Health is a way of living, a state of existence that encompasses everything from one’s relationships, career, physical and mental activities and spiritual practises. Above all, health and happiness are in a unified marriage, and one cannot function in the absence of the other. This is where the radical and inclusive concept of holistic health comes in. Holistic health is a scientific approach that envelops the entire being of one’s existence - physiological, psychological and spiritual- instead of only concentrating on addressing the symptoms.
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Holistic health practises do not separate the mind from the body, and aim at guiding the individual in finding the root cause of one’s problems. So it’s not just about eating all the greens in the world and having the most chiselled abdomen. At the same time, one continues to suffer the brunt of toxic relationships – it’s about finding the right balance in the holistic and interconnected journey of life. All the dimensions of life are entwined with each other, and an imbalance anywhere will manifest as some disharmony everywhere. Thus, an unresolved childhood trauma will have a ripple effect on your behaviour, and if left unresolved for long, it will also manifest as some physiological discomfort. This ripple effect will continue to pop up in several forms of illnesses, traumas, the stress in several layers of our existence until resolved.
For a healthy mind and body, it is essential to understand that holistic health rests in a harmonious equilibrium on five planks. Read below to know how holistic health can be maintained:
1# Mental Wellbeing - A healthy and positive mental health builds up our resilience towards challenges that life throws at us. Enhanced mental health through practices like mindfulness and meditation help us to make healthy choices, recognize our value and tap into our true potential.
2# Emotional Wellbeing – It enhances our confidence and self-esteem. It builds up emotional intelligence which is pivotal not only in improving our relationships with others but more importantly, with our selves.
3# Physical Wellbeing – It implies that our body serves as a perfect instrument for the accomplishment of all our goals, and thus, is not only limited to increasing efficiency in terms of flexibility, endurance, strength but also transcends into the realms of tapping into various forms of energies that can transform us into superheroes/heroines.
4# Spiritual Wellbeing – It is the ability to experience the meaning and purpose of one’s existence concerning the entire cosmos, making it as one of the most potent sources of strength, inspiration and motivation.
5# Social Wellbeing – It is the ability to understand and master the dynamics of interactions and maintaining the equilibrium with the society.
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Once an individual transcends the boundaries of health beyond the body and starts to invest equally in all the above pillars, he/she starts to find the balance in one’s existence. This holistic balance leads one into a non-judgemental and observational state of being and mitigates the reactive subconscious, while simultaneously empowering the calmer and more peaceful response centres of the conscious mind.
With inputs from Yoga Expert Mr Manu Singh, Chief Mentor, Varenyum
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