and getting back into my body: dancing and taking my yoga practice more seriously. The benefits of these actions became immediately visible. I quickly fell in love with taking care of myself. Upon completing my PhD., I decided to create a career that allows me to share my passion and expertise for the science of wellbeing with others, so began the journey of Auteur Health and Wellness. The mission of Auteur is to empower people to rewrite the story of their lives, using scientifically-backed practices to boost physical and emotional well-being. Leaving the traditional academic path behind has required a lot of courage and creativity, but the way this work impacts people’s lives is so profound and it inspires me to keep creating and offering more to help individuals get reconnected to create more intentional and fulfilling habits for lifelong wellness.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The smooth road to success is a total fairy-tale, not at all real. I felt a lot of fear and doubt as I began, and I still do. I had to experience a lot of failures before I got a glimpse of success. But have I learned that failure is the best teacher. I was fortunate to connect with some very inspiring women in the San Diego area. I learn so much by watching how other people work.
My advice for young women is to let yourself fail and use these failures as opportunities for growth and improvement. Ego and pride will only stifle creativity, so put yourself out there and trust that your courage will pay off, even if it takes a long time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: take notes from people who do similar work and do it well. Collaborate! No matter what, never forget why you are doing what you are doing. I sometimes still get stuck in the self-criticism sinkhole. It helps me to remember that my work is not just about me, but it’s about offering my best to the people I am serving.
what should we know about Auteur Health and Wellness? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a psychologist and yoga ambassador, specializing in the science of wellness and embodiment. I provide coaching, workshops, and retreats to bring my client’s scientifically-backed practices for personal development. There’s a lot of wellness professionals in San Diego, but I am proud to offer my authentic perspective and voice. I try to make the personal development work accessible to all, by keeping the language and practice simple and practical. Above all, I encourage an attitude of self-compassion. I don’t think wellness is about having an unrealistically perfect body or lifestyle. It’s about showing up to our lives with as much awareness as we can in every moment, trying our best, and learning from the (inevitable) mistakes.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I feel that women are well-positioned for any opportunities that they are interested in seizing. Now more than ever, we see examples of women who excel in all domains: as CEO’s, mathematicians, scientists, innovators, mothers, and creatives. Anywhere we look, we can find women who are physically, emotionally and mentally strong. Our greatest strength as women is that we are adaptable and sensitive to our environment. A woman attuned to the present moment is an unstoppable force.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.auteurhealthandwellness.com
- Email: auteurhealthandwellness@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auteurhealthandwellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auteurhealthandwellness/
Image Credit:
Empress SD, Amelia Hall Images, Honey Yoga SD
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