My first answer: Ara
I love this beautiful Yoruba word that communicates so much.
Ara – The body. More than just the physical body, Ara refers to the concept of the whole person.
Ará – Familial relationships. Ará wa ni, an endearing term from a famous song in my childhood. This concept refers to belonging and the attractive dynamic in choosing our community.
Àrá – Thunder / Wonder. Àrá mbę, a somewhat spirited term. This concept refers to the divine, the powerful mystery observed in the natural world.
Àrà – Style / Elegance. The cherry on top, this concept highlights the uniqueness of its subject.
Yes, Wellness is about the body. We are always experiencing life through our bodies.
But, the world of biological systems within the body is not independent of the many worlds outside of the body- our relational worlds, our interactions with mysteries in the natural world, and the beauty in how we each make sense of this.
The ancient Yorubas were wise in using one word to capture the constellation of ideas that bring understanding to each person’s unique experience through life.
#respecttheancestors
So, ‘Wellness Spaces’ is about creating safety for people like me, outside the margins of Westernism, who need to be reminded that there is quality in the uniqueness of who you are and where you’re from. And just like we see in Nature, the most diverse ecosystems have the richest quality of life.
Be well,
Ayoola