Air - breath in ... breath out.
Stress in a constant for many people. It is usually related to
stress (survival) issues. This could be the survival of our physical
selves but more often than not it is related to status - financial,
emotional or mental. There is often massive resistance in individuals
to grow on a person level - spiritually in reality.
Unless there is a direct physical threat, stress is more often
than not based on illusion. We adhere to our illusions incredibly
strongly. Learning to accept the present and allow time to pass
in order for us to adjust generated a lot of mental and emotional
stress.
Just take some time out to BREATHE - literally. Short, shallow
breathing is a causative factor in stress as well as a limiting
factor in escaping this cycle. Simple techniques like slower deepened
breath can (miraculously) change our perspective and reveal what
is real - essential to our lives - which is rarely threatened!
Personal experience has taught me that all progress is made against
ones self. The methods are ancient it is the circumstances that
we live in that blind us to them.
Drink - water, plenty and often.
Dehydration is endemic - I have a tendancy
to do this more than any other trait. You will see this, once
you recognise it, everywhere. Anyone who drinks tea/coffee, smokes
cigarettes, drinks alcohol, adds salt, is likely to be dehydrated.
Adequate hydration is essential for proper cell function. The
brain is the organ most sensitive to dehydration - fogginess being
a common symptom.
Clean water will stimulate thirst way more
than 'tap' water since our bodies usually won't develop a 'taste'
for something that is not clean. Try it and see how you react.
In urban areas filtering water may help if you can't get the taste
for water, flavour it with some lemon or orange.
Eat regular meals - listen to your body.
Breakfast is the most important meal of
the day? No true! I personally like to fast in the mornings, often
not eating till noon. It depends on how you 'run' your body (and
mind/soul). However the body like variety and it also like routine.
In training any activity you learn and integrate what works and
dispose of everything else. What you DO need to do, is feed you
body the nutrients it unavoidable needs to eat. The Food
Coaching Program is a wonderful resource in this regard. It
details the average ESSENTIAL nutrition requirments of the body
and where/how to find them. Once you experience you diet perfected
and in harmony ONCE, for a moment, you will always remember. Balancing
your diet is constant - however if you never learn how balance
you can be, or what balanced is in the first place - how can you
tell?
Exercise and Stillness.
Now that you are breathing, watered and
fed - what next? For some of us, sport is the way - for others
a more still, lazy life is bliss. Either way you need to use your
body for basic agility and fitness. The internal organs, the lymphathic
(cleansing) system REQUIRE exercise to function - there is no
real avoiding this without consequence.
Exercise can be as little as walking or
cycling. (Housework does count - but how 'enjoyable' is it?) Knowing/sensing
you body is important. The inbuilt proprioception (awareness)
of our body fades with inactivity ... laziness breeds laziness.
The other side of the coin is that some people are very uncomfortable
being still. Stillness (sitting awareness) is also a essential
process that allow peaceful healing and repair to occur. Tai Chi,
Yoga, Qi Gong are examples of learning practises for internal
management.
Operability of both active and passive
awareness is desired, especially for peak performance in any given
talent.
|
