Meet Dr. Busola Akinbote: Clinical Pharmacist and Holistic Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Busola Akinbote and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Busola, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

Balance has become a state that most women are not inclined to attempt due to its historical definition of an equal distribution of your energy to two broad areas, commonly work and life, as if we only have work and life to balance. I think of balance as a musical harmony. There are multiple pieces that ebb and flow at different times to create a beautiful song. A beautiful song does not have harmony throughout. There are moments of discord, which makes the following harmony that much sweeter.

I maintain balance by adjusting my expectations with life transitions and keeping a self care schedule. Balance looks like protecting myself by honoring my boundaries and not overcommitting in order to pursue peace in my life and avoid being busy. Balance looks like getting my pre-scheduled home facial and soak because that is simply what happens on Mondays and Fridays regardless of my to-do list. Self care is necessary.

As life becomes more complex with my husband, 3 children, career, business, and passions, I have learned that it is imperative to ground myself first. Knowing who I am and prioritizing my relationship with God ends the need for me to prove to or please anyone, including myself. Quiet times create the space to receive the divinely inspired wisdom to know whether and when I do, delegate, or release. I am embracing the complete journey of walking in my purpose with the highs, lows, and plateaus. This holistic view of life allows for the entire song, including the harmony and discord, to be an expected and welcomed rhythm of life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a clinical pharmacist with a board certification in Geriatric Pharmacy and a 200-hr yoga teacher. I am the person on the interdisciplinary medical team looking to optimize disease state management and health outcomes with less medications. It has taken me many years of education and training, sleepless nights, fervent prayers, and unimaginable support to get to where I am today. The vision was too clear for me to give up, and my passion as a holistic health advocate is what keeps me striving to go further while sharing my journey.

Health is more than eating a balanced diet and exercising. I am invested in sharing how to pursue a healthy lifestyle through AYoga – divinely inspired yoga services to reach one’s full mental, physical, and spiritual potential. Over the summer of 2020, I hosted a virtual workshop for moms, Becoming more Balanced. This workshop, really a retreat, turned into an e-book that guides divinely inspired yoga and more importantly, it is a lifestyle that I have worked to cultivate. I want to be known for what unashamed balance looks like in a working wife and mom while having fun and creating beautiful memories. It’s frequently not glamorous and often loud and messy, and (not but) it is the life I have been blessed to live and share.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start the day by eating a late breakfast at Rising Son in Avondale Estates once the kids were dropped off at school. This would give us a chance to have great conversation while eating locally grown farm-fresh food. Any place that serves soda with fresh herbs and flowers cut from their garden that morning is a must for me! We would then stop by Finders Keepers Fashions to look for any unique finds and laugh at each other as we put together and try on some outfits.

After laughing until we formed new abs, we would stop by Lenox Cupcakes to sneak a quick treat before getting my kids from school and heading to my house to eat dinner. We would have chaotic fun as we eat dinner with my family knowing we can’t overeat because we would head out for an evening out once the kids are in bed.

As soon as the kids are down for the night at 7:30, we walk to Decatur Square. Our first stop would be Leon’s Full Service for appetizers and craft cocktails/mocktails. I would likely order one of their new items on the menu like a salad featuring the season’s best produce because I love to eat, but in the name of balance I make it healthy. We would enjoy the Square’s live music as we walk over to Jeni’s for the best pairing: brown butter almond brittle, coffee with cream and sugar, and milkiest chocolate ice cream (1 scoop each!). I would probably suggest we do some yoga in the park under the stars as a perfect way to wind down our night as the delicious flavors of ice cream melt in our mouths. Upon getting home, we chat some more while doing our nighttime skin care routine then sleep off on the couch before finally climbing into bed to be awakened hours later to the pitter patter of feet and big “Good morning” hugs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I read that miracles are the by-product of prayers that were prayed by you or for you. I am extremely grateful for the many miracles that have manifested in my life as a result of the countless hours my mom puts in for all of her children. I’d like to dedicate my shout out to my mama, Esther Oluyemi, and the other prayer warriors and spiritual mentors in my life.

Website: www.busiakin.com

Instagram: instagram.com/busiakin

Facebook: Facebook.com/AYogaLLC

Image Credits
Carlisa G Photography Jude Akinbote