Finding Balance with the Pyramid of Health: Celebrating International Mind-Body Awareness Day

January 3rd marks International Mind-Body Awareness Day, an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness of our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. While many of us are familiar with the Triangle of Health—body, mind, and spirit—pioneered by Dr. John Thie, it is essential to recognize the broader framework he later developed: the Pyramid of Health. This expanded model provides a deeper understanding of the many factors influencing our overall well-being and offers a holistic roadmap to achieving balance.

The Pyramid of Health

Dr. Thie’s Pyramid of Health builds on the Triangle of Health by integrating 12 interconnected factors. These factors are categorized into layers:

Inside the Skin

1. Structural: The physical body’s integrity and posture.
2. Chemical: Nutritional balance, hydration, and internal biochemical processes.
3. Intellectual: Both subconscious and conscious thought processes.
4. Emotional: The ability to experience, process, and express emotions effectively.

Outside the Skin

5. History: Our personal story, ancestral heritage, and the cultural and political narratives that shape us.
6. Context: Current events and societal circumstances that influence our lives.
7. Environment: The spaces we inhabit and the natural world surrounding us.
8. The Future: Our aspirations, dreams, and plans for what lies ahead.

The Foundation of the Pyramid

At the base of the Pyramid of Health lies the core of our being: our beliefs and spirituality. Dr. Thie emphasized four key elements:

• Truth: The necessity of honesty and authenticity for a healthy life.
• Faith: Unwavering belief in something greater than ourselves.
• Hope: The optimism that what we desire can become reality.
• Love: A limitless force that enhances our lives and connections

A Shift in Perspective

When faced with illness or imbalance, many individuals focus narrowly on physical aspects such as Diet or Exercise. While these are important, they represent just two of the 12 factors in the Pyramid of Health. A more comprehensive approach considers all layers, recognizing that wellness is influenced by our inner state, external environment, history, and future aspirations.

By embracing this broader perspective, we can release feelings of guilt or inadequacy about specific choices and instead cultivate a balanced, compassionate approach to self-care.

Practical Steps to Embrace the Pyramid of Health

This International Mind-Body Awareness Day, explore ways to nurture all 12 factors. Here are some suggestions:

• Structural Care: Practice Meditation in movement through Tai Chi or dance to enhance open and relax the body for increased physical alignment and energy flow.
• Emotional Balance: Movement, music, community, and connection are important for balancing emotions. A monkey-mind, or repetitive thoughts can be calmed with movement based activities. When journaling it is important to journal about the future to move forward with emotions. Meditation can be enhanced by adding a moving meditation to your practice.
• Intellectual Growth: Connection with others can provide a way for new insights and experiences to unfold. Be open to change, to collaborate and explore.
• Environmental Well-being: Nature can provide an instant change to Stress, providing a way for the body to relax and the emotions to calm. Living in connection with nature is simple and easy with a result of harmonious systems within the body and mind.
• Spiritual Foundation: Connect with your core beliefs through practices like Qi YINtegration or Tea with Intention, and realize the full power of you to bring life to your Relationships and interactions.

Join Us in the Journey

To help you explore and integrate these principles, the Greenwell Center offers classes and workshops such as in-person Tai Chi, and online Movement Made Easy, on-demand, the award-winning Qi YINtegration, as well as the Tea with Intention for Self-Care, and dance-based programs. These sessions are designed to support you in understanding and balancing the Pyramid of Health.

For those in West Kelowna, BC. The in-person Wine Country Tai Chi Society classes throughout the week can enhance your Mind-Body Connection with a regular weekly practice. They also hold three special workshop weekends a year to enhance expertise and skill.

One on One Sessions

Our award-winning program offers 9 sessions that address and balance the Pyramid of Health, while also having a group connection for support and inspiration. You can read more about these programs here.

Choose Your Wellness Plan

This International Mind-Body Awareness Day, let’s commit to honoring the fullness of our well-being—inside and out. Through purposeful practices and an integrated understanding, we can achieve the balance and resilience needed for a vibrant, fulfilling life.

The post Celebrate the Pyramid of Health in 2025 first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Originally Published on https://greenwellcenter.com/

Michelle Greenwell Dr Michelle Greenwell, CIH

With a passion for supporting others on their wellness journey, and a career spanning 4 decades, I specialize in movement to heal the body through dance or Tai Chi and creating specialty tea blends to bring micronutrients and intentions into your day. I have a BA in Psych, a MSc in CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and a PhD in CIH (Complementary and Integrative Health). I include tools from my BioEnergetic Wellness Profession with Touch for Health, Therapeutic Touch, NeuroReflex Integration, and western herbs with eastern theories. With an extensive YouTube channel (@michellegreenwell) and online programs, I create daily activity opportunities for adding energy and vitality with ease and grace. My podcast is Be Well with Dr Michelle Greenwell, highlighting herbs and special guests who inspire transformation and health discovery. You can interact with me one-on-one or through group programs and resources.