At The Messina Movement, we believe that achieving true health requires more than just physical well-being. To genuinely heal and thrive, we must attend to every aspect of our being: physical, energetic, emotional, mental, spiritual, and relational. This holistic approach, which I call "whole being health," recognizes that each part of ourselves is interconnected and vital to our overall well-being - no part is left behind!

Within the yoga tradition, which I have studied both here in Canada and in India (read more in my last blog, here!), there are the Five Koshas, or the five layers of our being. The Koshas have inspired my unique definition of whole being health and can help us to understand how the various aspects of ourselves layer atop each other. Relational health, our addition, is a sixth layer that cannot be forgotten about when it comes to whole being health - we are relational beings by definition!

1. Physical Health: The Foundation of Wellness

Our physical health lays the foundation for our overall well-being. It involves not only the absence of illness but also the presence of vitality, strength, and flexibility. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, hygiene, and self-care routines for your body are fundamental practices that contribute to your physical health.

However, physical health, or Annamaya Kosha: The Physical Layer, is just the beginning.

2. Energetic Health: Balancing Our Life Force

Energetic health pertains to the flow and balance of energy within our bodies. This concept, often explored in practices like acupuncture, Reiki, pranayama (breathwork), and qigong, acknowledges that blockages or imbalances in our energy flow can lead to physical and emotional imbalances. By cultivating practices that support energetic balance, we can enhance our vitality and overall health.

The Pranamaya Kosha: The Energetic Layer, cannot exist without the physical layer of our body, but also together with the physical does not yet encompass the entirety of whole being health.

3. Mental Health: Cultivating a Healthy Mind

Our mental health is crucial for our overall well-being as well. It encompasses our thoughts, attitudes, and mental processes. Engaging in activities and practices that stimulate the mind, such as meditation, reading, learning new skills, and various forms of talk therapy, can help to maintain mental sharpness, manage mental health, and gain a better understanding of ourselves. Cultivating a healthy mind also includes increasing self-awareness, managing stress, and practicing self-compassion - some things we all can use a little more of!

4. Emotional Health: Navigating Our Emotional Landscape

Emotional health involves an awareness of, capacity for, tending to, understanding of, nurturing, and embodying our emotions and needs - this makes up much of our work with ATTUNE. It’s about feeling supported to show up authentically, experience deep and intimate connection with yourself and others, and to develop resilience to cope with life's inevitable challenges. Somatic Therapy, regular journaling, group programs like The Process, and emotional processing with a professional can help us maintain balance and allow us to experience the full range of this realm without overwhelm.

Known in the yoga tradition as the Manomaya Kosha: The Mental and Emotional Layer, the Manomaya Kosha blends together what we separate into two distinct aspects of whole being health - our mental and emotional health. Mental health - our thinking realm, and emotional health - our feeling realm, are different in how we tend to them, but are combined in yogic tradition due to the fact that they arise from within the brain and body - not from a deeper knowing, or intuition that arises within what we call spiritual health.

5. Spiritual Health: Connecting to Source and Self

Spiritual health is about finding truth, meaning and purpose in life. This doesn't necessarily involve religion; it's about being in connection to something greater than oneself, whether that’s nature, a community, or a personal philosophy that keeps you living in alignment with your true and higher Self. Practices like meditation, prayer, spiritual journeys, plant medicine journeys, and spending time in nature can nourish our spiritual well-being, providing a sense of peace and fulfillment.

What we call spiritual health relates to two koshas - the Anandamaya Kosha, also known as The Bliss Layer which encompasses the feelings and practices above, as well as the Vijnanamaya Kosha, the Wisdom Layer. The wisdom layer pertains to our intuition, insight, and deeper understanding. These layers involve self-realization, self-actualization, and the ability to discern truth. This too is where The Messina Movement can offer meaningful, nourishing, and lasting support.

You’ll see that when we look at well-being holistically, even though we are dividing aspects of ourselves into individual parts for deeper understanding, they all blend and flow together, all of them connected to, and intertwined with the rest.

6. Relational Health: Building Strong Connections with Others

Humans are inherently social beings, and our relationships significantly impact our health. Relational health involves fostering healthy, supportive connections with family, friends, and community. Effective communication, empathy, and mutual respect are key to maintaining strong bonds, and they require collaboration, compromise, and showing up authentically. Healthy relationships can provide emotional support, reduce stress, and enhance our sense of belonging.

Our roadmap to whole being health leads us to relationships. We know that because our pain is often rooted in relationship and disconnection, that we must repair and heal in relationship and connection - we cannot do it alone.

Tending To Your Whole Being

By tending to each aspect of our health, we create a balanced and harmonious life, allowing us to thrive in every dimension. Our mission is to support you on your journey back to wholeness, to build awareness of the aspects of your health that are undernourished, to tend to yourself, and to regain the balance and harmony you deserve.

Introducing Wellbeing Wednesdays

To support your journey towards whole being health, I am excited to introduce Wellbeing Wednesdays, an immersive in-person class series designed to rejuvenate and empower. This series goes beyond traditional yoga, blending a variety of holistic practices to refuel, restore, and reconnect with your whole-self.

Every session is thoughtfully crafted, fostering a deep connection to a specific aspect of your being—body, mind, heart, & soul. Expect meditation, breathwork, a meaningful movement practice, contemplation, & nervous system regulation in every class.

Receive safe and supportive instruction tailored to your needs. Integrate physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Leave feeling nourished and whole.

Dates and Focus:

Wednesday, July 10th: Body + Earth - The Physical Layer
Wednesday, July 17th: Energy + Water - The Energy Layer
Wednesday, July 24th: Mind/Heart + Fire - The Mental / Emotional Layer
Wednesday, July 31st: Soul + Air/Ether - The Spirit Layer

Join us for this transformative series and take a significant step towards embracing whole being health. Experience the power of holistic wellness in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Practical Steps to Achieve Whole Being Health

Self-Assessment: Regularly check in with yourself to assess each area of your health.
Balanced Routine: Create a daily routine that incorporates practices supporting all aspects of your being.
Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to seek professional help when needed, whether it’s a doctor, therapist, or spiritual guide.
Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness to stay present and aware of your needs in each moment.
Community: Engage with a community that supports your journey towards whole being health.

Conclusion

Whole being health is a journey, not a destination. It requires continuous attention and effort, but the rewards are profound. By nurturing every part of ourselves, we not only heal but also flourish, leading richer, more fulfilling lives. Embrace the journey of whole being health and discover the incredible potential within you.

With deep love,
Lisa and The Messina Movement Team

Join us for Wellbeing Wednesdays and begin your journey to holistic health today! Not in PEC and wish to dive deeper into your whole being health? Our signature program, The Process, is open for registration this fall.

Looking to learn more about me?

Check out the About Me page if you’re interested!

Looking for more ways to connect and get support with this work?

1:1 Sessions with Me
Join The Process, our online 8-week group program
Practice with our On Demand Library
Design your Private Retreat

Embracing Whole Being Health: A Path to Holistic Healing