My New York Story

By Bianca Kamhi of Living With Bianca

Nutrition and healthy living have been a huge passion for me since I was a teenager. Growing up as a young dancer, it was always vital what foods and lifestyle habits would keep me healthy, balanced, and energetic.

HER EARLY YEARS
As a young teen, I developed a close relationship with the late Hermien Lee, one of the most profound and innovative nutritionists of her time. Today, I use many of her traditional teachings, while also incorporating my unique and modern twist to be sure that these methods not only work…but also stick.

I was born in Sydney, Australia. My parents decided we move to Los Angeles, where I grew up. Before long, I moved to New York for graduate school and now reside in Greenwich Village with my husband, a native New Yorker.

For many years, I devoted my academic and professional career to working in the business art world in New York City. I received a Bachelor’s in Art History and a Master’s in Art Administration. While in school, I interned at the Whitney Museum of American Art and for the American Friends of the Musee d’Orsay. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I became the administrative assistant to artist Jeff Koons, a phenomenal and valuable experience within the art business world. After a few years, I moved on to work as an Auctions Liaison for Artsy. I was traveling around the globe attending auctions. Again, an incredibly valuable experience in the arts.

Throughout these exceptional experiences, my passion for health and wellness remained the most impactful on my life. I have allowed myself to realize that life does not need to be in one straight line. It was at this point that I realized that my lifestyle was not sustainable to remain the healthy, positive person that I knew I was capable of being.

LITTLE CHANGES MEAN A LOT

How to make small changes to impact a busy life positively? Here are a few go-to suggestions that I always stand by.

  • Wake up in the morning and first thing - meditation and hot water with lemon. Does it sound like it takes up too much time? Not with me! Boil your water, and while waiting, consider this is your mediation time. A solid 2 to 3 minutes. After your water is boiled, you complete your meditation and proceed to drink your hot water with lemon, which still aids in calming and meditative energy. Your day has just started on the right track without having to wake up early or add extra time to your morning routine. The hot water with lemon is the best way to start your day. You are feeding your skin with vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, calcium, and potassium. You are eliminating unwanted toxins from your body, boosting your immune system, cleansing your liver, detoxing, and maintaining the pH balance of the body.

  • Wake up in the morning and first thing - meditation and hot water with lemon. Does it sound like it takes up too much time? Not with me! Boil your water, and while waiting, consider this is your mediation time. A solid 2 to 3 minutes. After your water is boiled, you complete your meditation and proceed to drink your hot water with lemon, which still aids in calming and meditative energy. Your day has just started on the right track without having to wake up early or add extra time to your morning routine. The hot water with lemon is the best way to start your day. You are feeding your skin with vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, calcium, and potassium. You are eliminating unwanted toxins from your body, boosting your immune system, cleansing your liver, detoxing, and maintaining the pH balance of the body.

  • Wake up in the morning and first thing - meditation and hot water with lemon. Does it sound like it takes up too much time? Not with me! Boil your water, and while waiting, consider this is your mediation time. A solid 2 to 3 minutes. After your water is boiled, you complete your meditation and proceed to drink your hot water with lemon, which still aids in calming and meditative energy. Your day has just started on the right track without having to wake up early or add extra time to your morning routine. The hot water with lemon is the best way to start your day. You are feeding your skin with vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, calcium, and potassium. You are eliminating unwanted toxins from your body, boosting your immune system, cleansing your liver, detoxing, and maintaining the pH balance of the body.

  • Before picking up a phone call, take three deep breathes. Whether the request is work-related, a family member or friend, these deep breaths will prepare yourself to enter the conversation being present, calm, and less reactive.

  • Whenever you can, take a bath. Immersing yourself in water can calm your brain and nervous system, balance your hormones, receives joint and muscle pain, and elevate your mood. If taking a bath at night, it can set the tone for an incredible sound sleep. You can create an ambiance that is meditative and spa-like if you have little time throughout the day, multi-task! If you need to listen to a presentation, book, or phone call while in the bath—then do it!

  • Meal prep on Sundays…or any day that you have the time. Wash and cut your fruits and veggies up in advance. Take them out of the original plastic containers and place them in bowls in your fridge. Make everything look desirable in your kitchen. Cooking and eating healthy foods will then become a treat rather than a chore.

  • Make your workouts count. If you are not sweating after your work out, try something else. This is especially so if you have a busy schedule and make that time productive, whether it is 20 or 30 minutes or an hour.
LIVING A HAPPY & HEALTHY LIFE

This was when I decided to take on my passion for healthy living full time and pivot into the wellness sector. I went back to study at the School for Integrative Nutrition (and continue additional courses for ongoing personal growth), got my yoga certification to understand the more profound benefits of movement and breathwork, and started my own company. With my knowledge and passion, I now want to help others to make sustainable changes toward a happier and healthier life. My focus is to keep my clients accountable to achieve their version of what makes them happy, productive, and well rounded.

Enter Living with Bianca, a members-only service that provides one-on-one weekly health coaching sessions, along with 15-minute touch-base sessions for immediate extra support. I am a supportive mentor to my clients, helping them feel their best with lifestyle changes and personalized, one-on-one encouragement. I am based in New York with clients also in Los Angeles, Miami, and London.

As the founder of Living with Bianca, I realized there was a gap in the market for people like myself, who needed someone relatable to speak to about everyday life and health goals. A non-bias and non-judgmental person to hold one accountable for any purpose, no matter how big or small. In our first session together, we talk about personal health and lifestyle goals, and then find baby-step solutions to get to achieve them. Sometimes new ideas or concerns come up along the way, and we deal with everything head-on. Many of my clients are busy and have little time to make significant changes all at once. Therefore, we always start small. These small life edits end up having a more considerable positive impact than what they originally anticipated. 

My approach to health is 100 percent holistic. Especially now more than ever. Of course, healthy eating and exercise are conducive to a healthy lifestyle, but that is only half the picture. Focusing on holistic health, I put equal-weighted importance on other aspects of life such as career goals, personal goals, love and relationships, who you surround yourself with, how you react to certain situations, what you believe. It all adds up. It’s very well to say that you have had a healthy dinner, but what does that mean if you are on the phone the entire time while eating it and are feeling stressed and anxious? In today’s climate, you can’t be half healthy. Life is too precious.

For more information on Bianca Kamhi and Living with Bianca, visit livingwithbianca.com.