Basic Principles of Great Health

Health doesn't have to be complicated. Simple and consistent healthy habitual shifts can create positive impact in your life and wellbeing.

What is Great Health? The nourishment of all parts of our selves - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual - to be in a balanced and peaceful state of joyful wellbeing. Most of the time! Life has it's challenges, which gives us opportunity to grow holistically for our greatest good for the greatest good of all involved.

Just over eight years ago, I was halfway through my first year of holistic nutrition school and super excited to be learning about all things holistic health! Approaching wellness holistically felt right and made sense as a root cause solution to the answers I had been seeking.

June 28, 2018

✨basic principles of great health✨

💚 whole natural food

💚 rest

💚 satisfying work + purpose

💚 communicative relationships

💚 movement

The World Health Organization defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'.

Health is holistic; looking at your body as a system (mind, body, spirit) and not individual pieces. If you're healthy then you'll be happy (& probably successful) - and isn't happiness everyone's goal?🤗💗🌼

Laughing and having fun at a yoga studio photo shoot. Photograph by my sis Katie Huisman.

I have been practicing, teaching, and continue to research and learn about these holistic health principles for almost a decade. The one thing I would add to that list from 2018 is stress management and mindfulness! We'll talk lots more about that here on the GG blog.

I have become so much more grounded, balanced, joyful, and peaceful after living in a holistic way. There is something harmonious about living as aligned as you can with your natural self and discovering what that entails along the way. Feeling this way allowes me to continue to cultivate my growth mindset and emotional resilience that has allowed me to overcome mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical challenges.

But, I didn't just make a switch overnight! I've made small adjustments to my lifestyle, practiced consistently, and overtime they have turned into healthy habits that are just a part of my routine that make me feel good.

Where to begin?

Start by choosing either a Physical, Mental, or Spiritual area in your life to shift each week for one month. Add more when you feel like you have space.

Physically: Mindfully drink more water every day, starting with a glass first thing in the morning. Or maybe you want to cut out sugary foods and swap them for natural alternatives.

Mentally: Shift negative self talk to positive self talk, starting with an affirmation or mantra you repeat when you catch yourself stuck in the negative. "This is only a though and a thought can change".

Spiritual or Energetic: Practice gratitude daily.