The Solar Body (The Secret to Natural Healing) is a self-help book. In her book, Ilchi Lee introduces her concept of The Solar Body. The term “Solar Body” refers to “someone who creates her own health and happiness by recovering her natural healing power, making herself shine brightly like the sun.” The Solar Body Method consists of Sunlight Meditation, Solar Energy Circuit Training, and Solar Body Exercises. One can achieve natural healing power by combining three elements: body temperature, breathing, and mind control. These elements are more effective when combined, but can be done individually too. The author promotes meditation because it will spiritually condition our minds and bodies. He states: a body that has lost balance wants to return to good health because health is the most natural state of mind.

Ilchi Lee believes persons who are sick or suffering from stress do not have to constantly seek medical help as some health conditions can be easily cured. He believes there are other healthy, natural alternatives to medicine that will enhance people physically, mentally and spiritually, and has provided a few remedies in her self-help book, The Solar Body. Other related topics include Plate Balancing that strengthens major joints and energy channels, Toe Tapping, and Brain Wave Vibrations. The section Using Solar Herbs promotes sage as a main healing ingredient. Diagrams demonstrate the correct exercise positions and show where heat generates through our bodies and why it does, according to our moods. I found this book reflective in content.

The Solar Body: The Secret to Natural Healing is an innovative book which encourages people to connect to the energy of the universe, experience energy within themselves, and increase their own vitality. Author Ilchi Lee has written very creatively and sincerely on many of the issues affecting people today, and how to overcome problems by harnessing the energy of the universe. The book is based on simple but profound principles: that energy is to be awakened in each person, that one must do this for oneself without relying on external factors, that the energy can be tangibly experienced, and needs to be circulated and sustained effectively to achieve considerable healing and improvement in health and vitality.

Lee has developed a concept based on the sun, which is the concept that by adopting more solar energy within ourselves via meditation, we can increase our sense of well being and cleanse our mind and body of stagnant energy. The book is filled with numerous exercises which are all developed by Lee and are intended to teach people how to meditate to feel energetic improvements. I noted as I was trying them that even without a lot of concentration, the visualisations made intuitive sense and I was able to experience the effects described in the book. The book describes 12 energetic patterns, known as solar circuits, and I believe that these visualisations are an engaging and restorative way to heal a tired mind or inspire people to better vitality and creativity.

One of the best features of the book is the way in which it integrates spirituality with science and also with real life experience. The book does not neglect scientific content, and his principles are well explained and also contain references to research studies. It also features colour pictures of patterns described, and question and answer sections. Furthermore, the writing itself is engaging and simple to grasp. The book ends with three further simple exercises which can be viewed online, and Lee rightly explains that people should take away from it what appeals to them and works best for them. I believe that different people will respond to these exercises differently, depending on several factors. I can definitely argue that it's worth a try and they all require positive thinking.

Lee's final message is most profound and fundamental - that greater connection to the universal life force is the ultimate aim, and the exercises he presents are simple and yet effective tools designed to encourage this. I had come to believe in several ideas he presented and was glad to see a similarity with my own values. These visualisations and ideas complement what I already have worked towards thus far, and I hope that Lee's work will continue to inspire people to take charge of their own spirituality, and seek better vitality, healing and connection to universal energy.