After turning to self-care for her own sanity while pursuing a career in social work, Julie Wald realized just how crucial it was to take care of herself in order to be able to properly take care of her patients. In fact, she was so passionate about this new outlet she’d found that she got certified as a teacher in meditation and yoga, became a reiki master and even learned Thai bodywork. "I realized that ultimately what I wanted to do was integrate my clinical background—my experience in mental health—with my passion for wellness," explained Wald. Fast forward 16 years (and many deep breaths later) and you'll find Namaste New York’s services—personalized in-home meditation, yoga, nutrition and massage therapy—being used by everyone from high-performing executives to celebrities to busy families alike.

At a time when we’re all trying to figure out ways to prioritize self-care, we asked Wald why it’s so important. Not surprisingly, she had a lot to say: "If you're not continuously nourishing yourself, you can't nourish others. Figuring out how to take care of our minds and bodies is crucial for garnering the strength that's required to navigate the challenges we face (work/life balance, expectations, pressures, etc.) every day. Self-care allows you the foundation you need to be able to enjoy all your many roles—mother, partner, friend, boss—rather than just view them as chores. We need self-care in order to be present enough not only to be successful, but also so that we can enjoy all the things life has to offer."

It's that dose of perspective that inspired Wald to open Namaste New York and create what she calls “the four pillars of self-care”: Stillness, Nourishment, Movement and Touch. "The four pillars are the ingredients that are the non-negotiables in terms of a really successful self-care plan to make people feel healthier and happier," she explains. Click through for a deeper dive on each of the four pillars and how you can incorporate them into your own daily routine.