MFP Education Center

What does it mean to be healthy?

This question is ever-present in my mind. The most interesting thing about this is that my perspective on health and what it truly means to be healthy has evolved over the years. For years, I saw health in a one-dimensional way – the state of my physical body. As I’ve grown and learned from many great teachers, I’ve realized that being healthy is anything but black and white. The journey to being our healthiest selves – our best selves – is one that involves an interconnected trifecta of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. You know that old saying – mind, body, and spirit. There’s a reason it remains relevant. This is who we are. 

What are we doing all this for?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably committed to some physical practice. Most likely it is CrossFit. Maybe it’s yoga, running, rucking, climbing, anything! But why? The answer for most is for longevity purposes – to live longer and enjoy the things we love to do for many years to come. My perspective on living longer has changed over the years, and one of the biggest influences on it has been Peter Attia and his book Outlive. Late in the book he shares a rather powerful realization – why seek to live longer if you are not happy?

Attia’s insight struck a chord with me and inspired an entirely new path of understanding fitness and health. I came to recognize emotional health not as a separate entity – but rather an interconnected extension of our whole being. I started to become mindful of my approach to training – ensuring that I value each component of health equally. 

So, next time you are at the gym pushing through a challenging workout, getting stronger, and improving your aerobic fitness, remember that you are doing it with a powerful purpose. You are optimizing your health to continue living this beautiful life that you love – with the people you love. 

The Health Trifecta – Your Physical Body 

Although it requires hard work, sweat, and sore muscles, pursuing optimal physical health is not overly complicated. At MFP, our team and programming sets you up for success. The key is consistency. Just show up and give one hour of your day 3-6 days per week. I promise, something magical will happen. When you follow a thoughtful and creative program with consistency, you’ll train your body in ways that you never imagined possible. The MFP program is infinite in scale – optimizing the CrossFit training experience by resisting dogma and implementing a diverse array of modalities into its program. 

When you just show up on a consistent basis, you’ll get stronger and increase muscle mass and bone density. You’ll become more powerful, dynamic, and athletic. You’ll increase your cardiovascular endurance and VO2 max. The key to physical fitness gains is consistently following a program and challenging yourself to meet the stimulus it provides. 

Don’t get me wrong, optimizing your physical fitness is a journey and it requires a lot of hard work and patience. You will be constantly challenged in physical pursuits – and blending all modalities of fitness becomes an art in practice. Despite all that factors into physical practices – the road is clear. The best part? This clear and straight road transcends far into the horizon with no end in sight. That is what makes the journey so exciting. Physical training is a lifelong endeavor that simply asks you to show up as you are and keep moving forward. 

The Health Trifecta – Emotional and Spiritual Health

I like to group emotional and spiritual health together in this trifecta because they certainly overlap with each other. Also, the processes of improving your emotional and spiritual health are a bit more nuanced and complicated than just showing up and putting in work with your physical body. 

If you take anything from this article, please remember that nothing should ever get in the way of prioritizing your emotional health. After all, remember the reason why you are getting stronger and improving your metabolic health – to continue to enjoy this beautiful life and all that brings you joy. Now, it’s important to understand that the process of improving your emotional health is highly individualized and is far more complex than showing up to the gym on a regular basis. I can’t tell you what exactly will best serve you – but I am here to offer some suggestions for places to start inner exploration.

Mindfulness, Awareness, and Mental Health

The great teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn describes Mindfulness as “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally”. Think about this for a moment. In your busy life, how often do you simply stop doing? How often do you allow yourself to be present in even the simplest of moments – walking the dog, washing the dishes, brushing your teeth, etc. Allocate some portion of your time simply by being mindful of where you are. Allow yourself to feel what comes up without judgment or suppression. 

This article is not meant to teach you this history of mindfulness or how to meditate. That is an endeavor in itself that demands its own time. Instead, I encourage you to start being mindful and aware about how you are feeling. Take time to be still and for introspection. Does anything bring you distress? Be brave enough to become open to every feeling that flows through you and examine where you’re at – and what changes can help you be your best and happiest self. 

Remember to ask for help when you need it. Understand that your emotional and mental health never take the back seat. We train our physical bodies not to become happy – but because we are happy.

Spirituality: A Simple Concept with Powerful Implications

Spirituality looks different to everyone – and that’s a beautiful thing. Despite differences in beliefs, backgrounds, and culture, it comes down to one fundamental concept: we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. Really, it’s that simple. There is an interconnection between everything – and it transcends the limitations of human understanding. No matter what you believe, how you live, or how you practice, I hope you can just find joy and inspiration in the remarkable unity of life.

Life is not just about us, and everything we do truly has universal implications. It’s a humbling and empowering idea to ponder. Spiritual practices bring profound meaning to our lives and guide us on a path that serves not just ourselves, but all that surrounds us. This includes people, but also animals and the vast natural world. No matter how you perceive the world, understand that we are a part of a remarkable whole. Being mindful of this on a daily basis has allowed me to find tremendous love, meaning, and happiness in my emotional life. 

Bringing It All Together

When you prioritize the three elements of the health trifecta (physical body, emotional health, and spiritual health), you’ll discover that they harmoniously support each other. As you show up to the gym and continue your daily routine, I encourage you to begin to think about all three elements throughout your practices. You’ll find that when you train your physical body, your mood boosts. When you improve your mood and emotional state, you begin to become more open to spiritual concepts beyond yourself. 

Everything is a part of a whole. Physical training, emotional and mental health, and spiritual discovery are all equal entities of health. Treat each with passion, dedication, and love. This trifecta practice is what allows us to live longer, happier, healthier, and more loving lives. This is what it means to be healthy.