Michel Foucault describes in Care of the Self the techniques of epimelia used in ancient Greece and Rome, which included dieting, exercise, sexual abstinence, contemplation, prayer and confession—some of which also became important practices within different branches of Christianity.
Michel Foucault menjelaskan dalam Care of Self teknik epimelia yang digunakan di Yunani dan Romawi kuno, yang termasuk diet, olahraga, puasa seksual, kontemplasi, doa dan pengakuan—beberapa di antaranya juga menjadi penting dalam praktik berbagai cabang-cabang dari Kekristenan.