How Alternative Therapies Have Changed My Life

Alternative therapies have truly helped me and even changed my life. I hope that my testimony may help others as they seek ways to improve their health and their life. These alternative therapies include: chiropractic, massage, yoga, rolfing, vegetarianism, meditation, natural living, herbalism and more.

The first area of health that I began searching was the area of diet and nutrition. I feel everyone should begin here because diet of course has a major impact on our life.

A book that really helped me in the diet and nutrition area is the best-selling book Fit for Life by the Diamonds. It is a great resource! They promote a natural diet, mainly a vegan diet, and emphasize the importance of things like proper food combining and other crucial aspects of diet and nutrition. They also published Fit for Life Part II which is excellent as well. I began following their formula for health and wellness, and since then it has truly changed the way I feel, look and live on a day-to-day basis.

Here are some of the main things natural health experts like the Diamonds emphasize: vegetarian is the best diet for humans; meat and dairy products are harmful to our health; proper food combining is essential (do not mix a protein with a starch- like steak and potato; also eat fruit on an empty stomach); drink distilled water; eat small meals and do not overeat; eat natural foods and not foods with preservatives, additives and toxins, etc.

The next area of importance is exercise. All exercise is wonderful! I feel that diet and exercise are the two most important aspects of health and wellness. This article is about alternative therapy, so the exercise in that area that has helped me is yoga. Yoga is excellent for overall health and well-being- but very misunderstood.

Yoga is absolutely fantastic exercise! It is one of the best ways to stay and get healthy, to achieve strength and flexibility and tone, to heal injuries and chronic problems, to prevent future injuries and problems and much, much more. One key is finding the poses that help with your specific problems and goals. You may try a few teachers who do not present the poses that work for you-and you may lose interest. But keep going! There are over 800,000 yoga poses- one key is finding those poses that you need and doing them correctly!

I myself tried 2-3 yoga teachers who had great intentions, but their routine did not really help my specific situation and my problem areas, mainly back and neck issues from sports injuries and a minor car wreck. I finally found an excellent teacher at the local YMCA who presented a 1.5-hour routine that was like a goldmine for me in terms of how much it helped me. After several years, I still know that routine and those stretches and poses- and they still help me tremendously. Yoga books and videos have also helped me a lot during this journey.

Chiropractic has also helped me with overall health and wellness and with my various back and neck problems. I feel that one of the keys is finding that chiropractor who helps with your specific situation. It is also important to find one you click with. Perhaps the best way to find one is through word of mouth. It is also good to search on the internet for reviews of chiropractors to see what others say about their services. At the same time, it never hurts to try them out and see for yourself.

Massage therapy is an excellent alternative therapy for health and wellness. The benefits of massage are priceless! A massage is one of the healthiest things a person can do for themselves. Some get one once a month, once every two weeks or once a week- or more! There is a long, long list of the benefits.

Again, it is important to find a therapist who you click with and who you feel really helps you. One thing I have learned: you have to try them out to see if you like their work. That is the bottom line. A therapist once said, "they either have the touch or they don't". You will know after one session if you want to continue seeing that therapist.

Natural supplements and herbology are also outstanding alternative therapies for health. Natural supplements include vitains, minerals, nutrients, amino acids, antioxidants and more that help people maintain health and precent health problems. To be quite frank, I simply feel better when I take these items. Herbs also help people stay healthy and get healthy. Again, I can actually tell a difference in how I feel when I take herbs like ginger and tumeric.

Meditation is an excellent alternative therapy for overall well-being and health. Deep breathing techniques can facilitate and heighten meditative practice. I try to take at least one break every day to quietly, calmly breath and reflect on my current state. I like to do it- I look forward to it. I 'treat myself' to that break.

In a book about simplicity, the author wrote that it is good to do some simple things each day that we like and look forward to- that cup of tea on the porch; listen to our favorite music; take a meditation break with some deep breathing. Find out what works for you and enjoy it!