Article: Taha Wairua & Taha Hinengaro

 Taha Wairua & Taha Hinengaro

Information sourced from Te Whare Tapa Wha

What is taha wairua?

Taha wairua is your spiritual wellbeing. This explores your relationship with the environment, people and heritage in the past, present and future. The way people view their wairua can be very different. For some people their wairua is about faith, religious beliefs or the belief in a higher power. For other people they might describe their wairua as an internal connection to the universe. The important thing to understand about wairua is that there is no right or wrong way to experience it. It is however an important part of our own mental wellbeing.

Perspectives on taha wairua:

From a Māori perspective wairua or spirituality is an essential element that promotes hauora or wellbeing. Empowerment, self worth and self esteem can be viewed from a spiritual point of view as well. 

What is taha hinengaro?

Taha hinengaro is all about your mental and emotional wellbeing. Just like your physical health, your taha hinengaro needs to be taken care of. We need to make sure that we are looking after our mental and emotional wellbeing. Taha hinenagro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. It is all about how you feel as well as how you communicate and think. When your taha hinengaro is strong you can respond and cope better with life's challenges. You are able to express your feelings and reach out for support from your friends and whānau when you need to. 

Strengthening our taha hinengaro:

Your lifestyle and choices can have an impact on a healthy taha hinengaro. What you eat can affect your taha hinengaro. Some foods can have a positive effect and improve your mood and mental wellbeing. This is why it is so important to make sure that when you can you are having healthy and nutritious foods. Movement can also affect your taha hinengaro. Exercise and moving around can have great effects on your taha hinengaro as it gets you out and about in the fresh air.