Live Whole Health #328: Your body, your home - VA News
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Skip to contentAn official website of the United States governmentHere’s how you knowOfficial websites use . govA. govwebsite belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure . gov websites use HTTPSAlock(Lock A locked padlock) orhttps://means you’ve safely connected to the . gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. VA. govLocationsBusinessVA CareersContact UsNewsTop StoriesLatest NewsBenefits NewsHealth NewsSecretary’s BlogAmerica 250VA Career StoriesDate ArchivesResourcesVetResourcesVA/Linkedin PartnershipsSocial Media PolicyHow to submit a guest postMy HealtheVetThis will take you to the MyHealtheVet websiteSuicide PreventionThis will take you to the Suicide Prevention websiteVA FormsThis will take you to the VA Find a Form pageVA PublicationsThis will take you to the VA Publications pageVA Podcast NetworkVA Press RoomHomeHealth#LiveWholeHealthLive Whole Health #328: Your body, your homeJuly 30, 2026Shaunelle McKeverAir Force Veteran and Program Support Assistant for VHA’s National Center for Health Promotion & Disease PreventionYou only get one body, and yours carries you through every experience, challenge and moment of joy. How are you caring for the body you live in? Are you offering kindness and patience? Or treating your body like an adversary?Your body is not just a physical structure; it’s your home. How you nourish it, rest it, speak to it and care for it shapes your well‑being in powerful ways. When you choose habits that support your health, you acknowledge your body’s inherent worth and honor your humanity. Taking care of your physical self builds strength, vitality and resilience. When daily choices are rooted in awareness, compassion and rest, you give your body what it needs to function well. Caring for your body isn’t separate from mental or emotionalwellness—it’s deeply connected to it. Relax your body, rest your mindA powerful, accessible practice you can begin today is this 14-minuted Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). This guided technique encourages you to gently tense and release muscle groups from head to toe. The steady rhythm of holding and letting go helps you recognize hidden tension and teaches your body how to soften. Pair PMR with other gentle practices like stretching, deep breathing, mindfulness or yoga and you create a daily ritual of reconnection. These methods don’t just relax your body; they calm your mind, settle your emotions and reset your nervous system. Over time, these small acts build a healthier, more grounded you. They improve sleep. They reduce stress. They restore clarity. They strengthen resilience. And most importantly, they remind you that you are worthy of the same compassion you extend to others. What about pain?If you experience chronic pain, it may be more difficult to settle into your body. Learn more aboutmanaging pain with Whole Health. The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visitAsk VAor call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc. ) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection. Use it or lose it! Keep your brain sharp with puzzles and stay active to keep your body strong. Practice skills, stay moving, and don’t let abilities fade!Life yourself up! Even in heavy moments, you can rise. Guided imagery offers a gentle path toward calm, comfort, and renewed hope. Focused breathing can reset everything, like flipping the switch from frenzied to chilled. These quick techniques can melt stress fast. Last updated July 29, 2026VANewsPage load linkGo to Top