MOST PEOPLE AREN'T WELL AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT...

Wellness is an issue with most employees these days, but the awareness with the organization or the people themselves, is rather low - so both of them pay a high cost. The real issue at the roots is not physical, but mental wellness; once the mind is unwell, the body follows, and it too gets unwell. The body, in turn, also affects the mind, although less subtly than the other way round. This can get into a vicious circle - the body and mind adversely impacting each other, rather than mutually helping and invigorating, as they could do with a greater self-awareness.

During the pandemic and other?recent happenings, the body alone did not suffer; the mind also lost much of its natural zest and confidence, and although the pandemic is hopefully over (so it appears for now, at least), the average mind continues to be fearful, unhappy and paranoid. As if the pandemic was not enough, the war in Ukraine, the economic and market-related challenges for the organizations and the resulting insecurity of employment for the employees, the climatic upheavals, natural tragedies like earthquake, etc., have all further infected human minds with uncertainty, fear, doubt and anxiety.?

The mind is indeed above the body, and has a strong influence on bodily?wellness. We mainly exist at 3 levels: body, mind, and soul. Healing the body alone in isolation through symptomatic treatment, does not reach the mind. But when we heal the mind, both the mind and the body receive healing. Going deeper, when we heal the soul of its ego and ignorance even to some extent, and regain some of our innate peace and joy through universal values like forgiveness, gratitude etc. and meditative practices, all 3 levels immensely benefit. This is why meditation is the best?thing we can ever do to heal the body, the mind, and the soul. But meditation is not just a technique, and it can only be founded on right values to live by - called Yama-Niyama in Yoga.

So let us consider what are the things the body and mind can do to help themselves as well as help each other.?

1. Daily exercise including but not limited to brisk walks: Exercise is healthy for both - the body and the mind. Brain is the interface between the two, and when we exercise, the brain releases some feel-good chemicals called endorphins that promote?mental wellness,?which in turn raises physical?immunity.?

2. Deep breathing and yogic pranayama: The breath and the mind affect and reflect each other. The brain's food is oxygenated blood. So we can see how important it is to breathe well - deep, long and slow. Pranayama, the 4th step in the 8-fold Raja Yoga, 'formats' the brain's unhealthy neural circuits and creates new, healthier ones during the subsequent yogic practices of Pratyahara (interiorization), Dharana (concentration), and Dhyaan (Meditation).??

3. Right eating: The food we eat influences both the body and the mind. There is a saying that we become what we eat (and think). Seasonal fruits and greens are the best. As we know, processed, preserved, spicy foods are not good for the body. The gross part of what we eat goes to the body; the finer attribute (the vibration) goes to the mind. On the other hand, thoughts are mental foods. Negative thoughts of doubt, fear, hatred, jealousy, anger, worry etc. are mental toxins, and they harm our overall wellbeing in several ways.?

4. Adequate sleep: Most people need 6-7 hours' good sleep and don't get it,?or don't even try to get it,?not knowing its importance to their?psychosomatic wellness. Hard work is good so long as it does not lead to sleep starvation. Sleep is a powerful natural de-stressor and rejuvenator. My Master says, sleep is unconscious meditation, and meditation is conscious sleep! But the quality of sleep is even more important than the length. Other factors like daily exercise (esp. yogic kind), mental positivity, forgiveness, gratitude, service, etc., improve the quality of sleep.

Sunlight, good posture and hygiene etc. are other things we can do on the physical front, and the mind will remain a co-beneficiary.?

Meditation practice must be founded on all of the above. Cheerfulness, practice of gratitude, forgiving, choosing positive perceptions, daily introspective awareness with an attitude of hope and courage, good habits, and empathy for all - beginning but not ending with oneself - heal the mind for sure, and again... the body follows.

So wellness has to be holistic (body-mind-soul) in order to be true and effective. And organizations are at their best, in a world that can hardly get more competitive and uncertain, only when employees are healthy, happy and focused.

Write in here or send a mail to?[email protected] ?if you have any questions or doubts. Short tips are free. Corporates can avail holistic motivational group training programs on holistic health and motivation for their people; individuals can take 1:1 online life coaching sessions.

Hans Dholakia // Blending the material with the spiritual - scientifically!