For multi-generational Cocolife ambassadors Ret. Col. Ariel Querubin, hardcourt star Kiefer Ravena and Cocolife medical director Dr. Ana Karmela So, health is definitely wealth.
When it came to the subject of wealth, American philosopher Henry David Thoreau put it succinctly: “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” But true wealth doesn’t just lie in accumulating an enormous amount of money. It has more to do with having the freedom to live life to the fullest. Said sometime in the late 1700s, this statement continues to resonate today.
Cocolife ambassadors Ret. Col. Ariel Querubin, renowned athlete Kiefer Ravena and medical practitioner Dr. Ana Karmela So couldn’t agree more. The three open up to PeopleAsia about the value of true wealth, which is ultimately acquired through good habits as well as sound and judicious financial decisions.
Though being physically fit and financially stable are often viewed through different lenses, these two aspects of life are deeply connected and often determine our overall wellness and happiness. After all, you can only maximize life and live without worries when you’re financially and physically prepared.
Investing on healthy habits
Overall wellness and having the ability to fully experience what life has to offer begin with investing in yourself. Your body, after all, is your greatest resource and asset.
For these three Cocolife ambassadors who belong to different generations, this truism holds true, and their belief in it is embodied in the way they developed their very own fitness regimen to ensure they’re at their optimum health day in and day out.
Querubin, for instance, starts his day at 4.30 a.m. doing push-ups. At 67, he maintains a healthy blood pressure and resting heart rate that could probably rival that of an athlete. And he attributes these to healthy habits.
“I used to struggle in doing 180 push-ups, but now I can easily do 270. I have since tried not to do high-intensity exercises and just go for frequency. I also eat a heavy breakfast, skip lunch and eat less in the evening. I sometimes fast, too. When time permits, I do brisk walking with my dogs,” Querubin shares.
For So, she maintains a morning exercise regimen with a group of friends. They focus on strength training, which is usually capped off by meditation.
“Because of exercise, I can now do a lot of things like lifting heavy objects. I do meditation daily. It has made me calmer because I’m hyper and I used to be high-strung. When I started doing meditation, I began to think more clearly and became more relaxed,” So explains, adding she also went as far as quitting sugar cold turkey.
For a basketball player of his stature, Ravena is no stranger to keeping a fitness regimen. He wakes up at 5.30 a.m., works out in the morning either on the court or at the gym, eats breakfast and goes to basketball practice from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
“After that, I would always find a way to recover either by relaxing in the sauna or taking an ice bath. I also make sure that I get enough sleep and eat on time,” Ravena says. Apart from these, meditation is also a big part of his routine and he credits it as a major stress-buster.
“Sometimes it’s also nice to take a step back, see what’s in front of you, especially during times when you experience burnout. Ten to 15 minutes of just meditating every day helps me get ready physically and mentally. The mind is such a powerful weapon we should take care of,” the star player continues.
All three find it valuable to maintain their routine as part of their everyday lifestyle and as insurance for a healthier quality of life.
