A Bridge of Understanding Between East and West

As a typical “mind person”—my term for someone who lets their brain lead freely—I long struggled to embrace yoga, qigong, and Ayurveda. However, my resistance to pills and medication became the starting point for a journey into what I had previously considered the “alternative” world, which turned out to be the natural path back to balance and well-being.

My realization is that if the natural world and the medical world could coexist, we would most likely achieve magical results—not just for us humans but for all living beings on Earth.

“My mantra is – what you understand, you do.”

A Personal Story

Three years ago, my body began signaling that something was not right. I sought medical care but ended up at the back of the queue. A year and a half ago, my immune system started to weaken. I turned to a private healthcare provider, where it became evident that I needed surgery to remove what was causing my physical and mental stress. Thanks to my private health insurance, I quickly received help, and in December 2023, I underwent surgery.

During this time, I began training to become a Reiki Master, a journey that opened the door to Asian teachings and their holistic view of health. I also sought help from an osteopath, who helped me understand that my overactive sympathetic nervous system was causing phantom pain that paralyzed my body. She showed me the importance of balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

By combining the medical world with natural teachings, I have slowly healed—physically, mentally, and energetically. Western medicine removed what did not belong in my body, while natural wisdom allowed me to discover my own inherent potential for healing.

Courage to Explore Different Perspectives

For millennia, Asian teachings on chakras have served as a guide to understanding our mental, physical, and energetic (spiritual) balance. Meanwhile, Western science has explored the nervous system and its regulation of our emotions, thoughts, and bodily functions. What happens if we let these two worlds meet?

“Thoughts generate energy, and you have the power to control your thoughts.”

With the help of quantum physics, we have realized that the universe is made up of energy. Atoms vibrate, and these vibrations affect everything around us, including our bodies. This is why I now see the power in practices such as Reiki, yoga, and mindfulness. These methods promote the activation of our parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn enhances the body’s natural energy field. We find harmony and balance, leading to increased well-being and health.

Harmony Through Energy and the Nervous System

According to Asian teachings, the chakra system consists of seven primary energy centers, from the root chakra at the spine to the crown chakra at the top of the head. Blocked chakras can cause physical, mental, and energetic imbalances. In Western science, the nervous system is divided into the somatic (which controls conscious movements) and the autonomic (which regulates unconscious functions). The autonomic system, in turn, consists of the sympathetic (which activates in response to stress) and the parasympathetic (which calms and restores) systems.

My osteopath explained that these systems are like two sides of a scale—the sympathetic releases adrenaline for fight or flight, while the parasympathetic releases oxytocin for calm and balance. In my view, we “mind people” are untrained in activating the parasympathetic system, which may be a major cause of the rise in stress-related illnesses in modern society.

The Path from Illness to Health

“Soul people” is my term for those who have grown up with traditions, teachings, or religions that impart techniques to balance the mind, body, and soul. Techniques such as meditation/prayer, breathing exercises, or movement (yoga, qigong) train “soul people” to naturally activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the system that allows us to recover and find inner balance and harmony.

“Activating the parasympathetic nervous system creates the foundation for a more harmonious mind.”

By training our inner selves and learning to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, we can not only reduce stress but also achieve deeper harmony. It is time to unite the best of both worlds and choose balance. Start today—for all that is needed is the willingness to train!