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Training should not consist of the challenge
to find the time and energy to work out for hours on end. Nor should it be to meet some media driven, magazine and movie idealized physical perfection. Well-being, i.e. the wellness of the being, is not a competition with an unfair advantage going to the slim, strong and beautiful contenders. Well-being is relative. We are as well as we can be in our given circumstances. Taking care of the whole being, body, mind and spirit, to be "fully in the being" as a way of life does not assure one of constant, abundant health and immortatlity. It does help one to achieve greater quality of life relative to one's individual constitution.
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A well known expression states that "charity begins at home". Being kind to oneself is the heart of personal well-being, as kindness is the source of compassion. Love and compassion ls the root of spiritual practice. Love and compassion towards others, and for ourselves. Practicing self-love and kindness is important - we spend 24 hours per day, seven days a week and every day of our lives in our own bodies and minds. A healthy lifestyle should begin here, with ourselves.
Everything we do in this life is grounded in a physical act. We are born into a physical existence, we think in minds that are housed in our bodies, we experience pain and pleasure through our senses and feelings. We spend every day in the physical realm. Well-being thus begins with managing the physical vehicle as source of comfort and the means to all ends.
Make a simple, practical start: condition your body to move and breathe easily. Acquire better posture, an effective breathing technique, and the ability to move with fluidity. Optimize nutritional-, mental- and emotional health by identifying and elimination of toxic foods, thoughts and emotions. A functional, practical way to live a more energized existence does not require anything but the commitment to learn how to, literally, carry the body, and be in a state of mindful awareness at all times.
Achievable Well-being
Make an achievable commitment to apply simple and effective techniques to use your body effectively.
Comfort of the body is achieved by acquiring good posture, an effective breathing technique and the ability to move fluidly - a functional, practical way to live an energized existence. Learning how to achieve this is a gradual process that requires awareness and yet very little actual exercise time once the correct postural techniques are achieved. Change the way you look, feel, move and think
When a physical discipline of awareness or body consciousness based on good posture, effective breathing and mobility is mastered, well-being becomes a way of being, instead of yet another thing to do in our busy lives. A not so subtle change takes place; realities and priorities shift to place well-being at the forefront of one's life focus. Such a shift of consciousness then becomes a default setting to improve everyday quality of life. In the long run this means lasting success and not the window dressing associated with our physically obsessive culture and treat-the-symptom medical philosophy.
Our society contains a huge irony in the distribution of wealth, intellectual development, fitness, spirituality or religion and health. So many manage to acquire material gains, or strive for mental, physical or spiritual development while negating physical comfort by failing to take truly take care and nurture the self.
Improvement of stress management, relaxation and self-development is really a lifestyle practice. A simple shift in body awareness can trigger lifestyle changes that will invite the spirit of being into everyday life. Develop the awareness and mastery of body techniques that will help you to make room for work, play and rest in proper proportions in your life. Making well-being a part of everyday life means taking care in all your actions; how you think, eat, exercise and interact with others.
Develop the means
Implement a step by step development that begins with awareness of self care. Learn a few simple key techniques and practices, and employ these. Accept and take responsibility for your self, apply objective, non-judgmental self-criticism, with discipline and self-motivation.
The numerous ways to achieve well-being, and different techniques appeals to different individuals. Attend a few classes or workshops that teaches the universal, fundamental body-mind-spirit practices taught by disciplines such as yoga, meditation, NIA, Pilates, Tai Chi and the many hybrids and their derivatives, or do a course of body alignment therapies such as the Alexander Technique, Rolfing and Body Stress Release. This vital investment of a few hours of your time will yield a lifetime of increased comfort in your body. Specifically ask your teacher or practitioner to guide you or your class with reference to posture, breathing and meditative awareness, or find a personal instructor that can help you improve and develop your breathing and movement.
The wonderful thing about good posture, effective breathing and mobility is its low maintenance. A few focused minutes of stretching and mobility exercises combined with meditation, a meditative awareness, awareness of how you sit and move and a few random deep breaths throughout the day can be incorporated seamlessly into your everyday living.
Published in the SA Journal of Natural Medicine, August/September 2007.
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