Why being ‘fit’ isn’t only about your body

Being ‘fit’ has many definitions depending on who you ask. While some may think of ‘fitness’ as just about having a tight and toned physique, many people now think of being ‘fit’ as a holistic concept that also encompasses one’s mental and emotional state.

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In his newly released book ‘Holistically Fit: Conquering Physical, Mental, and Emotional Habits to Build a Better You’, personal trainer, entrepreneur, and HoliFit founder Jose Villablanca furthers the case for a more holistic approach to fitness. The book delves deep into what it takes to build good habits, how to adopt the right mentality toward exercising, practical healthy eating tips, and so much more.

“It’s important to get proper exercise but physical, emotional, and mental aspects of our health are all interconnected,” explained Villablanca. “When I was younger I was fit enough to play sports like basketball and swimming. But I also had a pretty bad habit of thumbsucking. When you take a holistic approach to fitness you’re forced to examine the underlying stressors behind such a habit. Why was that behavior there? What would it take to change it?”

Villablanca’s own experiences with bad habits are why ‘Holistically Fit’ is so focused on helping readers become the best version of themselves. First, the book is divided into one section on developing habits, then sections on physical, emotional, and mental fitness.

Each section then looks at the reasons why people might develop bad habits in the first place, whether it’s failing to go to the gym consistently or not being able to get 8 hours of sleep every night. Every section then has practical tips to set people on the right path. To start healthy eating habits, for example, Villablanca walks readers through the best ways to start and maintain a food journal. For readers looking to combat stress and anxiety, Villablanca even has a portion going over the best ways to begin meditating.

“It’s easy to focus purely on the physical side of self-improvement, especially if you’re aiming towards the perfect summer body,” said Villablanca. “But soon I realized what a difference it made also having a healthy mind and emotions. Soon enough, my holistic fitness journey went from just exercising at the gym to including other habits like proper sleep hygiene and meditation.”

Of course, Villablanca also has extensive experience helping other people. He first started as a personal trainer back in 2007 in Toronto, Canada, earning certifications and eventually working his way up to becoming a Level 5 trainer and being recognized as the top performing trainer at the biggest health club in Canada. He even ran his own wellness company from 2009 to 2012 before he moved back to the Philippines, where he would resume his career as a personal trainer to a dearth of celebrities and executives.

Today, Villablanca is the founder of the employee engagement service HoliFit. HoliFit offers organizations fitness classes, webinars, and even mental health sessions. HoliFit’s services are explicitly designed to increase productivity, build company culture, and decrease attrition. So far, Holifit’s clients have included companies such as Shopee, Canva, ABS-CBN, and so much more.

“A lot of what I’ve experienced with clients actually helped shape the book,” Villablanca explained. “I know what it’s like to have to start new habits and begin self-improvement. The book is here to help with that.”

The book’s publisher Bookshelf PH is happy to announce that will be available to order on its website here. In the past, Bookshelf PH has notably published a number of lifestyle books such as ‘Lost You, Found Me’, ‘Fearless Filipinas’, Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ ‘Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama’, and so much more.

With its clear, concise, and engaging writing style, “Holistic Fitness” is a comprehensive guide to achieving optimal wellness and reaching your full potential. Whether you are a seasoned fitness enthusiast or a beginner, this book truly has something for everyone.