Just thought I'd share some of the tools that help me in terms of emotional balance and physical health, particularly immune system strength. While I was once a rather sickly kid and young adult, being fed antibiotics as if they were Pez candy by moronic doctors, now I find myself amidst endless parades of office and local epidemics and come out squeaky clean and healthy every time.
So here are some things I believe make all the difference and explain why I don't play host to the cooties and seemingly healthy coworkers and neighbors do.
1.) hydration. it's not to be underestimated and few people drink anywhere near enough water. my day usually begins with about 2 liters of water taken in by 10 or 11am. I down another 2 generally by mid afternoon. dehydration is the under-the-radar culprit behind so many nasty symptoms and dis-eases, you'd be astonished. Dr. Batmanghelidj's books are a real eye opener. changed my health and life. he also advocates small amounts of pure sea salt being taken as well to facilitate faster uptake of water into the cells. works like a charm for me, even quelling asthma attacks in lieu of a rescue inhaler (be careful with that one, but I'm just illustrating a point).
2.) alkalinity. by drinking only fresh squeezed, non-pasteurized juices and eating only fresh fruit in the morning, I'm alkalizing the body, which will be tilted towards acidity after a night's sleep. throughout the day I also focus on staying alkaline by eating lots of greens (or drinking them in green smoothies) and that makes a HUGE difference. it's been shown that bacteria and viruses cannot reproduce or thrive in alkaline environments, they need an acidic playgground to survive. this too has made a tremendous difference in my life. surprisingly, lemons and limes are among the most alkalizing things you can ingest; they are acid fruits but become alkaline in our bodies. other highly alkalizing things for emergeny quick fixes are asparagus (even canned is incredibly high), cayenne (red pepper) and cream of tartar (great for emergencies, such as panic attacks, which are often part of the acid complex syndrome)
3.) yoga, all kinds. this is pretty much a no-brainer but I'm particularly a believer in the strengthening effects, body/mind/spirit, of Kundalini yoga, which gives us some remarkable tools like Sat Kriya, So Darshan Chakra Kriya and the fabulous Breath of Fire...just a few of the things that have kept me healthy and joyful while surrounded by Typhoid Larry and Mary. The way it works on the glands, nervous system and spinal health works miracles for me. Anytime I feel the slightest bit ragged, even just doing Sat Kriya for a few minutes has chased the beasties away.
4.) Cell Food. a marvelous liquid supplement, requiring only a few drops per grlass of water (or whatever you're drinking), I bring this with me everywhere. when I went on vacation to Belize for 10 days and everyone at our resort had the trots at one point or another, my ex and I never felt so much as a twinge; I put Cell Food into everything we drank that week. I've also never caught airplane cooties, which I think is as much psychological as it is physical. but this is a lovely supplement that's essentially liquid oxygen and contains trace minerals, amino acids and enzymes. marvelous stuff that lasts for ages.
5.) Dr. Ohhira's Probiotic 12 Plus. I was introduced to these little gems about 9 years ago, when it was more expensive and harder to find. probiotics in general are a great daily supplement, and if you're not familiar with what they are and why we need them, the Cliff's Notes version is this; most of our assimilation of nutrients from food happens in our intestinal tract, not the stomach, and it's the good bacteria in the lining that do the work for us. however, things like stress, sugar, acid, hormones (via birth control, prednisone, etc) can tip the balance to where the bad bacteria outnumbers the good and over time that wreaks more havoc than most people realize. because of the high acid content of our stomachs (which serve as the stopover station where the breakdown of food begins) most probiotics don't make it into the intestinal tract where we need them. but when something is enterically coated, more of the good guys will pass through the stomach in tact so they can establish colonies that fight for us in our guts. these probiotics are remarkable! each batch is harvested for about 5 years, they are enterically coated, and they are so loaded with other amazing minerals and nutrients, I break open a capsule and share it with my animals as well, who love the flavor. for children who cannot swallow pills, if you open the capsule and spread it on toast they usually love it. for grownups who can take pills, if you take a few in the morning or before bed on an empty stomach, you'll likely feel the bowels springing to life within a matter of hours! i've recommended this to people with regularity issues and they've all had wonderful results. i've tried loads of probiotics, these are the ones I notice a huge difference in and love the most.
6.) green smoothies. these sort of combine the aspects of hydration and alkalization while allowing me to ingest and efficiently digest and assimilate far more greens than I would ever eat. you can create your own recipe and simple is best, but it goes something like this; cup of water, fill the blender with greens (spinach, romaine, kale, etc), blend until liquid, add any fruits you like, you can also add lemon juice, ginger, etc. the possibilities are limitless and rotation is good, try whatever fruits and greens look great, catch you eye and are in season. it's delicious, filling and your cells love it!
7.) laughter. this one's a biggie. I laugh ALL the time and I swear it does so much to strengthen my heart and immune system. I love that there is even a fabulous Kundalini yoga set in which simple laughter is part of the kriya (it's on Yoga Bliss Hips, taught by Ravi and Ana). need I really say more about this one?
8.) breathe. honestly. most of us breath so shallow throughout the day, we're quite oxygen deprived, which is what makes yoga a fabulous addition to everyone's life. meditation also facilitates deep breathing and mindfulness of breath. our bodies expel so many toxins via the channel of the breath, it's crucial that we breathe deeply as often as possible.
9.) meditate. becoming centered, stilling the mind, breathing deeply, opening the heart center, releasing tension...it's all deeply, deeply healing, as is any positive visualization done during a meditation. if you are someone who finds it impossible to sit still, you are especially in need! and kundalini yoga slips meditation in throughout the classes in very digestible snippets before culminating in a post class meditation, once your body has really had a chance to relax first. so if you have trouble meditating and even the idea of a few minutes of stillness seems like too much, kundalini yoga would help tremendously.
10.) time in nature and/or with animals. i share the Native American belief that mother earth, father sky and all of our animal kingdom relatives are here to teach and guide us, not to be our slaves or victims. so just by spending time really connecting with nature and animals is remarkably healing. senior citizens in nursing homes report tremendous relief from pain and depression when animals are allowed to visit or live there as well. and I can personally attest to the power of real tree hugging. ;) they're our friends and guardians, don't be afraid to ask for their help, and receive it.
I hope this helps and inspires you to greater health and radiance in your lives as well!
Sat Nam
Namaste and Blessed Be
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