Magazine | Merging Science and Ancient Wisdom: A Truly Holistic Path to Wellness

Merging Science and Ancient Wisdom: A Truly Holistic Path to Wellness

Written by Ayse Kocak 4 min read
Merging Science and Ancient Wisdom: A Truly Holistic Path to Wellness

Walking the Bridge Between Worlds

When sitting with someone seeking better health, it’s important to look beyond symptoms or lab results. Every person is unique, and real healing often happens at the intersection of modern science and timeless wisdom. My own journey, spanning alternative medicine, sound healing, coaching, and shamanic practice, has taught me that the most transformative results come from honoring both the latest research and the traditions our ancestors passed down.

In today’s world, a growing number of practitioners are bringing together functional medicine, nutrition, psychology, and holistic therapies. This multidisciplinary approach helps guide people toward true wellbeing; body, mind, and soul.

The Power of True Integration

Holistic wellness is not about ticking off a checklist. It’s about recognizing the dance between the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual layers of our being. Science shows that treating symptoms in isolation often misses deeper imbalances. But when we integrate nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, emotional healing, and spiritual practice, we build resilience and nurture authentic joy.

Where Science Meets Symbolism

What makes a holistic approach unique is how it links scientific findings with deeper meaning. Most practitioners ask for test results. Test results, for example, can be seen not just as numbers, but as messages from the body and soul.

  • Gut Lining & Boundaries: Issues with the gut lining might prompt questions about personal boundaries. Just as the gut protects the body from harm, healthy boundaries safeguard our emotional core. Healing the gut often involves learning to say “no” and protecting your energy.
  • Inflammation & Emotional Heat: Chronic inflammation is rarely just physical. Emotional stress, anger, or unresolved hurt can fuel internal “heat.” Cool foods, meditation, and breathwork help, but so does honoring and releasing those emotions.
  • Nutrient Deficiencies & Inner Nourishment: Low levels of B12 or vitamin D might reflect a need for deeper nourishment; not just in the body, but in the spirit. True replenishment comes from both food and self-compassion, creativity, and connection.
  • Detoxification & Emotional Release: Detox is not only about removing toxins. It’s also about letting go of old emotions, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve us. Creating space physically and emotionally allows new, nourishing patterns to take root.
  • Hormonal Imbalance & Life’s Cycles: Hormones regulate our rhythms and mirror our inner landscape. Adrenal fatigue or cortisol imbalances often arise when we’re stuck in overdrive. Restoring balance means honoring rest, nurturing the nervous system, and making space for renewal.
  • Blood Sugar, Cholesterol & Emotional Flow: High blood sugar or cholesterol can reflect more than just diet. Are we struggling to metabolize “sweetness” in life, or holding onto old hurts? Alongside nutrition and movement, working with the emotional body can help release what blocks our flow.
  • Liver Health & Unsettled Emotions: In many traditions, the liver is associated with anger and unprocessed emotion. Imbalances here can be an invitation to explore what needs expression, forgiveness, or transformation. Mindfulness and creative therapies can help “free the liver” on every level.

Whole-Person Wellness in Action

A truly integrative approach brings together evidence-based nutrition, targeted supplementation (guided by testing and clinical wisdom), joyful movement, restorative sleep, and stress management practices like mindfulness and breathwork. Emotional and spiritual healing, through sound, mantra, shamanic practices, or psychotherapy, can address trauma and foster deeper connection to self and spirit.

Community and collaboration are also key. By honoring the wisdom of each practitioner and the lived experience of every individual, we create a circle of support that empowers lasting change.

Understanding how deeply rooted issues might be linked to physical challenges revealed by testing can help people address these challenges on every level.

Sharing the Wisdom

This approach is not just for those seeking health; it’s also inspiring a new generation of practitioners. If you feel called to blend science with ancient wisdom, or to guide others on a truly holistic path, consider exploring training that emphasizes listening deeply and seeing the whole person.

True wellness is a journey, not a destination. It’s about honoring every part of ourselves, listening to the messages of the body, and weaving together the best of science and spirit. If you’re ready to walk this path, for yourself or as a guide for others, welcome to a new paradigm of healing.

Published: July 21st, 2025

Author: Ayse Kocak

Ayse Kocak is the Founder & CEO of PAAR London, specializing in holistic wellbeing and longevity. With over 25 years in healthcare leadership worldwide, she empowers individuals to optimize their vitality through personalized, science-based wellness and sound healing, collaborating with global experts for truly tailored solutions.

Discover trusted longevity brands
and expert health stacks

Stop wasting money on ineffective products
Save up to 5 hours of research per week
Delivered to your inbox every Thursday

You might also like

Blood Tests Are Just One Piece of the Puzzle to Understand Your Health
Sponsored
VO2max

6 min read

Blood Tests Are Just One Piece of the Puzzle to Understand Your Health

When you think about getting healthier, what pops into your head? Probably blood tests, right? A long list of results, a PDF you don’t totally understand, maybe a few scary-sounding markers to Google at 11pm. And look—we’re not here to knock blood tests. They're incredibly useful. But here’s the thing: they’re just one piece of the health puzzle.If you’re really trying to feel better, perform better, or just get more out of life, you’ve got to look beyond lab work. The real magic? It often starts with something far simpler: your daily lifestyle.High performers in the health space didn’t get their biological systems dialed in by only reading lab reports. They built a feedback loop from their habits. And that’s exactly what more of us need—real-time, actionable data about the stuff we do every day: how we eat, move, sleep, and recover.Let’s dig into what that looks like.First: Zoom Out Before You Zoom InMost people try to optimize their health by jumping straight into supplements or chasing “optimal” lab values. But if you don’t understand the why behind the numbers—or the behaviors that caused them—you’re flying blind.The truth? Symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, mood swings, or slow recovery usually have roots in your day-to-day routines. That’s where lifestyle diagnostics come in. These are tools that help you see your health story before things go wrong. And when you use them together, you start to get a clear picture of what’s working (and what’s not).Here are four underrated tools that can change the game1. Finding Out What You Actually EatLet’s be real. Most of us think we eat pretty healthy. But memory is a funny thing. That extra croissant didn’t count, right?A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is like a time-lapse of your eating habits. Instead of asking what you had for lunch yesterday, it looks at your long-term patterns—things like fiber intake, processed food consumption, protein quality, and diversity of plants.Why it matters:Studies show over 70% of chronic diseases are diet-related.Hidden deficiencies (like magnesium or omega-3s) often don’t show up in blood until they’re severe.What you eat shapes your microbiome, hormones, and even mood.What to do:Take a validated FFQ—it gives you a visual breakdown of where your nutrition stands. It’s one of the most eye-opening ways to see what you’re really eating.2. Continuous Measuring of Your Blood SugarThis one’s a game-changer. CGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitors) aren’t just for diabetics anymore—they’re for anyone who wants to understand how food, stress, sleep, and movement affect their energy levels.Why it matters:Big glucose spikes = fatigue, cravings, inflammation.Even “healthy” foods (like oatmeal or smoothies) can cause major rollercoasters for some people.CGMs give personalized insights, not population averages.What to do:Wear a CGM for 10–14 days. Track your meals, your stress levels, your workouts. Look for patterns.Did your Sunday night email spike your blood sugar more than your Friday burger?Even one round of CGM can totally rewire how you eat and recover.3. Measuring Your VO2maxThe most important longevity metric you’re probably ignoring.VO2max is a fancy name for how well your body uses oxygen during exercise. But don’t worry—you don’t need to be a triathlete to care. Think of it as your aerobic horsepower.Why it matters:VO2max is one of the strongest predictors of lifespan. Seriously.It’s a measure of how well your heart, lungs, and mitochondria are doing.Low VO2max is linked to fatigue, brain fog, and poor metabolic flexibility.What to do:You can get a proper lab test (in a mask, on a treadmill), or let your smartwatch estimate it over time. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to track your direction. And yes, training in Zone 2 helps a ton.4. Knowing Your Body CompositionWeight alone? Pretty useless. Most scales don’t tell you what you really need to know. Two people can weigh the same but have totally different health profiles. It’s super important to not only know what you weigh—but also how much of that is fat, muscle, or bone mass. And if your weight is changing, is it real change or just water shifting around?Why it matters:Muscle mass is one of the strongest predictors of healthspan (how long you stay healthy).Visceral fat—the kind that hugs your organs—is way more dangerous than what you see in the mirror.Tiny shifts in muscle-to-fat ratio can massively change how you feel day to day.What to do:Try a Body Composition Scan, a bioimpedance device, or even a simple tape measure to track your waist-to-hip ratio. The goal? Don’t obsess over pounds. Focus on composition.Where to Start?A Swiss longevity clinic called AYUN realized that most people dive into health with zero baseline. They’re guessing, Googling, or spending money on supplements without knowing what’s actually off.AYUN, Swiss first walkin longevity clinicSo they created something simple (and smart): the Lifestyle Check-Up.It’s not a blood test. It’s a full 360° snapshot of how your body and habits are really doing.Here’s what you get:Nutrition Check (FFQ)A science-backed assessment of your eating habits and nutritional gaps14-Day CGM ExperienceReal-time insights into your blood sugar responses to food, stress, and sleepBody Composition ScanUnderstand your muscle, fat, and metabolic balanceVO2max TestMeasure your cardiovascular capacity and oxygen efficiencyExpert AnalysisNutrition and sports scientists interpret your results holisticallyPersonalized ReportYour health data, decoded into clear, actionable insightsCustom Action PlanA practical roadmap for training, nutrition, and recovery90-Minute Joint ReviewA deep-dive session with both experts to walk you through your resultsIt’s like having a health detective map your patterns before you invest in deeper labs.And honestly? For many people, this is the smarter place to begin.Because once you see the impact of your habits, the motivation to change stops being abstract. You’re not chasing random numbers anymore. You’re solving your own health equation.Curious where you stand?Start with the Lifestyle Check-Up. You’ll come away with clarity, momentum—and a few “aha” moments you didn’t see coming.Use the exclusive New Zapiens code NEWZAPIENS10 to get 10% off your Lifestyle Check-Up. Own your health now

From Fragile to Functional: Why Midlife Women Need a New Strength Paradigm
Exercise

4 min read

From Fragile to Functional: Why Midlife Women Need a New Strength Paradigm

I never thought my next company would start with a bone scan.But here we are.At 41, I’m building again. ​​Not because I had a big tech idea or saw a market gap, but because I got scared. And then angry.Scared when a DEXA scan revealed early signs of bone loss. Angry when I realized how little support exists for women in midlife—especially around invisible health risks like bone density and muscle decline.Let me back up.I’ve always been active: triathlons, yoga, snowboarding, you name it. But no one told me that after 30, women start quietly losing 1–2% of bone mass per year. Or that half of all women over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture. And that we begin losing muscle, which can impact everything from energy to mobility to metabolic health.I looked fit. I felt strong. But the scan made one thing clear: this wasn’t about vanity. It was about vitality.So I went deep. (It helps that my husband is a longevity nerd.) I read the research, talked to experts, lifted heavier. But what surprised me most was something ancient:Walking with weight.Also known as rucking.Rediscovering Movement with MeaningRucking (derived from the term rucksack) originated in military training as a way to build strength and stamina for combat. Today, it’s quietly becoming one of the most accessible tools in functional fitness and longevity circles.Think of it as resistance training meets low-impact cardio. You walk with added weight, activating your entire body without the joint stress of running. While it won’t build muscle mass like strength training, rucking supports muscle maintenance, metabolic function, and reinforces one of the most important physical foundations as we age: bone density.Here are a few science-backed benefits worth knowing:1. Supports Bone HealthBone Health: Weight-bearing + impact = stronger bones.Studies show that walking with added weight can slow or even reverse age-related bone loss by 1–2% per year, especially in the spine and hips. That’s significant, considering most women lose that much annually after 30.2. Burns CaloriesAdding weight increases calorie burn compared to regular walking. That makes rucking a more efficient, lower-impact way to increase daily energy expenditure - especially for women managing hormonal changes that impact metabolism.According to David Looney, an exercise physiologist who studied weighted vests for the U.S. Army:Wearing one that’s 10% of your body weight can burn 8.5% more calories.At 20%, it jumps to 19.7%.3. Supports Muscle StrengthRucking turns a simple walk into a full-body functional workout. It engages:GlutesHamstringsCalvesCorePostural muscles in your upper back and shouldersWhile it won’t replace lifting heavy, it targets slow-twitch muscle fibers, improving endurance, balance, and joint stability over time.4. Improves PostureCarrying a well-fitted vest activates the deep stabilizers in your back and core. You naturally adopt a tall, upright posture while rucking. This is especially important for counteracting the rounding and slouching that accelerates with age.5. Boosts Energy + MoodA 30-minute ruck can do more for your mood than a double espresso. Movement combined with load stimulates blood circulation, increases oxygen flow to the brain, and releases feel-good endorphins. Many women describe feeling clear-headed, focused, and energized - especially if you walk outside in nature.Why This Matters More in MidlifeRucking doesn’t require a gym, a subscription, or a schedule overhaul. It’s simple, powerful, and sustainable. For women navigating midlife (where strength, hormone shifts, bone protection, and nervous system regulation are all in play) rucking is uniquely supportive.I know because it worked for me. And I’ve watched it work for dozens of other women who’ve joined me, week after week, for 3 mile rucks in Miami, virtually, or just around their neighborhoods.It’s not about being hardcore. It’s about having a steady rhythm. One that builds strength, slowly and deeply. One that helps you feel your body in a new way.For too long, strength in women has been framed as aesthetic or performative. But what about the quiet, sustaining kind? The strength to carry families, calm your nervous system, or simply feel good in your skin?If You Feel the Shift TooIf you’re less focused on shrinking and more interested in building real, lasting strength—you’re not the only one.There’s a growing community of us rethinking how we move, eat, recover, and show up in midlife. If rucking feels like a fit, I’ve put together a free Rucking 101 Guide to help you get started: www.yvotywarrior.comAnd if you’ve found other rituals or tools that support your strength in this season, I’d love to hear what’s working for you. Let’s swap notes. We’re all experimenting—walking, lifting, breathing, evolving. It’s not about doing it perfectly; it’s about doing it together.

Too Many Tools, Not Enough Focus: Why Preventive Health Needs Consolidation and Personalization
Personalized Medicine

6 min read

Too Many Tools, Not Enough Focus: Why Preventive Health Needs Consolidation and Personalization

My journey with health started through sport and performance.First through 15 years of first division field hockey, and then more recently, when I caught the endurance bug and started training for triathlons. That’s when I began taking my health even more seriously.I got my first comprehensive blood panel outside the standard check-up. I invested in a wearable. I started tracking my sleep, HRV, and other metrics. Not out of fear, but out of curiosity and a desire to take ownership of my health, to optimize my daily performance, feel better, and live longer.And honestly, it felt good. Tangible. Empowering.But somewhere along the way, it started to feel... exhausting.If you've ever bounced between three apps, a Substack newsletter, and a new supplement routine, all before your morning coffee, you know what I mean.The world of longevity and preventive health has exploded. From testosterone to toxins, from senescence to saunas, from red light therapy to NAD drips, everything is a variable. And everything feels urgent, yet not everything is tested, nor will it have the same impact for everyone, depending on their body and their goals.Podcasts tell you what’s essential. Instagram shows you what you’re missing. Your group chat shares the latest test you "have to try."And yet, here’s the paradox: with more information, more protocols, and more tools than ever... acting on it all has never felt more confusing.The Longevity Paradox: We Know More, But Do LessWe’re witnessing a surge in interest around data-driven health.From wearables to lab panels, glucose monitors to sleep scores, individuals today have unprecedented access to their own health data. It’s a major leap forward. But it’s also created a new kind of complexity.Many people I speak to are navigating a similar pattern. They’re eager to take control of their health. They test more often, read more, try more, but end up stuck in a loop of questions.Which protocol is most relevant for me?Which insight should I act on first?Is this backed by science, or just trending on social media?With a growing stack of tools, apps, recommendations, and biomarkers, the experience becomes fragmented. People jump from fasting to fueling, sauna routines to nervous system hacks, blood tests to sleep tracking. Each new insight raises more questions than it resolves, and it becomes harder to know what’s truly impactful, or just a gimmick.And this often leads to:A sense of FOMO: “What am I missing?”A sense of overwhelm: “How do I make sense of all this?”And sometimes even paralysis: “Where do I start?”More access doesn’t always lead to more action.Without structure, context, and curation, even the best tools can become noise. The challenge is no longer about collecting data, but about transforming it into clarity, confidence, and sustainable habits.The very tools designed to bring us closer to ourselves can sometimes create more distance.What Comes Next: From Chaos to ConsolidationThis isn’t a bug in the system. It’s the natural pattern of emerging markets.The health optimization space is going through a fragmentation phase, where a thousand tools bloom, but nothing quite fits together yet.This is normal. But it won’t last.What’s missing today is an integrated layer. A system that’s not just another dashboard or tracker, but a guide. One that understands your goals, filters your data, and translates it into something you can actually act on.That’s why I believe we’ll soon see the rise of health super apps. Digital systems that:Aggregate data from wearables, lab results, and lifestyle habitsPrioritize what matters most, based on personal context and goalsCurate credible, science-backed protocolsSupport action through automation, coaching, and communityThis won’t just be a UX revolution, it will be a trust revolution.Because the real challenge is no longer generating data. It’s knowing what to do with it, and having the confidence to follow through. Trust is the missing nutrient in modern health.And yes, these tools will need to feel human, not clinical. If they become cold, robotic, or overwhelming, they’ll fail. Because longevity is not just about cellular optimization. It’s about behavioral health. About how we live, day to day. And that includes motivation, emotional resilience, and social connection.The best tools will feel like a guide, not a drill sergeant. They’ll support us in seasons of discipline and softness. And they’ll adapt to each person’s way of living. Because sustainable health isn’t rigid. It’s relational.Until Then: How to Navigate the NoiseWe don’t need to wait for the perfect app or ideal system to start making smarter health choices. Sometimes, the best tech is still a pen and a quiet moment.Here are four principles to help navigate the noise and bring focus back into the process:Be at peace with imperfectionYou won’t land on the perfect protocol on day one, or day one hundred. That’s not a failure, that’s the process. Longevity isn’t a sprint toward some flawless routine. It’s a long-term relationship with your body, built over time.Test with intention, then reflectNot all testing is equal. Instead of chasing the latest trend, invest in meaningful assessments, like blood panels or biomarker screenings, to understand your baseline. Start with objective data, not hype. This helps you prioritize what really matters for you, not what’s currently popular on YouTube. Then observe, adjust, and let go of what doesn’t serve you.Centralize your chaosDon’t let your health strategy live in ten different apps and tabs. Use a single space, a Notion dashboard, a notebook, or your calendar, to track habits, symptoms, test results, and progress.And if you’re tech-savvy: tools like MCPs, connected trackers, and digital habit systems can help you build a lightweight operating system for your health. You don’t need perfection, you need a place to make sense of it all.Question the sourceEvery protocol has a backstory. Every recommendation comes from someone, with their own physiology, goals, and biases. So before adopting it, ask: Who is this for? What evidence supports it? Does it fit my reality, or just their narrative?In health, the best advice isn’t always the loudest. It’s the most grounded, personalized, and adaptable.Longevity should feel like a liberation, not a burden.Let’s build systems and mindsets that bring us back to clarity, instead of deeper into complexity.Because health isn’t just about living longer.It’s about knowing how  and why to live well, now.