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The Meaning of Holistic

On June 10, 2014 in General by Hayley

My husband was not on board with the changes – AT ALL. He just didn’t want to deal with it or the extra spend money on expensive all-natural products. If I didn’t do the shopping, we wound up with Windex and Pepto Bismol. At first, I fought him on it. Then I just started throwing things out, wasting money and he hated that way more. When he saw the results of me being happier, healthier, the kids, he was willing to experiment himself. The other day, I came home to a bottle of generic Lysol on the counter and I gave him this look. He explained that it was actually a natural brand, but he didn’t want to just throw out the old bottle. He recycled an old bottle! I was so proud.

For myself, I believed in it because I had to. I had so many health issues, there was so much toxicity and inflammation in my system – between my type A personality, my parents and stress. I had to educate myself to change all these products and my life has been so much better since.

There are so many things you can do to create a healthy, holistic life. The key is to eliminate what’s toxic and create alternatives. These were the first three baby steps I took:

1. No More Chemical Products
I stopped buying all the cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals. Even chain grocery stores now offer several lines of eco-friendly cleaning products – including the bottle they come in, and they’re no more expensive than the name brands. Better still, search the internet for how to make cleaning products at home. Did you know that vinegar and salt will unclog a drain?

2. No More Drug Store Remedies and Cosmetics
Most drug store ‘remedies’ only mask your ailment symptoms, they don’t cure the ailment. Essential oils and fresh herbs will get rid of a headache, nausea, itchy, rashy skin. All those cosmetic colors in your purse are a result of chemicals mixed together, and many have been tested on animals for your safety. Anti-perspirants and moisturizers also contain pore-clogging chemicals that will build up in your system over time. There are healthy, natural products out there for all this.

3. Mute and Unfriend
You can’t let people drain your energy. Sucking energy out of people is one of thet most toxic things in our life. We all have toxic people in our lives. I’m not saying you have to break up with them, but you don’t have to engage them either. You can’t expect the world to change for you. So change how you deal with it.

4. No More Grocery Produce
Search the internet for nearby farmer’s markets and co-ops. Going to the farmer’s market can be a fun family activity. If you don’t have time for that, co-ops are a great alternative. Both of these options support your holistic lifestyle and your local growers.

Adopting a holistic lifestyle doesn’t require instant, overnight changes. You don’t have to go purge your cabinets and refrigerator of everything you’ve already bought. Replace the toxic with the non-toxic alternatives as you run out of what you already have. Adjust how you respond to toxic people. One day, you’ll wake up and realize how much better you feel.

I’ve just given you 4 really basic tips on how to become more holistic. What have you changed to create a holistic lifestyle for yourself? Let me know here or on my Facebook page!

This post has been published on Mind Body Green and Hayley's Blog.

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