Gaia’s Top 10 Videos on Holistic Health and Lifestyle
How do you discover your own path of well-being and vitality to achieve optimal health? The road is different for everyone and is an enduring, life-long mission. We invite you to sit with experts, from various health-related fields, who share the fruits of their research on nutrition, supplements, dentistry, detoxing, and unlocking our full health potential. What you may discover could change every aspect of your life.
1. The Gut MovieÂ
In The Gut Movie, we follow the journey of journalist and researcher Kale Brock as, in the quest to discover whether the “optimal microbiome” does indeed exist, he travels from Australia to Namibia to live with The San, an ancient hunter-gatherer people living traditionally from the land. During the excursion, Brock monitors his own microbiome and how it changes in conjunction with the new surroundings and takes microbiome samples of The San to gauge the significant differences in microbiota present across cultures.
With expert commentary by leading gastroenterologist Professor Thomas Borody, molecular geneticist Dr. Margie Smith, immunology researcher and expert Professor Mimi Tang, naturopath and chiropractor Dr. Damian Kristof and others, The Gut Movie provides an insightful yet entertaining look at the explosive research of the gut and its impact on human health.
2. Healing Matrix
Dr. Edward Group, Dr. Sue Morter, and Regina Meredith connect you with top researchers and visionaries exploring alternative healing modalities and emerging sciences to bring you information that can help you make better-informed choices concerning your health and wellbeing. Gain the tools you need to help heal yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
3. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
An inspiring film that chronicles one man’s personal mission to overcome illness, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead outlines the many health benefits of juicing.
One hundred pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids, and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror, he saw a 310 lb. man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn’t end well.
With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long-term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: to get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
4. Fasting: The Movie
Fasting may serve as the solution to solve our epidemic of chronic illnesses today. However, most think of only one method of fasting when they hear the term “fasting.” This documentary explores several different methods of fasting, including Time-Restricted Feeding, Intermittent & Prolonged Fasting, Long-Term Water Fasting, Religious Fasting, Eating Disorders, Improvising or Fasting Unsafely, Fasting Mimicking Diet, and Juice Fasting.
The film includes interviews with 54 people, including the world’s leading scientists and medical professionals on fasting, as well as individuals who used fasting to treat obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems, skin problems, high blood pressure, chronic headaches, joint pain, and many others. This is no doubt the most comprehensive and objective look at fasting on film.
5. Hungry for Change
You are what you eat. Hungry for Change exposes the hidden traps set by the diet, weight-loss, and food industries that make keeping weight off impossible. Learn how to get rid of cellulite, detox effectively, and eat foods for glowing skin, healthy hair, and a more vibrant YOU.
6. What’s With Wheat?
More and more people are diagnosed with celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitivity than ever before! You have to ask the question, “WHY?”.
Cyndi O’Meara, nutritionist and founder of Changing Habits, went on a global quest to find out the reason why! She could not understand why, after millions of years of eating wheat, we now have this growing epidemic of wheat and gluten intolerance. O’Meara has been a nutritionist for over 30 years and has lived a healthy lifestyle her entire life. In fact, she has never taken any medication, not even panadol (acetaminophen). Cyndi went on an elimination diet a few years ago after gaining some excess weight and suffered aches and pains, which she thought was just part of getting older.
After eliminating foods out of her diet, she noticed when she re-introduced wheat that her aches and pains came back. She started to question why, as she was brought up on a healthy diet, had eaten healthy foods all her life, and the bread she ate was always from organic sources.
7. Healing the Luminous Body
Alberto Villoldo, PhD., introduces and explains the luminous energy field that surrounds and informs our physical body like a blueprint of life. It is a secret of ancient shaman-healers that many of our physical and psychological problems stem from imprints within our luminous body. Dr. Villoldo unveils how to heal and recover from these destructive imprints and regain our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Join us as we travel to the Andes Mountains to learn the secret of the ancient Shamans, a secret that can lead all of us to health, happiness, and beauty. It was here, that he discovered the wisdom of the luminous body from the indigenous shamans. This ancient knowledge reveals the secret of true health and happiness.
8. Transcendence: Healing Herbs & Sacred Medicine
Tired? Sluggish? Cranky? Suffering from brain-fog or migraines? Plant medicine has been used for centuries, but why are these cheap, safe, and time-tested healing remedies no longer promoted? Uncover powerful healing herbs and sacred medicine rituals that can help you heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and how some of these healing plants may even be growing in your backyard.
9. Thrive
Ayurveda, often known as the sister science to yoga, is a 5000-year-old holistic medical system originating in India. Ayurveda means “the knowledge of life” and is known for being one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive medical systems. Unlike anything seen before on Gaia, Thrive: Self-Healing with Ayurveda is a multi-part educational experience focused on finding balance amidst the pressure of modern life. Thrive celebrates the fact that people learn in many different ways and everyone has a unique pathway to self-healing. Thrive offers five ways to explore: a docuseries, cooking shows, self-care tutorials, yoga classes, and meditations.
Through this series, you will come into a deeper connection with your unique body type, understand your imbalances, and learn techniques to restore greater harmony to your system. By learning to bring balance to the mind, body, emotions, and spirit, you will be able to more easily navigate challenging circumstances and fundamentally change the way you live in the world.
10. Invisible Illness
Invisible Illness tells the stories of people living with Invisible Illness. Whether it’s chronic pain, Crohn’s, Lyme, SIBO, PTSD, or any other illness not visible or obvious on the outside, our stories need to be shared. Stories of hope and resilience, courage and perseverance, and above all, a sense of community and belonging that is sorely needed. Not only stories from those suffering but from the people supporting and healing those who live with an invisible illness.
These and other conditions and illnesses don’t necessarily manifest themselves in such a way where you can easily see the pain a person is suffering. This often results in friends, family, and even the medical community doubting or even dismissing the individual. So not only is the illness “invisible,” often the person suffering feels invisible and invalidated. Chronic pain. Lyme disease. Fibromyalgia. Diabetes. SIBO. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Endometriosis. Depression. PTSD. Hashimoto’s. Infertility. Traumatic brain injury. The list goes on and keeps growing, in the number of illnesses and amount of people affected by them.
About the Author
Tapping Or EFT: What It Is And How It Can Help You Emotionally
Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), is a therapeutic tool that seeks to release emotional blocks through the stimulation of energy points on the body. This technique combines elements of psychology and acupressure to address stress, anxiety, pain, and other difficult emotions. In this article, we explore what tapping is, how it works, and how it can help you regain your emotional well-being.
Table of Contents
- What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
- How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
- Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
- How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
- What Does Science Say About Tapping?
- What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
- How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
Tapping is an emotional self-regulation technique that consists of gently tapping with the fingers on certain points of the body linked to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine. While stimulating these points, phrases are spoken aloud that acknowledge the emotional issue being addressed. This combination allows the release of energetic blocks associated with memories, thoughts, or sensations that cause distress.
On an emotional level, tapping helps to process difficult experiences without repressing them or becoming trapped in them. By validating what we feel while simultaneously activating specific points on the body, a sense of relief and inner safety is created. That’s why it is considered an effective tool for calming states of anxiety, stress, fear, guilt, or sadness.
How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
From a physiological perspective, tapping reduces the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stress. By stimulating certain acupuncture points, calming signals are sent to the brain, which can lower cortisol levels and promote a state of relaxation. This allows the body to feel safer, even when facing difficult emotions or memories.
On a mental level, tapping supports the reorganization of beliefs associated with negative emotions. By repeating conscious phrases during the process, patterns of thought that often operate automatically are reprogrammed. The result is a deeper connection with what we feel, accompanied by an internal sense of relief, stability, and perspective.
Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
Tapping is a versatile technique that can be used to relieve emotional, physical, and energetic discomfort. By focusing on the connection between body and emotion, it allows the release of internal blocks and the restoration of balance.
- Stress reduction: Helps calm the nervous system and relieve accumulated tension. It’s useful during times of emotional or mental overload.
- Anxiety management: Allows the identification of thoughts that fuel anxiety and the release of the associated emotional burden. Improves the sense of internal control.
- Fear processing: Facilitates facing fears and phobias with greater stability. Reduces automatic reactions to stimuli that previously triggered alarm.
- Releasing repressed emotions: Offers a safe space to recognize and express what we feel. Encourages emotional flow without judgment.
- Improving insomnia: By reducing anxiety and mental noise, it supports deeper rest. It can also be used before bed as a relaxing routine.
- Support in physical pain: Relieves bodily tension related to unexpressed emotions. Complements physical treatments from a holistic perspective.
- Support during personal processes: It’s helpful during times of change, grief, or personal growth. Aids in integrating emotions and finding inner clarity.
How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
Practicing a round of tapping is simple and does not require external tools. All you need is a quiet space, your hands, and the willingness to connect with what you’re feeling. Below we share the essential steps to perform a tapping round:
- Identify and name what you’re feeling: The first step is to connect with a specific emotion, recurring thought, or physical discomfort you want to address. The more specific the identification, the more effective the practice.
- Formulate a setup phrase: This phrase should include the problem you’re feeling and a statement of acceptance. An example could be: “Even though I feel afraid of change, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Repeat this phrase while stimulating the first point.
- Stimulate the karate point: With the fingers of one hand, gently tap the outer edge of the other hand (known as the karate point). While doing this, repeat the setup phrase out loud or mentally about three times.
- Tap through the body points: Then proceed with the traditional tapping sequence: eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, and under the arm. At each point, apply light taps while naming what you’re feeling or repeating phrases related to the issue being worked on.
- Observe and close: At the end of the round, take a deep breath and assess whether the intensity of the emotion has changed. You can repeat the process if needed or close with a positive phrase that affirms the new emotional state, such as: “Now I feel calmer and more at peace.”
What Does Science Say About Tapping?
In recent years, tapping has attracted the interest of the scientific community, especially in the fields of clinical psychology and mind-body medicine. Various studies have indicated that the practice of EFT can significantly reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and improve symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma.
Although it is still considered a complementary therapy, institutions such as the APA (American Psychological Association) have begun to recognize its therapeutic potential, particularly when it is integrated with other approaches. Research continues to expand, but early results suggest that tapping is not only safe, but also effective in promoting emotional well-being and reducing nervous system activation.
What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
Tapping was developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig, an American engineer with training in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Craig was inspired by the work of psychologist Roger Callahan, who had created a technique called TFT (Thought Field Therapy) that combined acupressure and verbal therapy. By simplifying that method, Craig designed what we now know as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
The foundation of tapping is found in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the stimulation of the body’s energy meridians. Craig proposed that by applying gentle tapping on specific points while working on a concrete emotion, it is possible to unblock stagnant energy and restore internal balance.
Since its creation, tapping has spread widely as an emotional self-regulation technique that is accessible, practical, and adaptable to different contexts. Its popularity grew due to its ease of use and the testimonials of people who report significant relief with just a few minutes of daily practice.
How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
Including tapping in your daily routine can be as simple as taking a few minutes a day to connect with yourself. Upon waking, a brief tapping round can help you set a clear intention and release any tension that arises with the first thoughts of the day. It’s also a useful tool for recognizing how you feel before starting your activities.
During the day, you can turn to tapping in specific moments of discomfort or emotional blockage. If you’re going through a stressful situation, a short pause to apply the technique can help release emotional charge and return to center. Emotions don’t need to be intense—even subtle states like worry or irritation can be addressed effectively.
At night, tapping can help you close the day with greater calm. It’s a good time to review how you felt, give thanks for what you experienced, and let go of what you don’t need to carry into rest. The more natural this space of emotional connection becomes, the easier it will be to return to it whenever you need it.
