By Gurumaa Yogita Khatri, Founder & Director, Nirvana Naturopathy & Retreat, Igatpuri, Nashik
There is one question I have heard many times in my years of working with people: “When is the right time to change?”
After more than 27 years of experience in yoga, naturopathy, wellness and health awareness, I have realised that the answer is often simpler than we make it. The right time is usually the moment when we stop postponing something we already know is important.
We all understand that time is valuable, yet we are often careless with it. We postpone sleep because of work, exercise because of a busy schedule, family time because something else seems more urgent and our own health because we believe there will always be time later.
“I will start tomorrow.”
It sounds harmless. But tomorrow can easily become next week, next month and, before we realise it, several years.
At Nirvana Naturopathy & Retreat in Igatpuri, Nashik, I have met people from many different backgrounds. Their reasons for coming are not always the same. Some want to improve their lifestyle, some need time to slow down and others want to reconnect with themselves. Yet I often notice one common thread: they have spent years taking care of their work, families and responsibilities while putting their own health at the bottom of the list.
Only when they finally pause do they realise how long they have been ignoring the small signals from their body and mind.
Our body has its own language. Poor sleep, constant tiredness, digestive discomfort, lack of energy and prolonged stress can be reminders to look more closely at the way we are living. They should not automatically be treated as a diagnosis, but neither should persistent concerns be ignored. When symptoms continue or cause concern, proper medical advice is important.
The bigger question is why we wait so long to pay attention.
Perhaps because postponing ourselves has become normal.
We tell ourselves that we will exercise when work becomes easier, meditate when the mind becomes calmer, eat better when the schedule becomes manageable or spend more time with our family when responsibilities reduce.
But life rarely becomes completely convenient.
There may never be a perfect time.
There can, however, be a conscious decision to make something important a priority.
This is one reason I believe preventive health and holistic wellness deserve greater attention. Naturopathy encourages us to look at lifestyle, nutrition, physical activity, rest and our relationship with nature as important parts of overall wellbeing. Yoga and meditation can also become meaningful practices for people looking to develop greater awareness of their body and mind.
For me, wellness begins with awareness.
Are we sleeping enough? Are we eating mindfully? Are we moving our bodies? Are we constantly connected to our phones? Do we have even a few quiet minutes in the day? Are we listening when our body asks us to slow down?
These are simple questions, but they can lead to important conversations with ourselves.
I often think about this during quiet moments at Nirvana. Once the day’s activity settles, time feels different. The surroundings become quieter and there is space to notice things that are easy to miss in the rush of everyday life.
We spend so much time trying to save time that we rarely ask ourselves what we are saving it for.
That question has stayed with me.
If we save an hour but never use it for our health, our family, our relationships or our own peace of mind, what have we really gained?
Health should not become important only after a problem appears. Preventive wellness means giving attention to ourselves while we still have the opportunity to make positive changes.
Sometimes that change is very small. Going for a walk. Eating a little more mindfully. Sleeping earlier. Spending ten minutes in meditation. Taking a break from the screen. Sitting in nature. Having an honest conversation with someone we love.
None of these actions seems dramatic. But our lives are built from ordinary choices repeated over time.
That is where I believe the real meaning of healthy living lies.
At Nirvana Naturopathy & Retreat, Igatpuri, Nashik, my work has always been connected with helping people become more aware of their lifestyle, health and wellbeing. A wellness retreat should not simply offer a temporary escape from everyday life. It should also give people an opportunity to reflect on how they want to live when they return home.
We cannot bring yesterday back. We cannot ask last year to give us another chance. Once an hour has passed, it is gone.
But we can decide what we do with the next hour.
So perhaps the question is not, “How much time do I have?”
Perhaps the more important question is, “What am I giving my time to?”
The answer may reveal more about our priorities than we realise.
Before saying, “I will do it later,” pause for a moment. Ask yourself what you have been postponing. Your health? Your family? Your peace of mind? Your need to slow down?
Sometimes the right time does not arrive with a dramatic sign. It is simply the moment when we stop saying “later” and decide to begin.
Because the real value of time is not only in how many years we live. It is in how consciously we choose to live them.
