In ancient times, in the East, people would visit their physician not when they were ill but when they were well. If they became ill just after the visit and the physician hadn't foreseen the illness then they didn't pay the bill!
Physicians at this time were mainly acupuncturists who kept the bodily systems in health by regular treatment of all the pressure points on the body, ensuring a healthy energy flow and good blood and lymph circulation.
This theory still holds true today. If we could keep our blood circulating freely, and the lymph moving at its correct speed around the body then illness would be greatly reduced. Unfortunately though not many of us have a perfect circulatory system because somehow, we all manage to produce tension of some sort in our bodies, either physical or emotional.
The way in which we live in modern society results in many of us sat hunched at a computer desk, slouched on big sofas and sleeping in soft beds that offer no support for our backs. It is all to easy for our lives to become sedentary unless we make the effort to exercise our muscles.
we often walk incorrectly and when we stand in ques we let our weight go first on one foot and then the other. The effect of this is that our muscles are working over time to keep us in our 'slovenly' positions; tissues and organs are pushed into the wrong place, pressure is applied where it shouldn't be and as a result the energy flow is blocked and the blood and lymph have greater difficulty in flowing around the body.
Our diets could be a lot better too, it's not always easy to cook a meal from scratch every evening when we're tired and just want something quick to eat. Our diet though plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our bodily systems.
Unnatural (i.e artificially processed) foods are a contributing factor in ill-health, too much sugar and animal fat is often said to contribute to heart disease and the organs of elimination become congested when too many refined starchy foods like white bread, rice, pasta are eaten with not enough roughage such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The foods we choose to eat not only affect our physical health but they also influence the way we feel and our ability to cope with stress.
When we are subjected to stress the normal functioning of the body is disrupted. A hormonal response sent from the pituitary gland triggers the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the blood stream to prepare the body for 'fight' or 'flight'.
The adrenaline coursing around our body causes our heart beat to speed up, our blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise and muscles to tense. Breathing becomes shallow or rapid, hunger is suppressed, digestion stops and our body diverts vital resources from the immune system. As a temporary expedient, the stress response is vital, but if the situation is prolonged with no release of tension then the result can be disastrous on our physical and mental health.
As well as experiencing physical symptoms such as muscular aches and pains, fatigue, headaches, insomnia and irritable bowel to name but a few; our emotions can also be thrown into turmoil. If we are under a lot of stress then we can feel vulnerable and overwhelmed by negative emotions When the mind is at peace, we experience only positive feelings like love, contentment, selflessness, generosity, etc., and yet at other times anger, fear, jealousy, selfishness and depression dominate and such dis-ease in our mind can then cause illness and 'disease' within the body.
As human beings we have a tendency to always focus on the past and the future whilst withdrawing our attention away from the present moment and yet it is in the present moment that we have the greatest clarity to deal with any situation. It's true that positive lessons and strength can be gained through adversity, but to be constantly under fire causes battle fatigue and this is true of our daily struggles.
There are things that we can do to help ourselves live a longer, healthier and happier life if only we could make them apart of our daily habits like; becoming mindful of our bodies, the way we move, sit and stand. Making sure we get enough exercise if our lives are sedentary, choosing to eat only those foods that nourish us and benefit our health, becoming mindful of the thoughts that take us away from enjoying the present moment, taking time out from all the rush, rush to sit quietly and converse with our inner selves and of course to make time in our lives for regular massage!!!
So invest in your well being, It's a way of life. Wellness is neither a luxury nor a single treatment. Rather, a mindset that benefits body and soul, for the long run.
