#1 What is health?

Before I began craniosacral therapy, I always thought that health was not a thing in itself. It was in a context like, “Are you eating healthy food?” or was something to think about when you went to see a doctor, “How has your health been?” It was always an isolated thing. But After starting the practice, I realised that it was integrated into every aspect of every day.

When we were first asked to ‘look for health’ in our bodies, I have to say I was not sure what that meant. But as I tried to concentrate on the internal body, there were definitely parts that felt different from each other. There were some that felt lighter and some that felt not very comfortable. Upon reflection, these are always areas that I have had trouble with.

Health, I realised, could mean many things. A few words that come to mind – light, intergrated, fluid, buoyant, energetic, full, rounded. Some of these words may not be the usual words to describe health, but that’s what I feel.

In the body, health is always present. It may not always be ‘well aligned’, but it is a resource within us. It can be made to ‘kick in’ if we work on our bodies and treat them with care. The key is listening to your body and the clues it gives to health. It is adaptable and can change according to the needs of the body. Some parts of the body which express health can help to positively influence other areas that feel restricted. It is also about balance and finding a good equilibrium within the body to function well.

The physical is interlinked with emotional and mental health, as we know well now. Many ancient cultures had the wisdom that it manifested in the body. We know this too, yet we ignore it often. But with increasing attention to it, crazy changes can take place. From how you react to how you hold yourself and your posture, the all-powerful mind can be rejigged to being healthier when we are emotionally stable. This field of study is dynamic, and the more we learn, the more mind-body alignment seems essential. Because health is a resource that helps you get through the undulations of life, it is not just the absence of pain or disease but something more positive.

As my practice has grown into other areas, especially Reiki, I’ve become more aware of spiritual health. It is a very individual idea and never be the same for people. It does not necessarily mean being religious. Spiritual health works with life purpose and exploring all the different dimensions and capabilities of a human being. It’s made me think of questions like What makes me feel most complete? Connected to others? When do I feel whole?
It means livingly passionately and compassionately, encouraging altruism and setting a compass on ethics.

For me, it’s about a spirit that lives in us, that everyone and everything are intertwined, and that I connect with something greater than myself. I have faith in that. And I find that faith makes you fearless – it provides hope. We can’t live or be healthy without that.