Total Health Work

I remember when I first started doing yoga, my father-in-law became extremely agitated, fearing that I was drifting off into some spiritual practice that would have me and my family sitting in a lotus position and chanting mantras all day.

"Why don’t you just call it ’stretching,’" he suggested.

"Whatever," I thought to myself as I continued to practice my poses and breathing exercises.

Over the years, however, I’ve discovered that Yoga is much more than merely "stretching."  The benefits of this practice go far beyond the physical dexterity that comes with the increased flexibility of relaxed and elongated muscle tissue.

I’ve found that I’ve become more "centered" throughout my day and more focused on things I turn my attention toward.  I’ve become more peaceful and more aware of the energy and activity around me.

Yoga is more than physical exercise.  It’s a wholistic approach that involves the physical, the mental and the spiritual aspects of my being.  Unlike the competitive base that most "exercise" programs are built on, yoga is based on YOUR body and YOUR state of being.  It is "cooperative" and emphasizes your individual state at the present moment.  You find yourself "growing" as you gently relax into each exercise over time.

Yoga can be an extremely rewarding way to get started on an "exercise" program.  It will help you in ways that go way beyond mere "stretching."  Start slow and allow your body to tell you how much it wants to do each day.  Doing just a little bit will reap tremendous rewards.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, doing tai chi is one way to boost your immunity against certain kinds of diseases.  The traditional Chinese form of exercise uses breathing and fluid movements of the body to increase and direct the flow chi, or energy.

This recent scientific study validates what many advocates of this ancient practice have been saying for years.  There are a wide variety of resources available on the web to find out more about tai chi.

In my own experience, the practice of tai chi is both relaxing and invigorating.  The fluid, dance-like movements are integrated with specific breathing patterns which increases the flow of energy while calming the mind.  The fact that these movements also help to stimulate our immune system is an added bonus to the many benefits that tai chi offers.

In the study, researchers indicated about a 40% increase in the body’s ability to fight disease by people who practice tai chi over those who did not.

For more information on this study, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/nia-06.htm.

Stay healthy.

When thinking about what "total health" means, you need to consider not only your physical health, but your mental and spiritual health as well.  There is a natural tendency in our culture to focus exclusively on physical health, but our life as a whole is much richer and more complex than the just the material world.

Many health-enhancing practices incorporate all three areas of our existence.  Yoga, for example, not only targets the body, but has benefits for our minds and our spirits as well.

When considering your health, think about the whole package.  Try to find a balance of the physical, mental and spiritual elements of your life and dedicate some time and energy to focusing on each one. Nutrition, exercise, play, getting enough rest, meditation, etc.  All of these are important and have benefits toward your total health.  Do a little of each every day.

Stay healthy.