How To Live Life Fully -
Using Metaphysical Principles

Healthy Living

Spiritual growth is not only a matter of understanding the metaphysical principles of the universe. It is also being able to apply them in our daily lives. Since we are a housed in a physical body and live in a beautiful world, it is vital that we apply these laws to how we use our bodies and our environment. As physics has demonstrated, there is an interconnectivity between everything in the Universe. One change here, will cause a change elsewhere.

Taking care of our health is not only subject to physical laws, but there are also metaphysical laws at work.  There is an interconnectedness between our body, our mind and our spirit and the world in which we live.  The spiritual principles of use, responsibility, love and balance permeate throughout this vast universe.  And since there is this interconnectedness of the Universe, developing and expanding our awareness of it and the underlying spiritual principles at play truly becomes a journey, full of insights, surprises and joy. One discovery we will make is that how we treat our bodies will be reflected in other areas of our lives.

So, as we dig deeper into the spiritual laws, it becomes evident that we need a holistic approach so that we can live life fully. To help, I have included some basics on healthy living. The topics include:

•Healthy Eating
•Exercise
•Yoga
•Massage

Healthy Eating

You are what you eat. I'm sure you have heard this statement and it is very true. Unfortunately, there are so many diet books out there that you can go crazy trying to decipher all the information on this topic. However, the word "diet" has the word "die" in it ... and most people on diets feel like they are, in fact, dying. Healthy eating is a lifestyle choice.

It is drinking plenty of water, eating fruits and vegetables, making sure you have enough protein in whatever form you take it in, and portion control. It is not about denying yourself but feeding yourself with life giving foods. To keep it simple, I was told to eat whatever food was as close to its natural state as possible and to make sure I eat food of every different color I could imagine. This might sound simplistic to you, but when you do this, you find that you are eating a healthy smorgasbord of foods which are the same ones found in almost every healthy eating guide. You don't need a magical formula. Everything you need, nature has already provided.

As with most changes, to be effective they need to become part of your regular routine. If you are overweight, then doing affirmations surrounding self-esteem and self-worth will certainly help.  If you are under medical care for your weight problem, then please continue to follow your doctor's advice and consult with them before making any physical changes.

Here are some resources and links to websites on this topic. As I find more useful information, I will continue to update this page.

      The Healthy Fellow. http://www.healthyfellow.com/

    "Natural Healing Wisdom and Know-How: Useful Practices, Recipes, and Formulas for a Lifetime of Health" compiled by Amy Rost

    "Nature has a Remedy" by Bernard Jensen, Nutritionist

    Healthy Eating: Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet and Sticking to It.  http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm

    WebMd - Healthy Eating.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm

    Healthy Eating Habits.
http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/eating-habits.html

     Exercise

The statistics speak for themselves. In the past twenty years, the number of obese children in America has doubled and the number of obese adolescents has tripled. What researchers are finding is the youth of America spend over twenty hours per week watching TV, playing video games and playing on the computer. What is alarming is that visits to our national parks and public lands have decreased dramatically. Besides not getting outside for some sunshine and Vitamin D, these children are also not exercising. Adults are worse off because they do not have a gym requirement at their place of employment as children do in school.

Exercise can do so many things for you and it doesn't have to painful! Taking a walk is the best form of exercise. When you work out, you relieve stress. You release endorphins - those "feel good" hormones. You circulate your blood helping the body to better function overall. Before the advent of technology, exercise was a part of daily life and no one thought twice about it. Today it is different. We even have remote control clickers so we don't have to get up off the couch to change TV channels.

Exercise employs the law of use. Basically, if you don't use it, you lose it. If you don't exercise, stretch, or work out, you will lose the use of those muscles and you will suffer the consequences - physical pain. Why would you want to go through that?

As with most changes, to be effective they need to become part of your regular routine. If you cringe at the mere mention of exercise, then find a friend and schedule walks together or join a gym together. Do affirmations surrounding getting active and its benefits will also help. Also, start out slowly if you do not currently have any exercise program set up. Doing daily exercise will also increase the likelihood that activity will become a regular part of your everyday life. And again, if you under a doctor's care, please consult with them before beginning any exercise program.

Here are resources and links to websites on this topic. As I come across more helpful information, I will continue to update this page.

    "Fitness for Life" by Charles B. Corbin and Ruth Lindsey

    Exercise: The Seven Benefits of Regular Physical Activity.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

    Barriers to Fitness: Overcoming Common Problems.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/SM00085_D

    Fitness Training: 5 Elements of a Rounded Routine. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness-training/HQ01305

Yoga

Yoga is one of India's six great ancient philosophies. A systematized body of knowledge, it represents the world's oldest method for spiritual and physical development. Yoga seeks to foster wholeness. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj meaning "yoke" or "union". It is joining the body and mind through various disciplines. Yoga is not a religion. It is a physical and psychological discipline that combines the learning and practice of asana, pranayama and pratyahara.

Asana refers specifically to all yoga positions or exercises that encourage flexibility and strengthen the skeleton, muscular, glandular and nervous system. The spine functions as the focal point of many of the postures, and all postures require a conscious awareness, steadiness, and the ability to surrender to gravity.

Pranayama concerns breathing practice where air is contained and controlled through conscious inhalation, breath retention, and exhalation. Regular practice regulates and harmonizes the breath and its rhythm. Breath awareness increases mental and physical energy by releasing the mind from its continuous stream of random thoughts.

Pratyahara is meditation which can be broadly defined as focusing attention, increasing intuition, and the ability to relax at will.

Yoga has specific health benefits which are preventative and therapeutic. It has been shown to offer the following benefits to the body:

Promotes suppleness of spine and joints
Strengthens, tones and builds muscles
Stimulates the glands of the endocrine system
Improves digestion and elimination
Increases circulation
Relaxes the nervous system
Boosts immune response
Refreshes the body by relieving muscle strain
Increases stamina
Decreases cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Invites balance and grace
Increases body awareness
Encourages weight loss

Yoga also offers mental health benefits because of its meditative aspects. Yoga's ability to calm the mind has a physiological basis. Anxiety leads to a fight-or-flight response in the body, which leads to specific physiological responses, such as, the release of hormones like adrenaline. This in turn triggers shallow breathing, muscle tension, and rapid heartbeat. Yoga interrupts this response mechanism by calming the anxious mind.

Here are resources and links to websites on this topic. I will continue to update this page, as I find more useful resources.

    "Anatomy of Hatha Yoga" by H. David Coulter

    "Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness" by Donna Farhi

    "How to Use Yoga: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Iyengar Method of Yoga, for Relaxation, Health and Well-being" by Mira Mehta

    "Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga - Its Philosophy and Practice - by the World's Foremost Teacher" by B.K.S. Iyengar

    "15 Minute Gentle Yoga" by Louise Grime

    Yoga Basics: Your Guide to the Practice of Yoga. http://www.yogabasics.com/

Massage

Generally, people do not consider massage to be a part of a healthy lifestyle. Rather, they view it as a luxury and indulging in pampering. However, for thousands of years, some form of massage or the laying on of hands has been used to heal and soothe the sick. Massage has a long history in the healing arts dating back to as early as 3000 B.C. It is an essential part of a health maintenance program. It is an effective way of releasing the stress that builds up in your life. It is a vital part of staying young and healthy.

Massage supports the cleansing and nourishing of the cells by stimulating circulation - of lymph, of blood, and of energy. It causes the blood vessels to dilate, so circulation is improved and congestion is relieved. It temporarily raises the red blood cell count, by moving sedentary cells into circulation, thereby increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. With increased oxygenation of the cells, the metabolic rates are increased, wastes are broken down more completely, and the calories in food are burned more efficiently. Massage also helps to push the lymph along its channels, delivering nutrients, hastening the elimination of waste, and keeping the immune system healthy.

Besides all of these benefits, massage helps you to get the greatest possible benefit from your exercise program because it helps to move lactic acid (which is what causes sore muscles and a feeling of fatigue after a strenuous workout) out of the muscles, speeding recovery time. In the same way, muscle tone is also improved.

In addition to the physical benefits of massage, there are also psychological benefits as well. Of all our senses, touch is the first to develop. As babies, it is essential for their growth to be cuddled and touched. It is primarily that tactile experience - the human touch and touching - that we first begin to explore and make sense of our world. So long as the need to touch and be touched is satisfied, we grow in a healthy way, but where it is inhibited, so development may be impaired.

Since the 1960's psychologists have studied the effect of touch. The conclusion they reached was that our perception of how much we are touched by other people seems to be clearly related to our self esteem and to how much we value ourselves. In our society, to be deprived of contact with our fellow man is a punishment - the worst being solitary confinement. How often has "touch" been used as weapon? It runs the gambit from not wanting to shake someone's hand, to withholding sex, or to rape. We instinctively recognize the value inherent in "touch".

Massage is another way to value yourself as a human being, to relieve stress and tension, and to become more aware of the human connection.

Massage therapists are now being licensed and are specialized in this form of the healing arts. Massages don't have to be expensive and sometimes they can be free. For instance, most massage schools require a practicum for their students whereby the students are required to have so many class hours doing massages. To acquire these hours, students often will offer the public free massages. It is a win/win situation because you get a free massage and the student accrues hours of hands on healing, a graduation requirement. If you have a local massage school, you can contact them to find out if they give clinics. Most of their students need at least 20 to 25 hours of practical experience prior to getting their license.

Here are some resources and links on this topic. As I discover more helpful information, I will update this page.

    "The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Techniques" by Lucinda Lidell with Sara Thomas, Carola Beresford Cooke and Anthony Porter

    "Acupressure for Emotional Healing" by Michael Reed Gash, Ph.D

    Stress and the Immune System: Research Sheds Light on the Mind-Body Connection.
http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=9492&catid=1&title=stress-and-our-immune-system-research-sheds-light-on-mind-body-connection

    Even One Massage Session Produces Measurable Benefits Research Shows.
http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=9609&catid=1&title=even-one-massage-session-produces-measurable-benefits-research-shows