What is Holistic Healing?

Inner and outer healing starts by taking a first step!  If you have never thought about healing in terms of whole-body balance, then today is the perfect day to begin your proactive approach to health.  

Every day we wait to approach health proactively, we are one step closer to having to walk into a doctor’s office to be treated reactively.

“Taking our health into our own hands is our best insurance policy.” 

There are a number of ways that a person can approach holistic healing, and I will outline several examples in each of the five areas: physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual aspects to address total body balance.

Healing Our Physical Body 

This article would be a mile long if I discussed all the techniques used for physical healing and the healing benefits of each, so I won’t cover them all or go into detail of them all, however I will provide some examples for inspiration and offer up three of my personal favorites.  

Of all of the various modalities listed for healing the physical body holistically, my personal daily go to's are exercise, nutrition and massage therapy, and I will explain why.

Why Exercise?   Because very little else feels better!

Exercise is the master healer and makes us feel amazing.  

Many practiced habits of wellness overlap, but of the all the modalities for holistic healing, exercise impacts each area of the five-part balancing system.  

Exercise can be a social activity when done in groups; an intellectual activity when performing something new; an emotional release as serotonin and endorphins greatly impact mood; a physical activity as we are using the body; and finally, a spiritual activity if used as a meditation in motion. 

To inspire your journey, listed below are several amazing exercises to give a try.

Walking

This is an excellent form of exercise that most people can sustain for a lifetime.  If rescuing a dog is the best way to get this done, consider your dog your angel.

Yoga

Yoga is a holistic healing technique that has been used for thousands of years, and just because it has only become popular in America in the last couple of decades, doesn’t mean that the many other parts of the world have not been far ahead of the curve in understanding its health benefits.

Cardio Kickboxing

Boxing is my current favorite overall full body workout.  If you need a hardcore workout that lets you expel pent up aggression without hurting another individual, then this is the workout for you.

Hiking

I love hiking!  It's another amazing way to get exercise while taking in the beauty and peacefulness of nature, therefore I call it a 'two-fer.'  

Martial Arts

This is a perfect sport for all entry levels of exercise performance, since the fundamental training is geared toward beginners.

Swimming

Swimming can be both a social activity and a low impact exercise for those who are in need of weight loss before transitioning into a higher impact exercise. 

Tai Chi 

If you've never considered Tai Chi as a tough workout, it is deceptively challenging.  Tai chi is another ancient exercise technique spanning many centuries, and considered to be beneficial for anxiety, depression, breathing and the management of chronic illnesses.  

Circuit training

Circuit training engages the entire body and used to increase muscular endurance and strength. And what is great about circuit training is that it takes very little time to achieve great results and takes little to no equipment if done creatively with bands or other household supplies.

Why does nutrition matter? Try fast food for a week and tell me how you feel.

Our body requires good fuel for our engine to run like a Rolls Royce!

An essential part of holistic healing is good nutrition, and the food that we put into our bodies is no different than the fuel that we put into our vehicle.  

If we have a Rolls Royce that requires premium fuel and premium parts and we use economy fuel and second hand parts, then our Rolls will soon be sounding like those irritating souped-up-racers.

I’ve listed some must-have practices for a clean engine approach to nutrition, so that you perform like a Rolls, instead of a clanking exhaust sputterer.

Plants

Herbs

Supplements

Since we no longer live in the habitats of our ancestors, where indigenous plant medicine overpopulated the humans, we now have the convenience of supplements to supply the many missing elements of nature that buildings and industry have usurped.

Omega 3’s

If eating fish, eat it wild caught.  If in Japan near Fukushima radiation leak, avoid the black fish.  If vegan, consider a plant-based omega 3 option, like chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, etc.

Water

Some of the most heinous diseases are associated with dehydration. Just because Moses went without water for 40 days doesn't mean that you should.

Fiber

Flax seeds, chia seeds, non gluten grains, legumes and raw plants are all great sources of fiber, but not all foods are ideal for every person.  

Get to know your body by experimenting incrementally with food.  

And try Beano before legume meals.

Massage Therapy.  Touch me, please.

I don’t know how anyone could live without it! 

For me, it rates nearly as high as eating, breathing, and sleeping!  

With every massage tool that has been invented, my tool cabinet runneth over.  

Instead of listing every massage style that can impact our holistic health and wellbeing, I’d rather list a few tools that have made my life a living heaven.

'Thera cane' trigger point massage tool

This tool has been a lifesaver.  It is shaped like a hook, with six pressure point knobs for penetrating, and two handles for holding.

The Trigger point therapy workbook

 THE BEST do-it-yourself workbook for learning how to work through any kind of muscular pain and 'perceived' injury.

I say 'perceived' injury because most of the time that we think we are injured, it's merely tight muscles that need to be released.

Foam Roller

A must have for lengthening the muscles, removing lactic acid and for recovery after a tough workout.  Hint, hint....the black foam roller is the firmest for the die-hard roller fans.  Or if you're super hard core, the PVC pipe is definitely next level rolling.

A racquetball and a tube sock

The gist of this technique is to put the ball in the tube sock so the ball does not drop to the floor while leaning against a wall while rolling out your achy muscles.

Massage gun  

A massage gun is best used with a partner, but perfectly able to be used solo for most front of the body applications, and with limber arms, the back can be reached too.

Massage therapist

Not all therapists are trained from the same master instructors, therefore buyer beware.  Learning self-massage techniques is an endeavor well worth the time and your body will thank you for a lifetime.

Healing Our Intellectual Body

• Listening to a nutrition podcast.
• Reading about how to boost your immune system naturally.
• Studying the muscles of the body.
• Doing something new.
• Being curious.
• Learning how to protect our environment.
• Attending a financial seminar.
• Taking action on a project that's been put on hold.