When the soil is the self:
What Yoga can teach us about imbalance in the body and healing
In our previous blogs about cancer, we explored the concept of the terrain, the soil of the body. The terrain refers to the body’s internal environment, including elements such as mitochondria, immune health, metabolic flexibility, and toxin burden. It is largely influenced by the external environment that nurtures us. We also discussed how chronic diseases and cancer develop when this internal ecosystem becomes imbalanced. Our therapeutic strategies for healing from chronic diseases and cancer involve not just physical considerations but also emotional, mental, and spiritual healing.
The same patterns that disrupt our biology often stem from our consciousness.
Despite living in a world with more health information than ever before, we have never been sicker, more inflamed, more imbalanced, or more disconnected.
As a functional nutrition and yoga practitioner, I have learned that healing the body’s terrain requires proper nutrition, avoidance of toxins, efficient drainage and detoxification, and proper cell-to-cell communication. Equally important is reconnecting with our true selves amidst the noise.
Imbalance does not occur only in our biology; it originates in our consciousness when we exist in states of chronic stress, disconnection, and forgetfulness about our true nature.
In this blog article:
I want to explore:
The energetics and consciousness of our terrain, how chronic illness (including cancer) reflects a disconnection from nature and imbalance in our internal environment, our purpose (Dharma), our breath, our stillness, and our truth.
I aim to bridge the gap between science and spirituality because true health is a delicate balance of the mind, body, and soul, which I call the triad.
Each element influences the others, and healing can commence when they are in harmony.
Both Yoga and Functional Medicine begin with the same question:
Where is balance lost?
Each offers a different language for understanding how the body, mind, and spirit interconnect—one through energy and consciousness, the other through biochemistry and systems biology
In other words:
“As the cells go, so goes the soul; and as the soul goes, so go the cells.”
Health as a harmony between body, mind, and spirit
Ancient Frameworks, Modern Parallels
Yoga, a holistic practice that encompasses not just the body, but also the mind and spirit, has a sister science, Ayurveda,(ai-yr-vay-duh). The wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda is intertwined; both understand health as a harmony between body, mind, and spirit. Ayurveda describes life as a dance of energy and matter, guided by Prana, the vital life force that animates every living being. Both Yoga and Ayurveda offer complementary insights into health, empowering us with a deeper understanding of our bodies and minds.
When most people think of Yoga, they envision movement, stretching, breathing, and perhaps that deep sigh of peace in savasana (sha-VAH-suh-nuh). These are what make up Asana, one of the eight limbs of a yoga practice. Yoga, in its truest form, is a holistic practice that encompasses not just the body, but also the mind and spirit.
Eli in Bali at a traditional Melukat ceremony, at Tirta Empul Temple
I learned this firsthand during my yoga studies in Bali.
What started as a deep love for the physical practice, asana —the flow, the discipline, the challenge—evolved into something far more profound: immersion in the teachings of Yogic and Ayurvedic philosophy. Yoga doesn’t teach what to believe; instead, it provides practical steps toward spiritual realization. I learned about the eight limbs of Yoga—a sort of roadmap to guide one towards a way of living in peaceful harmony and symbiosis with the rest of existence and with oneself —a comprehensive guide to living a meaningful and purposeful life with the aim of achieving cosmic consciousness, or purusha (pr-oo-shuh).
As I returned home to the States and continued my work in functional nutrition and root-cause medicine, I began to see parallels everywhere. These ancient teachings reflected everything I was witnessing in the modern landscape of chronic illness and, perhaps most importantly, everything required for true, lasting healing.
Healing, whether viewed through the lens of Yoga, Ayurveda, or Functional Medicine, exists on a spectrum and is multifaceted. It encompasses not only the body’s biochemical processes but also energy, emotions, thoughts, and spirituality.
As I returned home to the States and continued my work in functional nutrition and root-cause medicine, I began to see parallels everywhere. These ancient teachings reflected everything I was witnessing in the modern landscape of chronic illness and, perhaps most importantly, everything required for true, lasting healing.
The Inner Terrain:
Dhatu, Agni, and the Fire of Life
Functional Medicine and Ayurveda both share a view of health that goes beyond the mere absence of disease.
Health is defined as the harmonious flow of life force through every aspect of our being. Ayurveda describes this balance using the concepts of dosha (dow-shuh), dhatu (da-too), mala, and agni, which represent the governing principles, building blocks, waste products, and transformative fire that together maintain the integrity of our internal terrain.
When these four elements are balanced, Prana, or life force, flows freely, allowing the body to thrive in a fertile terrain for health.
In contrast, imbalances can lead to stagnation, toxicity, inflammation, and degeneration—conditions that Functional Medicine often identifies as precursors to chronic diseases and cancer.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda describes this balance using these four concepts:
- Dosha: The governing energies—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—regulate all biological, psychological, and energetic functions.
- Dhatu: The seven bodily tissues (plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow/nervous tissue, and reproductive tissue) comprise the physical terrain, providing the soil, structure, and nourishment for the body.
- Mala: The waste products (urine, feces, sweat, and cellular waste) represent elimination or drainage pathways that cleanse the internal environment.
- Agni: The digestive and metabolic fire transforms food, thoughts, and experiences into usable energy and tissue.
Functional Medicine
From the perspective of Functional Medicine, these Ayurvedic concepts correspond closely with the systems biology of the human body.
- Constitution: This refers to biochemical individuality or terrain, encompassing genetics, epigenetics, the microbiome, mitochondrial function, and environmental inputs that shape physiology.
- Body Systems: The dhātus correspond directly to functional systems and tissue networks. Each can be understood through its biochemistry, nutrient demands, and capacity for cellular regeneration.
- Drainage and Detoxification: Mala reflects detoxification and waste clearance—physiological mechanisms that maintain internal cleanliness and biochemical balance. Functional Medicine focuses on ensuring that elimination systems, such as the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, colon, skin, and lymphatics, are open and functioning in the correct sequence.
- Inflammation: Agni relates to mitochondrial function, enzymatic metabolism, and inflammatory regulation—essentially, the body’s total metabolic capacity. A balanced agni enables efficient nutrient conversion into ATP, balanced oxidative signaling, and stable blood sugar levels.
The body is intelligent, interconnected, and constantly seeking balance
Ultimately, whether we discuss dosha or homeostasis, agni or mitochondrial function, the language, be it from Yoga and Ayurveda or from Functional Medicine, serves to express the same core truth: the body is intelligent, interconnected, and constantly seeking balance.
Ayurveda and Yoga remind us that healing is not solely a physical process; it is also an act of consciousness, requiring awareness of breath, movement, thought, and the subtle ways energy flows within us.
Functional Medicine translates this wisdom into terms of biochemistry, mitochondrial activity, and cellular communication.
By bridging these two approaches, we come to understand that health is not attained by merely fixing isolated parts but by listening deeply to the body’s signals, to our breath, and to the quiet intelligence that unites both science and spirit.
How Yoga Guides Health
There is Power, Strength, and Growth in Stillness
From the perspective of yoga philosophy, disease is not solely a physical issue; it reflects a disconnection from the self, from nature, and from the deeper rhythms that sustain us.
We live in a world that often rewards constant activity—striving, producing, and achieving. In today’s fast-paced world, we are conditioned to be constantly on the go. We’re always on the go, with endless tasks to complete. We’ve even begun to believe that being still or doing nothing equates to wasting time.
In our efforts to keep up with modern life, we often forget to slow down. We burn the candle at both ends and stop listening to the signals our bodies send us; we neglect the quiet wisdom of our inner landscape. We push through discomfort until our physical body — our greatest teacher (if we choose to listen) — forces us to take a break.
Over time, this disconnection from the self can lead to dysregulation of the nervous system and the immune response, increased inflammation, brain fog, mood imbalances, aches and pains, increased risk of injury, hormone imbalances, gut health dysfunction, and even cancer —common patterns I observe in patients.
However, when we take the time to slow down, we help our bodies recognize the strength and power that come from stillness. Being still actually does a lot of work for our bodies.
2 Ways Yoga Guides Health
Click on any of the below to jump to that section of this article
- The Importance of Self-Study and Awareness in Healing
- Healing Through Mindset
So, ask yourself:
Are you a human DOING, or a human BEING?
The problem with the ‘Modern Body’
On the flip side of constant busyness, many Americans have what is known as the “Modern Body.” This modern body has adapted to a life of convenience and disconnection. We often sit more than we move, frequently adopting the shape of our furniture — with rounded shoulders, collapsed chests, shortened hip flexors, and weakened glutes. As a result, the spine compresses, our breath becomes shallow, and the natural spring of our feet is lost due to rigid shoes and hard surfaces. This “chair-shaped” posture not only alters our physical structure but also disrupts circulation, lymphatic flow, and the balance of our nervous system. The body, once designed for movement, rhythm, and expansion, becomes inflamed, tight, and energetically stagnant.
On a deeper level, this chronic physical contraction reflects our internal state — often anxious, overstimulated, and disconnected from the body’s innate intelligence. The energetic body, which was once fluid and responsive, becomes blocked by stress, trauma, and sedentary habits. Physiologically, this manifests as sluggish detoxification, hormonal imbalances, poor digestion, and low-grade inflammation — creating an ideal environment for modern diseases.
At its core, Yoga invites us to unwind these patterns and restore flow, awareness, and breath where rigidity and numbness have taken hold.
The average American spends 7-10 hours per day sitting.
Modern research continues to validate what ancient yogis understood intuitively:
- Chronic stress suppresses immune function and increases inflammatory signaling, both of which are critical factors in cancer and autoimmune diseases.
- Mindfulness and meditation reshape the limbic system, calm the stress response, and help restore parasympathetic balance.
- Breathwork can influence gene expression related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular repair.
The Importance of Self-Study and Awareness in Healing
Healing, whether from chronic illness or cancer, begins with svadhyaya, the yogic practice of self-study. It’s the process of becoming deeply aware of yourself, your thoughts, patterns, energy, and physical sensations, without judgment.
In functional medicine, this mirrors the process of personalized care: understanding each individual’s unique biochemistry, history, environment, and emotions to create a roadmap that honors their specific needs. Both disciplines teach that awareness itself is healing, because you cannot change what you do not see.
For patients facing cancer, this awareness becomes an anchor. It invites them to slow down, listen to their body’s signals, and make choices from a place of compassion rather than fear. Healing is not just about attacking disease; it’s about reconnecting with your own wisdom and creating an environment where the body can thrive again.
Your takeaway:
Both Yoga and Functional Medicine teach that awareness itself is healing, because you cannot change what you do not see.
Healing Through Mindset
In functional medicine, we talk about root causes. Yoga reminds us that the mind is often the deepest root. When the mind is chaotic, the body is inflamed. When the mind is still, the body can begin to heal.
During my studies in Bali, one of my teachers said something I’ll never forget:
“The mind is either your medicine or your poison.”
That truth has echoed through my clinical work ever since, especially in the world of cancer care. Did you know your body is made up of cells and water- two things that are listening to the words you tell yourself, and they also hold a memory.
I see it every day with patients whose mindset becomes the most powerful determinant of their outcome. The body listens to every thought, every belief.
Healing requires faith in the body’s capacity to regenerate and restore. It is important to avoid self-imposed illness and pain. What I mean is, if you are constantly speaking to and about yourself negatively, or telling yourself you are sick, your cells —and your mitochondria — are listening. The words we tell ourselves have power.
When we are working with patients who have chronic illnesses and are seeking transformation, whether it’s reversing chronic fatigue, balancing hormones, or walking through cancer recovery, we must look beyond the lab results and our protocols. We have to look at how they see themselves.
- Do they believe healing is possible?
- Do they speak to their body with compassion?
- Do they still find joy in the small things?
Because physiology follows psychology, the body cannot heal in a state of fear. It heals in a state of safety, love, and alignment.
There is a phenomenon referred to in yogic texts as avidya. It is the mistaken belief in permanence, or the identification with the impure, sorrowful, or false self. Ultimately, this disconnection can be seen as the root of all suffering: when we identify with our illness, diagnosis, or limitations instead of recognizing our body’s innate ability to heal and achieve wholeness.
Yoga teaches this trust through santosha (contentment), tapas (discipline), and svadhyaya (self-inquiry). These aren’t abstract ideals; they are practices that encourage us to look within, fostering emotional resilience and inner steadiness, qualities every healing journey demands.
Your takeaway:
Healing requires faith in the body’s capacity to regenerate and restore. It is important to avoid self-imposed illness and pain.
Because physiology follows psychology, the body cannot heal in a state of fear. It heals in a state of safety, love, and alignment.
Bridging Science and Spirit
Both functional medicine and Yoga ultimately guide us toward alignment, balance, and clarity. They honor the body’s intelligence and recognize the spirit’s role in directing that intelligence toward achieving balance.
During my time studying Yoga in Bali, I developed a deep appreciation for the philosophy that exists far beyond the mat. What began as a love of movement quickly transformed into a reverence for the underlying principles — the stillness, discipline, and self-awareness that form the true essence of Yoga. I realized that what I was learning on the mat echoed my daily practice as a functional nutritionist: true healing is an inside-out process. It’s about returning to alignment — of body, mind, and spirit — and remembering the intelligence that already resides within us.
How can we bridge these two fields together? Functional medicine and Yoga speak two entirely different languages: one is rooted in lab data, biochemistry, and systems biology, while the other is grounded in ancient philosophy, energy, and awareness.
However, upon closer examination, they reveal themselves as two sides of the same truth.
While they use different terms — Yoga refers to Prana, and functional medicine speaks of mitochondrial energy; Yoga discusses karma, while functional medicine addresses epigenetics; Yoga mentions Sattva, while functional medicine pertains to homeostasis; yoga talks about Dharma, and functional medicine focuses on healing — both perspectives recognize that our daily choices, thoughts, and environments continuously shape our inner landscape.
Both frameworks view healing not merely as the elimination of symptoms but as a return to flow, purpose, and a connection to life itself. Both serve as systems of pattern recognition and awareness. They do not aim to suppress symptoms but to understand the messages they carry. Both strive to comprehend why imbalances occur and how the body and mind can return to their natural state of coherence. They see health as a dynamic expression of inner harmony rather than the mere absence of disease.
Functional medicine maps the terrain of the body, while Yoga explores the terrain of consciousness. Together, they offer two languages that describe the same truth, creating a comprehensive understanding of what it means to heal the mind, body, and spirit—the triad of health.
During my time studying Yoga in Bali, I developed a deep appreciation for the philosophy that exists far beyond the mat. What began as a love of movement quickly transformed into a reverence for the underlying principles — the stillness, discipline, and self-awareness that form the true essence of Yoga. I realized that what I was learning on the mat echoed my daily practice as a functional nutritionist: true healing is an inside-out process. It’s about returning to alignment — of body, mind, and spirit — and remembering the intelligence that already resides within us.
The Life Force: Prana and Mitochondria
In Yoga and Ayurveda, Prana is the animating life force that flows through every breath, every heartbeat, every cell. It’s not just “energy” — it’s consciousness in motion.
In functional medicine, we talk a lot about the body’s energy currency, mitochondrial energy, or ATP — the biochemical expression of life itself. Just as Prana flows through the nadis and chakras to nourish every cell, mitochondrial energy fuels the cellular processes that sustain vitality, regeneration, and resilience. When this energy is blocked, depleted, or imbalanced, both the yogic and functional frameworks recognize that disease begins to manifest, and the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate is limited.
Prana mirrors the function of our mitochondria.
When working with someone with a chronic illness, including cancer, the energy, be it Prana or mitochondrial function, often becomes compromised: cells begin to operate in a low-oxygen, low-prana state, relying on fermentation rather than oxidative energy (the “Warburg effect”).
Both Yoga and functional medicine seek to restore the free flow of energy:
- Functional medicine supports mitochondrial repair, oxygenation, drainage, detoxification, and redox balance.
- Yoga restores pranic flow through breathwork (pranayama), movement (asana), and meditation, calming the nervous system, improving oxygen exchange, and balancing subtle energy channels (nadis).
Restoring Prana and optimizing mitochondrial function is not just about restoring energy; it’s about rekindling the inner intelligence that guides healing at every level.
Both functional medicine and Yoga are ways of tending to the sacred fire of life — one through science, one through spirit.
Whole Body, Whole Person Healing
Whether you’re navigating cancer, autoimmune illness, or simply seeking greater energy and vitality, remember this:
You are not broken. You are becoming.
Health exists on a spectrum. There is always work to be done on the mind, or the body, or the spirit.
Healing is not a destination. It is a practice — one that requires both science and soul.
As I learned in the yoga shalas in Bali’s jungle and in the clinic rooms of functional medicine, the body is capable of extraordinary things when the mind and spirit are invited to participate. And that is where fundamental transformation begins.
At in2GREAT, we see healing as a whole-body, whole-person journey.
Functional medicine gives us the science to uncover and correct the root causes of imbalance.
For me, Yoga is a reminder to bring awareness, grace, and breath to the process.
When we bridge these worlds — evidence and energy, science and spirit — we don’t just extend life. We expand it.
If you’re ready to explore a new way of healing — one that honors both your biology and your being — we’re here to walk beside you on your health journey and on your yoga mat.
About the author
Eli Priest is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), a Master Restorative Wellness Practitioner (MRWP), and one of Kansas City’s most passionate minds when it comes to the subject of how nutrition plays into an individual’s health and wellness.
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