For many diseases of the body, the same principles apply as for the "diseases" of the mind. Leaving aside various kinds of infections and hereditary conditions, these "diseases" are the body's messages that we are giving it too little of what it needs and too much of what is harmful. A holistic approach has long known that food is the key medicine—and it can also be the key poison. Most diseases can be cured by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. Even in the case of infectious and hereditary diseases, we can greatly improve their course and prognosis this way. Additionally, we can significantly improve our psychological well-being, which is directly related to the healthy functioning of all organs, especially the condition of our intestinal microbiome.

There is a clear and direct connection between mental and physical health. They influence each other. How we feel physically and mentally reflects how we manage our bodies on both physical and cognitive levels. Through the body, we can get perfect feedback about situations, relationships, and ourselves—if we know how to listen.

Getting to know our body and creating a friendly relationship with it can make it a partner in implementing changes related to mental health and well-being. Sometimes, this means learning how to breathe properly. Other times, it involves integrating relaxation activities or techniques to release tension. We can even train our bodies to relearn how to react in certain situations, such as not triggering a stress response where it’s not needed.

Some physical and emotional states need to be listened to and will resolve on their own. Others need to be expressed and lived out. And still others need to be unblocked and treated for healing, transformation, and personal growth to occur.

For many people, especially in Western cultures, learning to listen to the body can be challenging. We're usually so caught up in our thoughts that we treat the body as merely a vehicle for the brain. However, giving our body conscious attention can be incredibly healing.

The body always lets us know when something is wrong, and there is no need to wait for a major illness to notice. Just stop from time to time and consciously notice how you feel in your body. In fact, the body often sends us information about situations long before we are consciously aware of them. For instance, a tight abdomen, shallow breathing, clenched jaw, or hunched shoulders are all signs of inner discomfort. These signals can appear long before we consciously feel anxiety, fear, or anger. By learning to perceive and respond to these early signals, we can prevent their escalation and, over time, create a lifestyle that allows us to feel well consistently.

Accepting aspects of ourselves that we don't particularly like—such as sadness, pain, imperfections, failures, or fears—can be very challenging. Many approaches suggest the need to love yourself and your body, but this can feel misleading. We don't have to force ourselves to love every part of ourselves, but we can learn to respect and accept these aspects. By not running away and instead being present with what our body communicates, we can live with integrity, dignity, and respect.

There are numerous bodywork practices to explore, and it's important to find what works best for each individual. You might start with simple things like being mindful of what you eat and whether it truly benefits you. Learning to breathe better is another accessible entry point. Additionally, practices involving movement, voice, or breath work can help release deeply rooted traumas and facilitate healing. The body carries memories of all the emotional wounds we've experienced, and by integrating mind and body work, we can heal these wounds.

The level of the head, or the logical-rational way of reasoning and decision-making, is predominant in our society. It has brought us many benefits, especially in terms of material well-being and security, however, it also seems that in our perfectly calculated world, people are less and less happy. It feels as if something is missing, as if our excessive rationality is suffocating us. It's not enough to just be; we need to be better, more correct, and more efficient, to have things figured out and to make the best decisions. But what if a better or worse option cannot be determined? Life is full of uncertainty and unexpected twists and turns. How are we supposed to know what to do, how to make decisions, what to believe in? What can we rely on? 

And why should we have to be in our heads all the time?

According to Eastern teachings, wisdom and a happy life do not depend solely on being reasonable or clever. They are more about the ability to maintain a balance between the mind, emotions, and instincts. It is about living with inner integrity.

Living in integrity means including the entire complexity of our experience and being able to connect it into a balanced whole. Therefore, this Eastern wisdom does not work just with the mind (head), but also with the heart (associated with emotional experience and how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world at large) and the belly (related to instincts and lived experience). A satisfying life lies in the art of integrating all three levels. It means being in tune with who we really are and what we truly feel. It is about the art of listening to and cooperating with ourselves and our environment in wholeness and in respect for all the forces that shape our living space.

When faced with indecision or confusion, it makes sense to consult our heart how it feels about it. Or our belly, about it's instinctive attitude. When we manage to make decisions and live in ways that align with all three levels, we follow the path of inner balance. The art of listening to our heart and gut is a way to achieve inner (and eventually outer) harmony.

P.S.: Did you know that the heart has an estimated 40,000 neurons capable of long-term memory? Or that our gut microbiome has a huge impact on how we feel in life? It is increasingly becoming a fact that the ancient theory of the wisdom of the heart, belly and head is being validated by modern science.