Wellness and Spiritual Wellbeing

Images courtesy of Cameron Wilkin, Kai Virihaur

The Wellness Center will serve as a place to assist us in our dedication to fulfilling as many of our health needs onsite.  Through this Center we will support local and global community health practitioners from various specialties by sharing information, materials, and support. It will be a place for rejuvenation after a hard day at work, a place where the physical body and soul can be nurtured, and a place to gather, learn, share, and grow together.  It will be a space where we explore our connection to other cultures and beliefs, and reconnect with nature and ourselves to foster connection, compassion, reverence, and respect for all living things.

We are not affiliated with any one religion, spiritual practice, or belief.  To encourage spiritual evolution, we practice and promote open communication, respect, peace, and love.  The following is a list of a few of the different practices, customs, and specialized studies that we will explore and offer through the wellness center and our community outreach projects. 

Medicinal Nursery and Gardens: At the wellness center’s nursery, we will cultivate and propagate a wide variety of medicinal herbs to be planted in our gardens and to share with our community members as part of our community outreach to support replanting efforts and the continued study and use of medicinal plants.

Medicinal herbs have been used throughout the world for thousands of years to restore balance and harmony in the body for good health.[1]  If the mind and body are in harmony, and our connection to the universe is natural and pure, we can obtain and maintain perfect health without the use of Western pharmaceuticals, which more often than not, treat the symptoms rather than root causes and can have many undesirable side effects. 

Belize has a rich history in traditional medicine. Thousands of years ago Belize had medical schools that taught about the healing role of plants.[2]  One of the last surviving and most respected traditional healers in Belize was Don Elijio Panti who passed away several years ago, at the age of 103.  Before he died, he passed on much of his knowledge and experiences to the amazing Dr. Rosita Arvigo, to whom we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude.  We have gained invaluable knowledge about native medicinals from her gracious work and we will forever be indebted to her and traditional healers throughout the world who have shared their knowledge and experience.

Meditation: Meditation clears and strengthens the mind, reduces stress and anxiety and helps heal the body.  The mind has considerable impact on healing the body. Scientific research has given us numerous examples of this, such as when placebos are given to patients in double-blind studies, patients administered a sugar placebo pill healed as if they had been administered the medicine, or better.[4]  The Mayo clinic has shown meditation to be effective in fighting cancer, heart disease, and conditions that are exacerbated by stress.[5]  It can also deepen our connection to, and understanding of, the divine.[6] 

Yoga:  Yoga is a philosophy and a science commonly regarded as a series of poses for strengthening the body, and as a practice, for strengthening the mind.

Here is a list of a few of the different yoga practices we will offer at the wellness center:

• Kryia Yoga: “Kri” meaning to pursue your work in daily life, and “Ya” meaning to be aware of the invisible God abiding in you, directing and accomplishing work through you.  Yoga is the union of the visible body with the invisible body.  Through the practice of yoga we can purify the body by working with directing the breath.
• Hatha Yoga: The two syllables “ha” and “tha” combine to mean the union of the sun and the moon. Hatha yoga involves the practice of controlling the body through pranayama  (breath), asanas (postures), bandhas (locks –a technique of controlling the life force), and mudras (position of body and hands to control and direct life energy). 
• Jivamukthi Yoga: Incorporates traditional yoga practices into daily life without losing sight of the ancient goal of liberation.
• Vinyasa Yoga: Links the movements and flow of yoga through the postures with internal movement and breath, and develops the core, flexibility and strength through meditative awareness.
• Asthanga Yoga: A style of yoga that follows the eight-limb path of yoga developed by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore India.
• Yogic Dance: A meditative dance using sound and movement that triggers emotional release and expansive awareness.

Ayurveda:  Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world and is based on universal connectedness, the body’s constitution, and life forces.[7]     Ayurveda focuses on the five great elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space, which form the universe and the human body.  It is an ancient healing system native to India, using herbs, massage, yoga, diet, and meditation.  It is a complete way of living—honoring the body, mind, spirit and the earth.

Chanting or Kirtan:  Chanting the name of God or sacred mantras, words or phrases that have transcendental power.

Hypnotherapy:  Directing the mind into a trance state in which the critical faculty of the human is bypassed and selective thinking is established.

Aromatherapy:  Oils drawn from flowers, grasses, trees, roots, leaves, and fruit that remain the great untapped resources of our planet.  These oils can alleviate symptoms, prevent illness, and provide us with protection and pleasure without polluting our bodies or the environment.

Qi Gong:  An ancient Chinese system of exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation that teach how to control the body's life energy called qi.  Qi Gong literally means life energy (qi) skill (gong). 

Crystal Therapy: The energies of the mineral kingdom are universal energies.  We can use crystals to heal the environment and the body.  The laying on of stones on the body is a sacred, ancient healing practice.

Reiki:  An ancient and simple system of "laying on hands" healing derived from Tibetan Buddhism.  The practitioner receives attunements and symbols, which allow the healing energy to flow through the chakras.

Shaminism:  Shamans are intermediaries between the human and the spirit world.  Dream travel and ritual drumming can produce an out of body experience (oobe) where the mind moves beyond the physical body.

Thai Yoga Massage:  Ancient and sacred system of healing, with roots in Yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, and Buddhist spiritual practice.  Combines rhythmic massage, acupressure, asanas, and gentle twistsing energy work and meditation.

Silva Mind method:  The application of positive thinking, visualization meditation, and self-hypnosis allowing one to go into the Alpha state into higher consciousness.

Mind Sound Technology:  Developed by Siva Baba, a scholar-mystic from the Tamil Siddah tradition of South India.  Uses sounds, syllables, and mantras to transform your life.

Inner Alchemy:  The sacred teachings of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching. Humankind takes its origin from earth, earth takes her origin from heaven, heaven takes its origin from Tao and Tao takes its origin from nature.   Uses the body and the meridians as a tool for healing and meditation.

Image courtesy of liangjinjian