The Power of Words: What “Holistic Grooming” Really Means
“There, their, they’re.”
Simple words. Clear meanings. But as anyone who’s ever gotten into a heated online debate knows, clarity doesn’t always mean understanding. Words—even the ones that seem obvious—are open to interpretation. And when interpretations differ, miscommunication follows.
That’s exactly what happened years ago in the grooming industry when one particular word—holistic—sparked countless arguments. Back when grooming forums ruled the internet (yes, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), mentioning “holistic grooming” could send threads spiraling into ridicule or debate.
Thankfully, the industry has come a long way since then. But even today, the word holistic is often misunderstood. The confusion lies not in its definition, but in how we interpret it.
What Does “Holistic” Really Mean?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, holistic means “characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole.”
In other words, everything is connected—mind, body, and soul.
I like to substitute joy for soul, because joy is the energy that fuels everything we do.
When we apply that concept to grooming, it becomes clear that holistic grooming isn’t just about essential oils or gentle shampoos—it’s about running your entire business with balance, awareness, and interconnected purpose.
From Holistic Grooming to a Holistic Grooming System©
Many groomers already incorporate holistic elements into their work without realizing it:
- Creating calm, clean spaces
- Recycling and choosing eco-friendly products
- Ensuring staff have time to rest and recharge
These are wonderful steps—but they’re still pieces of a larger puzzle.
That’s where the Holistic Grooming System© comes in.
A system is a set of interconnected policies and procedures that keep your entire business aligned. It’s not just what you do, but how and why you do it—so that every part supports the others.
The Five-Layer Cake Analogy
Imagine your business as a five-layer cake:
- Pets
- Clients
- Staff (including you!)
- Environment
- Business
Now, add three structural cake dowels: Mind, Body, and Joy.
When those dowels are balanced and strong, your cake (your business) can stay upright even when life takes a bite out of it. But if one layer weakens or the dowels shift, the entire structure can start to wobble—or collapse.
Putting It Into Practice
Let’s look at a mobile grooming van:
- The van represents your business layer.
- The electrical and fuel systems are its mind.
- The work area is its body.
- Pricing reflects the joy that sustains the business.
Now imagine postponing routine maintenance. The van breaks down, clients get rescheduled, some leave, and the ripple effect impacts every layer—your income, your reputation, and even the pets’ comfort.
But when you run your business holistically, you’re ready:
✅ You’ve built a relationship with your repair shop.
✅ Your clients trust and wait for you.
✅ You’ve networked with other groomers who can help.
✅ You’ve saved funds to cover downtime.
Every part of your system supports the others—just as it should.
The Heart of Holistic Grooming
A Holistic Grooming System© isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. When mind, body, and joy align across every layer of your business, you build resilience, sustainability, and peace of mind.
No matter where you are in your grooming journey, integrating holistic principles will always bring your business—and your life—into better balance.
Gratitude for the Pioneers
I want to honor the early holistic groomers like Barbara Bird and Chris Pearson, who stood strong in those early debates and paved the way for the rest of us. And a heartfelt thanks to Todd and my co-author Daryl Conner for publishing Holistic Pet Grooming, the first book in our industry to truly explore this powerful approach.
Because at the end of the day, words matter—but action, balance, and joy matter even more.