Holistic Health
Nourish Mind, Body and Spirit
By Kim Krost
Jun 25, 2008

Scientific evidence continues to recognize the link between immunity and resistance to disease with a person's attitudes and behavior. Negative emotions associated with long-term or sudden stress affects adrenalin and cortisol neurotransmitters. These two hormones essentially turn off the immune system. *

There are some simple ways to nourish the body, mind and spirit and encourage a healthy immune system.

Take time to rest

Give your body the gift of a good night's sleep. Sure everyone knows this, but taking a few simple steps before getting into bed for the night can make a difference. Have a bedtime routine that gradually becomes quieter and less busy. When we were children we ate dinner at an earlier hour, took warm comforting/playful baths, settled into bed with a little story, and spent some time pondering on the 'highlights' of the day or perhaps saying a comforting prayer before closing our eyes. Perhaps adapting some healthy childhood habits for adulthood will reward us with 'sleeping like a baby'.
Transform stress

Stress can be a motivator or emotionally draining. Cleary evaluate what makes you stress. Commuting, relationships, school, work, or time constraints can be stressors. Once you are really sure what stresses you out, ponder on some simple minimizing and managing solutions. Work with others. Many times what stresses one is therapeutic to another. Sharing duties can reduce emotional deficits and benefit your immune system. Ease your way into this new way of looking at your health with small adjustments.

Become body conscious

The term body conscious has taken on some pretty negative connotations in the past few years and could more clearly be described as body obsession. What I am proposing is becoming more aware of your body's subtle preferences and following those through to completion. Fine-tuning of simple things such as how you sit at your desk, or wearing shoes that do not hurt your feet can begin a conscious dialogue between the physical body and the mind that is necessary for optimum health.

Trust Your Body

Trust that your body will understand each modification that you are making (even the tiny ones) on its behalf and reward your efforts with greater vitality. Attention to the subtle details does have an affect on your overall health and ultimately happiness. Take a few moments to check in with yourself right now. What is your body telling you?
—Kim Krost

* Moyer B. Healing and the Mind Doubleday, USA 1993.