Holistic medicine is practiced with an understanding that all aspects of an individual — mental health, emotional health, and physical health — are not only related, they’re intertwined. As a result, you can’t expect to treat one without addressing the others; for example, if you suffer from chronic pain, you must also treat the anxiety and depression that has arisen from experiencing non-stop discomfort and agony.

Finding the right holistic therapy plan depends entirely on your personal needs. By joining a wellness center and enrolling yourself in a personal development plan (whether your focus is to perfect stress management techniques or simply manage pain), you can discover the best solution to your problems. Though holistic therapy varies from patient to patient, many people have found relief using the following three techniques.

• Meditation: Focusing on your breathing allows individuals who suffer from an overload of stress to live in the now — there is nowhere you have to be, nothing you have to do except to breathe in and breathe out. Meditation has been proven to lower stress levels and decrease pain in those that often find themselves distracted by it, leading to a calmer, more relaxed life. Meditation can even improve sleep, memory, and attention span! Though it takes a good amount of practice to perfect, the benefits far outweigh the costs.

• Yoga: Pain affects a large amount of the population. Whether due to obesity (an astounding 115 million American adults are expected to be obese by 2030) or physical ailments, improving your flexibility is one of the best ways to reduce discomfort. Additionally, the repetitiveness and consistency of breathing during a yoga practice leads to a mind-body connection that can strengthen both at once. Yoga is frequently used in weight loss programs and exercise plans because of its advantages and varying difficulty levels.

• Aromatherapy: Whether you like using a diffuser or prefer to add a few essential oil drops to your bath, the impact that these naturally extracted plant materials can have on your mental and physical health is shocking. Depending on which scent you choose, you can reduce stress, fight depression, improve memory and energy levels, and even speed healing!

With the proper know-how and dedication, you’ll find your mind and body coming together effortlessly. Before you know it, daily life will become easier to manage and, more importantly, much more enjoyable.