When we contemplate the concept of healing, our thoughts often gravitate towards the physical body. This is understandably so, as many of us who grew up in the West are taught this concept from a young age: the health of our body directly dictates our health. While the health of the physical body does indeed have an impact on our overall health, experiencing true health goes much deeper than this.
In this post we will explore this concept of healing beyond the body and mind.
The Mind-Body Connection
Being a physical therapist, my own focus was initially centered on healing the physical body. However, throughout my career I started to see and understand the intricate connection between the body and the mind. The state of one profoundly influences the other; the body affects the mind, just as the mind affects the body.
If you woke up in the morning with back pain, would you be in a good mood that morning? Probably not. Similarly if you had a very stressful day at work, would your physical body feel its best? Probably not, you probably do things to make your body feel good such as going to the gym etc.
After obtaining this realization and knowledge, my approach to healing evolved, encompassing both the physical body and the mind.
The Mind-Body-Soul Connection
It wasn’t until I started my own spiritual journey that I began to shift my perspective again to understand that true healing comes from nurturing and awakening the soul. The inseparable connection between the body, mind, and soul became glaringly evident. The well-being of the body and mind is intrinsically linked to the vitality of the soul.
Throughout our human experience, there are inevitably periods when our physical bodies do not meet our desired standard, or periods when our minds struggle with the stress that being human can bring. By nurturing our spiritual health, we gain the capacity to confront these challenges on a deeper level and create an environment for profound healing even when challenges arise.
This does not imply neglecting the health of the body and mind while solely focusing on the soul/spirit. It’s crucial to remember the interconnectedness of the three. Ignoring the health of the physical body or the mind is not in alignment with caring for the well-being of the spirit.
In this life, your body & mind serve as vessels for your soul, & they too deserve attention & care.
The crux of the matter is, that more often than not, we only prioritize the body and mind, neglecting our soul and spirit. Spiritual health is sometimes dismissed as “woo-woo” etc. However, connecting with your spirit brings about a sense of wholeness and creates an environment for deep healing to occur.
While my current role involves assisting people in improving flexibility, strengthening muscles, and helping them with calming their minds, these endeavors are approached in a manner that acknowledges the importance of the soul. When my clients are ready, we open the doorway to spiritual exploration.
And please remember that spiritual healing does not mean that you should ignore modern medicine, modern medicine is a gift that should be utilized in addition to spiritual healing.
What can you do to work on your spiritual health?
In terms of what you can do to care for your spiritual health, there really isn’t one set path to take for a spiritual journey. While I could tell you a specific stretch to do to stretch your hamstrings or a specific breathwork practice to calm your nervous system, I can’t tell you specific spiritual practice that will be right for you.
While I do believe that many spiritual journeys lead us to the same conclusion, the path to get there is unique to each individual. While I offer guidance to my clients, it’s really up to them to determine what resonates with them on a soul level.
What awakens your spiritual side?
What calls to you?
The best advice I can give you is to be open to the beautiful exploration of spirituality. It’s an exploration and reawakening that holds the potential for profound transformation. Taking the time to care for your spiritual health is an important part of living holistically.
Holistic Healing
The word holistic is used so often nowadays but what does it really mean? In terms of holistic healing, it means nurturing and caring for all aspects of one’s being – body, mind, and soul. It entails a profound acknowledgment that an individual is more than just the physical body and the mind.
True holistic healing involves recognizing the inherent importance of every facet of our being along our healing journey.
The interconnectedness of these three elements, body, mind, and soul, is the foundation for a holistic approach to well-being. Each of the three parts play a vital role in our human experience and all parts work together in synergy.
Holistic healing, at its core, invites individuals to embrace the entirety of their existence on their healing journeys.
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