How do you define wellness in your life? Many people would consider themselves to be well if they were free from sickness and were physically able to do whatever they wanted to do. Others consider themselves well if they are happy and felt hat they are experiencing joy in their lives. Others might consider themselves well if they have a positive attitude, their mind is clear and they are actively pursuing their goals. However you define wellness, it is undeniable that it is a very important aspect of our lives. Sometimes we aren't clear as to whether we really "have it", but we are always very clear when we have "lost it".

It is at times when we either feel we have lost our acceptable level of wellness or when we make up our minds that we are going to see if we can do something about increasing our sense of wellness, whether it be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. The holistic approach to wellness agrees that all of these levels have an effect on our health and that a degree of balance between them is required to really reap the benefits of what wellness is all about.

An interesting fact about these levels of wellness is that they are all connected and one has an effect on all the others. So, the good news about this is that we can approach our wellness from whatever level we want to work on, knowing that everything else is going to be affected as well. When incorporating bodywork, for example, into a program of wellness, people are generally looking for relief from the physical symptoms of stress or some form of physical discomfort that is interfering with their ability to function in some area of life. But, after engaging in some form of bodywork, they find that not only did their physical symptoms get addressed, but they also feel better, emotionally and mentally! It is easily recognized when a headache or a pain in the neck, back, or other area of the body is relieved. Immediately, the body feels lighter and relieved of the burden, and the mind is no longer distracted by the constant tugging of pain.

Chronic pain or illness has a way of slowly debilitating the body, draining it's energy and energy reserves. Because our bodies are so adaptable, it can sometimes be a long time before we even realize that we have been tolerating some ache or pain in our body for many weeks, months, or even years. Our pain tolerance levels rise, and we go about our daily living activities while putting up with the discomfort. It is not until something finally pushes us beyond our tolerance that we realize we have got to do something about it. The good news is that our bodies can be very responsive to attention and care. It generally does not take as long to resolve a problem as it took to develop it.

Pain invites us to develop some introspection into our lives. It can be a journey to discovering more about ourselves and who we are. It can cause us to re-evaluate our priorities in life, or to re-think the approach we have taken in our work or our recreation. This is the exciting and challenging part of bodywork. Unwinding the pathway that led to the body, culminating in pain or discomfort. Sometimes it is very simple and related to a one-time event. Other times it is more complex, compounded by many other elements. The most difficult part of dealing with imbalances in our health is taking the first step. Yet, once taken, the journey can be one of the most exciting and fascinating journeys we have ever been on.