Is Physical Fitness Enough?
Physical fitness is a great place to start when you're on the journey to improving your overall health. Increasing your physical activity helps your body become more resilient against sickness and bacteria, and research continues to support the fact that physical activity reduces one's risk from several chronic diseases. Additionally, physical activity reduces one's risk for depression and other mental health disorders, improves sleep, lowers one's risk for high blood pressure or strokes, improves cognitive functioning, bone health, balance and joint mobility, and can even delay the onset of cognitive decline (Center of Disease Control & Prevention, 20201). It may come as no surprise that physical activity has its benefits, but is it enough when it comes to overall health and personal growth?
Some of us have been awakening to the wave of holistic health. Of course, one's definition may vary for holistic health. However, essentially it's turning into more than just the physical side of one's health, but honoring one's emotional, social, and mental health as well. For example, many of us have heard the quote that “you can't outrun a bad diet” that highlights the reality that you can be exercising every day. Still, if your diet consists of tons of processed foods, chemicals, or sugars, then the physical activity benefits are limited. But the same can be true the opposite way. Someone can be eating the diet that is best for their body. Still, without taking a look at ineffective thought, behavior, emotional or relationship patterns that disrupt one's life, it will leave a person living less than optimally.
So how do I begin my journey with holistic health?
I'll start by reinforcing the fact that there is no such thing as one size fits all approach. This means that there is no diet, exercise regimen, therapy approach, vitamin regimen (or a multivitamin for that matter), medication, or treatment plan that should be prescribed to all people. Instead, look for providers who value a tailored approach and are willing to recommend what is best for you rather than what is popular or seemingly has great results for “most” people.
From a therapist, this means looking either for someone who has a wide range of skills that allows them to tailor their approach to your specific symptoms, or rather finding a therapist who has a specific skill set and works mainly with the clients who would benefit from that specific approach. (For example, if the root of one's symptoms is trauma, then finding a therapist who can provide a trauma-informed approach skillfully).
From a dietician, this means looking for a provider who is willing and able to do specific lab work or muscle testing to see what diet your body wants to be on. As great as some diets claim to be, it does not guarantee that your body would benefit from that same diet based on your genetics.
Look for providers who seek to address root issues rather than just your symptoms. This means finding a provider willing to go the distance to find out the root of your symptoms instead of ending the treatment with only a symptom-blocker.
As awesome as providers are, holistic health can also be accessed independently! You can do this by keeping your mind and body active, making continuous efforts to learn new things, challenging your limits, engaging with healthy relationships, and maintaining a stance of curiosity and openness for yourself, others, and the world around you.
Writer -Katie K. LMHC, SUDP
Resources:
Mental Health Therapy Support – Find a therapist near you or via telehealth:
https://www.betterhelp.com/about/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us