Kalene Smalberger didn’t feel she was making a meaningful impact from behind her desk in finance, and the entrepreneurial fire burning in her soul could just not be quenched. So, with her passion for health and the desire to unlock the true potential in others so they could achieve a better quality of life, in 2023, she officially launched Aspire with the slogan ‘Igniting Purpose and Optimal Health’. Interestingly, she says that over the years, she’s come to realise that ‘healthy’ means way more than what you’re seeing in the mirror.
Kalene views health from three aspects: spirit, soul and body. ‘Looking at physical health − as I matured over the years and became more educated in the area of health and wellness, I realised that it’s more than what you see in the mirror or feel like in your clothes. Health is right down to the basic building block in your body − your cells. If you are not healthy on a cellular level, you are not healthy − period. So, to me, physical health is having a body that is in balance and functioning optimally on a cellular level, and that includes a healthy gut,’ she says.
From the soul perspective, mental well-being is important, but in the past four years she has also realised just how important gut health − and that includes getting the right essential fats − contributes to cognitive function and mental well-being. In addition, she is intentional about feeding her mind daily with positive, empowering and uplifting content.
‘I love the work of Myron Golden − very inspiring! As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, so I’m very conscious about who and what I give time and attention to, as your thoughts ultimately do create your reality,’ she shares, adding, ‘And from this perspective of keeping my spirit healthy − as a child of God I love to start my day with some quiet time in the Word and in prayer. Connecting daily with my Heavenly Father, my Creator, is what gives me the direction, peace, wisdom and strength to live a life of purpose.
Kalene believes that every human on this planet was created for a purpose and has unique gifts and talents.
‘Until you identify your purpose and a way to express those gifts and talents, you will feel unfulfilled and experience a sense of “there has got to be more to life” …. When something is ignited, it is set on fire or triggered. When discovering the driving force behind your aspirations, the transition from profession to vocation unfolds − a shift where work blossoms into a purpose-driven mission,’ she says empathetically.
Aspire is a community and a platform for entrepreneurs and health professionals in the wellness space helping them to utilise their gifts and talents and unlock their potential whilst making a significant impact in people’s lives on a global scale with innovative and disruptive solutions. Kalene officially launched the Aspire community in August 2023 and currently has 52 partners.
Tell us more about Aspire? What is it all about?
Aspire is the culmination of a dream that was first ignited in my heart 20 years ago when I got exposed to an industry where your success is a direct reflection of helping other people develop and succeed. In 2019, a dear friend of mine in the UK introduced me to a Scandinavian company that specialises in an all-natural evidence-based nutrition concept. I took several months to do my due diligence on the company and after seeing the vision, values, financials and credibility of this Nasdaq-listed company, I wanted to be one of the leaders and pioneers on the African continent and beyond.
What are some of the interesting aspects of health that some people might overlook?
Due to us living in a society where ultra-processed and convenient foods have become so easily available and consumption is encouraged, people are consuming far too many foods that cause inflammation. Silent chronic inflammation is the root cause of most degenerative diseases in modern-day society, some examples being skin disorders (such as eczema and psoriasis), arthritis or achy joints, Type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia and heart disease, to name but a few. Also, more and more people are struggling with gut issues, which have a direct impact on cognitive health.
Tell us more about the importance of gut health and essential fats?
The gut−brain connection is fundamentally important, hence if the gut is not healthy, this can have an adverse effect on mood, sleep, concentration and the immune system, and can cause a lot of discomfort in the body. Out of the more than 1,2 million tests done globally, we have seen that 97% of people are out of balance (chronically inflamed – in other words, are at risk of a degenerative disease), whether they are taking supplements or not. And within a period of four months, we can get in the region of 95% of those people back into balance, thus reducing the risk of inflammatory-related diseases. Omega-3s are one of the highest-selling supplements globally, as many people understand the importance of taking this essential fat, however many omega-3s are rancid or oxidised at the point of consumption (if you’ve ever had an omega that smells or tastes fishy, that’s an indication that it is rancid and ineffective).
How do you yourself keep fit and healthy? What kind of exercise do you do?
I love weight training as opposed to cardio. I prefer to do tri-sets or giant sets, which also get my heart rate up. I believe in quality over quantity in the gym − 30 to 40 minutes of high-intensity weight training is sufficient for me to stay fit and toned. I also enjoy taking brisk walks on one of the walking trails near us − time in nature is soothing for my soul.
On a positive ending …
Kalene says there are plenty of stories and testimonials, and this is the reason she finds what she does immensely fulfilling.
‘A recent product testimonial is of the father of one of my newest partners. He struggled with manic depression for over 20 years, and as a result, smoked an excessive amount of cigarettes resulting in low oxygen levels. He was on chronic medication which wreaked havoc with his gut and had a whole host of negative side effects. He also struggled with insomnia. After a few weeks of being on the products, he was having seven hours of unbroken sleep per night. His gut health was restored. When his doctor drew blood to test his oxygen levels, they were normal! The doctor couldn’t believe that transformation. The doctor halved some of his chronic medication, as her father no longer needed the higher doses. The most heartwarming part of this testimonial is that the daughter shared how she had her father back − she was enjoying conversations with him which she hadn’t in a long while. He also drastically reduced the cigarettes he was smoking. It is all about improving the quality of life.’
Author
Lynn Grala