5 Core Foundations of Health

Here are 5 core foundations of health I strive to practice and encourage my clients to cultivate.

1. Awareness

For me, the first core foundation for health is awareness. This includes physical, emotional, and psycho-spiritual awareness.

It’s important to be attuned to how we feel in each moment, so we can act accordingly.

Are my body and being asking for movement, rest, food, nature? Have I taken the adequate space to listen to its needs? Is there something important I may need to speak about with my partner or with my children?

We increase our awareness by connecting to our breath, and by taking time and space to know ourselves. Journaling can help, or whatever process works for you.

Sometimes, taking space from the outer world, even if it’s 10 minutes in our day, can allow us to drop in.

Connecting to our bodies and consciously moving out of the constant mental chatter is a daily practice to live our lives as fully as possible.

Getting into our bodies may mean exercise, yoga, conscious breathing, listening to music, going for a walk, or coming into primal rhythm through dance. It’s different for each of us.

2. Calming the Nervous System

Regulating the nervous system cultivates an energized, calm presence.

We can do so through rest, relaxation, sleep, meditation, connecting with nature, and spending time outdoors.

For me, calming the nervous system is different from awareness. It has to do with coming in a state of presence and groundedness, a state of inner balance.

Connecting with nature is hugely important in calming the nervous system, and nourishes our health on deep levels.

3. Breaking down and Rebuilding

Exercise, stress, and work are all processes of breaking down the body.

In exercise, we break down our muscle fibers. During work or our service in the work, we output. Under stress, the body and nervous system are being hyperstimulated.

In all of these activities, we’re giving something. For example, in a workout, we have to use our strength. We have to be responsible and connect with our core. It’s powerful and enjoyable!

But with every area where there is a breakdown, we also need to rebuild.

After breaking down comes rebuilding.

We can rebuild with food, protein, hydration, resting, and heat therapy with baths and saunas. Many enjoy following up with cold plunges.

Rebuilding also means caring for our minds and monitoring the overuse of technology and screen time.

We can prioritize giving back to ourselves, instead of always being on the go and giving only, to the outer.

4. Food and Supplementation

With the diminished quality of the soil that our vegetables are grown in, supplementation is crucial.

The meat we eat comes from animals eating from this soil that is often lacking nutrients.

I believe everyone should be supplementing their diet. Using the guidance of a qualified functional medicine practitioner is wise to know which supplements are needed.

A functional medicine doctor can run lab work to see what your body is deficient in, and to determine your body's individual needs.

I'm happy to support you in finding a good practitioner to support you in this process. Reach out via email anytime.

5. Love and Connection

Sharing love, and connecting with ourselves and others is a critical part of health and wellness.

Connecting to something deeper, greater, especially as the world is often in turmoil, is rich and supportive for many.

We find spiritual connection through nature, movement, community, and the silence of communion with ourselves and spirit.