Can you tell us more about yourself and share your journey to wellness?
My name is Allison E. Lang, I am a congenital left-leg amputee and an advocate for body-inclusivity. My journey to wellness was heavily influenced by my supportive parents. From the moment I was born they refused to let anything stop me from living a fulfilled life just because I was disabled. They enrolled me into soccer at a young age and encouraged me to try anything I wanted. Their uplifting spirits taught me to love and accept myself even through the difficult times I endured growing up, like being severely bullied in school, hating and hiding my leg for a majority of my life, and punishing my body for being differently abled by obsessively controlling my food intake and body movement.
When it comes to health and wellness, tell us more about the important work you're doing?
Now, I love my body and I want to teach others that they can learn to love the body they were given as well. After all, all bodies should be celebrated because they're badass machines that keep us alive. My ultimate mission is to educate able-bodied peoples about disabilities to create a more inclusive, understanding, and accessible world while simultaneously acting as a role model for younger amputees to show up in the world just as they are because they are unique and beautiful. When I was growing up I never saw anyone that looked like me in magazines or on tv, so now I am fighting to show up online as a proud disabled woman to hopefully inspire others to be comfortable in their skin, disabled or not, because we all have insecurities that can be converted from wounds to warrior scars.
Can you share the most interesting story that has happened to you along the way?
When I was 16 I started playing for Team Canada's Women's Sitting Volleyball Team. I competed internationally in England, Brazil, and throughout the United States. This ignited my passion for travel and discovering the unknown. Since, I have backpacked 29 countries as a solo-female traveller and have done activities such as surfing in Bali, active volcano boarding in Nicaragua, and sailing from Panama to Colombia. The most interesting thing about me is that I don't lets other's perception of my disability limit or impact what I am more than capable of doing! (I love proving others wrong haha.)
Wellness can mean so many different things to so many different people, what does it mean to you?
To me, wellness means moving your body in whatever way makes you feel comfortable and happy! I say this because if we thoroughly enjoy moving our body a certain way physically we will also be positively stimulating it mentally. You can't have wellness favour one over the other, physical and mental wellness go hand in hand.
Can you share your top 3 wellness hacks that you believe will support people's journey towards happiness and greater well being?
- Keep a gratitude journal and challenge yourself to write in it daily
- Nourish your body- listen to it when it needs fuel or you are hungry!
- Laugh as much as possible, it's the best medicine!
Where can we find you?
@allisonelang on all platforms
