The greatest instrument given to mankind is the physical body. It has been shared that the physical body is the barometer of the Soul, yet daily we forget to nourish, nurture and take care of this gift that has been divinely created as the physical manifestation of our Soul protecting all the organs and internal systems that enable us to function. The great poet Rumi quotes beautifully 'Your body is woven from the light of heaven'. When our Soul and our physical body are in alignment - both play harmoniously to the music of the Divine.
The wise counsel of many leaders - those whom have passed on as well as the present, teach the power of our physical body and its profound ability to heal on its own. There is already an abundance of information, research and material online however I would like to explore and share my journey on what I feel are gentle simple reminders to healing and nurturing our bodies. When the body signals to us for attention - we must listen to its call. We must love and nurture the one body we have been gifted.
7 Areas of focus to help nurture our bodies naturally:
- Fasting
- Silence
- Breathing
- Hydration
- Exercise
- Rest
- Food
Fasting
I am a huge fan of fasting and its benefits holistically - spiritually, mentally and physically is profound. In the last six years of fasting I have found it is the most natural path to healing and in 'The Miracle of Fasting' by Paul Bragg he quotes beautifully 'that fasting is the most natural, original process of purifying the body. It has been proven by some of the world's greatest scientists that fasting is the magic key that opens the door to agelessness.' Paul shares scientists ran some laboratory testing on animals and they were given natural diets in between fasting and the results proved they became younger.
To quote the amazing Rumi again 'Fasting blinds the body in order to open the eyes of the soul.' Fasting can bring you in communion with the Divine and in religions of today such as Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islamic, Bahai, Zoroasterianism etc prophets and communities taught and practiced fasting and this ripples through to communities still today. The Great Philosophers Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Confucius, Hippocrates all considered fasting to be a great natural healer. Even artist Leonardo da Vinci advocated fasting along with world leaders such as Gandhi.
Silence
Simple yet another favourite. All that is needed is some quiet soul time for yourself where you physically remove yourself and find your place of comfort where you can just sit, breathe and be. The world is your oyster - so anywhere in the world, in nature, or simply in a place such as your verandah overlooking your backyard. A place where you can let thoughts go and focus on your senses what you can visually see, hear, touch, etc. You could have the accompaniment of your favourite book, cuppa or inspirational music - it is completely up to you. Another way to enjoy your silence is the power of prayer, meditation, mantras, writing your gratitude list, or exercise included in your daily morning rituals. This is very powerful and Carolyn Myss shares when you go to sleep be ready to exit your body and when you wake be ready for your birth every day. So the silence every morning allows us to centre ourselves and bring forth a centred focus to bring poise, balance and presence. 'The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear' Rumi.
Breathing
We take our breath for granted, yet it is the very very first thing we do upon entering our world and it is the very last thing we do upon leaving our world. 'Man is composed of such elements as vital breath, deeds, thoughts and the senses...' The Upanishads. Being aware of your breath and its rise and fall is a great tool to pausing in life. Whilst it can be overwhelming when the headspace has thousands of thoughts running through it - if we simply shift the focus from the thought to breath and feel its rise and fall it can simply give you and your body freedom to be present. Big deep breaths on inhalation as well as exhalation can do wonders also - anywhere, anytime. It's a simple way of silencing the mind and allowing the body to relax. Breathing is key to life and we are not always taught how to breathe properly and 'when you breathe deeply and fully - you live deeply and fully' as Paul Bragg shares in his 'Super-Brain Breathing' book.
Hydration
Drinking lots of water to keep our bodies hydrated is key as it assists our physical bodies to function. Water helps to flush all our toxins out and by drinking water we are internally cleansing also. 'Water is the best drink for the wise man' quotes Henry Thoreau. Our world Earth is similar to the physical human body in that it is made of mostly water. So keeping your physical body hydrated is essential. Another favourite is herbal teas with coconut oil and honey. Even drinking water with lemon and honey aids the systems of the body greatly.
Exercise
'Move or Die' was a motto a local gym utilised in the inspirational movie 'The Warrior' and in essence it is true. Getting sunshine, walking, yoga, running, canoeing, hiking, gardening whatever form of exercise it is, it is contributing to the wellness of our physical body and is key to the circulation of our blood. Exercising gives you confidence, a feeling of radiance, shifts the mindset also and brings so many other benefits to the physical body.
Rest
When the body is saying to rest - we must rest. Sometimes our busy schedules can take precedence and eventually our bodies will tell us through sickness and dis-ease that it is out of balance and just needs to rest, sleep or pause for a little bit. By resting we will reinvigorate and energise our bodies so to serve at our potential.
Food
Hippocrates quotes 'Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food'. Again with our food it can be a great veil for us and it can clutter our Soul and physical body experiences. When we take nature's course in serving the body such as eating wholesome foods that are alkaline based, fasting, and a balanced diet we are then 'Eating to live not living to eat' as Ben Franklin quotes. The more we align our eating habits and intake to that of Mother Nature the more our vibration and frequency will rise. 'Mother Nature knows best and she will see you through any crisis, because she is God's physician' Paul Bragg.
Listen to your body - it speaks to you.