Health Education: An Integral Path from Apathy to Service
Health Education: An Integral Path from Apathy to Service
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Issue Date
2011
Authors
Roselle, Carol
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Abstract
This paper presents a model that outlines an integral path to human flourishing derived from ancient Eastern mind-body practices, namely, Buddhism and Yoga Nidra. Addressing health educators, the author outlines the Invitation model, a series of mind-body practices and mindful contemplations. These practices aid psychospiritual development as it pertains to integral health. The paper claims that psychospiritual flourishing is a form of activism. The author supports the claim by exploring the relationship between activism, health, spiritual development, and psychoneuroimmunology. The paper provides an overview of contemporary activists and their works, as well as psychospiritual development and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). By providing various scientific studies, the author investigates spiritual practices and how they impact the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. The model is comprised of two limbs. The first includes contemplation of six spiritual qualities, namely generosity, goodness, patience, strength, concentration, and wisdom, adapted from the Bodhisattva Path from Mahayana Buddhism. The second part of the paper explores different aspects of Yoga Nidra, specifically sensorial, breath body, emotional, and cognition, and their role in developing altruism.