I had the great privilege of lecturing to packed classrooms at the Women’s Health and Fitness Day sponsored by the University of Michigan Medical School on Jan. 23, 2010 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  For those of you who may have missed it, I’d like to share some highlights from my talk on “Intro to Holistic Health:  A Body-Mind-Spirit Approach to Health and Healing.”

Holistic refers to the word whole, and the holistic medical model is interested in not only what’s happening in one’s entire body but in what is happening in one’s life, one’s mind, and one’s spirit.  Ancient traditions and cultures (e.g., India, China, and Greece) have known for thousands of years what science and our American medical system is just starting to recognize: our view of health must be expanded to include lifestyle choices, mental and emotional processes, relationships, career and contribution, and our spiritual nature if we are to heal and remain healthy.  All of these components contribute to our total well-being or lack thereof.

The holistic model essentially looks at everything that makes us feel good–gives us a sense of ease–or bad–gives us a sense of dis-ease (i.e., “disease”).  What makes you feel good and nurtures you? Spending time in nature?  Bubble baths?  Painting? Laughing?  Spending quality time with loved ones? Do more of it!

What in your life puts you in a state of dis-ease? A strained relationship? Too much junk food and not enough exercise?  Lack of sleep?  Fear and anxiety? Hanging on to old resentments?  Feeling not good enough?  All work and no play? Do less of it!

Sometimes, the most simple of positive changes can make the most profound difference in our health and happiness. What one thing can you do today to make yourself feel better, either in body, mind, or spirit?

As I explained to the wonderful women at the Women’s Health and Fitness day, there is much we can do to improve our health and to support our body in healing itself.  Watch this website for more tips on doing just that….coming soon!