If you’re curious about holistic health, and looking for support as you begin your holistic health journey, this post is for you.

Before we dive in, I invite you to take a quick moment to get grounded.

Sit up nice and tall and take a deep breath in, filling your lungs with fresh air. As you exhale, release any tension in your body. Relax your jaw. Relax your hands. Breathe in again, and then slowly exhale. Repeat this for a few minutes, focusing solely on your breath, body, and the present moment. When you feel ready, keep reading.

This is a simple mindfulness exercise you can use at any time to get centered, and create awareness in your mind and body.

Now that we’re feeling grounded, let’s talk briefly about what holistic health is.

What is Holistic Health?

Holistic health is a way of living. It’s a state of being in harmony with your mind, body, spirit, and environment.

To live a holistic lifestyle, it means you prioritize preventative care, and make lifestyle choices that support your whole self (physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual). If you get sick, you address the root cause of the illness, and use food, herbs, supplements, teas, homeopathic remedies, and essential oils as “medicine”.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to holistic health. What may work for someone else may not work for you, and that’s okay. Listen to your body, go at your own pace, and do what’s best for you.

Classes, Therapies, and Treatments

There are many holistic health classes, practices, treatments, and therapies you can try to support your holistic health journey. I jotted some down from the Western Connecticut State University’s Institute for Holistic Health Studies website. These include, but are not limited to: Movement, dancing, singing, or chanting. There’s also sound and vibration healing, drumming, prayer, meditation, mindful eating, and mindfulness practices. More include: acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, biofeedback, massage therapy, chiropractic physicians, manual therapy, naturopathic physicians, meditation, feng shui, guided imagery, yoga, therapeutic touch, reiki and other energy therapies, and Ayurveda. All of these tools are designed to bring you back to yourself when you’re feeling out of alignment.

Have you tried any of these? I would love to hear your opinion if so! Share in the comment section below.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what holistic health is, here are my top 12 tips to support your holistic health journey:

12 Tips to Support Your Holistic Health Journey:

1. Build self-awareness. Notice how you feel and why.
2. Take care of your mental health.
3. Nourish your body with healthy, plant-rich whole foods.
4. Stay hydrated.
5. Prioritize your inner peace.
6. Move with intention every day.
7. Get enough sleep every night.
8. Connect with your community. Say hi on instagram or tiktok!
9. Spend time in nature. Reconnect with Mother Earth.
10. Lead with your values. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
11. Remove toxic items from your space. Start with one item and go from there. Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Learn about the brands you spend your money on.
12. Be mindful of the environment. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for progress.

If you’d like to assess your current health and well-being, I especially love this tool by the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.

Slow is Sustainable

It’s important to mention that holistic health is not a diet. It’s a lifestyle. Have FUN with it! This goes back to understanding what your values are, why living a holistic lifestyle is important to you, and what you hope to improve in your life by following a holistic lifestyle. If you’re feeling unmotivated or uninspired, try something new. The first time I tried a sound healing session to help with my anxiety, my mind was blown! I ran to the closest crystal store and bought my own sound bowls to have at home. My point in sharing is just to remind you to stay curious in your pursuit of living a healthy, holistic lifestyle. You just never know when something might surprise you, and change your life.

If you need additional support, be sure to check out my ebook bundle, The Green Upgrade: How to take care of YOU and feel good inside and out using plant-based practices and holistic principles, for a deeper dive on all things holistic health and plant-based living.

xo – Chelsea

~ If you’re searching for clarity around your holistic health journey, be sure to check out these 6 questions to ask yourself before making a lifestyle change.