Honour Your Body, Mind & Spirit

REIKI NEWS & REVIEW:

By Columnist Camille Lucy – Certified Holistic Health Coach & Reiki Practitioner:

Part 6 of the 12 Steps to Transformation – A Month-to-Month Guide Bringing Joy, Peace, Love & Fulfillment – Honour Your Body, Mind & Spirit

“Expand your mind. Nurture your heart. Develop your body. Cultivate your soul.” – Matshona Dhliwayo

Last month, we covered Self Love, why it’s important and ways to practice it. This month’s topic piggybacks on self-love, because in order to truly love yourself fully, you need to honour your body, your mind and your spirit.

Our body, mind and spirit are intrinsically and intimately connected. Neglecting just one area of the trilogy will inevitably have a domino effect that takes down the other two in time. Having a healthy body but a stressed mind will bring disease and disharmony to the body and spirit. Feeding the spirit with nourishment but poisoning the body will eventually affect the clarity of the mind. The trilogy of Body, Mind and Spirit work in perfect unison to bring us balance, joy and overall health and well-being.

Matshona Dhliwayo said, “The body is an outstanding source of strength; the mind an incredible source of intelligence; the heart an uncommon source of might; and the soul a remarkable source of power.”

The Body

Mindful movement and a clean diet are fundamental building blocks to an able, strong and vibrant body. It doesn’t matter what your body is like today; small changes stack up into big progress. Mindful stretching can be just as beneficial as a 5-mile run. Our bodies are the means by which we move through life and experience physical existence on this planet. They are extremely miraculous, and intuitively know how to heal and take care of themselves. Do you make sure to breathe every few seconds, or does your body breathe you? Do you have to consciously ask your heart to beat, or does that happen naturally? Take care of your body, like it takes care of you. The rewards are beyond any measure.

Here are a few really simple, practical and reasonable ways you can honour your body starting today:

Adjustment Therapy: Many of us live sedentary lifestyles which means that our bodies are in a seated position for most of the day. This habit goes against our nature, which is why so many people today have a personal chiropractor. The goal is to care for the body and heal it by realigning it to its natural, healthy form. For this reason taking the time to stretch and move the deep tissues of your body is just as important as exercise, if not more so. 

Massage Therapy. Bodywork can be an outstanding way to relax and soothe the body, the muscles and the mind. If you can’t get to the Spa, pick up a self-massager, foam roller, or massage ball. There are plenty of items out there, inexpensive, that you can use at home to massage the body.

Bubble Bath, Anyone? If you have a bathtub, run the warm or hot water and jump in! You can add Epsom salt (soothe those sore muscles), essential oils (there are so many choices that you can use depending on what you need like lavender for relaxation or peppermint to clear up congestion), bubble bath (what’s more fun than that for your inner child?)…anything to make it more relaxing and appealing for you. What’s more, the bath will put you in touch with the positive ions associated with water and air.

Move Your Body. Take a walk in nature, stretch, practice yoga, go to the gym, take a run or bike ride… the options are endless here. Find a mindful movement practice that feels good for you. And do it without judgment. Part of honouring your body is accepting where you’re at physically. Movement is a positive practice, so keep the negative self-talk out of it and be grateful you took the time to do something, no matter what it is. Even if it starts with just 3-5 minutes. A few minutes is certainly better than no minutes.

Clean & Whole, Please. Stay as close to “the source” as possible when it comes to your diet and nutrition. Clean, whole foods are the best type of fuel for your body. Again, you can begin with just one additional item in your diet like a veggie or fruit that you wouldn’t normally eat. You don’t need to “replace” or “remove” anything right away. In time, your body will begin to love the new healthy additions and you’ll slowly “crowd out” the bad stuff and junk.

Body Image. Again, these changes are supposed to make you feel good. Not comparing yourself to others, against your own standards or to use as an opportunity to beat your self up for where you are physically. A very large component of a healthy body is body acceptance. Love your body for the incredible, priceless vehicle it is and all the experiences it allows you to have. For example, just think about your senses. Your body allows you to feel, taste, touch, smell, hear and see the world around you. That in itself is a magnificent blessing. You can pet your dog, kiss loved ones, eat delicious foods, watch movies… Just think of a few things your body allows you to do right now and cut it some slack; gratitude goes a long way. Negative self-talk is harmful and does not serve you in any way. You don’t have to look a certain way, be a certain size or be able to do certain activities in order to have a beautiful body. You already have one. Start giving it some serious TLC. (*Yoga is a great practice for learning to develop acceptance and love for your very own body, as it is).

 

The Mind

Joy-Spotting. Begin to pay attention to the moments that fill you with joy and light you up and extend them. Cherish those moments and make them last longer, really feeling into the experience of happiness and bliss.

Gratitude Journal. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but studies have proven that a gratitude journal goes a long way toward providing health benefits. Jot down a few things each morning or evening (or whenever) that you are grateful for. This practice allows you to begin noticing the wonderful things about your life. As a result, you are “priming” yourself to see even more amazing things each day that passes. And it keeps you in a really positive state of being.

Perception. Our perception dictates our experiences. Start to pay really close attention to your thought patterns and beliefs, as they may be holding you back or keeping you stuck. A simple shift in perception can lead to tremendous and profound changes in happiness and overall quality of life. Become an active observer of the process of your mind; you will learn so much and benefit even more than that.

Inner Dialogue. This goes along with perception. Pay close attention to the words you use to describe yourself and ask yourself this: if someone were to say those things about you, how would you feel? If it wouldn’t feel good, why would you speak to yourself that way? Practice self-love and care with the words you use to speak to yourself and about yourself. Be your own cheerleader. Lift yourself up. Use kind words, and extend compassion to yourself. It may feel awkward at first, but try to be your own best friend. Positive affirmations and mantras are a great way to introduce positive self-talk and begin to really speak to yourself with care and kindness. This goes a long way in boosting confidence and self-esteem which has a powerful positive impact on overall health and wellbeing.

Laugh. Then laugh some more.  Life can get really serious in adulthood. Larger responsibilities, obligations and stress. Play, be light-hearted and laugh!

Read, Listen & Learn. Take time to read things that interest you, fueling the brain and feeding the mind with positive activities. Listen to audio books or uplifting music. Solfeggio frequencies are a great way to repair and heal DNA and really relax the mind. You can find them for free on YouTube! Reading is a great meditative practice that really brings you into the moment and fully present for the activity at hand. While you’re in the car or at your desk, play music that is soft or relaxing or use the time to listen to an audio class. Udemy has many great classes that go on sale quite often for only $10 each!  So now you can learn more about a hobby, topic or passion while you’re going about your everyday life. Double up on self-care and learn while you’re taking a soak in the tub!

The Spirit

Bad News Detox. Banish negative news and gossip. Detox your Spirit and mind by only allowing positive information in for a while. Horrific news stories, scary terrorism and harmful gossip on social media are not serving anyone. It only keeps the negativity cycling and gaining momentum. Share positive stories and read about happy things going on in your community. Develop faith and trust. Tell others about your good news or ask loved ones to talk about their good news. Keep your environment as free of toxic news as possible. Your space – inside and outside of your body – is your sacred temple. Take care of it like you would any other precious space.

Stillness. Speak your heart in prayer or take time to learn to meditate. These practices allow you to develop the skills to alleviate stress, improve focus and lower blood pressure and stress. In stillness, you make contact with your inner world, get to know yourself better and learn to become an active observer, detaching from the harmful effects of your thoughts. Stillness is being here right now, at this moment, and listening closely to the whispers of the soul. Many times people find that after practising prayer or meditation, they feel closer to all living things and cultivate inner peace and greater joy.

Unplug. Take time to be without any electronics. Be in nature. Be with loved ones. Turn off the radio, TV, computer, smartphone… take a few moments to live simply and intimately with the world outside of your “virtual” world.

Passion Practice. Do things that make you happy, that light you up. Whether that be exercising, reading, swimming, spending time with friends or loved ones, animals, or volunteering your time. Draw, paint, read, hike, play, nap, go to the library, beach or park. Anything that makes you feel good… do more of that. Even if it means doing nothing for a few moments and taking a much-needed or deserved break.

Get Outdoors. Previously mentioned, there’s a reason that it comes up, again. Being close to nature and wildlife will rejuvenate your spirit. The grass, trees, mountains, beach, lake, park or anywhere you can really enjoy the miracle of water, earth and air will bring you closer to your inner world and the great big world outside of it. After all, it’s all connected.

Our body, mind and spirit truly dictate the quality of our experiences in this world and in this lifetime. As the late Dr Wayne Dyer said, we cannot give away (or experience) what we do not have. To experience love, peace, joy and fulfilment, we must first embody it. Be it. Open and allow it to be received receive within. Give it to ourselves. Then give it out, and watch as it is returned tenfold.

Our entire lives are a reflection of our inner world. Honouring our body, mind and spirit is an imperative practice to shifting both what’s inside and out for the better and really aligning our external world with what feels good on the inside. The better we know ourselves and love ourselves, the easier it is to make healthy choices that honour what is sacred to us. And in doing so, we learn to truly honour others, as well. As above, so below. As within, so without.

Next month I’ll cover “Listen to Your Heart”

In this 12-part series, readers will learn the key ingredients to a delicious life! Each topic will cover why it is important and simple ways or suggestions on how to integrate these shifts into your everyday life. If these principles are followed, the results will be undeniable; a radiant and able body, mind and soul, shining from the inside out, stronger and healthier relationships and a dramatically improved quality of life.

About Our Reiki News & Review Columnist – Camille Lucy

Camille Lucy is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Certified Reiki & Raindrop Technique Practitioner, Ordained Holistic Minister, Certified Yoga & Meditation Teacher, graphic and web designer, business consultant, and Vice President of a local non-profit that “rehabilitates people through animals.” She is also a writer, a Mother of 3 girls, an artist, a Life-and-Love Junkie, a Self-Expression and Development advocate, and – well, you get the point. She’s a lot of things, just like all of us. Camille is also author of, “The (Real) Love Experiment: Explore Love, Relationships & The Self.”  Learn more about her and her adventure(s) at www.CamilleLucy.com or on social media at @LiveFullToday.

 

Disclaimer: The information published in this column is the author’s professional opinion, based on their knowledge. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Also, always consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any nutritional program or exercise program. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on InShape News.

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