Need some magic in your life?
Author: Maharishi Ayurveda Date Posted:10 April 2016
As I was sitting with a client today discussing his life goals I found myself saying with lightness and a sense of fun “If you are a magician, how would you ‘magic’ your life?”
As he gently smiled I saw the playful comment had reached its mark. The realization dawned in his eyes that what he chose to do, or not to do mattered. His choices were the foundation blocks to his life enjoyment and success.
So today, knowing we are all busy I thought to highlight the 5 key choices you can make to enjoy a ‘magic’ state of energy, vitality and happiness today and always.
1. Build your stress resilience
Handling stress well and building stress resilience is one of the most important wellbeing choices you can make. Stress is part of life. Good stress (often called u-stress) provides challenge and makes life fun! Distress when stress overloads is a leading factor in most illness.
Stress causes the physiology to go into the fight or flight response. When this occurs a host of hormones and bio-chemicals are released, stimulating in particular the cardiovascular system and placing it under great pressure.
Chronic stress weakens the cardiovascular system and also contributes towards other risk factors such as hypertension, poor eating habits and an increase in addictive substances such as nicotine, alcohol and drugs.
No wonder in our fast-paced world with chronic stress the silent killer - high blood pressure - is on the rise.
If there was one thing I recommend to a client to reduce stress it is to take their mind and body to a deep state of rest for 20 minutes twice a day by practicing Transcendental Meditation – T M. During the practice of this simple mental technique the physiology goes into a state of profound rest and the heart rate slows down dramatically. In this state of deep rest the body throws off stress, repairs and revitalizes. Due to this release of stress the individual is then able to make more life-supporting dietary and lifestyle choices. Now that is “doing less to accomplish more” and it’s definitely part of the magicians tool kit.
2. Choose healthy fats
Avoid the wrong fats such as saturated fats found in meat, butter and vegetable oil. Trans-fats or hydrogenated vegetable oils are also hard for the body to process and are found in almost all packaged, processed and fast foods. Polyunsaturated oils such as corn, safflower and sunflower create free radicals and contribute to the oxidized lipids that cause the “bad” LDL cholesterol in the body.
Maharishi Ayurveda recommends ghee (clarified butter) and olive oil. Ghee provides essential fatty acids that are not created by the body. These are short-chain fatty acids, which are more easily metabolized by the body, as opposed to the long-term fatty acids which do not get completely digested. Ghee and olive oil contain a large percentage of mono-saturated fat which is associated with prevention of heart disease and cancer.
If you know you have difficulty processing fats then consider taking Cholesterol Protection for 1-3 months to help re-set your fat burning metabolism.
3. Keep your digestive fires burning brightly
When digestion is sluggish and the body is blocked by toxins and impurities any food consumed will not be properly metabolized and can create further problems.
Therefore, Maharishi Ayurveda focuses on improving digestive strength and eliminating impurities by gentle regular exercise, sipping warm, boiled water throughout the day, eating the main meal at lunchtime and avoiding or reducing hard cheese, chocolate, red meat and processed food especially in the evening.
As needed, when your digestion feels sluggish consider taking a 1-3 month course of Digest Tone 1 tablet prior meals. Digest Tone helps to reduce ‘ama’ due to incomplete digestion and supports healthy elimination.
4. Exercise to 50% of your capacity most days
Getting regular but gentle exercise most days helps to increase the number and size of mitochondria, which are the power generators of the cells. The extra mitochondria prepare the physiology for situations where it is suddenly required to perform at its peak capacity, such as physical activity or even stressful situations. Without the extra mitochondria, sudden exertion can create damage due to excessive free radicals.
Maharishi Ayurveda recommends exercising to 50% of your capacity and gradually building fitness levels rather than pushing yourself to your limits. Straining while exercising creates free radicals and therefore can cause overall damage to the body, even if it is strengthening one muscle group. Practising yoga postures is a useful way to release tension and strengthen the physiology. Research shows that these postures can reduce blood cholesterol levels and increase the stability of respiratory and cardiovascular functions.
Consider adopting the effective Sun Salutation postures as part of your morning routine.
5. Get enough sleep
Burning the candle at both ends will take you into overdraft pretty quickly. Have you noticed the plethora of ‘latest research findings’ about the importance of sleep for the prevention of cognitive decline as you age, for weight reduction, for stress resilience, for physical fitness, for creativity, to support memory and I could go on…
It’s heartening to see how modern science is confirming the 3000 year old advice to be in bed by 10pm and rise with the sun for best performance and to enjoy a healthy, happy long life.
If sleep onset is a problem consider taking Blissful Sleep 1-2 tablets with a cup of Slumber Time Tea 30minutes prior bed.
If you wake in the night and have difficulty going back to sleep then consider taking 2 tablets of Deep Rest with a cup of Slumber Time Tea 30 minutes prior bed.
So be the magician of your life this week! Consciously choose to
- Learn more about TM or choose to practice it regularly
- Use ghee and olive oil in your diet
- Keep your digestive fires burning brightly
- Exercise most days to 50% of your capacity
- And last but not least - be in bed by10pm light out for a great sleep.
Wishing you the bliss of balance
|
Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
 |