Most people who see Atiya Rashidi today marvel at her commitment to her holistic health. At age 54, she competes in bodybuilding competitions, and posts regularly on her social media accounts about her bicycle riding and her participation in walks and runs. But a conversation with Rashidi reveals it was not always the case. Rashidi says that a cardiac “episode” of hypertension around 2005 spurred her current commitment to her fitness. “Nothing else told me that I had hypertension except that my blood pressure was high,” Rashidi says. “My doctor told me at that time that this indicated that I would beat risk for the ‘silent killer’, stroke or heart attack. Since this was not something that could be medicated, I started to exercise,” she says.
What Does She Do?
After her initial health scare, Rashidi says she committed to exercising. “Whether I was in the gym, or—since I love competition—it included 5Ks and 10Ks and bodybuilding, and calisthenics at my home. It looked like something different every day,” she says. Rashidi also participates in bike clubs including the HBCU Scholarship Ride, which has raised more than $100,000 for Newark students attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). “My philosophy is to keep moving, whatever that looks like,” says Rashidi.
Her philosophy around health and wellness began with her grandmother at an early age. “My grandmother always had me in some sort of activity—tennis, softball, ballet—all types of things,” she says. “She also helped us to learn how to watch what we ate, to eat healthy foods, and learn how to cook healthy foods from different cultures. So, it was instilled in me from a very early age,” she adds.
Rashidi is currently the chief equity officer and vice president of community relations at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC), a role that allows her to extend her commitment to health and wellness to the community she loves. Her current professional role allows her to spread her love of health and wellness to her community. She says she is immensely proud of the women’s and men’s health fairs that are sponsored at NBIMC every year. “It is a powerful thing when you can bring together that many people focused on their wellness,” she says.
Where Does She Go?
Rashidi utilizes many spaces in her Newark community to maintain her health and wellness. “I love Newark’s parks, I know almost every inch of Weequahic Park, that is my favorite place to go,” she says. “I know the badminton courts, the different trails, there is just so much to enjoy there,” she adds. When she wants to enhance her wellness, The Newark Museum of Art is her go-to. “My children went to the museum camp. I just love how they integrate the community into the programming,” she says. “And lately, I’ve been going to the events at Mulberry Commons also.”
These days, Rashidi is focused on her overall wellness. “One of the contributors to my hypertension was stress, so I take self-care very seriously now,” she says. “Even with my career, family, and community activities, I make sure to take care of myself, whether that includes vacations, time to myself, and yes, exercise. When I am well, I can give 100 percent to all my other activities.” And she advocates for everyone to include medical care as a part of their overall wellness. “Wellness includes being sure to get your annual exams, going to the dentist, and knowing what is going on with your overall health.”
—Kim Prime
AS A WAY TO STAY HEALTHY.
