New Year, Same (beautiful) You
With the turn of the year there seem to be endless advertisements claiming that by using the program or product that they offer you can transform yourself. Leave that old self behind! Find a new self!
On one hand, these calls to newness resonate. In winter we have a natural hibernation instinct, needed to rejuvenate and heal. We also have inherent wisdom that draws us towards things that help to balance that tendency so that we don’t get to heavy and immobile either mentally or physically.
As always however, it is wise to consider if this deluge of ‘new you’ marketing is in our best interest. Statistics and personal accounts abound that show us our resolutions towards change often last a few days to a few weeks at most. Soon we are back to our same patterns.
I suggest that the reason for this is not because we are hopelessly inept but that we have tried, often unconsciously, to skip the step of integration. Instead we seek to separate the desirable from the undesirable in ourselves. But where is the wisdom in shutting out the ‘old’ self, the wo/man who has gone through so many experiences and gleaned wisdom from them? When we embrace our whole self with love, the possibilities for growing into ourselves become much more available.
We actually set ourselves up for failure when we fragment the self: the good and the bad, the old and the new. Rather than castigating ourselves for our ‘bad behavior’ in the past, let us hold the experiences we go through with wholeness and awareness. We may choose to let go of behaviors that no longer reflect who we know ourselves to be, but as we let them go we can chose to do it with love and gratitude. We can be filled with the understanding that all our experiences have led to the moment where we are now, poised to choose wisely what kind of consciousness we want to bring to the experience of life: that of fragmentation or that of wholeness. (Here’s a loving hint: try wholeness-making positive changes is a lot easier when you practice loving your whole self!)
Preventing Colds and Other Illnesses Successfully and Naturally
With the autumn season on the way, some of us may have already experienced an exposure to colds and minor illnesses. Never pleasant, these illnesses are nevertheless important signals from our bodies for the need to take time to rest and shore up our strength for the winter seasons ahead. To assist you in your pursuit and preservation of good health I’ve listed some tried and true techniques for keeping well even when you are in environments where you are surrounded by other who are ill. Indeed, ayurveda implores us to remember that it is not the presence of germs, viruses and bacteria that make us ill, but the lack of true health in the first place. If we are busy practicing health we do not have the occasion to practice illness as often.
Daily Routine:
The following are guidelines for daily living.They are essential to maintaining full health and a robust immune system.
- Get enough rest. Really.
- Cook and eat your own food as much as possible. Your own prana (life energy) combined with whole food ingredients and seasonally appropriate spices are really the best preventative medicine. Use whole grains, fruits, veggies and legumes. Make time for the kitchen and watch your health grow.
- Use a neti pot every-other day or every day if you have chronic issues with allegies and sinus congestion. Women should not practice neti while on their monthly cycle. For instructions on neti use go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sDIbRAXlg (The special salt or oils advertised on the demo are not necessary for successful neti practice. Plain non-iodized sea salt is fine. After using the neti pot dip your pinky finger into a little untoasted sesame oil and rub the inner rim of the nostrils. “Sniff” the oil quickly and deeply to take it deeper into the nose. This will help to moisturize the nasal passages and protect them from dryness and irritation.
- Find balance between activity and repose. In the fall and early winter we generally need to slow down and take it easy. This goes for exercise as well. Moderate exercise improves our health. Excessive exercise depletes the body and makes it vulnerable. Be honest with yourself.
- Keep the junk food, caffeine and processed food to a minimum.
- Find healthy ways to deal with stress: breathe, take a bath or a walk, tell your pet all you problems.
- Make sure to include high omega-3 foods into the diet as they help support immunity: flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and hemp seed to name a few.
- Drink lots of water. Hot water with lemon or lemon essential oil is an excellent choice. It reduces excess vata and kapha which are naturally aggravated in colder weather.
Extra Support for The Immune system:
These things should be done at the first sign of unusual fatigue, the initial scratchy throat or random unexplained headache. Pay attention to your individual pre-illness body signals so you will be ready to respond when they show themselves.
- Place a couple drops of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil on a cotton swab and touch it to the center of the tongue towards the back of the mouth. This can be done as often as every five minutes or just one or two times per day.
- Put a couple drops of Thieves blend oils on your palms, wrists and behind the ears. Take a few deep breaths to get the oil circulating into your blood stream.
- Warm a bottle of garlic-mullein ear oil from Herb Pharm in a bowl of hot water. When the oil is warm, place a few drops in the right ear and then lay on your left side for a few minutes. When you are through gently wipe the outer ear of excess oil. Repeat on the opposite side. (This is also a great, safe thing to administer to young ones who are susceptible to ear infections.)
- Drink Immune Support Echinacea Tea from Yogi Tea company. Drink at least three cups of this hot tea throughout the day.
- Eat a light diet, about 1/3 of your normal intake. Eliminate all sugar and dairy.
Supply list:
- Melaleuca, Thieves and Lemon essential oils: I distribute Young Living Essential Oils. They are very high quality, therapeutic-grade oils. Please e-mail or call (701-388-2967) if you’d like to order. You can also find Lemon and Melaleuca at Cash Wise Natural Foods Section from Aura Cacia. Remember you should always buy the highest quality oils you can afford.
- Neti pot: Can be purchased from Swanson’s Health Food Store on Broadway.
- Organic untoasted sesame oil: Cash Wise Natural Foods Section
- Garlic-mullein ear oil: Cash Wise Natural Food Section
- Immune Support Echinacea Tea: Luna Coffee; maybe Cash Wise Natural Foods
- Flax seed and Hemp Seed oils: Cash Wise Natural Foods
- Walnuts and pumpkin seeds: Tochi Products (Cash Wise has them but they are not usually as fresh)
I hope you have fun with these tips. I know your health will improve! Even as your health improves please remember that there is a karmic component to all we experience. Sometimes the body needs to detoxify itself of ama (physical, emotional and mental excess) through illnesses. Don’t feel discouraged if you do get sick. Just do your best to respond to your body with compassion and care. When you are sick the last thing you need is to give yourself a guilt trip!
