That seems like a simple enough equation, right?  Nourish the soul and reap the benefits. 

This is something we hear more and more these days from an ever-increasing number of sources.  It is beginning to make more sense to people across the globe, in all walks of life.  But what exactly does it mean and how do we go about achieving it?

Meditation and prayer are two fairly obvious methods of enhancing spiritual awareness and nourishing the soul.  However, not all forms of prayer or meditation automatically lead to good physical health and wellness.  It depends on the energy of intention and attention in prayer, and the focus involved in meditation.

If you are the kind of person who throws up a prayer in the form of a Hail Mary pass when things get desperate, you might be disappointed.  Or if your expectation is that God will fix things for you when the going gets tough, again you might be missing the point.  What needs to be looked at is what are you asking for, is it in your best interests or those for whom you are praying and what is your expectation?

Prayer is a dialogue between you, the spirit in your body and your concept of God.  It is an interactive experience that requires looking inward, recognizing the energy that may interfere with that communication or dialogue and being aware that you are ultimately responsible for achieving your goals.  Prayer is a support mechanism for getting to know yourself better and your connection to your concept of God or the creator of this universe. 

Prayer engages all the parts of you, and it is in this way that it can lead to spiritual wellbeing and physical health.

Similarly, some meditative practices will have you focus on getting out of the body, putting your attention somewhere far away, picturing a place of peace, calm and serenity – kind of like a mini vacation.  This is a pleasant means of escape from the daily pressures of life and the challenges you are facing.

However, unless you learn how to create that peace, calm and serenity within your body, the same level of stress, tension and disconnect will be there when you return.

When you learn how to meditate and be in your body, you again engage all the parts of you.  You increase your awareness of what gets in your way, of where you may be holding energy and concepts or ideas that are not true for you.  You learn how to let go of those interferences and reconnect with yourself spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

If you would like to learn how to meditate in a way that leads to both spiritual wellbeing and physical health, check out Intuitive Way.  Visit their website at www.intuitiveway.com.  They are located in Walnut Creek, California and have recently been nominated for BEST MEDITATION by the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFGate.com/Bay List.

Spritual wellbeing can most definitely lead to physical wellness and health!  Heal the spirit and the spirit heals the body.  But it can take some guidance to get you on the road to good health, and a commitment on your part to follow through on a daily basis.