Interest in participant sports and fitness continues to grow, fueled, in part, by mass media, and also by individual's discovery of the personal pleasures and benefits of fitness. Running, aerobics, power walking, yoga, tai bo, tai ch'i, nutrition and other ways to achieve and maintain better health, attract more interest every day. We have had a fitness fad for about 30 years, and it doesn't look like it's going away...which is just as well for us who are living longer and want to live with a better quality of life.

It all started late in the sixties when we, the Baby Boom generation, looked at yoga, meditation, nutrition, banning the bomb and wanting to make the world a better place. To be different from our parents. Amid "discovering" ancient healing and wellness arts and the power of vitamins, herbs and nutrition, there has been a lot of confusion about what is total health.

There is so much information. Now more than ever, on all the various forms and subjects of health and sports. Some are conflicting, some have their own philosophical interpretation, and some are just too darn complicated. The basic floor plan, or guideline, is the "Holistic Approach" to health. This simply means a basic approach using and integrating body, mind and spirit. I add nutrition as a component. As even Md.'s and coaches now agree, the body is not the only factor we need to look at in sports or any fitness program. We are dealing with the whole person, so we must use all the components to get the maximum results out of training. The body is the physical, mechanical functioning component that keeps all the systems going. We have to deal with gravity, posture and the myriad of physical stresses, such as sitting, sleeping, running. The way you use and hold your body determines the shape of this musculo-skeletal alignment in your body. A body out of alignment, in stress, does not function at its optimal level. A body out of alignment is also more prone to injury. Sports massage is a great adjunct to this; and massage in general is a good way to encourage a better functioning and feeling body.

As for the Mind, there is tons of information on its importance in all training. I make no attempt to prescribe any thing. Mind training is the foundation for concentration, visualization, attitude, professionalism – these come into play in sports, physical well-being and competition of all kinds. The key is how well each person copes with stress, as well as how they use it as a positive force. Competition can be healthy if you have the right attitude. I've seen my share of compulsive marathon runners, intense softball league weekend jocks and Type-A personality workaholics. In the game of life, your mind effects your body and your body effects your mind. Learning to use them both, together, to your best advantage, is a wise and healthy thing to do.

Nutrition is a controversial subject, yet many consider it a belief or philosophy. Personally, I see it as basic chemistry. You are, and function by, what you eat, digest and eliminate. There is no way around that for the long run. Sure we can survive on quick meals, junk food and stuff that is nutritionally weak. The body is an incredible miracle – we can survive on just apples. The question is how long and how well we will function like that. The most difficult part about nutrition is getting the mind on board.

Our belief structures sometimes gets in the way. The simple approach is usually the easiest:, go natural. Eat what has not been processed by man, stay away from sugar, salt, colored, frozen, shot full of hormones and otherwise dead foods. Read the labels on the food you choose. Avoid fast foods, deep fried, and highly processed foods. Vitamins are OK for most people. (See "Spontaneous Healing by Dr. Andrew Weil). Common sense eating, with some knowledge of chemistry, should ensure health. You can't go wrong with organic fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and moderate amounts of lean meats. The key is balance. Being fanatical, even about health, can backfire.

A professional can be extremely useful in your quest for personal fitness. Check your local holistic health network. Here on the Big Island, the best is Tutu's House for information and networking. The most important factor is to set your goals and work gently and easily towards them. Be forgiving of your mistakes and turn them into positive learning opportunities. Set realistic goals, after all, your body wasn't built in a day.

Written by Othon Molina, Ph.d.c, LMT, PhD. (Fitness director at the Hawaiian Rainforest Salon and Spa at the Outrigger Waikoloa)