Why We Choose A Holistic Approach
At CasaVive, we talk a big game about taking a holistic approach. Let’s unpack what this means, how we integrate this into our practice, and how it can help you achieve your goals.
The definition of holistic is “characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole”; in the context of medicine it can be defined as “characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of an illness.”
Clients come to us wanting to lose weight, or wanting to manage pain or disease such as diabetes, arthritis, or osteoporosis. If we try to focus on just one aspect, we may be able to see some results, but often we will not fully reach those goals. There is still something niggling in the background, and sometimes even something in the foreground stopping that progress. When we focus on the person as a whole, taking into account not just their main complaint, but as well their whole health history, their diet and lifestyle, and their mental and social wellbeing to inform their treatment plan or exercise program, we see significantly improved results. Almost every client will work with their trainer not just on their workout, but how to make their whole body better.
Let’s look at this through an example: a post-menopausal client comes to us because she’s been told by her doctor to lose weight to help manage arthritis symptoms in her knees. On the surface, easy peasy, let’s start strengthening the legs, and regularly add in some low impact cardio. This will theoretically allow the client to build muscle to support the knees, and the cardio will support weight loss and heart health. Bing, bang, done.
However, using a holistic approach, we need to consider the body as a whole. Arthritis is a disease of inflammation. If inflammation in the joint isn’t controlled, we may be able to get stronger, but there is likely to still be pain and flare ups. If there is systemic inflammation, i.e. not just in the joints affected by arthritis, but throughout the body, it will also be more difficult to lose fat mass, regardless of change in muscle mass. We will always check in with our clients to discuss if and how they are managing inflammation. We can recommend diet additions or modifications, adjust lifestyle habits, or recommend supplements that can help lessen inflammation, and move our client closer towards their goals.
A big driver of inflammation in the body is stress. This is where the mind-body connection can be so important. There is no denying that life is stressful, and we will not lie and say we can take that stress away. What we can do is provide tools to manage stress, and decrease it’s overall negative effect on the body. We teach all our clients proper breathing patterns, and always check in with how they are feeling both in and out of the studio. Other tools can include supplements, meditation, journaling, and various stress management techniques.
Another aspect for us to consider here is being post-menopausal. Often, people who are in post menopause have trouble sleeping. A lack of sleep or an irregular sleep schedule can also contribute to inflammation in the body. We can discuss with clients sleep strategies, or recommend supplements that can help improve sleep.
We know that the decrease in the body’s estrogen during post-menopause makes it more difficult for the body to build up muscle. Decreased muscle as well as a change in hormones during post-menopause decreases our bodies’ metabolic rate, making it harder to lose weight. In this case, tailoring the exercise program and nutrition recommendations to support muscle building is paramount to seeing results. This kind of program will look different than one for a person who is not yet in post-menopause or for a person who will not experience menopause; there are specific rep ranges and specific macronutrient (think carbs, protein, and fat) distributions that will better suit someone in post-menopause.
A cookie cutter approach to health and wellness may work for some people, but it will not get the most results for the most part of people. It is so important to consider your body and mind as a whole, not as separate entities, and for sure not by just a single part. Using a holistic approach at CasaVive allows us to get the best results for our clients. They know we are listening to, considering, and caring for them as a whole person.
Ready to get onto your holistic health journey? Message us here to book your free consult.
You can also meet us on October 6th at the Vaughan in Motion “Vaughan Health and Wellness Expo.” Our booth number is H127.
Click here to grab your tickets today!