The Practice

One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself applies to the health and wellness professional in that when we counsel or recommend a practice to a client, if we haven’t tried it out ourselves, then how do we know it will work.  We should be able to testify to whatever we recommend.  For instance in the “Meeting Asclepius” meditative practice, if a client asks "does it work better if you sit on the floor or in a chair", as a wellness professional you should be able to say what worked best for you. 

I believe I have an obligation to my clients to be developing my overall health because I should be will to go where I’m asking them to go, do what I’m asking them to do.  I want to be able to instill confidence for success in my clients.  If I can’t do that, how then can I claim to have a successful practice?

I can implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life by continuing to develop and practice the methods described in integral health.  Many times we see practices as a one-time shot and once we accomplish our goal, we can stop and go back to the way we were before.  But growth does not stop.  If you look at the way a tree grows, it adds height and girth each year that it is alive.  It gets stronger and taller and less likely to bend and break in the wind.  This is the way our psychological and spiritual growth should be—forever reaching for greater and greater strength and height.

There are a number of health and nutrition programs in my community.  There is one in my work place called the Health Start Program.  I participated in it this year.  It is employee based.  It begins with a biometric health screening and a private counseling session to help you decide what areas of your health and nutrition you need to work on.  The Walk this Way portion has participants walk daily and keep a log of their steps with the use of a pedometer.  Prizes are given for those who logged the most steps.  The program is really good.  There is even monetary compensation for participating which is added to your paycheck each pay period.   

A great public health program is “We Can in Cobb County”.  It has programs for a variety of age groups from elementary, to middle school, to adult parents.  The overall goal of the program is to advocate healthy eating and physical activity.  Adult classes are divided into four 1 ½ hour sessions to give a total of 6 hours.  Children classes are 15 to 25 minutes with breaks and fun activity including exercises and healthy snacks.  The program is free and sponsored by the Cobb County Coalition and Nutrition Institute of Health.

Resources: http://www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com/health-wellness/we-can-cobb-coalition/ and http://www.wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov