The Benefits of Holistic Self Care
This blog aims to help you achieve an understanding of what Holistic self care is, and a few avenues for you to explore on your holistic self care journey.
So.. what is Holistic Self Care?
It is believed the mind and body are interconnected and holistic care is all forms of non invasive yet powerful techniques to rebalance your biochemistry. It can be how you use your physiology, your emotionality, and how your body responds to what you feed it. It incorporates treatments including yoga, meditation, massage, diet. Good practises of Holistic Self care can include:
• Listening to your body
• Getting enough sleep
• Ample excercise
• Good nutritian
• Health dose of sunshine
• Regular meditation.
Holistic self care plans will look different for each person. We all deserve to have a self care routine because when we do life becomes happier and smoother for us, it helps calm the mind and improve clarity and overall wellbeing. According to the International Journal of Health Sciences holistic avenues such as ‘Ayurveda’, a practise originating in India, is increasing in popularity, with self help therapies such as prayer and meditation increasing by as much as 45 percent in some areas of the world.
Another simple and effective activity to include in a self care plan is
walking in nature. It is one of my personal favourite ways to relax and way to calm the mind. It is said to be one of the best ways to drain negative energy from our bodies According to the US library of Medicine Walking barefoot on the earth (which is known as ‘grounding’) discharges ions from our electrical current. The article states that “Emerging scientific research supports the concept that the Earth’s electrons induce multiple physiological changes of clinical significance.” Walking barefoot also helps improve balance and posture by the shift and tilt of muscles. Walking regularly treats us to a plethora of health benefits including strengthen heart muscles leading to improved blood pressure, helps regulate sleep patterns, which in turn boosts energy levels and since the nerves on your feet are connected throughout the whole body walking barefoot can massage these areas thus stimulating the different areas in the body.
Meditation is another very popular practise well know for helping to soothe and calm our minds. But perhaps lesser known is that additionally listening to audio frequencies known binaural beats and solfeggio tones is an excellent way to induces calmness and releases negativity. Researchers have shown that binaural beats are not simply ‘digital drugs’ and that the consistent findings of several studies reported that binaural beat stimulation reduces anxiety levels. How anxiety is reduced is not yet fully understood, however, if it you find it works for you, putting on some calming vibrations can be an easy one to include in your daily self care routine. www.knowingneurons.com
Crying is also scientifically proven to be good for us. A study published in the journal Emotion found that crying facilitates coping and recovery skills during times of stress. This means that the less you hold back your tears, the better you’re going to feel both physically and emotionally. For many of us, crying can feel bad because its is associated with negative emotional events. However, studies have shown it is good for us on many levels. It can decrease the manganese levels helping us to feel better. It cleanses the eye getting rid of bacteria as tears contain and powerful antibacterial chemical Lysozyme. Tears are also known to release the stress hormone ACTH as well as Enkepthalin, a natural pain killer, which is why it feels better after a good cry. Having a good cry also helps to release a hormone called oxytcin which are your ‘feel good hormones’ All in all, they enable you to get a good nights sleep. If you experience a headache after crying it may be indicate dehydration so crying acts as a good alarm system to put fluids in yourself as well. Medical News Today
Build a daily routine, it doesn’t have to be a huge change to how you live, it can be a series of small ways that have a huge impact on your wellbeing.
• Pick one or two foods to change in your week.
• Take some time to exercise each day, get off the bus two stops earlier and enjoy the sunshine.
• Ensure that you go to sleep in a restful way. Play some meditation vibes before bedtime to help you wind down.
Above all, love the body you are in, be complimentary to yourself and check your thinking, staying present and mindful is really what holistic self care comes down to. There are so many ways to lead a balanced and healthy life, you can be confident that how you choose to be kind to yourself it is entirely within your control.