FALL 2008

 

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At Rest
Pg 65 - ROOTS OF HEALING

Be Good to Your Body
Reveal your inner light by nourishing yourself with healthy choices.

We've all heard how beauty comes from within, but what does this mean? And how do we attain it? Is it a frame of mind referencing calm, humility, and reassurance? Is it the glow of one's spirit? Is it physical health and its utterance of strength and vitality that brings beauty? Great sages and healers of every culture (as well as by just about everyone else) have pondered this for centuries. What have we learned from generations of musings into our inner glow? Could it be elements of all of the above, and then many more?

We apply ourselves diligently to attain states of health, be they mental, physical, or spiritual, and yet our path is wrought with difficulties in attaining inner peace and balance among these facets. Our bodies grow weary from the accumulation of impurities (yes, they do affect our bodies as well as our planet), and we resist the changes that come with age when we need to welcome the cyclical cadence of our life cycles.

The environment profoundly affects us on multiple levels. It shapes how we look and feel, how we resonate with others, and how we behave. This, along with time, leaves its telling mark-often in varied unsavory forms like aches and pains, skin changes, fatigue, insomnia, hormonal imbalance, and mood swings. So what do you do to purify yourself and share your inner light with the world a little more? And, how can you cope with inevitable natural change, as well as unhealthy outside influences?

A bit of a detoxifying makeover is readily accessible and advisable for anyone. No matter if you've felt the more extreme examples I've listed above, or have been plain old tired, stressed, or bogged down with the blahs, try these simple steps to uncover your inner radiance.

First, focus on your diet. I advise less animal products and a lot more fresh fruits and veggies (as close to raw as possible). This means more of an abundance of nutrients and antioxidants needed for repair, replenishment, and nourishment of tissues and organs (including your skin). Be sure to mix up the colors and eat lots of variety here: reds, oranges, yellows, greens, purples, you get the picture-the point is a rich variety of phytonutrients. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water and avoid refined foods as much as possible. And by all means, try to stay away from health-sappers, like hydrogenated oils, refined white flower, refined white sugar, soft drinks, and alcohol, and fried food. Oh, and it's a good idea to kick the coffee habit too, since it dehydrates you and it stains your teeth. Try something new in your morning cup, like a soothing herbal tea.

You'll feel the difference immediately without depriving yourself. Get into the groove and make it fun. Try a new veggie cookbook (there are so many good ones out there) or hang out with your friends who are on the same path. Your body, mood, and spirit will thank you.

Remember, adapt slowly and as little or as much as you can-small steps to a great end are much more productive that a complete overhaul that you can't possibly endure for more than a day or two. The trick is to make it a good time. Keep this in mind, and the glow could come before the summer sun sets.