Holistic Practitioners My body was shutting down and it wasn’t until I visited a holistic practitioner that I figured out what was wrong, after half a dozen MDs couldn’t diagnose me. The fact is there are things happening in your body that a regular MD can’t see without a million tests, such as hormone or cortisol imbalances, or if there are foods in your diet that are causing inflammation. A holistic practitioner can identify things like this just by asking you a few questions. Holistic practitioners aren’t covered by insurance and it might be more money that you feel like taking out of your pocketbook, but they are worth every penny to be more in tune with your body.
Massage A massage from a licensed therapist is way more than just rubbing out sore muscles. A good massage will get your blood flowing, push toxins build up out of your muscles, AND in addition, address muscles that have tightened up from improper or overuse. Nowadays, massages aren’t as expensive as they used to be, but you should definitely keep an eye out for therapists with certification.
Physical Therapy If you’ve had an injury, it’s a long term investment to get that injury treated professionally. People make the mistake of believing injuries will heal themselves. I have a bad scar on my foot from a surgery that never healed right. It’s stiff from the scar tissue around it and my foot just doesn’t land right when I’m running. If I had spent a little time and invested a little more on physical therapy after my surgery, I know it would be more flexible. Similarly, I have problems with a shoulder I injured in a triathlon crash. Again, I never went to physical therapy and I now know I’ve been dealing with it since then.
Quality Food My husband used to get on me about how much money I spent on food, because I would go to Whole Foods instead of a regular grocery store. But, in my opinion food should be your first place to invest in yourself. Food is our daily medicine. The nutrients in your food are absorbed into every system in your body. Same with chemicals, they are ingested into your body. What we put in our body is what we are.
No More Red Eyes Sleep is so important. It is your body’s best chance to recover and restore after a long day. I will no longer sacrifice two days of my life for the $40 I may save taking a red-eye or a 6am flight, because of what it takes me to recover. I’ll be exhausted, I won’t sleep well, my sleep schedule will be destroyed, my digestion will suffer and I’ll wind up cranky. I can even see the fatigue in my skin and face. All for $40? totally not worth it. When I fly at times I’m already awake, I get a much better change good night’s sleep before I depart and when I arrive and I’m not trying to find my hotel in the middle of the night.
The body you have is the only body you’ve got. You have to nurture it and take care of it. You invest money in your children’s future, in your retirement, in your home. You are worth investing in too!
XO, Hayley
By Hayley Hobson
With her unique specialization in the combination and complement of pilates, nutrition and yoga, Hayley offers a cocktail of lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results. Hayley is a columnist for Elephant Journal and has been featured in Pilates Style Magazine, Natural Health Magazine and Triathlete Magazine. She currently lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, former world-ranked triathlete, Wes Hobson and their two beautiful daughters, Makenna and Madeline. Read more about Hayley and check out her new book at HayleyHobson.com
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