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This article is an excerpt from a handout used in our Healing Arts Seminiars and Bodyworks Program.
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Components of Health & Healing, By Anthony Sell
A primary concept in all systems of healing is that the mind and body are inseparable. For our course of study, it will be helpful to view health and healing as being comprised of three components:
Physical-Structural This refers to postural concerns, skeletal alignment, symmetry, muscular balance, range of motion, strength and capacity, etc.
Emotional-Psychological This refers to the effects of emotions on one's health, the psychological effects of trauma, strong emotion, psychosomatic reactions.
Chemical-Nutritional This refers to the hormonal aspects of health, the endocrine system, the effects of diet and metabolism on health, etc.
Creating an effect in one area will also have an effect in other areas. The significance of this concept is seen when we begin to diagnose possible causes of bad health, be it injury, trauma, disease or some combination of these. Health then, is a matter of balance, not only balancing these components with one another, but balancing elements within each component.
If we look at what will effect the Physical-Structural component, we can identify elements that have a direct effect, including posture, alignment, muscle tension, environmental stressors, fatigue, quality and quantity of rest, etc. If any one of these elements is out of balance, we will begin to show Physical-Structural symptoms.
The other components can also have a dramatic affect on the Physical-Structural component. If our nutritional habits are not sufficient and necessary, we may manifest physical symptoms, most often in the course of muscular soreness, fatigue, poor posture, bruising, trigger points, etc.
The goal then, as responsible Martial Artists, is to regularly examine our training habits to make sure that we listen to the signals our body gives us. Training habits include preparation habits, training methods, and recovery habits.
In preparation we need to make sure that our body is properly warmed-up and stretched for the activity in which we are about to engage, given its current condition. If we are injured, this may require special steps - a more thorough warm-up, wrapping joints or wearing braces for injuries, and protective gear for intense training.
In training, we need to make sure our intensity levels and expectations are reasonable and our training methods are not reckless. This means staying hydrated, using proper work-rest intervals, and making sure that our training is balanced to not overwork just one part of our bodies.
In recovery, our focus is to properly provide the body with the rest and nutrients it needs, allowing muscle tissue to rebuild itself. We can facilitate this process by improving circulation of blood and nutrients, breaking up stagnant fluids and swelling through massage and focused stretching. Recovery habits also include our day-to-day maintenance. If we make a habit of being limber, we will recover from intense workouts faster. The goal then, is to make these practices a matter of regular habit, rather than one of disaster recovery.
"Big problems are easy to fix when they're small."