Taking Care of Yourself
Bad Habits
We grow up with so many pressures around us, that by the time we are adult, many of us have lost touch with the functioning of our own bodies. We no longer know what is natural and what is not. The mass production, advertising, and sale of such a variety of food and other commodities, have created a new, fast-moving environment in which we are inundated with images, products and services.
People are constantly looking for ways to do things faster. A lifestyle based on this obsession has become so ingrained that it seems 'natural'.
But there is a great difference between these ingrained habits and the way of nature.
Most of us develop techniques for 'coping' with these and other stresses in our lives. Such techniques include smoking, alcohol, or sometimes even losing control of ourselves. We also ignore advice on food and diet.
SMOKING: This does lasting damage to the lungs and cardiovascular system.
NARCOTICS: Drugs do not contribute to a natural healthy life. Most of them place a strain on your body and all of them affect the functioning of your central nervous system.
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DEPRESSANTS: Dependency on alcohol or other types of depressant can lead to extremely serious medical problems, as well as severely reducing the natural alertness of your mind.
POOR DIET: Many people pick up bad eating habits early in life. It is up to each individual to decide what is best, but one thing is certain: if you want a healthy life, you won't get it by eating rubbish!
MIND AND EMOTIONS OUT OF CONTROL: There is a tremendous difference between a rich inner life that results in the natural expression of emotion, and the kind of mental or emotional outburst that betrays serious internal disturbance. Such outbursts may seem a spontaneous, even necessary, release of feelings, but the person may in fact be a victim of behaviour patterns in which he or she is trapped.
Your thoughts, moods, and emotions are part of your energy system and need to be in balance just as much as the rest of you!
Maintaining your Health
Keeping an even temperature
Don't let yourself become extremely cold or hot. When you go out in winter and summer, protect yourself from sustained exposure to temperature extremes. In summer, if you are very hot and sweaty from exercise, keep your clothes on until you can cool down naturally, wash, and change. Don't strip off and let all your perspiration evaporate in the air. When you are hot and thirsty, don't take ice-cold drinks. They may be pleasant in your mouth, but they are a tremendous shock to your digestive system. As a general principle, it is best never to drink them. You should drink liquids at room temperature or, for relaxation, hot water or hot tea.
Controlling tension
If you are doing a job that involves a lot of tension or concentration, be sure to take a break at least every two hours. It is essential to take such a break to allow your nervous system to calm down.
Tips on food
In the morning, before breakfast, drink one or two glasses of pure or freshly filtered water at room temperature. The benefit of this to your system will be greatly enhanced by taking a spoonful of honey as well. Take it once a day, each morning before breakfast.
Never overeat. Never fill your stomach to its capacity at any one meal. Don't swallow your food rapidly; chew it thoroughly before swallowing. This makes it much easier for your stomach to digest.
After eating, take a slow walk for a few minutes.
Relaxation before you sleep
Before sleeping, spend a minute or two massaging your abdomen. This brings many benefits to your digestive system and other internal organs. Place one hand over the other on your belly and make 36 anticlockwise circles and then 36 clockwise circles. You can do this standing, sitting or lying down.
(Chi Kung - The Way of Energy - Master Kam Chuen)
