Spirituality – a green juice cleanse for the mind, body and soul. The term is a broad one, meant to encompass a variety of definitions and applications.

Online medicine forum Addmeaningtolife.com defines spirituality as a “inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being.” Many people get in touch with their spirituality as an individual practice; one that is focused on inner peace, mindfulness and tranquility. Other common principles include detachment from material goods, appreciation of nature and positive self-image.

One common misconception about spirituality is that an individual must be religious in order to be spiritual. But the Pew Research Center reported that about 18 percent of Americans consider themselves spiritual but not religious. While the two concepts have several similarities, there are also notable differences in their structure.

Junior Emmanuella Macri of Freehold said the difference is that religion is more of a man-made construct.

“[Religion] has to do with following a set of rules that someone decided was the right thing to follow, whereas spirituality is less earthly and more about looking within your soul,” Macri said.

Another stereotype about spirituality is that, according to online magazine Finerminds.com, “…people still have that picture in their mind…of a new-age, shoeless, hippie making daisy chains”  when thinking about the concept. While there are spiritual people that do fit that rigid mold, there is no set precedent for how to practice or not practice spirituality.

Because spirituality is more individual, it varies depending on how a person chooses to apply their principles into different activities. Whether it is through meditation, energy, holistic medicine, tarot card readings or anything else, a person can be as involved or dissociated in spirituality as they wish; the main pillars of spirituality are still present.

Junior Christina Alfano of Middletown said spirituality has a presence in her life.

“I try to take moments of serenity and quietness to calm my mind because it’s always going a million miles per hour,” Alfano said “Whenever I feel like I’m getting dissociated with myself, I repeat a mantra to myself.”

Anyone who wants to can explore their own spirituality can reap either similar or different benefits, making the concept as diverse as the people who practice it.