We’ve all experienced the frustration of a slow Wi-fi or cellular connection, it can take forever to download what you’re trying to access. It’s the same way with us. Regular meditation will heal us no matter what but if our minds are cloudy and our bodies aren’t as healthy as they can be it will take longer. If you want to feel the optimum benefits connecting ourselves to that source of deep wisdom and knowledge in our universe through meditation we must first make ourselves a clear channel. To do this you must have proper sleep, nutrition and fitness levels.
Sleep
Sleep is the best performance-enhancer in the world. Without the proper amount of sleep our bodies and minds can’t operate at peak efficiency and everything suffers, including our health and productivity. If we’re not operating at peak efficiency our enjoyment of life is diminished and it’s more difficult to be in the present moment.
Geneticists have discovered a small percentage of the population has a gene mutation. These people have a, “short sleeper” gene that allows them to function perfectly on four to five hours of sleep. These are extremely lucky people and I wish I was one of them but I'm not. The rest of us need somewhere between seven and nine hours per night, the equivalent of one third of your day, of quality sleep to be our most productive and healthy.
Start paying attention to how you feel when you wake up in the morning. How many hours of sleep does it take you to be at your best? It’s important that you find your optimal number. Then you must integrate a sleep ritual into your life that assures you get the amount of sleep you need.
Sustenance - You Are What You Eat
"Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign that something is eating us."
Peter De Vries
Obesity is at epidemic proportions and is now the second leading premature cause of death behind heart disease. We all know someone who’s been on the dietary roller-coaster. They seem to jump on one bandwagon diet right after another and become obsessed with their weight. Modern science has proven that losing and gaining vast amounts of weight over your lifetime can be even more dangerous than being a little overweight. Believe it or not, your diet affects more than just your waistline. A healthier diet is good for the mind as well as the body. Simply put, what we put into our bodies is what we become. Literally and definitely figuratively!
Listen to the cues your body is giving you. At some time we’ve all experienced that heavy, bloated feeling of indigestion. This is our body telling us that we’re either overindulging or we’re feeding it the wrong foods. Not everyone is ready to become strict vegetarians and you don’t have to be. A good and simple rule regarding food is the less processed the better.
The most important aspect of diet is to educate yourself about the food you eat. Learn where your food comes and how it’s processed. Try to buy local food, close to the source and eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. The same holds true if you eat meat, the less processed the better. Free range, grass-fed antibiotic/hormone/preservative free meat is best. Steer clear or reduce your intake of hydrogenated oils or trans fats, saturated fats, artificial sweeteners of any kind, and most processed or convenience foods. Find out more about alternative sweeteners such as stevia, honey, or xylitol. Also explore the benefits of drinking black, green or white tea.
I’ve found nothing to be as invigorating and detoxifying in the morning as drinking warm lemon water and this is such a simple thing to integrate into your daily routine. Warm lemon water, made from the fresh juice of organic lemons, wakes you up and keeps you alert without caffeine. It also has a healthy dose of vitamin C and, despite the lemon’s acid content it actually makes your body more alkaline. Research shows that if your body is alkaline you will be far less susceptible to sickness and disease.
Here’s a simple recipe for lemon water:
- 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed organic lemon juice;
- 8-12 oz of lukewarm (not hot) water.
The best time to drink warm lemon water immediately after waking in the morning, on an empty stomach, and wait thirty minutes before eating anything. Also, use a straw so the acid in the lemon doesn’t affect your tooth enamel. It’s that simple. I drink it just as described above but you can sweeten with a little local organic honey or even add a dash of cayenne pepper powder for further detoxifying benefits.
Another great addition to any diet are fermented foods like yogurt, kefir (drinkable yogurt), sauerkraut, kimchi (spicy Korean sauerkraut) and kombucha (fermented tea). Most ancient cultures had this figured out but it’s something we’ve lost. New research suggests the health of your gut and your mental health are more intertwined than previously thought. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics which replenish healthy microbes in your digestive tract. Probiotics improve your immune system, digestion, and possibly even your mental health. I drink grass fed kefir daily, kombucha occasionally (GT’s is my favorite brand - http://synergydrinks.com), and also keep a jar of organic sauerkraut around always and have a little as a side dish with dinner every few days.
A healthy diet might seem like it’s a little more expensive but in the long term it will greatly add to the quality your life and save you money in fewer unplanned days off work and reduced healthcare costs, plus you’ll feel better. You’ll also have more energy and a clearer head. To reduce food costs, check into becoming a member of a food co-op in your area or buy from local farms or farmers markets.
If more people followed these simple steps, they wouldn’t have to subject themselves to the psychological and physical stresses of the dietary roller coaster. Also, those who perpetuate and get rich off of this unhealthy mindset of gorging ourselves and “purging” would be out of business.
Physical Activity
Our bodies were made to move and the key to our physical well-being is to make sure we do just that. The most foolproof way to insure you get the exercise you need every day is to integrate as much movement into your daily routine as you can. Park as far away as possible from your workplace or bike to work if you can. I park about a mile away from the building I work in, this is a guaranteed two miles of walking per day, and I bike to work when the weather permits.
The key to sticking with an exercise regime is it must be fun. You have to enjoy the exercises you choose enough so that they doesn’t seem like a chore to you. Low impact exercises like walking, cycling, dancing, roller skating, swimming, yoga, or tai chi can be done by people of most fitness levels and ages. What activities did you really enjoy as a child? If they made you happy then chances are they will now. My favorite activity as a child was always riding my bike and I still love cycling almost forty years later. Rediscover activities that once interested you as a child and it will add great enjoyment to your life.
The truth is not everyone has the genetics required to resemble society’s idea of what a model should look like. But you know what? Not all people who look like models are healthy. Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. The most important thing is that you move every day, feel good, and are happy with how you look and feel. Nothing else matters.
Stay tuned, there is more to come….
Related posts:
https://steemit.com/money/@ericvancewalton/the-secret-to-a-happier-life
https://steemit.com/life/@ericvancewalton/synchronicity-letting-life-become-your-greatest-teacher
This article is an excerpt from my soon to be released book, “The Perfect Pause: Meditating Your Way to the Optimal You”, which will be available in September on Amazon.com in hardcopy and eBook format.
I’ve been practicing meditation for over twenty years and actively teaching meditation for the past year. Meditation has completely transformed my life beyond my wildest expectations.
Sign up for my newsletter at - http://www.ericvancewalton.net - for updates on this new book, The Perfect Pause: Meditating Your Way to the Optimal You, as well as special offers only available to my newsletter subscribers. Thank you!
All material in this article is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.
The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate, based on the best judgement available to the authors, and readers who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.
Thank you for sharing tis wisdom.
Thanks for taking the time to read it @anjoke!
@ericvancewalton, a very interesting article! Nice job on compiling above tips for everybody's benefits! Thank you!
You're welcome! Thank you for reading it and upvoting! I'm only including things that have worked for me personally in my new book. I'm excited to share it with the world.