It has been two months since I returned to Cape Town, a time of great transition for both Mum and myself. Spending time in the UK was profound, beautiful in ways I could never have imagined. I honestly did not know that I held the country so fondly in my heart, that I would feel so comfortable and grounded there. Spending such quality time with my Mum was never going to be a problem, we are great mates. But the extent to which I felt loved, supported and encouraged by the many other family members I saw was something I did not fully expect. It was extremely difficult for me to leave.
Not that life here in SA isn't idyllic, I/we have everything we ever sought, blessed in every way. I am truely greatful, but have seen the need to remind myself of that fact. For weeks now I have fluctuated in my mental and emotional states; being thrilled to be here, yet pining for what once was. This imbalance has at times placed great stress on myself, and Tamsin who knows me better than I know myself, and who obviuosly wonders at my seeming refusal to accept and appreciate the many wonderful things I have in my life. Loved and welcome on both hemisheres!!! Can't be all bad, yet still I seem to wallow in self-doubt and pity. The cold, hard truth of it all is now clear. I must accecpt responsability for the decissions I have made. I musy embrace what I have whole-heartedly, I must listen to my own advice.
We simply must remain present, that is, to know what we are doing - whilst we are doing it. Remembering what was, wondering about what will be... when do we live in the moment? I actually caught myself so distracted by thoughts of injustice, doubt and fear, that I failed to see I was walking along an empty beach at sunset with my wife! Hadn't I asked for this? Wasn't this my dream? Now it's here and I'm elsewhere, and sure enough, the blame begins; if this had happened... if that... I'd be happier! Madness!
What of Mum?
Well she's pretty good, could be better, about a C+ on the report card. Her general health has improved. Her bowel movements have increased which allows for toxicity to be released from her system. She is on the lowest amount of medication in her life and generally feels more active than previously. And so... she begins to falter, returns to short-cuts, excuses and a stable but not improving overall health. I attempted to show her a few small changes that she could easily integrate into her daily life. Stretching, bouncing, walking, swimming; taking certain supplements that will increase her vitamin and mineral uptake. At the time she was thrilled, and the results clear. Now when we speak it's kind of like, "well I was going to go but..." and so on. Gradually she is reverting to old patterns of behaviour that she is fully aware do not serve her best interests. I gently remind her of a few truths over the phone, but ultimately now it is her choice.
Am I angry? Upset? Dissappointed? I confess I was. Until I realized that she is a reflection of me, that I (and all others) are prone to judgment and opinion when in fact we can only see in others what is inherently within ourselves. Mum's struggle in maintaining the level of discipline in her activities in similar to my own issues of integration into South Africa. I tell the world I am happy yet do not always ensure that this is actually so. Upon realizing this I have taken actions to re-commit to my own practises, re-address my own diet, re-mind myself everyday that my life is my own, of my own making. Whether that be joyous or otherwsie is up to me. This is not about discipline in an authoritarian sense. This is about enthusiasm for the experience. This feeling rather than knowing, from the heart not the head.
Mum know's now that the way she lives her life has direct effects on her ability to heal herself; the more she puts in to getting well, the closer to health she becomes. Be that health of the body, health of mind, health on emotional or spiritual levels, the fact remains. I know now that the same is true for me, the same is true for all. I am greatful to my Mum for showing me this, for reminding me of my own lessons. May we look upon others with an eye of compassion, and learn empathy that we may see ourselves in those we would seek to influence.
Blessings and thanks to everyone for being part of everything. May you be happy and well x
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Every Body Must Work
“If you were trapped on a dessert island…” so goes the classic, “what would you choose…” question; and I would indeed select yoga as my only form of physical activity or exercise (though that is not to suggest that yoga is a form of exercise!). The complete and total processes of the practise cover more than all other disciplines combined; as discussed in "What Is Yoga?"
Thankfully, today we are very rarely in a situation when we would have to be so categorical. It is true that we are all uniquely individual; and each person must always be encouraged to explore that which best suits their own wants and needs.
The basic, fundamental truth and principle is that our bodies are brilliantly designed to move in many different ways. If you look at the anatomical form of the human body it becomes difficult to question the influence of Divinity; each and every aspect of this vehicle has been designed to perfection, able to perform any number of specific tasks in the simplest and most efficient ways.
Consider that we are made up of 70/80/90% water! When water stagnates it becomes putrid and stale. Leave a glass of water by your bed for 2 days before drinking it if you doubt this fact. When rivers flow, water is filtered and energized and becomes the life force of everything it comes into contact with. We simply must move our bodies in order to maintain health and wellbeing.
Yet people often seem to fall into one of two traps; doing to little or doing too much! The mantra of this book is moderation. It’s simple…
We drive instead of walking. How often do you take your car on journeys under 2 miles?
We have remote controls for our television sets…
We watch hours of television… in comfortable chairs, slouching our spine.
We take escalators up single flights of stairs.
Drive-Ins, microwaves…
We cut corners every opportunity and call these modern tools of laziness progress!
Whatever the example - without taking offence - ask yourself right now, how many short cuts you have taken today to save time or effort? “Yes but…” I hear you say. We are indeed busy, it does indeed rain. But if there was one single moment where you could have moved but chose not too you have missed an opportunity to work your body as it were intended to be worked. The cumulative effect of an underused body is one that is sluggish and weak; prone to sickness and disease.
The alternative?
Get to the gym! Monday morning! 1st of the month! This is it! Now I’m doing it! Feeling tired, fat, hung-over, guilty… 100 repetitions at the double! Ouch! My back hurts!
The point of exercise is to bring health to the whole; both inside and out. Inclined to see only that which is reflected in the mirror, we often fail to connect to our internal body. Exercise (movement) massages and tones our vital organs, cleansing and purifying them so that they may perform there life giving functions. We must encourage strength and flexibility through regular and consistent practise; not by beating ourselves into submission through sporadic attempts to right what once went wrong. Over exerting ourselves in this way places strain on every aspect of our body; bones, joints, muscles, the spine, the heart..!
My father has always been a keen runner. As a child I was allowed to keep his medals in a box in my room and I remember them fondly as one of my most treasured possessions. Aged 55, overweight and struggling with arthritic pain he took it upon himself to get back in shape. And sure enough; with no warm-up and no warm-down, he ran himself into agony and disillusionment.
When I visited the family home I asked him about this. He was desperate to shed some weight, fully aware that his health was beginning to show signs of deterioration. He was scared; the family livelihood dependent upon his being able to run the shop, especially at this time with Mum’s ongoing ill-health.
“Where were you running?” I asked.
“The lanes around the village”, he said. “They’re beautiful in the morning, I took it as a time of prayer and it brought me great comfort”.
“Why don’t we walk?” I offered.
The next day, 5:30am, we set off together to waken body and mind in a calm, composed and productive manner. We walked, breathed, rolled our shoulders up-back-and-down. We took in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding farmland and in our own ways, gave thanks for the dawning of a new day. Taking 5 minutes to stretch at the end of our circuit, Dad set about his days work with renewed vigour and vitality. Over the next few days we added a little pace, the occasional burst of energy and more stretching. Dad has now established a routine that suits his needs and makes him feel great.
Starting the day in this way lays a solid foundation built on respect and good common-sense. Modern living habits seem to dictate that we should leap out of bed into showers, tea, toast and work. We are not robots! Throughout the night ours bodies have been resting and our cells dehydrating.
Would you start your car on a cold winters morning and put pedal the floor from the off? Or would good ownership and a sense of preservation dictate that you leave the engine a warm through a little, setting off slowly until you were sure everything was in order?
Be gentle with yourself as you rouse from your slumber. Take a moment to connect with your body and mind before heading off into the day. You will see how this makes sense if you try it for a while. Setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier could allow for a stretch, a glass of water and a moment to consider you actions before doing them. Clear minds make less mistakes saving time throughout the day.
There are infinite forms of exercise available today, each with their own merit. As this book is primarily concerned with the restoration and maintenance of health from the view of those that have lost it; the following is a list of forms that offer little chance of injury, and can be enjoyed on some level by most people, regardless of their current physical condition. It is not necessary to wear yourself out. We are looking to cleanse and revitalize the body, gently massaging and stimulating the internal organs. Building slowly lays firm foundations that bring lasting strength.
Yoga - Said it once, said it a thousand times, yoga is complete and perfect in every way and is abundantly available across the planet. My parents live in a village of less than 1000 people yet they offer a full and varied weekly timetable at the community hall. There is nearly always a beginners class, and besides, a good instructor will be able to cater for mixed levels of experience simultaneously. If you are intimidated by the ability of others, a great way to introduce yourself to yoga is to look out for a beginners course following a specific programme of integration that can lead you to a point where you feel confident to join in with a regular class.
Walking - Difficult to find an excuse here! No fees, no contracts, no complicated equipment. Put on a decent pair of shoes and head out of your house. Get creative. Head off in a direction and see where you end up. Be it 5 minutes around the block, half and hour to the shops and back, a saunter around the local park. If you are very immobile simply get outside and touch the earth with your feet. Walking moves the entire body through a gentle range of motions, encouraging smooth and even breathing. Walking is very meditative in that it quickly brings you into a space of quiet observation of yourself and your surroundings. Feel each part of the foot as you roll from heel to toe. Enjoy the fluidity of motion as your arms and legs begin to sway with each other, creating balance and coordination. Keep the head and neck soft, almost floating, as you take in what is around you. Breath. You may well find that in a very short time you can build up momentum and speed, almost be accident! The fit and strong can head out for an entire morning, afternoon or the whole day. There are treks and trails everywhere. Get online, buy a guide book, go explore! Using some common sense (and following professional advice when necessary) means you always prepare according to your route. Dressing for the weather, taking snacks and water etc should not have to be explained. Use your head as well as your feet to avoid difficult situations.
Swimming - Or simply getting in the water. Even the most physically impaired will receive great benefit from being submersed in water. Swimming offers a complete and total workout, utilizing every single part of the body; providing resistance without any potentially damaging impact. In water we become light so aching joints and muscles can be moved with greater ease. Walking across the width of the shallow end might be enough for some - you don’t even need to know how to swim! By holding onto the sides of the pool you can ‘cycle’ your legs to stimulate blood flow and lymph. If you are an able swimmer - remember my Dad’s running experience before you set off at world record pace! The intrinsic beauty of swimming is that it is completely without impact on the body, so try not to create any by over exerting yourself. You’ll soon know if you are when your breath becomes strained or your neck (especially between the shoulder blades) becomes tense, stiff or sore. Don’t be afraid to rest in between lengths. Use this time to stretch open your body.
Exercise will obviously raise the heart rate, but that doesn’t mean it has to race. Pressure felt in your eyes, ears, face, chest etc means that the heart is taking strain. It in imperative to maintain a steady, smooth breathing pattern. Learn to differentiate between pushing your boundaries and going too far. You should feel good after your exercise, not knackered and fearful of your next session. Cultivate a sense of peaceful, productive joy in your chosen discipline(s) and watch it grow with time and compassion.
Thankfully, today we are very rarely in a situation when we would have to be so categorical. It is true that we are all uniquely individual; and each person must always be encouraged to explore that which best suits their own wants and needs.
The basic, fundamental truth and principle is that our bodies are brilliantly designed to move in many different ways. If you look at the anatomical form of the human body it becomes difficult to question the influence of Divinity; each and every aspect of this vehicle has been designed to perfection, able to perform any number of specific tasks in the simplest and most efficient ways.
Consider that we are made up of 70/80/90% water! When water stagnates it becomes putrid and stale. Leave a glass of water by your bed for 2 days before drinking it if you doubt this fact. When rivers flow, water is filtered and energized and becomes the life force of everything it comes into contact with. We simply must move our bodies in order to maintain health and wellbeing.
Yet people often seem to fall into one of two traps; doing to little or doing too much! The mantra of this book is moderation. It’s simple…
We drive instead of walking. How often do you take your car on journeys under 2 miles?
We have remote controls for our television sets…
We watch hours of television… in comfortable chairs, slouching our spine.
We take escalators up single flights of stairs.
Drive-Ins, microwaves…
We cut corners every opportunity and call these modern tools of laziness progress!
Whatever the example - without taking offence - ask yourself right now, how many short cuts you have taken today to save time or effort? “Yes but…” I hear you say. We are indeed busy, it does indeed rain. But if there was one single moment where you could have moved but chose not too you have missed an opportunity to work your body as it were intended to be worked. The cumulative effect of an underused body is one that is sluggish and weak; prone to sickness and disease.
The alternative?
Get to the gym! Monday morning! 1st of the month! This is it! Now I’m doing it! Feeling tired, fat, hung-over, guilty… 100 repetitions at the double! Ouch! My back hurts!
The point of exercise is to bring health to the whole; both inside and out. Inclined to see only that which is reflected in the mirror, we often fail to connect to our internal body. Exercise (movement) massages and tones our vital organs, cleansing and purifying them so that they may perform there life giving functions. We must encourage strength and flexibility through regular and consistent practise; not by beating ourselves into submission through sporadic attempts to right what once went wrong. Over exerting ourselves in this way places strain on every aspect of our body; bones, joints, muscles, the spine, the heart..!
My father has always been a keen runner. As a child I was allowed to keep his medals in a box in my room and I remember them fondly as one of my most treasured possessions. Aged 55, overweight and struggling with arthritic pain he took it upon himself to get back in shape. And sure enough; with no warm-up and no warm-down, he ran himself into agony and disillusionment.
When I visited the family home I asked him about this. He was desperate to shed some weight, fully aware that his health was beginning to show signs of deterioration. He was scared; the family livelihood dependent upon his being able to run the shop, especially at this time with Mum’s ongoing ill-health.
“Where were you running?” I asked.
“The lanes around the village”, he said. “They’re beautiful in the morning, I took it as a time of prayer and it brought me great comfort”.
“Why don’t we walk?” I offered.
The next day, 5:30am, we set off together to waken body and mind in a calm, composed and productive manner. We walked, breathed, rolled our shoulders up-back-and-down. We took in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding farmland and in our own ways, gave thanks for the dawning of a new day. Taking 5 minutes to stretch at the end of our circuit, Dad set about his days work with renewed vigour and vitality. Over the next few days we added a little pace, the occasional burst of energy and more stretching. Dad has now established a routine that suits his needs and makes him feel great.
Starting the day in this way lays a solid foundation built on respect and good common-sense. Modern living habits seem to dictate that we should leap out of bed into showers, tea, toast and work. We are not robots! Throughout the night ours bodies have been resting and our cells dehydrating.
Would you start your car on a cold winters morning and put pedal the floor from the off? Or would good ownership and a sense of preservation dictate that you leave the engine a warm through a little, setting off slowly until you were sure everything was in order?
Be gentle with yourself as you rouse from your slumber. Take a moment to connect with your body and mind before heading off into the day. You will see how this makes sense if you try it for a while. Setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier could allow for a stretch, a glass of water and a moment to consider you actions before doing them. Clear minds make less mistakes saving time throughout the day.
There are infinite forms of exercise available today, each with their own merit. As this book is primarily concerned with the restoration and maintenance of health from the view of those that have lost it; the following is a list of forms that offer little chance of injury, and can be enjoyed on some level by most people, regardless of their current physical condition. It is not necessary to wear yourself out. We are looking to cleanse and revitalize the body, gently massaging and stimulating the internal organs. Building slowly lays firm foundations that bring lasting strength.
Yoga - Said it once, said it a thousand times, yoga is complete and perfect in every way and is abundantly available across the planet. My parents live in a village of less than 1000 people yet they offer a full and varied weekly timetable at the community hall. There is nearly always a beginners class, and besides, a good instructor will be able to cater for mixed levels of experience simultaneously. If you are intimidated by the ability of others, a great way to introduce yourself to yoga is to look out for a beginners course following a specific programme of integration that can lead you to a point where you feel confident to join in with a regular class.
Walking - Difficult to find an excuse here! No fees, no contracts, no complicated equipment. Put on a decent pair of shoes and head out of your house. Get creative. Head off in a direction and see where you end up. Be it 5 minutes around the block, half and hour to the shops and back, a saunter around the local park. If you are very immobile simply get outside and touch the earth with your feet. Walking moves the entire body through a gentle range of motions, encouraging smooth and even breathing. Walking is very meditative in that it quickly brings you into a space of quiet observation of yourself and your surroundings. Feel each part of the foot as you roll from heel to toe. Enjoy the fluidity of motion as your arms and legs begin to sway with each other, creating balance and coordination. Keep the head and neck soft, almost floating, as you take in what is around you. Breath. You may well find that in a very short time you can build up momentum and speed, almost be accident! The fit and strong can head out for an entire morning, afternoon or the whole day. There are treks and trails everywhere. Get online, buy a guide book, go explore! Using some common sense (and following professional advice when necessary) means you always prepare according to your route. Dressing for the weather, taking snacks and water etc should not have to be explained. Use your head as well as your feet to avoid difficult situations.
Swimming - Or simply getting in the water. Even the most physically impaired will receive great benefit from being submersed in water. Swimming offers a complete and total workout, utilizing every single part of the body; providing resistance without any potentially damaging impact. In water we become light so aching joints and muscles can be moved with greater ease. Walking across the width of the shallow end might be enough for some - you don’t even need to know how to swim! By holding onto the sides of the pool you can ‘cycle’ your legs to stimulate blood flow and lymph. If you are an able swimmer - remember my Dad’s running experience before you set off at world record pace! The intrinsic beauty of swimming is that it is completely without impact on the body, so try not to create any by over exerting yourself. You’ll soon know if you are when your breath becomes strained or your neck (especially between the shoulder blades) becomes tense, stiff or sore. Don’t be afraid to rest in between lengths. Use this time to stretch open your body.
Exercise will obviously raise the heart rate, but that doesn’t mean it has to race. Pressure felt in your eyes, ears, face, chest etc means that the heart is taking strain. It in imperative to maintain a steady, smooth breathing pattern. Learn to differentiate between pushing your boundaries and going too far. You should feel good after your exercise, not knackered and fearful of your next session. Cultivate a sense of peaceful, productive joy in your chosen discipline(s) and watch it grow with time and compassion.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
We know that we don't know!
It is one month since I was at home with my Mother, she is now 'on her own' as it were. Not that she doesn't have the love and support of those around her - but without my direct and constant intervention it is now up to her to 'stay on course', to continue monitoring her own diet, exercise and mind set using the tools we explored together.
During our time together we looked specifically at:
Diet;
Firstly attempting to strip her system of years of accumulated toxicity through gentle fasting (in this case simply skipping a meal or two, starting the day with juice before, or instead of solids) and regular intake of fresh, clean, life-giving water.
Secondly, reintroducing foods that will benefit the system by nourishing the body, rather than clogging it with excess bulk. Plenty of dark, leafy greens, gently steamed root vegetables and a high content or raw, enzyme rich whole foods. By providing our bodies with foods that will help rather than hinder, we are offering our cells the environment in which to thrive - remember that the very marrow of our bones is constantly at work producing new, healthy cells. Whether they are poisoned or not after production is largely up to us!
Exercise;
In my world that means yoga - the integration of breath to movement within the context of a conscious and deliberate head space. Swimming, walking, running... it's all good provided you understand that the body needs to be encouraged to strentgh and fitness through regular activity, not forced into some unnatural and sporadic attempt to fast-track our way out of previous bad practise. Mum is enjoying a weekly yoga class, regular swimming and plenty of stretching and toning of her physical form. EVERY BODY MUST WORK. We are 70,80,90% water? We must flow or else we stagnate.
Heart & Mind;
Happy heart, happy mind, happy body. As Mum's symptoms have improved (she now has bowel movements every other day as opposed to less than 1 a week previously) she has been empowered to believe that she has some element of control in returning herself to health and vitality. This joyous realization has bought about further commitment to her practises, in turn further and faster progress. A happy spiral of creativity, self feeding, self powering, effortless flow as light attracts light. Life's good.
On Tuesday May 19th 2009 Mum visited the National Hospital for Neuropathy and Neurosurgery for a check-up on her condition. Despite weening herself off vast quantities of prescribed medication (she now takes painkillers at night only - interestingly she struggles to sleep shortly afterwards!) for the first time since diagnosis her condition has stabilized ie. not got any worse. The doctors were thrilled at her physical appearance, observing how she has lost weight and gained clarity in her eyes. They have now offered that they can suggest no more treatment other than pain-relief, and have referred her to the National Centre of Alternative Therapy in Bath. Here she will be offered, amongst other things, acupuncture and reiki, and all on the NHS! They suggested that what ever it is she is doing she should keep on doing it, and that it is now up to her to monitor and control the symptoms of her condition. It is a shame that it took 3 year of intrusive surgery to come to this conclusion, but it is wonderful to see how in such a short space of time (less than 1 month of 'alternative' treatment) Mum has come to a point from where she can actively move forward and reclaim her vibrant and positive life.
The body is inherently healthy and well.
At every single opportunity ask yourself if the course of action you are about to take serves a purpose - and if not, are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions. It is obvious that bad food is bad for you. It is beyond doubt that you need to move your physical body. When did you last take a deep breath? Is it not obvious that you are supposed to breath?
We are quick to offer our power to others, blindly accepting the advice of someone "better educated". We are not experiments in laboratory conditions. We are unique and perfect manifestations of the Divine. What makes you feel good? That's GOOD... not indulged? Try it, if it works stick with it. If not, move on.
Yoga, as in life, is 99% practise, 1% theory.
Amen x
During our time together we looked specifically at:
Diet;
Firstly attempting to strip her system of years of accumulated toxicity through gentle fasting (in this case simply skipping a meal or two, starting the day with juice before, or instead of solids) and regular intake of fresh, clean, life-giving water.
Secondly, reintroducing foods that will benefit the system by nourishing the body, rather than clogging it with excess bulk. Plenty of dark, leafy greens, gently steamed root vegetables and a high content or raw, enzyme rich whole foods. By providing our bodies with foods that will help rather than hinder, we are offering our cells the environment in which to thrive - remember that the very marrow of our bones is constantly at work producing new, healthy cells. Whether they are poisoned or not after production is largely up to us!
Exercise;
In my world that means yoga - the integration of breath to movement within the context of a conscious and deliberate head space. Swimming, walking, running... it's all good provided you understand that the body needs to be encouraged to strentgh and fitness through regular activity, not forced into some unnatural and sporadic attempt to fast-track our way out of previous bad practise. Mum is enjoying a weekly yoga class, regular swimming and plenty of stretching and toning of her physical form. EVERY BODY MUST WORK. We are 70,80,90% water? We must flow or else we stagnate.
Heart & Mind;
Happy heart, happy mind, happy body. As Mum's symptoms have improved (she now has bowel movements every other day as opposed to less than 1 a week previously) she has been empowered to believe that she has some element of control in returning herself to health and vitality. This joyous realization has bought about further commitment to her practises, in turn further and faster progress. A happy spiral of creativity, self feeding, self powering, effortless flow as light attracts light. Life's good.
On Tuesday May 19th 2009 Mum visited the National Hospital for Neuropathy and Neurosurgery for a check-up on her condition. Despite weening herself off vast quantities of prescribed medication (she now takes painkillers at night only - interestingly she struggles to sleep shortly afterwards!) for the first time since diagnosis her condition has stabilized ie. not got any worse. The doctors were thrilled at her physical appearance, observing how she has lost weight and gained clarity in her eyes. They have now offered that they can suggest no more treatment other than pain-relief, and have referred her to the National Centre of Alternative Therapy in Bath. Here she will be offered, amongst other things, acupuncture and reiki, and all on the NHS! They suggested that what ever it is she is doing she should keep on doing it, and that it is now up to her to monitor and control the symptoms of her condition. It is a shame that it took 3 year of intrusive surgery to come to this conclusion, but it is wonderful to see how in such a short space of time (less than 1 month of 'alternative' treatment) Mum has come to a point from where she can actively move forward and reclaim her vibrant and positive life.
The body is inherently healthy and well.
At every single opportunity ask yourself if the course of action you are about to take serves a purpose - and if not, are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions. It is obvious that bad food is bad for you. It is beyond doubt that you need to move your physical body. When did you last take a deep breath? Is it not obvious that you are supposed to breath?
We are quick to offer our power to others, blindly accepting the advice of someone "better educated". We are not experiments in laboratory conditions. We are unique and perfect manifestations of the Divine. What makes you feel good? That's GOOD... not indulged? Try it, if it works stick with it. If not, move on.
Yoga, as in life, is 99% practise, 1% theory.
Amen x
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Fasting.
Fasting is the quickest way of bringing about the elimination of toxic materials from the body.
Fasting is a simple, quick and effective way to cleanse the body and promote healing from illness and disease.
Fasting has been known for thousands of years as practise of maintaining good health; promoting healing is the sick and preventing illness in the healthy.
Accumulated waste (be it through poor diet, medication, pollution, stress…) throughout the system is the root-cause or foundation of all illness and dis-ease.
Lowered vitality, lack of energy or strength, seemingly minor ailments of all kinds; are signs that there is a problem somewhere in the body.
Many people are afraid of fasting; this is often due to a lack of understanding of the practise. Fasting can take many forms and varying durations, depending on the individual and the goal(s) set out to be achieved.
During a fast, no solid food is eaten – but liquids can be consumed in as large a quantity is desired or necessary. Liquids can include raw fruit and vegetable juices – ideally freshly squeezed since they lose many of their valuable vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes within minutes of being prepared. Herbal teas(caffeine free) and plenty of room temperature water also available.
Providing you have a full and correct understanding of the process; a fast can last for many days. For others, fasting can simply mean skipping a meal or two.
Consider that if you were to miss dinner, go to bed early, have water, herbal tea or juice for breakfast, and then eat a sensible lunch - you will have fasted for almost 24hrs!
In doing so you are literally giving your digestive system a rest – taking the foot off the accelerator and cruising for a while. This will help to prevent ‘burning out the engine’. Just as a distance runner alters their pace to conserve energy in between bursts of speed; so too your digestive system requires periods of lower activity in order to maintain optimum performance.
The bowel has the poorest nerve structure of any organ in the body, and thus cannot easily signal any problems. If the heart is beating too fast we rest. If breathing becomes strained we rest. If limbs being to tire we rest. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind; the digestive system is treated with indifference and ignorance to the constant state of work, activation and stress in which it is forced to perform throughout our entire lives.
Remember that to nourish the vital functions of your body, you need proper nutrition - not masses of substance. High levels of easily assimilated nutrients are more than available in freshly squeezed juices. In cases where doubt or recommendation suggest that you should not fast; vitamin-rich vegetable broths or even soft fruits could still constitute an element of fasting. The point is to remove some bulk so that your body can work on the accumulated matter that is already in the system.
Benefits of fasting include:
During extended fasting, the body literally lives off itself. It burns up and digests its own tissues – STARTING WITH THOSE THAT ARE DIS-EASED, OLD, DAMAGED OR DEAD.
The process of building new, healthy cells – a constant state in life – is speeded up.
The body’s elimination channels (lungs, liver, kidneys and skin) process more waste – masses of toxins are removed.
Aches and pains, morning stiffness and lethargy are reduced.
Mental clarity is increased.
BREAKING/ENDING A FAST IS AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE PROCESS!
A sensible re-integration of eating is vital. Common sense should prevail – it is obviously not a good idea to drop beer and burgers into your freshly cleaned stomach and intestines.
The level of care required will vary depending on the specifics of each individuals fasting process. Those with little or no previous experience should always seek information and advice before beginning a fast. That said; skipping dinner once a week might be a sensible place to start your experience of this ancient, deliberate and perfect practise.
Life is good, enjoy x
Fasting is a simple, quick and effective way to cleanse the body and promote healing from illness and disease.
Fasting has been known for thousands of years as practise of maintaining good health; promoting healing is the sick and preventing illness in the healthy.
Accumulated waste (be it through poor diet, medication, pollution, stress…) throughout the system is the root-cause or foundation of all illness and dis-ease.
Lowered vitality, lack of energy or strength, seemingly minor ailments of all kinds; are signs that there is a problem somewhere in the body.
Many people are afraid of fasting; this is often due to a lack of understanding of the practise. Fasting can take many forms and varying durations, depending on the individual and the goal(s) set out to be achieved.
During a fast, no solid food is eaten – but liquids can be consumed in as large a quantity is desired or necessary. Liquids can include raw fruit and vegetable juices – ideally freshly squeezed since they lose many of their valuable vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes within minutes of being prepared. Herbal teas(caffeine free) and plenty of room temperature water also available.
Providing you have a full and correct understanding of the process; a fast can last for many days. For others, fasting can simply mean skipping a meal or two.
Consider that if you were to miss dinner, go to bed early, have water, herbal tea or juice for breakfast, and then eat a sensible lunch - you will have fasted for almost 24hrs!
In doing so you are literally giving your digestive system a rest – taking the foot off the accelerator and cruising for a while. This will help to prevent ‘burning out the engine’. Just as a distance runner alters their pace to conserve energy in between bursts of speed; so too your digestive system requires periods of lower activity in order to maintain optimum performance.
The bowel has the poorest nerve structure of any organ in the body, and thus cannot easily signal any problems. If the heart is beating too fast we rest. If breathing becomes strained we rest. If limbs being to tire we rest. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind; the digestive system is treated with indifference and ignorance to the constant state of work, activation and stress in which it is forced to perform throughout our entire lives.
Remember that to nourish the vital functions of your body, you need proper nutrition - not masses of substance. High levels of easily assimilated nutrients are more than available in freshly squeezed juices. In cases where doubt or recommendation suggest that you should not fast; vitamin-rich vegetable broths or even soft fruits could still constitute an element of fasting. The point is to remove some bulk so that your body can work on the accumulated matter that is already in the system.
Benefits of fasting include:
During extended fasting, the body literally lives off itself. It burns up and digests its own tissues – STARTING WITH THOSE THAT ARE DIS-EASED, OLD, DAMAGED OR DEAD.
The process of building new, healthy cells – a constant state in life – is speeded up.
The body’s elimination channels (lungs, liver, kidneys and skin) process more waste – masses of toxins are removed.
Aches and pains, morning stiffness and lethargy are reduced.
Mental clarity is increased.
BREAKING/ENDING A FAST IS AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE PROCESS!
A sensible re-integration of eating is vital. Common sense should prevail – it is obviously not a good idea to drop beer and burgers into your freshly cleaned stomach and intestines.
The level of care required will vary depending on the specifics of each individuals fasting process. Those with little or no previous experience should always seek information and advice before beginning a fast. That said; skipping dinner once a week might be a sensible place to start your experience of this ancient, deliberate and perfect practise.
Life is good, enjoy x
Monday, April 20, 2009
Pain (Life) Killers!
Over the past three year Mum has taken a wide variety of drugs including nerve suppressants, steroids, morphine, and laxatives. At one stage she swallowed over 20 tablets a day. She is currently taking a daily dosage of ‘Tramadol’ and ‘Pregabalin’. Some jargon and translation:
Tramadol - is a ‘monoamine uptake inhibitor’ used to treat moderate to severe pain and most types of neuralgia – conditions affecting the nervous system. It has been suggested that Tramadol could be effective for alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety because of its action on the ‘noradrenergic’ and ‘serotonergic’ systems, the involvement of which appear to play a part in its ability to alleviate the perception of pain. However, health professionals have not yet endorsed its use on a large scale for disorders such as this.
Pregabalin - is an anticonvulsant drug used for neuropathic pain. It has also been found effective for ‘generalized anxiety disorder’. It was designed as a more potent successor to ‘Gabapentin’, used in the treatment of Epilepsy. Recent studies have shown that Pregabalin is effective at treating chronic pain in disorders such as fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury. In June 2007, Pregabalin became the first medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Mum does not have fibromyalgia.
In January and February 2009, Mum underwent two procedures at London’s ‘National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery’, whereby she was intravenously fed ‘Lidocaine’ (Jan) and ‘Ketamine’ (Feb) for 2 hours at a time. These drugs are anaesthetics which work to inhibit receptors in the brain. Ketamine is used primarily in veterinary surgery and is commonly sought as a recreational hallucinogen said to induce a state referred to as "dissociative anaesthesia”, blocking signals to the conscious mind to bring about a ‘dreamlike’ state of sensory deprivation.
The first treatment (Lidocaine) caused pain more severe than any experienced in her life, leaving her almost entirely unable to walk for one month. The second (Ketamine) offered little if any change whatsoever. After this Mum declined a third treatment scheduled for March. She has a ‘review’ appointment with the same hospital booked for May. It is with this in mind that I came to visit her now (April).
Some reported side-effects of these drugs are:
Chronic constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, muscle cramps/spasms, numbness, respiratory depression, immune system depression (low white blood cell counts) and fluid retention in the cells (resulting in damage/death of the cells – info on Lymphology and ‘dry cell states’ to follow). Mum has all of these.
Another common side effect is a urinary disorder that can actually thicken the bladder wall, lowering sensitivity and control of this area. It was immediately following an operation to tighten Mum’s bladder that any symptoms and pain first began; and yet nobody advised her that this already damaged organ could possibly take strain from the ‘treatment’ programme. And, despite her primary symptoms being numbing, cramping and pain in her in her legs and feet, AT NO STAGE WAS SHE OFFERED MASSAGE OR SHOWN STRETCHING TECHNIQUES THAT MAY ALLEVIATE THE PAIN.
The companies that produce and distribute pharmaceutical drugs are privately owned and are primarily concerned with their own profits. This is not a revelation but needs to be understood when deciding on the appropriate actions to take when loved ones become unwell.
Consider that a private pharmaceutical company absolutely depends on your not being well in order to exist! They literally sell their products to health authorities and in turn they sell them to you – be that direct or not, it is in everybody’s interest that you/me/my mum, receive these drugs and therefore they will always be recommended before any other form of treatment.
‘Pfizer Inc.’ (that produce Mum’s ‘Pregabalin’) is the single largest pharmaceutical company in the world with an annual ‘product marketing budget’ of $3 billion. That’s MARKETING as in ADVERTISING. Their tight links with the US Government date from 1910 when they produced penicillin in the First World War. In 1995 they contributed $250,000 (the maximum allowed) to the second inauguration of George W. Bush.
Is it any surprise then, that drugs become endorsed by government and other treatment be officially termed ‘alternative’? Yoga has been with mankind since time immortal. Medicinal properties of herbs, spices and whole-foods were deliberately placed on the earth by God/Mother Nature/Natural Order… The brain is the single greatest laboratory in existence, capable of producing ANY CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMBINATION KNOWN TO MAN. It simply needs to be given the opportunity to do its work without the hindrance of ‘intelligent intervention’.
Food, medication, and dis-ease have changed drastically in the 20th Century. It is these ‘norms’ that are alternative; it is modern civilization that has created states of illness and disease through separation of the self from the natural order of existence.
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease”
- Thomas A. Edison.
Mum is doing well, thank you for your love and support.
Tramadol - is a ‘monoamine uptake inhibitor’ used to treat moderate to severe pain and most types of neuralgia – conditions affecting the nervous system. It has been suggested that Tramadol could be effective for alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety because of its action on the ‘noradrenergic’ and ‘serotonergic’ systems, the involvement of which appear to play a part in its ability to alleviate the perception of pain. However, health professionals have not yet endorsed its use on a large scale for disorders such as this.
Pregabalin - is an anticonvulsant drug used for neuropathic pain. It has also been found effective for ‘generalized anxiety disorder’. It was designed as a more potent successor to ‘Gabapentin’, used in the treatment of Epilepsy. Recent studies have shown that Pregabalin is effective at treating chronic pain in disorders such as fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury. In June 2007, Pregabalin became the first medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Mum does not have fibromyalgia.
In January and February 2009, Mum underwent two procedures at London’s ‘National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery’, whereby she was intravenously fed ‘Lidocaine’ (Jan) and ‘Ketamine’ (Feb) for 2 hours at a time. These drugs are anaesthetics which work to inhibit receptors in the brain. Ketamine is used primarily in veterinary surgery and is commonly sought as a recreational hallucinogen said to induce a state referred to as "dissociative anaesthesia”, blocking signals to the conscious mind to bring about a ‘dreamlike’ state of sensory deprivation.
The first treatment (Lidocaine) caused pain more severe than any experienced in her life, leaving her almost entirely unable to walk for one month. The second (Ketamine) offered little if any change whatsoever. After this Mum declined a third treatment scheduled for March. She has a ‘review’ appointment with the same hospital booked for May. It is with this in mind that I came to visit her now (April).
Some reported side-effects of these drugs are:
Chronic constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, muscle cramps/spasms, numbness, respiratory depression, immune system depression (low white blood cell counts) and fluid retention in the cells (resulting in damage/death of the cells – info on Lymphology and ‘dry cell states’ to follow). Mum has all of these.
Another common side effect is a urinary disorder that can actually thicken the bladder wall, lowering sensitivity and control of this area. It was immediately following an operation to tighten Mum’s bladder that any symptoms and pain first began; and yet nobody advised her that this already damaged organ could possibly take strain from the ‘treatment’ programme. And, despite her primary symptoms being numbing, cramping and pain in her in her legs and feet, AT NO STAGE WAS SHE OFFERED MASSAGE OR SHOWN STRETCHING TECHNIQUES THAT MAY ALLEVIATE THE PAIN.
The companies that produce and distribute pharmaceutical drugs are privately owned and are primarily concerned with their own profits. This is not a revelation but needs to be understood when deciding on the appropriate actions to take when loved ones become unwell.
Consider that a private pharmaceutical company absolutely depends on your not being well in order to exist! They literally sell their products to health authorities and in turn they sell them to you – be that direct or not, it is in everybody’s interest that you/me/my mum, receive these drugs and therefore they will always be recommended before any other form of treatment.
‘Pfizer Inc.’ (that produce Mum’s ‘Pregabalin’) is the single largest pharmaceutical company in the world with an annual ‘product marketing budget’ of $3 billion. That’s MARKETING as in ADVERTISING. Their tight links with the US Government date from 1910 when they produced penicillin in the First World War. In 1995 they contributed $250,000 (the maximum allowed) to the second inauguration of George W. Bush.
Is it any surprise then, that drugs become endorsed by government and other treatment be officially termed ‘alternative’? Yoga has been with mankind since time immortal. Medicinal properties of herbs, spices and whole-foods were deliberately placed on the earth by God/Mother Nature/Natural Order… The brain is the single greatest laboratory in existence, capable of producing ANY CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMBINATION KNOWN TO MAN. It simply needs to be given the opportunity to do its work without the hindrance of ‘intelligent intervention’.
Food, medication, and dis-ease have changed drastically in the 20th Century. It is these ‘norms’ that are alternative; it is modern civilization that has created states of illness and disease through separation of the self from the natural order of existence.
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease”
- Thomas A. Edison.
Mum is doing well, thank you for your love and support.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Nutrition
In the previous article, “The Cell…”, I offered that poor quality food choices fail to provide sufficient nutrition to enable their own digestion, and as such are costing us more energy than they provide – a non-sustainable situation that will eventually lead to ill-health and dis-ease.
Ultimately, what we need from any healthy diet is energy; which is obtained by consuming a mixture of foods that provide protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The wider the variety of foods we eat, the less likely we are to be deficient in any of the essential nutrients that our bodies need to perform their numerous functions.
Towards the end of the 20th Century; advent of supermarkets, freezers, microwaves and such began to deplete the quality of foods that are available, and today in the West we are seeing dramatic rise in poor health conditions that simply did not exist in previous times.
The food we eat has changed more in the past 100 years than in the previous 100,000. Diets high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as intensive farming, growth hormones and artificial preservatives have led to illnesses such as heart dis-ease, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, gall stones, liver failure and kidney problems to name but a few. Children today are born with conditions that only a few years ago were considered dis-eases of old age; more children under the age of 11 are dying of cancer and diabetes than any other dis-ease! (Susana L. Belen, ‘Detox and Revitalize’).
Even the manner in which we eat has been adversely affected my modern social ‘norms’. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner is a direct by-product of the 40-hour working week that only came about during the industrial growth of the 20th Century. This is not the natural order!
The body goes through a natural and deliberate cleansing cycle from around 4am-12noon. During this time our organs are expelling toxic acclimation for release from the body. Eating an early breakfast (as in, ‘break-fast’ or ‘stop-fasting’) diverts energy from this vital process to that of digestion and as such we are not ‘taking out the rubbish’ from the previous day. Further more, throughout the night our cells become dehydrated; and a breakfast of toast (wheat), jam (sugar), cereal (both) and coffee sends them into shock at a time when they are most needing a little helping hand.
Food Observation:
The first thing we should consume in the morning is a glass of room temperature water. Ideally this would be followed by a cup of hot water with fresh lemon and/or ginger. Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices will provide easily accessible nutrients, and as we progress to solids, soft fruits such as banana or papaya will place little burden on our early morning sluggish system. Beginning your daily consumption in this manner will offer you the opportunity to assess your true needs verses your indulgent wants. Are you really hungry, or simply habitual?
There are many obvious toxins in the average daily diet. Cutting down on things that are not good for you will have immediate, positive health benefits.
Sugar – White refined sugar provides ABSOLUTELY NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE. The major ingredient in many store bought jams, cakes, biscuits and soft drinks – this cheap bulking agent is even being linked to damaged states of mind such as depression, irritability, mood swings and hyper-activity. Artificial ‘sweeteners’ that are increasingly common in foods (sweet and savoury) and even medicines are frequently branded as healthier alternatives because they contain no calories and do not directly damage your teeth. They are however commonly linked to cancers as well as lesser ailments such as dizziness, headaches, epileptic seizures and menstrual problems.
Wheat – Wheat is not necessarily a bad thing. Certainly organic, whole-grain varieties can be beneficial to your health. Wheat does however contain high levels of ‘gluten’ which is slow to digest. Imagine taking a slice of white bread, dropping a little water on it and then squashing it in your hand. The resulting sticky pulp is exactly the substance that will hit your stomach. A typical days consumption may include cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and pasta for dinner. That’s three helpings in one day! Add a biscuit in the afternoon and it is easy to see why people become ‘wheat intolerant’. This over- reliance combined with the poor quality refined wheat varieties that flood the market has led to numerous health conditions and frankly boring diets!
But rather than concentrating on the negatives, let us look at some foods that are delicious and healthful. By adding more of these into your daily diet you’ll have less want or need to eat anything nasty.
Fruit – The ultimate convenience food; packed with vitamins and minerals, anti-oxidants and fibre – all essential for good health. The versatility of fruit makes it easy to incorporate into your diet.
Citrus fruits are exceptionally high in vitamin C which boosts the body’s natural resistance to bacteria and viruses. Lemons are particularly beneficial for the lining of the stomach so useful in reversing the effects of an acid forming diet. Berries offer many unique health benefits and can be easily stored in the freezer without losing their nutritional value. Tropical fruits, such as banana or papaya, contain high levels of potassium which is alkalizing and cooling in the system. Grapes are the original ‘super-food’, assisting the immune, digestive, nervous and excretory systems as well as promoting healthy skin, hair, eyes, bones and muscles! They are massively cleansing and provide huge cancer protection. Dried fruits offer concentrated sources of instant energy and so are great for those with a busy schedule or as a snack during excursion. High mineral and fibre content can relieve constipation and their intense sweetness satisfies the strongest of cravings. Be sure to choose organic varieties if possible as common preservatives such as Sulphur Dioxide can aggravate skin and sinus issues.
Vegetables – Too obvious and numerous to mention; vegetables (especially raw or lightly steamed) should serve as the foundation of any meal.
Seeds and Nuts – Providing low-fat protein which is essential for cellular construction, the natural fats in seeds and nuts help to steady the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing the ‘spikes’ associated with diabetes. Seeds and Nuts are rather clever!, containing ‘enzyme inhibitors’ that prevent them from being broken down in the system. This is a survival mechanism whereby when they are eaten by animals in the wild, they can later be excreted, still able to grow into a plant! For this reason they should be ground-up or soaked in water prior to consumption.
Quick Conclusion:
Food is best in (or close to) its original state. Seasonal, whole-foods are delicious in their own right and don’t require much alteration to create beautiful meals. Reading labels will quickly tell you what you should and shouldn’t be eating – if it doesn’t sound like a food it isn’t! Just as a car cannot run on anything other than petrol, the digestive system simply cannot process anything other than food. Toxic non-foods are rejected and stored in and around the gut and internal organs of the body. Taking the time and effort to prepare food yourself is massively rewarding and with a little practice extremely easy to do. The very concept of ‘convenience food’ is farcical when weighed against the inconvenience of ailments and illnesses that seem so prevalent in Western society.
Food is nutrition. Nutrition is energy. Do you feel vibrant and energized after you have eaten? Or do you feel tired and lethargic? Be honest with yourself and realize that only you have the power to control what you consume, and that what you consume will directly affect the state of your inner environment. Out of sight, out of mind, but not out of the laws of good health.
Life’s Good!
(Nutritional information sourced from Michael Van Straten)
Ultimately, what we need from any healthy diet is energy; which is obtained by consuming a mixture of foods that provide protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The wider the variety of foods we eat, the less likely we are to be deficient in any of the essential nutrients that our bodies need to perform their numerous functions.
Towards the end of the 20th Century; advent of supermarkets, freezers, microwaves and such began to deplete the quality of foods that are available, and today in the West we are seeing dramatic rise in poor health conditions that simply did not exist in previous times.
The food we eat has changed more in the past 100 years than in the previous 100,000. Diets high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as intensive farming, growth hormones and artificial preservatives have led to illnesses such as heart dis-ease, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, gall stones, liver failure and kidney problems to name but a few. Children today are born with conditions that only a few years ago were considered dis-eases of old age; more children under the age of 11 are dying of cancer and diabetes than any other dis-ease! (Susana L. Belen, ‘Detox and Revitalize’).
Even the manner in which we eat has been adversely affected my modern social ‘norms’. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner is a direct by-product of the 40-hour working week that only came about during the industrial growth of the 20th Century. This is not the natural order!
The body goes through a natural and deliberate cleansing cycle from around 4am-12noon. During this time our organs are expelling toxic acclimation for release from the body. Eating an early breakfast (as in, ‘break-fast’ or ‘stop-fasting’) diverts energy from this vital process to that of digestion and as such we are not ‘taking out the rubbish’ from the previous day. Further more, throughout the night our cells become dehydrated; and a breakfast of toast (wheat), jam (sugar), cereal (both) and coffee sends them into shock at a time when they are most needing a little helping hand.
Food Observation:
The first thing we should consume in the morning is a glass of room temperature water. Ideally this would be followed by a cup of hot water with fresh lemon and/or ginger. Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices will provide easily accessible nutrients, and as we progress to solids, soft fruits such as banana or papaya will place little burden on our early morning sluggish system. Beginning your daily consumption in this manner will offer you the opportunity to assess your true needs verses your indulgent wants. Are you really hungry, or simply habitual?
There are many obvious toxins in the average daily diet. Cutting down on things that are not good for you will have immediate, positive health benefits.
Sugar – White refined sugar provides ABSOLUTELY NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE. The major ingredient in many store bought jams, cakes, biscuits and soft drinks – this cheap bulking agent is even being linked to damaged states of mind such as depression, irritability, mood swings and hyper-activity. Artificial ‘sweeteners’ that are increasingly common in foods (sweet and savoury) and even medicines are frequently branded as healthier alternatives because they contain no calories and do not directly damage your teeth. They are however commonly linked to cancers as well as lesser ailments such as dizziness, headaches, epileptic seizures and menstrual problems.
Wheat – Wheat is not necessarily a bad thing. Certainly organic, whole-grain varieties can be beneficial to your health. Wheat does however contain high levels of ‘gluten’ which is slow to digest. Imagine taking a slice of white bread, dropping a little water on it and then squashing it in your hand. The resulting sticky pulp is exactly the substance that will hit your stomach. A typical days consumption may include cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and pasta for dinner. That’s three helpings in one day! Add a biscuit in the afternoon and it is easy to see why people become ‘wheat intolerant’. This over- reliance combined with the poor quality refined wheat varieties that flood the market has led to numerous health conditions and frankly boring diets!
But rather than concentrating on the negatives, let us look at some foods that are delicious and healthful. By adding more of these into your daily diet you’ll have less want or need to eat anything nasty.
Fruit – The ultimate convenience food; packed with vitamins and minerals, anti-oxidants and fibre – all essential for good health. The versatility of fruit makes it easy to incorporate into your diet.
Citrus fruits are exceptionally high in vitamin C which boosts the body’s natural resistance to bacteria and viruses. Lemons are particularly beneficial for the lining of the stomach so useful in reversing the effects of an acid forming diet. Berries offer many unique health benefits and can be easily stored in the freezer without losing their nutritional value. Tropical fruits, such as banana or papaya, contain high levels of potassium which is alkalizing and cooling in the system. Grapes are the original ‘super-food’, assisting the immune, digestive, nervous and excretory systems as well as promoting healthy skin, hair, eyes, bones and muscles! They are massively cleansing and provide huge cancer protection. Dried fruits offer concentrated sources of instant energy and so are great for those with a busy schedule or as a snack during excursion. High mineral and fibre content can relieve constipation and their intense sweetness satisfies the strongest of cravings. Be sure to choose organic varieties if possible as common preservatives such as Sulphur Dioxide can aggravate skin and sinus issues.
Vegetables – Too obvious and numerous to mention; vegetables (especially raw or lightly steamed) should serve as the foundation of any meal.
Seeds and Nuts – Providing low-fat protein which is essential for cellular construction, the natural fats in seeds and nuts help to steady the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing the ‘spikes’ associated with diabetes. Seeds and Nuts are rather clever!, containing ‘enzyme inhibitors’ that prevent them from being broken down in the system. This is a survival mechanism whereby when they are eaten by animals in the wild, they can later be excreted, still able to grow into a plant! For this reason they should be ground-up or soaked in water prior to consumption.
Quick Conclusion:
Food is best in (or close to) its original state. Seasonal, whole-foods are delicious in their own right and don’t require much alteration to create beautiful meals. Reading labels will quickly tell you what you should and shouldn’t be eating – if it doesn’t sound like a food it isn’t! Just as a car cannot run on anything other than petrol, the digestive system simply cannot process anything other than food. Toxic non-foods are rejected and stored in and around the gut and internal organs of the body. Taking the time and effort to prepare food yourself is massively rewarding and with a little practice extremely easy to do. The very concept of ‘convenience food’ is farcical when weighed against the inconvenience of ailments and illnesses that seem so prevalent in Western society.
Food is nutrition. Nutrition is energy. Do you feel vibrant and energized after you have eaten? Or do you feel tired and lethargic? Be honest with yourself and realize that only you have the power to control what you consume, and that what you consume will directly affect the state of your inner environment. Out of sight, out of mind, but not out of the laws of good health.
Life’s Good!
(Nutritional information sourced from Michael Van Straten)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Cell - Regeneration of...
“All cure starts from within out, from the head down, and in reverse order as the symptoms have appeared.” - Herings Law of Cure.
Modern science and medicine has achieved great advances in understanding the molecular structure of life. Technological advances have provided medications and surgical procedures that prolong life and relieve symptoms. Yet;
These discoveries can only support the body’s own inherent intelligence and ability to reconstruct itself.
Every minute millions of cells are dying and millions more being reborn. The body creates 2.5 billion red blood cells per second! With in 11 months not a single cell that is in the body today (except for brain cells) will still be there.
Yet this miraculous process requires the right conditions in which to operate or else it will begin to slow and stop – death. Dr. Alexis Carroll of the ‘Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research’ performed remarkable experiments to show that under stable conditions, cells could live for a very long time – if not indefinitely. He observed that;
“The cell is immortal, it is merely the fluid in which it floats that degenerates. Renew this fluid at intervals, give the cell something on which to feed and, so far as we know, the pulsation of life my go on forever”.
Our cells are alive. The human body; made up of some 100 trillion cells, begins as a single cell consisting of three parts – the membrane (outer wall), which houses the nucleus (brain) and cytoplasm (inner environment). Nutrients that pass through the membrane are metabolized and converted to energy to fuel the function of the cell. As with any energetic transfer, a waste product is produced that must be allowed to pass back out for removal from the body. Any impairment in the membranes ability to let nutrients in or waste out will result in the death of the cell, our most basic unit of life.
When we eat we are putting our organism to work. Every single aspect; from buying, preparing, chewing, digesting and eliminating costs us energy. Modern society has invented substances to preserve the shelf-life, colour and fragrance of food using laboratory chemicals that cannot be processed by our cells and thus accumulate as toxins and waste.
Poor bowel management lies at the root of most peoples illness, disability and dis-ease. Auto-intoxication (creating a toxic state) places a burden on the ability of every organ in the body to function.
Years ago we realized that many of man’s diseases came from lack of sanitation. We allowed urine and faeces to travel through the streets until underground sewers were invented to take away harmful waste – in London this led to Bubonic Plague. The Colon acts as our body’s elimination channel or sewer. Just as a power failure in a cities sewerage system would result in a back-up and blockage that would quickly lead to a sanitation problem, so too any problems in the colons ability to eliminate waste immediately causes health issues. A power failure can be likened to the lack of energy supplied to our digestive system when the foods we eat are nutritionally deficient and artificially preserved.
Industrialized nations in the West have by far the largest numbers of bowel related disorders in the world. The major contributing factor is their straying away from simple, natural lifestyles. In particular it is found that the food situation in these countries is far removed from traditional growing practise. Economic factors totally overrule other considerations in food production. Foods are hybridized to promote higher yields, meet process and harvest requirements and have cost effective shelf-lives. Processed, pre-cooked and preserved foods do not react well in the human body.
Just as a car cannot run on anything other than petrol, the digestive system simply cannot process non-foods.
As a result of poor food conditions, the body is not able to gain proper nutrition and so is not supplied with the fuel it needs to counter the effects of the energetic expenditure used when we eat. A downward spiral begins whereby…
The colon begins to get backed-up; waste material sits around longer, beginning to putrefy and decay. Extra energy is then required to eliminate the extra waste, but it is not supplied by the nutrient deficient foods we are taking in. Accumulation becomes the breading ground for unhealthy bacteria’s that begins to poison the system and become absorbed into the blood stream for damaging distribution to the rest of the body.
Constipation:
To attempt to take care of any symptom in the body without a good elimination channel is futile. Last year, laxative sales in the US were conservatively placed at $350 million! Constipation is the clogging-up of the large intestine (colon). A build-up of mucus around the bowel wall narrows the passage through which faeces can pass through. A dirty bowel harbours a wide variety of bacteria and parasites.
Intestinal constipation leads to cellular constipation, increasing the workload of the body’s other excretory (discharge) organs – the kidneys, skin, liver, lungs and lymph. As the functioning of these organs becomes depleted; cellular metabolism (energetic conversion) becomes depleted, repair and growth are delayed and the ability to eliminate waste is lowered. The cells, rather than being alive and active, become dead and inactive. This process results in the functional ability of tissues and organs being dangerously decreased.
Medication and anti-biotics have devastating effects on beneficial intestinal flora. Laxatives are irritant and tire out the bowel muscles by keeping it constantly working. Low water consumption leads to dehydration which causes tissues (groups of cells) and fluids to thicken and become sticky, hindering movement of faeces. Lack of movement or exercise fails to tone and massage the digestive system causing it to become sluggish and lazy. Over time we become lethargic and have less energy to fight off ailments.
Relating this to the current medical condition of my mother, I have begun to educate her on ways and means to improve her diet, and introduced her to some of the physical practices of yoga in order that she strengthen and tone her internal organs.
I believe that by encouraging her system to rid itself of years of accumulated toxicity caused by medication and poor food choices, she will begin to experience a marked improvement in the symptoms of her diagnosed dis-order. Observations will be reported at a later stage.
The contents of this report were adapted from the work of Susana L. Belen and Dr. Bernard Jensen.
In Love and Light x
Modern science and medicine has achieved great advances in understanding the molecular structure of life. Technological advances have provided medications and surgical procedures that prolong life and relieve symptoms. Yet;
These discoveries can only support the body’s own inherent intelligence and ability to reconstruct itself.
Every minute millions of cells are dying and millions more being reborn. The body creates 2.5 billion red blood cells per second! With in 11 months not a single cell that is in the body today (except for brain cells) will still be there.
Yet this miraculous process requires the right conditions in which to operate or else it will begin to slow and stop – death. Dr. Alexis Carroll of the ‘Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research’ performed remarkable experiments to show that under stable conditions, cells could live for a very long time – if not indefinitely. He observed that;
“The cell is immortal, it is merely the fluid in which it floats that degenerates. Renew this fluid at intervals, give the cell something on which to feed and, so far as we know, the pulsation of life my go on forever”.
Our cells are alive. The human body; made up of some 100 trillion cells, begins as a single cell consisting of three parts – the membrane (outer wall), which houses the nucleus (brain) and cytoplasm (inner environment). Nutrients that pass through the membrane are metabolized and converted to energy to fuel the function of the cell. As with any energetic transfer, a waste product is produced that must be allowed to pass back out for removal from the body. Any impairment in the membranes ability to let nutrients in or waste out will result in the death of the cell, our most basic unit of life.
When we eat we are putting our organism to work. Every single aspect; from buying, preparing, chewing, digesting and eliminating costs us energy. Modern society has invented substances to preserve the shelf-life, colour and fragrance of food using laboratory chemicals that cannot be processed by our cells and thus accumulate as toxins and waste.
Poor bowel management lies at the root of most peoples illness, disability and dis-ease. Auto-intoxication (creating a toxic state) places a burden on the ability of every organ in the body to function.
Years ago we realized that many of man’s diseases came from lack of sanitation. We allowed urine and faeces to travel through the streets until underground sewers were invented to take away harmful waste – in London this led to Bubonic Plague. The Colon acts as our body’s elimination channel or sewer. Just as a power failure in a cities sewerage system would result in a back-up and blockage that would quickly lead to a sanitation problem, so too any problems in the colons ability to eliminate waste immediately causes health issues. A power failure can be likened to the lack of energy supplied to our digestive system when the foods we eat are nutritionally deficient and artificially preserved.
Industrialized nations in the West have by far the largest numbers of bowel related disorders in the world. The major contributing factor is their straying away from simple, natural lifestyles. In particular it is found that the food situation in these countries is far removed from traditional growing practise. Economic factors totally overrule other considerations in food production. Foods are hybridized to promote higher yields, meet process and harvest requirements and have cost effective shelf-lives. Processed, pre-cooked and preserved foods do not react well in the human body.
Just as a car cannot run on anything other than petrol, the digestive system simply cannot process non-foods.
As a result of poor food conditions, the body is not able to gain proper nutrition and so is not supplied with the fuel it needs to counter the effects of the energetic expenditure used when we eat. A downward spiral begins whereby…
The colon begins to get backed-up; waste material sits around longer, beginning to putrefy and decay. Extra energy is then required to eliminate the extra waste, but it is not supplied by the nutrient deficient foods we are taking in. Accumulation becomes the breading ground for unhealthy bacteria’s that begins to poison the system and become absorbed into the blood stream for damaging distribution to the rest of the body.
Constipation:
To attempt to take care of any symptom in the body without a good elimination channel is futile. Last year, laxative sales in the US were conservatively placed at $350 million! Constipation is the clogging-up of the large intestine (colon). A build-up of mucus around the bowel wall narrows the passage through which faeces can pass through. A dirty bowel harbours a wide variety of bacteria and parasites.
Intestinal constipation leads to cellular constipation, increasing the workload of the body’s other excretory (discharge) organs – the kidneys, skin, liver, lungs and lymph. As the functioning of these organs becomes depleted; cellular metabolism (energetic conversion) becomes depleted, repair and growth are delayed and the ability to eliminate waste is lowered. The cells, rather than being alive and active, become dead and inactive. This process results in the functional ability of tissues and organs being dangerously decreased.
Medication and anti-biotics have devastating effects on beneficial intestinal flora. Laxatives are irritant and tire out the bowel muscles by keeping it constantly working. Low water consumption leads to dehydration which causes tissues (groups of cells) and fluids to thicken and become sticky, hindering movement of faeces. Lack of movement or exercise fails to tone and massage the digestive system causing it to become sluggish and lazy. Over time we become lethargic and have less energy to fight off ailments.
Relating this to the current medical condition of my mother, I have begun to educate her on ways and means to improve her diet, and introduced her to some of the physical practices of yoga in order that she strengthen and tone her internal organs.
I believe that by encouraging her system to rid itself of years of accumulated toxicity caused by medication and poor food choices, she will begin to experience a marked improvement in the symptoms of her diagnosed dis-order. Observations will be reported at a later stage.
The contents of this report were adapted from the work of Susana L. Belen and Dr. Bernard Jensen.
In Love and Light x
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Official diagnosis.
Neuropathy.
My mother has been diagnosed with ‘acute axial neuropathy’, a condition that affects the nervous system. The condition is also known as peripheral neuropathy because it affects the peripheral nervous system. This is the network of nerves that run out from the brain and spinal cord (which together form the central nervous system) and carry impulses to and from the rest of the body, such as the limbs and organs. Peripheral nerves are responsible for the body’s senses and movements. Because the peripheral nerves transmit signals to so many different parts of the body, the symptoms of neuropathy can vary depending on which nerves are damaged. This damaged can be the result of an injury/trauma or disease; in Mum’s case it is a little of both!
Mum has been chronically constipated since aged 2 when she underwent an emergency operation to remove her appendix. It is a common mis-conception that the appendix plays no particular role in the proper functioning of the body. This blind-ended tube leads from the ‘caecum’ at the start of the large intestine in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. As well as containing numerous cells of the immune system, its major role is to remove excess water from undigested matter (faeces). This ‘drying’ assists the peristaltic action (muscular contractions) of the colon, providing it with a firmer substance on which to ‘grip’ for removal from the body – rather like squeezing toothpaste from the base of the tube! Her hindered digestive system was further burdened by a typical 1950’s diet consisting of high levels of cooked (enzyme deficient) foods, refined white wheat and large/regular amounts of sugar. Now into her fifties and averaging only 2-3 bowel movements a week, her system is in a position of extreme toxicity that is affecting her organs ability to function.
In March 2006 she underwent an operation to tighten the muscles of her bladder. This common procedure is performed under general anaesthetic, yet the patient is left some degree of consciousness in order that they may answer questions regarding the level of tension that is appropriate. She describes feeling intense pain and awareness of the tools as they cut into her body – yet being extremely disorientated by the anaesthetic was unable to bring this fact to the attention of the surgeon. Theories have ranged from physical damage of the nerve structure, to the partial shut-down of the system through severe shock. Regardless, the situation today is extreme.
Symptoms have ranged and varied over the years. Her condition now is one of extreme and constant physical pain. She rarely sleeps through the night and describes the sensations at the tips of her fingers and toes as similar to dipping them into boiling water. Literally ‘knocking her off her feet’, the resulting muscle wastage has left her physical body weak and sluggish causing stagnation that has hindered the ability of her Lymphatic System to clear trapped blood proteins from around her cells - compounding the build-up of toxins in the system!
NB – the Lymphatic System is an area of personal interest that will be explored at a later stage. Google the work of Keith MacFarlane for information on the art and science of Lymphology.
Mum has an appointment at ‘The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery' in mid-May.
My mother has been diagnosed with ‘acute axial neuropathy’, a condition that affects the nervous system. The condition is also known as peripheral neuropathy because it affects the peripheral nervous system. This is the network of nerves that run out from the brain and spinal cord (which together form the central nervous system) and carry impulses to and from the rest of the body, such as the limbs and organs. Peripheral nerves are responsible for the body’s senses and movements. Because the peripheral nerves transmit signals to so many different parts of the body, the symptoms of neuropathy can vary depending on which nerves are damaged. This damaged can be the result of an injury/trauma or disease; in Mum’s case it is a little of both!
Mum has been chronically constipated since aged 2 when she underwent an emergency operation to remove her appendix. It is a common mis-conception that the appendix plays no particular role in the proper functioning of the body. This blind-ended tube leads from the ‘caecum’ at the start of the large intestine in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. As well as containing numerous cells of the immune system, its major role is to remove excess water from undigested matter (faeces). This ‘drying’ assists the peristaltic action (muscular contractions) of the colon, providing it with a firmer substance on which to ‘grip’ for removal from the body – rather like squeezing toothpaste from the base of the tube! Her hindered digestive system was further burdened by a typical 1950’s diet consisting of high levels of cooked (enzyme deficient) foods, refined white wheat and large/regular amounts of sugar. Now into her fifties and averaging only 2-3 bowel movements a week, her system is in a position of extreme toxicity that is affecting her organs ability to function.
In March 2006 she underwent an operation to tighten the muscles of her bladder. This common procedure is performed under general anaesthetic, yet the patient is left some degree of consciousness in order that they may answer questions regarding the level of tension that is appropriate. She describes feeling intense pain and awareness of the tools as they cut into her body – yet being extremely disorientated by the anaesthetic was unable to bring this fact to the attention of the surgeon. Theories have ranged from physical damage of the nerve structure, to the partial shut-down of the system through severe shock. Regardless, the situation today is extreme.
Symptoms have ranged and varied over the years. Her condition now is one of extreme and constant physical pain. She rarely sleeps through the night and describes the sensations at the tips of her fingers and toes as similar to dipping them into boiling water. Literally ‘knocking her off her feet’, the resulting muscle wastage has left her physical body weak and sluggish causing stagnation that has hindered the ability of her Lymphatic System to clear trapped blood proteins from around her cells - compounding the build-up of toxins in the system!
NB – the Lymphatic System is an area of personal interest that will be explored at a later stage. Google the work of Keith MacFarlane for information on the art and science of Lymphology.
Mum has an appointment at ‘The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery' in mid-May.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Intro - What Is Yoga?
(Adapted from "A.P.M.B." - Bihar, India.)
“Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present. It is the essential need of today, and the culture of tomorrow.”
- Swami Satyananda Saraswati
The last 3 years of my life have seen transition and growth in ways I could never have imagined. Meeting Tamsin and moving to beautiful South Africa has afforded me the blessed and unique opportunity to rediscover myself; and it has truly been the case that each lesson ‘learned’ has felt rather more like a memory returned. There have been many factors involved; not least a specific intention to re-examine my own spirituality, and with that, the integration of yoga into my daily life.
Yoga has been described as the science of right living, systematically working on all aspects of a person; the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The word yoga literally means unity or oneness, derived from the Sanskrit word juj or join. In spiritual terms, this joining refers to the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. On a more practical level, yoga is a way of balancing the body, mind and emotions.
The science of yoga begins to work on our outermost aspect - the physical body. For most people this is a practical and familiar starting point. When imbalance is felt at this level; the organs, muscles and nerves no longer function in harmony. Yoga aims to bring the different bodily functions into perfect coordination so that they work together for the good of the whole.
From the physical body, yoga progresses to the mental and emotional levels. Many people suffer from phobias and neuroses brought about by the stresses of everyday living. Yoga offers a method of coping with our own existence. Through the practises of yoga, awareness develops of the interrelation between the emotional, mental and physical levels; and how a disturbance in any one of these directly affects the others. There are many branches of yoga to explore; and each individual must find those most suited to their particular want or need.
Regular yoga practise will have profound effects on your overall health.
The relevance of yoga today:
Whilst yoga’s central theme is the highest goal of the spiritual path, yoga practises give direct and tangible benefits to everyone, regardless of their spiritual aim.
Physical and mental therapy is one of yoga’s most important aspects. The effects of yoga have been documented in relation to many dis-eases ranging from asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, digestive disorders and other ailments of a chronic (long-term) nature. Yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the Nervous (conveying messages from the brain and motor impulses to the organs and muscles) and Endocrine (secreting hormones directly into the blood and lymph) systems, which directly influence all other systems and organs of the body.
For most people however, yoga is simply a means of maintaining health and vitality in an increasingly stressful society. Asanas (postures/poses) remove the physical discomfort of sitting at a desk or in a car all day long. Relaxation counters the hectic nature of diminishing time-off, mobile phones and 24-hour shopping!
Yoga is far more than an exercise; rather it is an aid to establishing a new way of life that embraces both inner and outer realities. However this way of life cannot be explained intellectually and will only become living knowledge through practise and experience.
"Yoga. 99% practise, 1% theory."
- Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
In Love and Light x
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