The Eight Dimensions of wellness consists of:
WHAT IS WELLNESS?
Wellness is a broad concept. In this guide, we attempt to provide a broad, yet a specific sense of what it means. We invite you to think of wellness as meaning being healthy in many dimensions of our lives. That includes the emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, environmental, and spiritual parts. These dimensions are interconnected, one dimension building on another.
We also recognize that we live in a multicultural world, and wellness encompasses areas that
may not be specified in this brief discussion. We believe, for example, that trauma is a universal human experience, and that our culture and spiritual beliefs impact our perceptions and everything we do. In summary, wellness is about how we live our lives and the joy and fulfillment and health we experience.
EIGHT DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS*
When we worry about money (for example, debt or being able to afford what we need), we sometimes experience anxiety (emotional). This can lead to medical problems (physical), and trouble at work (occupational). When this happens, we may even question our own sense of meaning and purpose (spiritual).
At the same time, when we are not working (occupational), we may lose opportunities to interact with others (social), and may not be able to afford the good food and medical care we need to stay well (physical). We may even need to move our home to a place that feels less safe and secure (environmental).
The physical self is the one that gets most of the attention concerning the benefits of personal training. Activity obviously improves strength, conditioning, and flexibility. It also helps your body to fight off infectious diseases. Perhaps more importantly, exerting yourself also improves the plasticity of the nervous system. This helps to develop balance, coordination, agility, and power. But exercise isn’t only training for muscles, bones, connective tissue, and the cardiovascular system. Its benefits spill over into the rest of our lives.
Intellectual Wellness
Mentally, physical activity also increases discipline, focus, and alertness by filling the body with hormones and pheromones that improve cerebral functioning. You will have improved clarity, and can even feel inspired after a good workout. According to a plain language article by Christopher Bergland at Psychology Today, this is because of irisin, a molecule that improves cognition and protects the brain from degeneration (Cell Metabolism, Wrann et al.). The stereotype that sports make people stupid couldn’t be more inaccurate. Although some people bulldoze thoughtlessly through life by way of sheer brute force, there are also so many other people who are more thoughtful as a result of personal training.
Emotional Wellness
As a direct result of these hormonal responses that help intellectual acuity, emotional balance can also improve. Exercise is particularly good at Many people to report feeling relief from depression or anger, so fitness also relieves symptoms for anxiety, ADHD, and stress. The folks at HelpGuide.orgpublished an excellent plain language article describing many of ways exercise benefits emotional health. Innercise helps, too.
Spiritual Wellness
This isn’t necessarily religious fervor. Your sense of purpose, your place within the world, and your value system flow from spiritual wellness. You don’t have to define it in any particular way, and you might not even consider it a form of spirituality. For my purposes, let’s agree that your definitions of morality, justice, and consequence form the basis of your spirituality (regardless of how you formally or informally practice it).
In many religions, the body itself is a temple. Keeping it strong and healthy is a form of worship and an expression of thanksgiving. If you don’t connect with that logic, then consider that exercise prepares you to take action when others need help. Do you help Habitat for Humanity build houses for the poor? Do you carry anything to help with charities that distribute supplies? Let’s say you see someone who needs help: Can you pull them to safety in an emergency? A fit body can be an extension of good will.
Sexual Wellness
Regardless of the time or place, the perception of beauty has three essential components: Symmetry, proportion, and clarity. There are myriad expressions or values that influence perceptions of it; however, these three underlying traits are practically universal.
Physical fitness implies health and strength. These together imply good genes. Good genes are the ones to keep in the pool. It really is that simple
Sexual gratification is imperative to wellbeing, but sex appeal doesn’t just help with getting busy in bed. It can keep you busy financially, too.
Financial Wellness
Period. Physically they appear stronger and more energetic or ambitious, giving the (sometimes false) impression they will be harder workers. Depending on the situation, attractive people are often presumed to be more honest and knowledgable. Their appeal has often given them more opportunities emotionally to feel confidant and to project confidence psychologically and socially. In turn, they generally have easier times meeting people, so their socializing skills reinforce the rest. Being sexually desirable gives the perception that everyone else will want them, so they can demand higher fees and wages from potential employers, and they tend to be promoted more quickly. Exercise undergirds and reinforces all this.
Another consideration is that people who exercise are generally healthier. They are more likely to avoid expensive doctor visits and hospital procedures. They also tend to avoid the costs of medicines. That is money and debt they can avoid. So exercisers not only have the potential to earn more money, they can keep more of it out of the bottomless pit that is American “health” “care.” (Yes, each word got its own aggressive quotation marks.)
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