Holistic Health as a Christian

Oh boy, will this ruffle some feathers! This topic is not for everyone & I encourage you to have an open mind when listening.

If you’re a Christian who has been confused about how to properly steward your body & mind, then this is for you.

If you’ve struggled with mental health imbalances, depression, anxiety, etc, then this is for you.

If you want to live your best life & learn to balance your biochemistry from a scientific & strategic perspective without any New Age practices- then this is for you!

This is what I’ve learned over the years when it comes to “holistic health” & how the New Age movement has infiltrated many health topics in our modern world… & how to get well & stay well for good so you can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Overall, we have great authority over our bodies & the Bible says it’s a temple. It’s literally where the Holy Spirit resides! What a blessing it is to have this dominion over God’s temple.

When studying the human body & how it operates, there is no doubt that we are divinely made. How does such a complicated & perfect machine just form spontaneously from microscopic sperm & egg?! I truly believe that science is just trying to prove that God exists. I LOVE using science & biochemistry to understand the body on a deeper, cellular level. It’s changed my life & the lives of thousands of others.

Enjoy my interview with Angela as we chat about all things health & how it relates to how God says we should be taking care of our bodies.

9 Simple + Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Inner Health Right Now

In this moment, stress is abundant + time passes us by all too quickly. Taking small moments for yourself + practicing self-awareness helps ground us + keep us present.  Use these health hacks when you feel tense, tired, or over-stimulated.  These free + holistic tools make it easy to start your inward health journey.

1 // Take A Break : Take your shoes off and go outside for a few minutes.  By connecting your bare feet to the earth, your body naturally reduces chronic fatigue + inflammation.

2 // Breathe : Place your hands over your belly + simply listen to your breath.  Try extending your inhales + exhales to 6 long seconds each.  This relaxes the nervous system + reduces the stress hormone, cortisol. 

3 // Clear The Clutter : Spend 5 minutes organizing your desk or a drawer in the kitchen or bathroom.  Get rid of things that you haven't used recently.  The act of "letting things go" and "creating space" subconsciously creates better blood flow + less oxidative stress in your body. 

4 // Light A Candle : The mesmerizing effect of a candle flame is a great way to divert your eyes from the computer screen or workload.  Set an intention first, and focus your body + mind on the energetic qualities of fire. 

5 // Stretch Your Body : Stand up, turn on a short yoga video or simply just practice some twists + arm circles in your chair.  By increasing movement in your physical body, you have the opportunity to release toxins, stimulate cleansing + increase energy.

6 // Write Yourself A Note : On a sticky post-it, record a favorite verse, proverb, affirmation, or positive quote. Fold it up in your pocket and read as the day goes on, or be happily surprised + inspired later in the day.

7 // Drink Hot Lemon Water :  By adding this citrus fruit to hot water, your body's metabolism increases + your liver starts functioning more efficiently.  This helps clear skin, absorb essential nutrients from food + boosts immune system. 

8 // Smile + Compliment Someone : The best way to boost your health + energy is boosting someone else's.  Offer a gift, smile, or kind words to the next person you meet, and recognize how that positivity comes back into your life.  

9 // Get Rid Of Chatter : Next time you find your TV/radio/phone providing background noise, turn it off and observe the peace that begins to fill the space + your mind. This practice lowers blood pressure, decreases tension  + offers mind-body connection. 

Understanding The Karma Concept

The Karma Concept was born out the pursuit to create a healthier lifestyle; to set you up to discover your true self, your own powers of healing, and how to create a more profitable future through self awareness.

Karma is defined in the dictionary as “action; seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation.”

Setting aside the commonly spoken about definition regarding circumstances and events, this philosophy & definition can more positively be translated into your own self, and the reactions you experience throughout your body, mind, and spirit.  Physical, mental, and emotional symptoms & imbalances can all be traced back to an initial point that started the resonating process.  Whether it is healthy food vs. junk food, supportive relationships vs. negative relationships, or positive thoughts vs. self-sabotaging thoughts, our current presence and holistic self are the outcomes of past experiences and choices. Understanding where they came from can lead you towards a path of self-healing.

The wonderful thing is that we can change our future by changing our present.  In terms of karma, begin focusing on the here & now to create a healthier future.  We can no longer do anything about the past, so accepting where we are in the current moment is the best we are ever able to do.  Support a positive present to reap a healthy future.

Ignorance is NOT Bliss

I spent many days feeding my body food that wasn't right for it, only to have many negative symptoms of disease, depleted hormones and no gut function.  I was not being totally conscious of my food choices or noticing how these foods were directly affecting my energy and body as a whole.  My mind was cluttered with negative external remarks and self-hatred, living in the flesh rather than my own soul.  Talk about an ongoing bad dose of karma… By eating the wrong foods and thinking the wrong thoughts, I was only slowly poisoning my body and mind.

My actions were developing constant negative results, and I was clueless.  I’d see doctor after doctor prescribing medications that only covered up the problems temporarily.  I decided I needed to take things into my own hands and begin research on my own.  I ended up diagnosing myself before my naturopath could, and am grateful I could develop the self awareness needed to pay attention and look in the right places.  It didn't come easy, and I contribute my 10+ years of yoga and yoga teacher training to the development of these tools.  Most people can't tap into this realm of awareness as easily, and there are more health problems now than ever before.

Through The Karma Concept, learn to identify what is triggering your mind/body/spirit symptoms before they really get out of hand.  Your health is completely controlled by you, and you are your own best healer.

3 Simple Easy Ways To Start

Food Log:

Keeping track of what you eat, how often you eat, and how these foods make you feel is the first step in identifying key issues.  You can either keep a hand written journal with you, or easily download an app on your phone.  I personally use My Fitness Pal.  It even tracks your exercise and weight loss goals.

Meditation:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you have not started a daily meditation practice, DO SO NOW!  This can create the most awareness in your body.  Focus on tuning in to your organs and brain, to see how well you are digesting and resting.  Meditation Oasis is my favorite, and there is definitely something for everyone.  Starting with just a couple minutes a day, can make a huge impact on how you feel and react to the world.

Journaling:

Writing down your thoughts, moods, and gratitudes is a simple way to get things off your chest and heal your mind.  Challenge yourself to write down 10 things you are thankful for each day.  Check out Tiny Buddha's 10 Journaling Tips.

Believe in Your Future Self

Becoming aware of your internal body & mind definitely takes time, but hey, you’ve got a lifetime to be in the body you have!  Make the most of it and charge it up to it’s fullest potential.

Live the life you desire.

Namaste, Leah

Well Rounded

Balance I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that life is all about finding a balance.  I’ve struggled with the thought of this forever, thinking that if I work hard, play nice, stay healthy, and make the money that I need, that everything should fall into place as it should, I’d be happy, and my life would be balanced…

But creating a balanced life takes work, and especially, it takes awareness.  Without realizing what's abundant, what's weak, or what's completely missing, we're just set towards a bumpy road.

I’ve learned the hard way that focusing only on physical things (work, school, physical health) will drive a person to sickness. It has seemed that if something is going really great in life, sooner or later another aspect starts deteriorating. Personally, I start to focus so much on the happiness and fulfillment of the good areas that I don't nourish the other realms; the areas that may not be holding up so well and the areas that need some attention.

Regarding my own health, it started declining when I thought my career was moving forward at a great speed, and my body was stronger that it ever had been.  I had just moved to a new city and I was so excited to be finishing my degree, working in my field of study, and teaching yoga. Several months into this fulfillment phase, I started feeling like I was blowing out my mind/body/spirit connection.  I started getting chronically fatigued, physically sick for weeks at a time, and finding my body becoming sensitive to certain foods.  I thought I had everything figured out around me, but really I was just hiding from the areas that weren't so bountiful, and not really considering my whole picture.

Being around naturopathic doctors and holistic health counselors has taught me to look at the bigger picture.  By studying your life in all aspects and taking small steps to improve what is running low, it’s easy to boost your overall health.

The Life Wheel is something health counselors have used for years, and some versions even date back to ancient Buddhism.  I like to use the site Cojourneo to analyze where I am in my holistic health circle and see what needs improving.  This site also gives you tips to boosting what is low, and management sources for each category.  I’ve posted my own circle above, and plan to update it here quarterly, as a way to look back to see where I have improved and hold myself accountable to my own personal changes.

Although these aspects can change on a weekly or daily basis, I think it’s good to see where you have come from and where you are going with your own health and happiness. You might be surprised and inspired to start taking steps to a more balanced life.

Once your through and have your wheel in front of you, view each area like spokes on a bicycle.  If this wheel were on your bike would it be wobbly? Or is it pretty well balanced and just lacking adequate inflation?  The goal is to create a round circle first, so your bike can ride smoothly and then begin filling the circle in so the whole wheel is colorful, centered, and makes your bike easy to ride.

source

It's not about finding balance, but creating balance in your life.

What does your circle look like? What areas do you need help improving? What ideas do you have to create more balance in your life?

Namaste, Leah

A Meditative Mindfulness

Happy Friday!

With the end of the workweek approaching, I think we all look forward to the relaxing aspect the weekend traditionally offers, right?  I say traditionally because many folks aren't so available to enjoy these days like they were designed.  I hope you're one of the lucky ones, yet I can almost guarantee you're sitting there, rolling your eyes, thinking "relaxing??? Is this lady crazy??? My weekends are for errands, forgotten chores, side jobs and everything in between..."

After attending a yoga class that included chanting and live music, my friend Alex asked if I had my own meditative practice.  I told her I didn't have one, and honestly had never been able to really "get into it", besides during my yoga teacher training. I've always wanted to be one of those people who found quiet peace in the morning that translated through the day but just hadn't figured out what worked for me.

She told me to check out Meditation Oasis, and even sat with me for a healing meditation.  We were across from each other on the ground; legs crossed, and slowly sank into the sounds in our headphones.  I found myself drifting away constantly from the lady speaking, and honestly don't remember a word she said...but I know how I felt after, and how well I slept that night.

Even if weekends are the start to your workweek, I challenge you to take a few minutes and just sit with yourself and practice a guided meditation.  The website above has short ones, long ones, and meditations with or without music, so it's easy to find something to tailor your preferences and time allotment.

Holistic heath focuses on body, mind, and spirit, and I believe meditation can target all these things, if you let it. Instead of focusing so much energy on eating more healthy or exercising more, give your brain a break for once.  Not that eating healthy and exercising aren't important, (because they are!), but focusing on strengthening the mind will lead to making other life shifts (like diet and exercise) more manageable and satisfying in the long run.

Happy Weekend & Namaste,

-Leah