Aging Is refinement: Holistic vitality, plant-based living & sustainable wellness with Keshila Jones

What if aging wasn’t about decline… but refinement?

In this grounding and wisdom-filled conversation, Ebony sits down with holistic coach, plant-based wellness educator, and herbal supplement founder Keshila Jones to redefine what vitality truly means. Especially for women navigating motherhood, caregiving, entrepreneurship, and life transitions.

At 54, Keshila shares how she measures vitality through mental clarity, intentional rest, aligned movement, and spiritual connection.

Together, they unpack:

• Why sustainable wellness beats quick fixes
• How small daily habits create lasting lifestyle shifts
• What a holistic lifestyle really includes (it’s more than food)
• Listening to your body’s signals before burnout hits
• Gentle ways to start prioritizing your health without overwhelm
• How plant-based living and herbal support can complement your wellness journey

If you’ve been craving a grounded, realistic approach to feeling better in your body, then this episode is your invitation to begin.

You are not behind.

You are allowed to start today.

Connect with Keshila:

Instagram: @92plushealth

Website: 92plushealth.com

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Sending you light and love always!

Transcript

Redefining Aging And Vitality

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Aging is not, it doesn't mean decline. It means refinement. And vitality is not about, you know, trying to look younger. It's about feeling stronger. It's about thinking clearer. It's about being more connected as you grow.

Meet The Host And Mission

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Hey love, I'm Ebony and welcome to Thrive Like a Mother. On this podcast, we're scared for our truth, but that fear is what fuels us to truly live in it. You're in the right place if you feel like you're stuck in survival mode and you're ready to step into who you would truly meant to be. I'll share resources and tools I use daily to help you in your journey with a healthier mindset and to break the wheel of survival. The journey may not be easy, but you won't have to face it alone. I'm a mama of three, healing day by day from past trauma, and I'm on a mission to build a life I've always dreamed of, but never thought was possible. So, love, if you're ready to believe in what's possible, let's link arms and thrive together. Alright, hey loves, welcome to another episode of the Thrive Like a Mother podcast. And I'm really excited to have our guest on with us today. Kisha

Guest Intro And Vitality At 54

SPEAKER_03 1:31

La. I love to just jump right in, honestly, with starting exactly where someone is right now. And so I'd love for you to just share with our listeners about your current season of life and just what vitality looks like for you at 54 years old.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

First of all, thank you for having me here. I'm so excited. Vitality, that's a beautiful word. Um, it looks so much different than it did in my 30s, of course. I'm 54. So, um, I mean, in the best way. So, you know, I um I ran track many years ago. I've been an athlete. I trained many athletes. So I've just continued that and continued that as part of my lifestyle. So my season now at 54 is just continuing that lifestyle so I can have longevity. And um, so this season is about alignment with all things positive, positive energy only. Yes, not exhaustion. So, you know, I I measure my vitality based on how clear my mind feels, how well my body recovers, and how connected I am with myself. So very spiritual in this um my age 54 um in these years. It's waking up with energy and not crashes, honoring rest without guilt, because I used to be guilty to rest. And you know, nourishing my body very intentionally, and you know, moving with purpose, purpose instead of um, you know, lots of pressure. So vitality is now like for me, wisdom in action my body needs, and actually listening to it.

SPEAKER_03 3:16

Yeah, yeah, not ignoring the signs that your body is giving you. I love that. Oh gosh,

Challenging Aging Narratives

SPEAKER_03 3:24

okay. So I love that we're having an episode today because honestly, I am excited that you know, even just what you're sharing now, it challenges a lot of the narratives that a lot of us have just kind of been handed down, not from previous generations, just about what aging looks like, what your energy should look like, and what it actually does mean to feel good in your body. And so, y'all, I want to formally introduce our guest today. Keisha LeJones is on with us today, and she is a holistic coach. She's a plant-based wellness educator and the founder of a herbal supplement company rooted seriously in helping people live lives of vitality, which is why I asked

Path To Holistic Wellness And Herbs

SPEAKER_03 4:09

you that question. Um, and of course, really living it through intentional lifestyle choices. And so at 54 years old, Kishala, she works out five days a week, y'all. Five days a week. And she is following a plant-based lifestyle and is deeply committed and rooted to educating her community on what it means to not only live a holistic wellness lifestyle, but live it sustainably, which y'all know I'm all about sustainability on the podcast and in our community. And so it's not about trends, it's not about the quick fixes, but it's about really instilling the practices that you can start putting into your life to live day after day. And so, this conversation, y'all get ready. We're talking about what it looks like to create that new lifestyle with intention, not just jumping in and trying things out and how to honestly, she's gonna teach us how to take a holistic approach to your health. And that goes through making small daily choices that can really just shift just how you feel mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, everything, right? And so if you are sitting there right now, either you're watching or listening and your earbuds and you're thinking, oh, it's too late for me to make a change, or you're in a season where you are just craving more of that grounded approach. This episode is for you. Kisela is going to guide us through this episode, and y'all are gonna walk away with things that you can start implementing right now. So I'm I'm just excited to have you here. So, formally, welcome to the podcast. Now, I want to jump in because you run an herbal supplement company and also you're living a plant-based lifestyle. But I'm guessing that this wasn't something, even like you you mentioned, like in your 30s, this wasn't something that happened overnight for you. Can you share with us just like what started to lead you down that path of holistic wellness?

SPEAKER_00 6:13

That's a great question. Um, like I said, I've been, I was an athlete. So I was also paying attention and focused on health and wellness, coached many athletes. So it was always part of my lifestyle. The gym has always been, you know, part of my lifestyle. But learning about herbs was not. So um it kind of came from my father. He um was um he had high blood pressure and he had it since 17 years old. And he they put him on medication. And in my adult life, I started seeing, you know, just how much medication he was on. And I'm like, there has to be a better way because at 17 years old, you know, your frontal lobe is not even fully developed, your body isn't even fully developed. So why are we giving a 17-year-old medication? And then so, you know, he's taken it for so long, he felt like his body couldn't live without it. So I'm like, there has to be a better way. So I started looking into different herbal other ways in which we can heal our bodies naturally, because you know, there's a plant for every ailment.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Plants were put on this earth for healing purposes based on our ancestors. Indigenously, we've been healing ourselves with herbs for many, many years. Um, and that's either passed down, passed down through generations, or you're breaking that generational

From Family Health To Herbal Study

SPEAKER_00 7:36

curse and learning about how you can do that and help your family. So I'm the friend that I learned. I did research, I worked with herbalists, I became an herbalist, I um with acupuncturist, I dabble in like um Chinese medicine.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

It's just all different types of herbs. So just the passion for learning about it.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

And I also, you know, was looking at symptoms of, you know, maybe fatigue, some inflammation and stress, and seeing how can I solve this in a natural way? Because, you know, lots of different medications give you side effects and things. And they like my father feels like he can't he can't stop taking the medication. I don't want to, I didn't want to put myself in that situation to break break, you know, generational trauma and and fix that cycle so that we can start learning and passing on that education to my friends, to my friend, family, and now ultimately the whole entire community. So, you know, just like part of life, like people think that fatigue and inflammation and stress is just normal. You're supposed to be living with it and not looking at like, you know, your body is actually communicating with you when you have certain things wrong with you. Like if your body's fatigued, your body is communicating something to you. Like either you need more rest, you need to pay attention to that, or there's something you're consuming or not consuming, you're lacking or you're deficient in. So just learning about herbs and plant-based healing, you know, opened my eyes to the idea that you can heal properly, right? What the body wants to heal, because the body was designed to heal itself, but you have to put it in that state, right? So once I experienced that shift, you know, myself, I had to share it with others. So, you know, I'm that I'm that friend that everyone calls, you know, like I have this wrong with me. What herb should I take?

unknown 9:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

So, you know, my wellness journey became, you know, responsibility, you know, not just a personal choice anymore.

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Yeah. That is so powerful. I know, even these are conversations that we need to have within our community, right? But personally, I've been dealing with kind of a light bulb for me going to get my just yearly, yearly blood work, yearly exams, and finding out that my cholesterol levels and my blood pressure was not where I thought it was. I was like, oh, I feel fine. I'm okay. And now, you know, people, my listeners, they know a little bit of my story, but I have dealt with gaining blood pressure normally when I've had a pregnancy. Except this time, you know, I had my my youngest baby two years ago. And now

Lab Results, Medication, And Ownership

SPEAKER_03 10:18

I have not regulated again. And what has happened to me in the past is doctors have prescribed, they say, you know, stay on this until it's regulated. But here's the thing, Kishila. I threw the medicine out, but I did not take, I did not go and find other options. I just thought, okay, my body just needs to regulate on its own. I think a lot of us, we we want to feel better, but we don't know where to start. And so you just sharing that just highlights the power of yes, you don't want to lean on those medications, but you still have to put effort into learning and still listening to your body. Even if it's you don't feel it, but still going to just get some results and you know, pay attention to some of those numbers, those are important. Those are still telling you

Building Sustainable Habits

SPEAKER_03 11:06

something. Um, and so let's move into talking about creating that new lifestyle for that person that's like, I want to make some changes, but I don't know where to start. I don't want to just start another diet. I don't want something that's short-term, little three-week thing. What does sustainability mean to you when it comes to your health and just when you're teaching others too to others' health?

SPEAKER_00 11:31

Okay, so you know, sustainability means, like you said, it's not this 30-month challenge, three, you know, four-week challenge. It's not a 90-day challenge. Now you can start with a 30-day challenge and build from there. Because sustainability means, you know, whatever you're doing with your health should be livable. It should be, it can be gentle. It may not feel gentle at the beginning, yeah, but also, you know, supportive and not restrictive or punishing. Because when you're creating a lifestyle, you have to really take it one day at a time. It's not about perfection, it's not about going cold turkey, it's just about consistency. So, you know, real wellness, you know, it fits into real life, right? No stress, no guilt, no burnout. Because if you try other things, it's not gonna be sustainable. So, what I always tell people is to start with one day at a time and build from there. So if you're starting something new, just do it one day a week. Yeah. For a couple of weeks or a few weeks, and then add another day, and then add another day, because that then that way you're gonna start creating routines, and routines start to create a lifestyle, right?

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 12:49

So it's something that you can maintain through the various seasons of your life, through pregnancy, through menopause, through caregiving, entrepreneurship without abandoning your you know, abandoning yourself in the process.

SPEAKER_03 13:03

Yes, exactly. Oh goodness. And is there, are there I know you shared some in the beginning, but there are there any simple daily habits that you can share with our listeners that they can pick up and start with like just that one day per week, just start try this out and then continue to add on. Is there like maybe one or two things that you think you know we all should be we all should have installed in our life daily?

Simple Daily Practices That Stick

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Okay, so I would think to well, I would say to uh insert some sustainability, re-examine your lifestyle choices. So are you eating a ton of sugar? Are you eating a ton of carbs? So start uh start with food. Eliminate one thing. Start eliminating one thing. So if you eat a ton of sugar, one of those things that you eat, eliminate it. And again, start with one day a week. Right?

SPEAKER_02 14:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:00

If examine, okay, how much movement are you not moving at all? Start walking. Okay, that that number is 10,000 steps. You can scale it down, start with 2,000 steps a day, that one day a week, and build from there until you get to that 10,000 steps. Yeah. So just re-examining your various lifestyle style choices. Also, like if you if you have a high stress environment, take start with five minutes of the day. Go in the bathroom if you need to. Some place, you know. So quiet where you can sit, listen to some. I like um binaural beats or sulfegio frequencies. Um, not sure if your listeners have heard of those before, but there are various frequencies that your baggus nerve system responds to. And um, that's related to stress relief. So it lowers your affic level and you're you can relax. So there's different binaural beats and sulfageal frequencies based on what your needs are. So there's like a sleep binaural beat,

Stress, Nervous System, And Sound

SPEAKER_00 15:06

there's attention, there is focus, there's relaxation, all these different things that you can look look up in Spotify, you can look up in Apple Music, you can look them up on YouTube, and you could just play it for that five minutes and then build from there. And that can go into um a meditation that you do for five minutes a day or ten minutes a day. Also implementing affirmations daily. Think of something that you want, like I'm gonna be peaceful. You can, if it's just I'm gonna be peaceful for five minutes of the day, you can say that um, you know, at the beginning of the day, or just while you're in there for that five minutes, wherever that quiet space is to help lower your stress level, that's gonna highly impact impact, you know, your life. Um not think about these little things, but they are gonna be a big advocate of your life.

SPEAKER_03 15:53

Oh, for sure. For sure. And so I know Kisha La, when we talk about holistic, we are not just talking

What Holistic Really Means

SPEAKER_03 16:03

about food. I think a lot of people they think that. Um, they're just like, oh, well, holistic, I have to think of how I'm eating. Um, can you break down what a holistic approach realistically realistically looks like just in your everyday life? How you approach it.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

So holistic means addressing the whole self, the whole woman. You know, and like you said, yes, food matters, but so does sleep, so does stress, so does emotions, so does boundaries, movement, you know, and mindset. And I know boundaries are a really hard thing for us women to say no, because we want to just do it all. We're so used to doing it all. Also, you know, asking yourself as you're drinking that water, am I hydrated? Am I resting? Yes, am I holding on to emotional stress? And where am I holding on to it? I hold on to mine in my chest. You might be holding on to your chest too. Um and then when should I be saying no? Because that's yeah, well, for me um as well, like to just to say no. I had to learn how to say no and be okay saying it and not feeling guilty about it. Yes, yes. And then, you know, for women that care for everyone else, holistic health, you know, means recognizing that your nervous system, hormones, and energy, you know, are deeply connected to how you live,

Smart Use Of Herbal Supplements

SPEAKER_00 17:32

right? And not just what you eat. So you have to pay attention to everything that you're doing, like I was saying, re-examining your whole entire lifestyle.

SPEAKER_02 17:41

Yes. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 17:44

Okay. So let's let's chat about herbal supplements a bit because you have entire an entire business surrounded around this. How do herbal supplements, how do they start to um just play alongside the lifestyle choices that we make when it goes when it comes to like really being intentional about which ones we take?

SPEAKER_00 18:09

So I would say first, you know, do some blood blood work and see if you're where you're deficient at. Because it could be a fight vitamin or mineral deficiency, you could have some heavy metals in your system. So doing that first. Um also understanding that, you know, herbs are important. And the reason why herbs are important is because they have not only some herbs have vitamins and minerals, but they also have phytochemicals. And phytochemicals are important for fighting oxidative stress and free radicals. Yes. Because that's what causes disease. So having some sort of herbs in your diet repertoire, you know, in your kitchen cabinet, are, you know, going to be beneficial for you for longevity and vitality. So what I do a lot is I listen and I take the feedback from my clients and my customers to, you know, what their, you know, their main concerns are. And I started this company during COVID. So then my main concern and a lot of people's main concern during COVID was, you know, what can I take to help my body stay well or get well, you know, after getting

Formulations For Real Concerns

SPEAKER_00 19:19

COVID. And so the first supplement was my CMOS and bladderwork combination, which gives you 102 vitamins and minerals, because a lot of the reason why people get sick is because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. So this has 102 vitamins and minerals. So it's like it's basically covering, it's like your plant-based multivitamin. And a lot of my customers say, you know, everyone else is sick in the office except for them. I never got COVID. So, I mean, just understanding what your body needs, you know, to stay well, and also understanding that herbs are not a quick fix. Herbs take time to settle in your body. We're so used to this grabbing something and getting a quick fix. A lot of those over-the-counter quick fixes are just masking symptoms.

SPEAKER_02 20:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

They have additives, preservatives, red dyes, which are not good over time for longevity and vitality, you know, for the body. So you're actually, it's actually hurting our bodies when we're going to grab those over-the-counter um things to try to help heal our body. We're just putting a band-aid on it.

unknown 20:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:28

You know, so understanding that herbs take some time to settle in your systems, but over time it's going to help support your body in your healing process.

SPEAKER_03 20:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 20:40

That's so important. So, yeah, that's how I came up with a lot of my supplements. Like I have a women's um health formula because you know, a lot of women struggle with PCOS symptoms, pre-menopausal, menopausal symptoms. So we have a great combination of herbs to help address, you know, those symptoms. Also, heavy metals that are in our in the air right now, chemicals, just things that we're exposed to, uh heavy metal detoxes, uh, parasite cleanses, which a lot of people don't understand that if you've never done in other countries, parasite cleanses are very normal. Not in the United States, like I've never had one done.

Gut, Detox, And Parasite Cleanses

SPEAKER_00 21:19

Right. So if you're eating meat, even I'm plant-based, you can get parasites from vegetables if you're not washing them properly.

SPEAKER_03 21:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

You need to do a parasite cleanse. But also you can you can get tested if you're if you're wary about doing a parasite cleanse, you can still get some tests, blood tests to see if you have the parasites. But if you've never done one, it's highly likely that you do. And the symptoms that come out is fatigue, is bloating could come out through your skin. Anything that's coming out, also an understanding of anything that comes out through your skin, that's your body screaming, there's something going on inside my gut.

SPEAKER_03 21:57

So it's a signal.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Yes, signal. We have to pay attention to these signals. So that's why I created, again, that's why I created a lot of these. I have a gut revive formula to help revive the gut in a gentle way. We have the heavy metal detox because we're exposed to so many toxins on a daily basis. They help bind to these heavy metals like mercury, aluminum, microplastics, all these things that we are exposed to on a daily basis. So I kind of take, you know, all the um concerns that people have and the feedback, and that's how I come up with my formulations. Like I have a heart formula. Um it's very near and dear to me. I also have sour soap, which is very high in antioxidants. Um, I'm not sure if if you ever speak about um any herbs or herbal remedies on your podcast, but um, you know, herbs are great. Herbs are important to the body.

SPEAKER_03 22:52

Yes, absolutely. I mean, even just from this conversation, I'm already hearing

Antioxidants And Longevity Support

SPEAKER_03 22:57

like, okay, Ebony, because I use, I do use a lot of herbs in my cooking. But when you're sharing things about like sea moss and sour soap, I guess for me, that's research for me that I need to do about like what the what those things are, what the benefits are. And I'm glad that, you know, we were able to connect because now I'm like, okay, now I I can reach out to you and say, hey, like, you know, where where do I start? And so I know a lot of women that are listening to this podcast, like me, they are caring for lots of people. And sometimes it feels like we can, as mothers, just put ourselves last. What would you say to the mom that's listening to this right now who she wants to feel better, but she doesn't know how to prioritize herself?

SPEAKER_00 23:41

Well, first of all, taking care of yourself is not selfish. It's essential, right? Because we have

Mothers, Boundaries, And Rest

SPEAKER_00 23:48

to be there. So, you know, you don't have to overhaul your entire life to start. Remember, I said start with one day at a time. Dedicate that one day to you to you, to yourself, and changing just one thing, right? So remember, it's five minutes of quiet, it's trying a new herbal supplement, it's choosing rest over guilt, right? Because when we as women honor ourselves, everything else improves, right? You know, your family doesn't need you to feel depleted, right? They need you to be well. So we have to take those steps to, you know, to allow that to happen. Give yourself that space. It's so very important because in the long run, you know, you and your whole family is gonna benefit from that.

SPEAKER_03 24:36

That's true. Oh I mean, that was encouraging for me. I don't know about y'all listening, but I I feel encouraged and inspired. So before we end today, um, I do want to leave our listeners just with a moment to land um and allow them to take a breath with us. Um, so we're gonna take a deep breath.

One Truth On Aging And Vitality

SPEAKER_03 25:03

And Keisha, if you could leave our listeners with one truth about health, aging, vitality, anything, what would that one thing be?

SPEAKER_00 25:15

I would say that aging is not, it doesn't mean decline, it means refinement. And vitality is not about, you know, trying to look younger, it's about feeling stronger, it's about thinking clearer, it's about being more connected as you grow and remembering that your body is always communicating with you and it's never too late to listen, right? Yeah, when you support your body with intention, nature meets you halfway, right? Every single time.

SPEAKER_03 25:50

Keisha, just thank you for coming on to the show, sharing your wisdom, your experience with us. I love how you remind not only our listeners, but also me that vitality

Key Reminders And Next Steps

SPEAKER_03 26:02

is not something that's reserved just for a certain age. I shouldn't have to wait until I'm in my 40s to start intentionally thinking about that and making choices about that. It's really, we have to start building these things into our everyday choices. It's not a wait until something happened type of thing. And so this conversation has just been a powerful reminder that it's not too late ever to choose yourself, to choose your health and to listen to those signals, y'all, that your body is giving you daily. And to not only listen to them, but do something about those signals. Build a lifestyle that supports the life that you want to live and how you want to show up.

Connect With Keisha And Resources

SPEAKER_03 26:42

Um, and so, Kishala, I want you to share a little bit about how people can connect with you, how they can gain your services, buy your products, everything, you know, because right now, I mean, you are the resource. You have the tools and the products that we need to really live life fully.

SPEAKER_00 27:01

So please share with them. So you can follow us on Instagram at 92plus health. And also our website is 92plushealth.com. We also have a chat feature on there that you can send us a chat or you can always DM me on Instagram.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

Yes, I love that. Thank you, Keshala, again. And to every

Closing Encouragement And CTA

SPEAKER_03 27:24

single mama listening, today, I hope today's episode has encouraged you to take that one small step. Like she has said during this episode, start with one day. Start with one day and then build from there. Because from there, you're gonna start feeling that energy that you've been looking for. You're gonna start feeling more grounded and you're gonna start feeling more alive in your body. So until next time, keep choosing yourself and keep thriving. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much for listening, love. If anything in today's episode resonated with you, share it with your bestie or share it on social media and tag me so we can chat about it. As always, sending you light and love. And remember, you are worthy, you are enough, and you deserve to thrive.