Spirituality and Health

By Heather Greaves, CPT

Certified Yoga Therapist

“Health is not merely a question of physical fitness, but rather is a result of the soul finding free expression through the mind and body of an individual.”

Dr. Randolph Stone, founder of Polarity Therapy.

There are many options as to how this topic can be presented:
“The global solution: spirituality and health”;
“The connection between spirituality and health”; or
“Exercising my right to spirituality and health”.

Definition of health

In 1946, the founders of the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". The Constitution further recognized "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health ... as one of the fundamental rights of every human being". Imagine! “The highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being. ”

It took 52 (fifty two) years before WHO’s definition of health changed to include spiritual well being. Dr. M. H. Khayat, Deputy Regional Director, WHO's Office for the Eastern editerranean, in a paper “Spirituality in the Definition of Health – the World Health Organization’s Point of View”i comments on the original definition of health by WHO.

“However, it seems that there was a general feeling from the very beginning that a fourth dimension was missing from this definition. There has been a growing awareness of what Arnold Toynbee referred to as a "spiritual vacuum" in many parts of the world, especially in the industrialized countries in the West. A vacuum that led to widespread psychological insecurity" with the consequent deleterious effects on mental and physical health.”


In January 1998, the WHO changed their definition of health to include the fourth dimension, spirit. The definition now reads, “Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ii

Your Vision

What is your vision of your highest attainable standard of health? Let’s explore your vision of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and relax. Now see yourself at your brightest and best state of physical well being. How much energy do you have? How much strength? How much mobility? ….. Are all systems functioning properly… circulation, digestion, nervous system? Is your breathing free and easy?

Now consider your mental and emotional state. How much clarity do you have? How happy are you? How freely do you express your emotions? And your social state: How do you relate to family… to friends … to loved ones … to neighbors? Are your personal relationships nurturing? Do you have a heart friend, a hand friend, a pillow friend?

On the spiritual level: Are you able to see a big picture of life? Are you fulfilling a particular calling or mission in life? Are you living life fully? Now take a deep breath, exhale slowly. Take another breath. Gently move your head and shoulders. How does your present state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being compare to the highest vision you just created? Do you know what steps you must take to make this highest vision a reality? Are you prepared to take those steps?

Spirituality Steps

There is no universal definition for spirituality. Generally, the meaning is given as non-material or temporal. Yet this impalpable and invisible spirituality affects matter, our lives and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community iii wrote: “When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men. When we foolishly minimize the internal of our lives and maximize the external, we sign the warrant for our own day of doom.”

Women and men who choose spirituality constantly walk the labyrinth to their center, connect with their creative potential, and then journey out again to express their true selves. The use of totems is a Native American tradition that captures the uniqueness of the manifestation of energy within each creation: nature, the birds, the animals, etc. Travelers on this journey of life with high ideals, guided by the light of intuitive wisdom, meet life’s challenges with the courageous spirit of eagle. To discover one’s own uniqueness and find free expression, there are basic steps taken by seekers all over the world.
  1. Start your day with at least 10 minutes of quiet time.
  2. Take time to gratefully receive at least one precious breath in the middle of your day. Breath is life.
  3. Contemplate on some spiritual teachings daily.
  4. Listen and respond appropriately to the messages your body sends you.
  5. Pay attention to your feelings. “What are you feeling?”
  6. Create an altar in your home.
  7. Learn to relax properly.
  8. Keep a journal.
  9. End your day with reflection. Ask yourself soul-searching questions like: Did I love? Did I laugh? Did I live?
  10. Keep good company.
As we develop internally, we are able to contribute to healthier communities. In her book, Salvation: Black People and Love, Bell Hooks states: “Returning to love and a love ethic can provide every black person with the strength to survive with dignity and passion, no matter what their economic lot in life. It can empower us to create communities of resistance that can eliminate all forms of violence in our neighborhoods: the violence of addiction, of physical abuse, of emotional torture. The resources to heal our wounds are already at our disposal. We simply need to garner the means of distribution to take action in every way.”iv

This road to health and wholeness while embracing spirit, does not exclude trials. As you exercise your rights to spirituality and health, be as tenacious as the eagle, and keep your eye on your center.

Heather Greaves is a certified polarity therapist, yoga therapist, hatha yoga and Kundalini yoga teacher who lives in Hamilton. She shares the ancient art and science of yoga one-on-one and in groups. She also co-facilitates Mind Body Medicine workshops in Hamilton. She can be reached at 905-628-6463 or http://www.yogatogo.com and info@yogatogo.com.



i   http://www.medizinethik.ch/publik/spirituality_definition_health.htm

ii   World Health Organization (1998) Executive Board 101st Session, Resolutions and Decisions, EB101.1998/REC/1,p.52-53

iii   Martin Luther King, Jr. A Testament of Hope (Harper San Francisco, 1991) p.621

iv  bell hooks, Salvation: Black People and Love (Perennial 2001) p.224

Other Resources

Arewa, Caroline Shola, Opening to Spirit – Contacting the Healing Power of the Chakras and Honouring African Spirituality (Thorsons, 1998)

Bensen, H., The Relaxation Response, (William Morrow, 1975)

Clottey, Aeeshah Ababio and Kokomon, Beyond Fear: Twelve Spiritual Keys to Racial Healing.

Pitchford, Paul, Healing with Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition

Williams, Angel Kyota, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living with Fearlessness and Grace


Spiritual Activist The Buddhist Peace Fellowship – http://www.bpf.org (extensive network)

Urban Peace – http://www.urbanpeace.org (Buddhist roots free from dogma)

Spirit in Action – http://www.spiritinaction.net"(social justice work)

Spirit of Freedom – http://www.politicsoftrust.net (politics)

United Religions Initiative – http://www.uri.org (bridge-building)

Fellowship of Reconciliation– http://www.forusa.org" (nonviolent alternatives

Attitudinal Healing Connection – http://www.ancestralhealing.com (racial healing)


Tapes

Greaves, H. Peace – Guided Relaxation and meditation
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