Understanding the Wellness Pyramid, Part One: Lifestyle Choices

Posted in For Patients

At 5 Point Acupuncture, we have long believed that essential oils can be a beneficial part of any self-care regime. When used as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutrient-rich diet, plenty of exercise, and the right amount of sleep, essential oils can help you manage your stress and support your body’s natural processes.

 

The most important thing to understand about wellness is that there’s no one thing that can do everything. Exercise alone, for example, may not have the desired effects when it isn’t supported by a good diet and other factors. Like most things in life, health and wellness are all about balance. And a useful way to visualize that balance is by looking at dōTERRA’s Wellness Pyramid.

 

The Wellness Pyramid is made up of six individual blocks, each representing something that affects your health. These fall under two categories: lifestyle choices at the bottom, and healthcare choices at the top. While the things at the bottom of the pyramid are the most important, each block plays its own integral part in your overall health and wellbeing, and should be balanced. Rating how well you’re doing in each area can help you see where any imbalances might exist.

 

To understand where essentials oils and other self-care methods can fit into your lifestyle, let’s first take a closer look at the bottom half of the pyramid: lifestyle choices.

 

Lifestyle Choices and Wellness

 

You already know how important your diet is to your health, so it’s no surprise that a healthy diet makes up the foundations of the pyramid. The food you eat can affect everything from your energy levels to the number of headaches you get, so eating right can do a lot to make you feel better. Remember to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid preservatives, artificial flavorings, and other unnatural substances whenever you can.

 

Above diet on the pyramid is exercise. Getting about 30 minutes of exercise every day can do wonders for your health and happiness, whether that’s a visit to the gym or just a brisk walk to and from work. If you can’t exercise every day, try to make up for it later in the week with a longer session.

 

Of course, you might not always feel up to exercising, especially if your joints are stiff and sore. You might also be worried about hurting yourself. The good news is that exercise can actually reduce stiffness in the joints, relieve pain, and strengthen muscles. Opt for low-impact exercises like swimming or stationary cycling, and ask your doctor if you’re unsure about starting.

 

The next block on the pyramid is getting enough rest and managing your stress. You should aim to sleep for between seven and nine hours every night, so make sure you’re going to bed at an appropriate hour.

 

As for managing stress, this can often be achieved by balancing other areas of the pyramid, like exercising, eating right, and using essential oils. Other ways to lower your stress levels include meditating, talking through the things that are worrying you with people you trust, and even having a hearty laugh!

 

The final lifestyle choice on the pyramid concerns reducing your toxic load. This means surrounding yourself with more natural things and trying to cut out things that are synthetic. Remember we mentioned that avoiding unnatural elements in your food can be beneficial? This also applies to other things in your life, like the fabrics of your clothes and the types of cleaning products that you use. It might not be practical to eliminate synthetic materials completely, but enjoy natural things whenever you can.

 

A Balanced Approach to Wellness

 

In our next blog post, we’ll take a look at the top of the pyramid, which is all about healthcare choices, including self-care and essential oils. Then, in part three, we’ll take some time exploring essential oil recommendations for each part of the pyramid to help you boost your overall health and wellness.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about essentials oils, you can book a free 30 minute appointment with us (in person or using your webcam) to discuss your health goals. There’s no obligation to buy anything, but if you see something you like, we’re happy to help you order it. Book an appointment today.

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