Hawkins Holistic

Naturally Yours

Category: Art

Puzzled by the holistic approach?

Picture 6

I love this visual to help one understand holistic nutrition and how it differs from traditional dietetics. As I mentioned in a previous post, the holistic nutritionist looks not only at diet, but also lifestyle and the psycho-spiritual. When one piece of the puzzle is missing, our overall health is compromised and perhaps we feel a sense of being “incomplete”…like something’s missing. It can be really challenging to find that piece, especially if you’re looking in the dark.

A holistic nutritionist helps you identify that “missing piece” via a multipronged approach. We address your health concerns and potentially unearth some other areas that need attention. I guide you through recommendations re what you can do to improve your physical/emotional/spiritual health. We open doors, not close them!

As a side note, I do want to address ‘relapse prevention,’ as it’s seen in the diagram. To me, relapse doesn’t only relate to substance abuse – it also lends itself to emotional trauma (e.g. PTSD, severe depression), bad coping habits (e.g. excessive dieting, nail-biting, fast food) and lifestyle (e.g. work/play balance, lack of creative engagement). When each piece of that puzzle is addressed and given some love, the chances of a “relapse” happening are minimized. If someone is nurturing love & respect in themselves, they are less likely to engage in self-harming behavior.

I hope this helps you understand the holistic approach a bit better! The diagram certainly got my wheels turning!

Naturally yours.

New website! And what does it mean to be “Holistic”?

Dear Readers! Welcome to my new website!

I am so excited to share with you my knowledge and ongoing discoveries in Holistic Living. You can look forward to posts about nutrition, mindfulness, supplementation, alternative therapies and natural remedies, all with a holistic backbone.

What is it to live holistically? It means to nurture our whole being, that is, our physical, mental, and spiritual selves, in natural and noninvasive ways. This involves taking great care with our diet (food, beverages, also supplementation), lifestyle (work, sleep, play and exercise habits, chemical exposure), and the psycho-spiritual (mindfulness, connection, love, meditation).

Someone who lives a holistic lifestyle believes that overall health and wellness is the sum of these parts, and that mind-body-soul is absolutely interdependent. When any of these systems are neglected, ones quality of life is compromised, and physical and mental symptoms often arise (e.g. food cravings, depression, bloat, headaches). Enter a Holistic Nutritionist to save the day!

What does Holistic Living look like? It incorporates seasonal locally-grown vegetables and grass-fed local beef, drinking herbal teas to detoxify & soothe, and taking supplements where extra support is needed. It also means self-acceptance and “tuning in” to yourself and the wonderful world around you. It means dancing, laughing, singing, playing, loving and daydreaming. It means embracing YOU, as nature intended.

“The road to better health will not be found through more drugs, doctors and hospitals. Instead it will be discovered through better nutrition and changes in lifestyle.” – William Crook, MD

Please join me on my journey in Holistic Living!

More to follow soon…

Naturally yours,

Sarah Hawkins, R.H.N.