A Balanced Approach to Wellness!

Archive for the ‘Aging’ Category

Menopause: a reason to medicate or a natural stage of life

Menopause, word cloud concept 8

Opportunities to medicate abound. One of these opportunities is menopause: nature’s answer to gradual decline in females. Just as puberty changes a young girl’s body and prepares her for menstruation and childbirth, so too a mature woman’s body prepares her for cessation of menstruation and decline.

The change for young girls is no more difficult for the body than the change for mature women. Puberty is accepted with little medical interference, but menopause is not. There are interventions to “ease” the declining stage of life that treat this stage as problematic and requiring of denial.

Menopause brings changes—that is the nature of menopause. These changes have symptoms, but the symptoms are not illnesses that need to be healed. Menopausal symptoms are made worse by seeing them as avoidable nuisances. Pretending that menopause is not happening is contrary to nature.

The main contributor to ease during menopause is acceptance. Accepting that the body is moving to a new stage is balancing. Accepting that there might be fluctuations in body functioning makes the fluctuations less annoying. Accepting that messages, hints, and warnings disguised as menopausal symptoms are a way for the body to communicate, is how menopause should be viewed.

Seeing each symptom-message as information from the body that requires attention, and possibly action, is the catalyst for changing habits or lifestyle choices that upset balance. Identifying each symptom-hint sheds light on minor hormonal or metabolic changes. Responding to symptom-warnings when they occur prevents future illnesses and diseases. Each symptom-message, symptom-hint, and symptom-warning provides information that is important for the post-menopausal body.

Masking symptoms harms. The body is whispering or calling or crying out for attention. Masking the communications is a mistake.

As the body changes, noticing the changes and adjusting lifestyle is the first step to dealing with menopause. Evaluating the lifestyle changes and their effects on the body is the next step. Exploring holistic health practices for menopausal issues that bother is a positive step to living through menopause. Observing the changes and accepting them can bring contentment and joy.

Menopause is simply a phase of life. It can be an exciting time and a surprising time. Aiming for balance through the time before and after menopause is wise.

Note: This information is from the first draft of the upcoming book Invented Afflictions and Muscular Conditions. This information has been spiritually received.

Category:

Aging

Tagged with:

Menopause: Nature in Cycles

menopause

I’m currently working on a book titled “Invented Afflictions and Movement Conditions”.  One of the invented afflictions is menopause. Here’s the information I’ve received from Spirit about menopause.

Opportunities to medicate abound. One of these opportunities is menopause: nature’s answer to gradual decline in females. Just as puberty changes a young girl’s body and prepares her for menstruation and childbirth, so too a mature woman’s body prepares her for cessation of menstruation and decline.

The change for young girls is no more difficult for the body than the change for mature women. Puberty is accepted with little medical interference, but menopause is not. There are interventions to “ease” the declining stage of life that treat this stage as problematic and requiring of denial.

Menopause brings changes—that is the nature of menopause. These changes have symptoms, but the symptoms are not illnesses that need to be healed. Menopausal symptoms are made worse by seeing them as avoidable nuisances. Pretending that menopause is not happening is contrary to nature.

The main contributor to ease during menopause is acceptance. Accepting that the body is moving to a new stage is balancing. Accepting that there might be fluctuations in body functioning makes the fluctuations less annoying. Accepting that messages, hints, and warnings disguised as menopausal symptoms are a way for the body to communicate, is how menopause should be viewed.

Seeing each symptom-message as information from the body that requires attention, and possibly action, is the catalyst for changing habits or lifestyle choices that upset balance. Identifying each symptom-hint sheds light on minor hormonal or metabolic changes. Responding to symptom-warnings when they occur prevents future illnesses and diseases. Each symptom-message, symptom-hint, and symptom-warning provides information that is important for the post-menopausal body.

Masking symptoms harms. The body is whispering or calling or crying out for attention. Masking the communications is a mistake.

As the body changes, noticing the changes and adjusting lifestyle is the first step to dealing with menopause. Evaluating the lifestyle changes and their effects on the body is the next step. Exploring holistic health practices for menopausal issues that bother is a positive step to living through menopause. Observing the changes and accepting them can bring contentment and joy.

Menopause is simply a phase of life. It can be an exciting time and a surprising time. Aiming for balance through the time before and after menopause is wise.

Category:

Aging

Tagged with:

Aging can be an adventure, even at 65 and beyond

Samba til the end

Aging is exciting when the future is full of promise. At any age, the future can be optimistic if a commitment is made to one’s own talents and interests.

A person who is 65 can be as adventuresome as a person who is 25, when passion for causes and interests is allowed to guide day-to-day living.

Arriving at middle age is a time for reassessing habits and goals.  It is also a time for planning aging so that the future is fulfilling, meaningful, and energetic.

Here is a book to help you reassess your current habits and choices and age well. “Samba ‘til the End” is a guide to growing older and enjoying the journey.  The book presents specific guidelines depending on your health and outlook.

There are several questionnaires to determine the guidelines that suit you. There are assessments to help you create a roadmap to your future. The guidelines present goals for physical, emotional, and intellectual health. They present tips for self-care, maintenance, nutrition, and legacy building. The guidelines can lead towards aging that is rewarding, energetic, and kind.

This book can help you age with focus and wisdom. It is available through amazon stores.

Category:

Aging, EGC books and articles

Tagged with:

Aging well—guidance for the journey!

Samba til the end

Here is a book to help you age energetically. “Samba ‘til the End” is a guide to growing older and enjoying the journey.  The book presents specific guidelines depending on your health and outlook.

There are several questionnaires to determine the guidelines that suit you. There are assessments to help you create a roadmap to your future. The guidelines present goals for physical, emotional, and intellectual health. They present tips for self-care, maintenance, nutrition, and legacy building. The guidelines can lead towards aging that is rewarding and kind.

“Samba ‘til the End” looks at aging as a very gradual approach to the end. The gradual approach lasts decades, and it is an opportunity to create meaningful connections and opportunities that fulfill and energize. The gradual approach can be a time of growth, well-being, and satisfaction.

This book can help you age with focus and wisdom. It is available through amazon.com stores: https://amzn.com/1537449907

Category:

Aging, EGC books and articles

Tagged with:

She Returns Her Anticipation—the Secret to Youthful Aging

Anticipation

There is a video circulating on the Internet of a 90-year-old woman who dances with several men. The video isn’t amazing because the woman is doing extraordinary gymnastic moves while she dances. It’s amazing because she is moving without signs of aging, with suppleness and with youthfulness. Her joy in moving is apparent and her enjoyment of the dance is catching.

After watching that video, I immediately got up and danced. No dance partners magically appeared, but I danced with a smile and I danced with lightness in my steps.

After I danced, I paused and considered the older people I know. None of them display the agility of the woman in the video. They seem more stuck in the accumulation of their years.

My curiosity led me to consult with Spiritual Presence, and so I asked “What is the secret to her joy?” “What keeps her youthful?” Through my asking technique, I worked out this answer:  “She returns her anticipation.”  What does that mean?  The answer is the subject of this blog post. Now I’m going to work out the meaning.

She returns her anticipation

This woman has not lived a life that was trouble-free or worriless. On the contrary, her life was filled with hardship and struggles. Three things she did throughout her life were to keep moving, keep smiling, and keep anticipating.

She anticipated the next day and the day after. She anticipated forbearance and she anticipated solutions. Her anticipation kept her open and curious. Her anticipation kept her spirits up and her worries down. Even today, as she ages and wrinkles, this woman grasps the possibilities that each day brings. Her anticipation of life ignites those around her and her infectious nature is returned to her by those who reflect it back at her.

The secret to youthful aging

And so, for all who are searching for the key to youthful aging, the secret is not in plastic surgery or special creams or anti-aging treatments. The secret to youthful aging is to return the anticipation. Anticipation of life adds twinkling to the eyes and lightness to the steps!

Category:

Aging

Tagged with:

Health throughout aging, post #7

Post 131-huff'n'puff flowers

Many people want to age well without investing in wellness. Just doesn’t happen. Aging well involves lifelong commitment. The commitment? Awareness. Awareness of growth and awareness of decline. Both states exist simultaneously and they present us with daily treasures and possibilities.

There are three key steps to maintaining health throughout the aging process. The first step is proper breathing, When we breathe properly, we bring possibilities to our existence. We are aware of the next two steps, but perhaps we don’t realize their key-ness. They are love of oneself and connection to others.

Breathing properly

The last six blog posts have extolled the value of proper breathing.—breathing that is full and varied, breathing that is enlivened through movement and exercise, breathing that is contented, and breathing that is joined with others. The first step towards aging well is breathing well.

Caring for and loving oneself

There are several blog posts about self-love which you can find in the category titled “Self-love”. The more we care for our needs, the more we can give to others and to the world in which we live. Loving oneself is not a selfish thing; it is natural and necessary for maintaining good health throughout the aging process.

Connecting to others

There are several blog posts about connections which you can find in the category titled “Connections”. “Togetherness is vital for normal human development.” – from my upcoming book, Awaiting Light—Understanding the Development of the Soul. People are designed to connect to other people,  to nature, and to the other inhabitants of the world.

How to proceed

There are no magic bullets for aging well. There are no super foods or super exercises. There is simply living life with awareness—awareness of one’s surroundings and awareness of one’s place in them. Mistakes get made along the lifepath. If they are not too serious then their impact is not too seriously felt.

Here are the things to do:

  • Drink water when you’re thirsty (no other drinks)
  • Sleep the amount of time that keeps you functioning energetically (not easy for parents of infants, but somewhat doable even for them)
  • Eat foods that are satisfying to the body (see the blog posts in the category titled “Food”)
  • Move a lot—take breaks, walk, dance, skip, etc.
  • Pay attention to the activities that pull your attention so that you know the things that you naturally enjoy. Then make time to do them.
  • Spend time with family and friends. We need them when we are up and when we are down. And they need us too.
  • Spend time in nature!
  • Work with a smile on your face and gratitude in your heart!
  • Be satisfied!

These are the things that Spiritual Presence wants us to know. These things help lead us through life in a fulfilling way. These things bring awareness, possibilities, and vitality!

Post 130-breathe

 

Category:

Aging

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when breathing is free, post #6

 

Sequoia

Many people live long, but their lives are plagued by ill health and/or ill mental health. What can we do to live more “not ill” and to live less worriedly about difficult aging? The last five blog posts have explained the importance of breathing for quality health.

Being in nature naturally opens our bodies to healing breathing when two conditions are met: 1) we want to be there and 2) we consciously connect with the flora surrounding us.

Two conditions neutralize the healthful aspects of being in nature: 1) we focus on other stimuli such as headphone-delivered music or words and 2) we consciously ignoring the flora that surround us.

Two conditions cause detrimental consequences when we are in nature: 1) fear and 2) worry.

Here is a personal example of the various conditions. Two years ago (before I was knowingly connected to Spiritual Presence), I went to Sequoia National Park with my husband and children. The weather was hot (August), but we were dressed appropriately and had plenty of water with us.  As we entered the park, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and the majesty of the trees, and I was keen to start our hike. Off to a good start for healing breathing.

We went to the visitor’s center to buy a map and learn whatever the park workers had to tell us. The excitement to get walking was building. As we were buying the map, the worker who was helping us warned us about the presence of bears in the park. I, who grew up fearful, immediately became fearful. I tried to pretend that I was not, but inside I felt frightened. On the hike, my family wanted to stray from the populated paths and walk in the more interesting areas. At first I agreed, but the fear nagged at me. I did enjoy the magnificent trees and I did feel SO grateful to be there, but the fear kept encroaching on my happiness. After we met up with other hikers who had spotted a bear in the distance, I urged my family to go back to a less secluded path. I kept my fear to myself because they were having such a wonderful time, but it remained my constant companion until we were back on the way with the masses. From that point on, I relaxed and enjoyed the wonderful green world around me.

My fearful existence during that hike did not contribute to my good health. The fear was too strong for the circumstances. The others in my family experienced the healing breathing that accompanies connection to nature.

Being in nature should be nourishing, not the opposite. Nature is here as our healing space, if only we can see that. We receive much, much more than we realize when we connect to all that nature has to offer. (I wish I had known that at Sequoia before I let myself give way to old fears. These days, I am more accepting of the uncertainty that comes with walking in the woods.)

 

That’s it for now. We’ll continue to explore breathing in one more post.

Category:

Aging, Breathing

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when breathing in unison, post #5

Post 132-breathe-in unison

Breathing is key to longevity and quality of life. The rhythmic movements of the diaphragm and lungs determine vitality. Supplying oxygen, supplying force.

Joining together in song is longevity and life-quality bait.  The more we sing with others, the more possibility of bypassing lower quality living.

Singing in a choir

People who take part in choral singing increase their quality of life, if the atmosphere in the group is uplifting. When ill-thoughts abound in the group, there is no increase in quality of life—and there is no decrease either. The actions of the organizer are no more influential than the actions of a single member; therefore, each member contributes to the overall atmosphere of elevation or neutrality. People who sing in a choir need to be cognizant of their contribution to the group besides their harmonies. (This statement does not mean that people who sing in choirs should not attend a practice because they had a hard day. It means they should be participating in the group because they really want to be there. They should not let idiosyncrasies of others in the group lower their group experience.)

Singing in a de facto choir

People who take part in group singing, such as at a religious service or a music concert, can also have their quality of life increased by the experiences, if the atmosphere is transcendent. In these circumstances, the actions of each participant is less important to the overall achievement of the group. Even the singing of one song by the group can influence quality of life. Singing from the heart is the key ingredient.

Breathing and singing

Contented breathing can occur when a group (of three or more) joins force in song. The actual sound does not need to be beautiful, but the intent does. Singing to feel joyousness, singing to entertain one another, and singing to satisfy the need to sing bring connectedness that is beyond ordinary communication. (For an explanation of contented breathing, see the blog post “Aging is manageable when breathing is contented, post #3”).

Singing alone

The need to sing is stronger in some people. It is a natural, soul-bestowed need. People who feel they must sing should not bottle-up this need. They require song in their ears, in their throat, and in their entire being. The reverberation of sound in the entire being brings balance and connectedness for them. When they sing, whether in a group or alone, transcendence can occur if they understand the force of the self-made music. This last statement also applies to people who create music using instruments.

 

That’s it for now. We’ll explore breathing more in the next post.

Category:

Aging, Breathing, Music

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when breathing is huff’n’puff, post #4

Post 131-huff'n'puff flowers This post is a continuation of the information I have been receiving from Spiritual Presence about aging well. Physical exertion is necessary for aging well. The breathing that accompanies physical exertion strengthens the body and prepares it to handle unexpected traumas and illness. There are many types of physical exertion that induce strengthened capabilities. Each person is drawn to different types of physical activity. Most physical activity builds and maintains the physical component of health. Some types of physical activity also affect other components of health—emotional and intellectual. Less often, physical activity affects all the components of health, which includes the spiritual component. Achieving physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual strengthening and balancing through a single type of physical activity is possible through the following exercise that I am going to teach you (as given to me by Spiritual Presence). It is called the huff’n’puff. It’s sort of a marching exercise.

How to do the huff’n’puff

This exercise must be done outside. While doing the exercise, you should look at a flower or flowering plant that is low so that your chin will be held slightly downward. If the plant is too high and your head is held straight forward or higher, then your breathing will not be correct and balance will not be achieved. If there are no flowers, then look at an interesting low plant.

  • Before you start, become aware of the physical and spiritual balance points on your body. One point is located in the middle of the ascending colon and one point is located in the middle of the descending colon. My simple diagram will give you an idea of where they are located:

Post 131-huff'n'puff diagram As you do the exercise, try to physically support these points (basically, that means to suck in your gut. Actually, it’s more than that, but sucking in your gut is a good start.)

  • Stand opposite the flower with your feet comfortably apart, with your chin slightly down and look at the flower.
  • Your feet will be doing a sort of march in place: one leg marches and the other leg kicks forward. You will alternate the marching/kicking whenever you feel like switching leg activity.
  • As you march, your arms will swing energetically as if you are walking at an energetic pace. Every so often you will raise your arms over your head and wave them from side to side. Alternate the two arm motions as you like.
  • The entire time you do this exercise, you focus on the flower, noticing its characteristics.  To add the spiritual dimension to the exercise, while you are looking at the flower, marvel at its wondrousness.
  • Do this exercise for as long as you feel comfortable. Each person is at a different physical activity level.

I will aim to make a video explaining how to do the huff’n’puff.  If my instructions are clear to you, go ahead and try it. I’ve done it and it’s not hard.

Update: Here is the video: https://energy-guidance-complete.com/2014/05/25/the-huff-n-puff-balancing-cardio-exercise/

Strengthening all four components of health at once is a way to age wisely!

Category:

Aging, Breathing, Exercises

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when breathing is contented, post #3

Post 130-breathe

This post is a continuation of the information I have been receiving from Spiritual Presence about aging well. It was inspired after I watched a report about people living into their 90s.

The key to good health throughout life is breathing as designed. We are designed to breathe rapidly, slowly, at a neutral pace, and contentedly. Contented breathing is the subject for this post.

What is contented breathing?

For contented breathing to occur, several emotions must surface in a short space of time. These emotions can be satisfaction, caring, serenity, devotion, joyousness, and transcendence (also other emotions that are similar). Contented breathing requires three of these emotions to be felt within minutes of one another.

What leads to contented breathing?

Typical actions that can lead to contented breathing are 1) feeling a part of the world while being in nature, 2) having sexual intercourse with a person you love and in the course of the contact orgasm is achieved, 3) for women—breastfeeding in a relaxed and nourishing environment, 4) for men—total immersion in a challenging and interesting endeavor, 5) taking part in family or community events that bring joy and feelings of generosity, and 6) taking part in children’s views (which means feeling a child’s view when interacting with children).

Participation in sporting events sometimes leads to contented breathing, but mostly to rapid and neutral breathing. Same for dancing and attending performances. Creating music can lead to contented breathing depending on the feelings of the musician at the time.

Contented breathing: breathing that is all-components

When contented breathing takes places, all the components of health are nourished. The breathing exercise from yesterday’s post teaches contented breathing. Contented breathing connects the physical with the spiritual with the intellectual with the emotional.

 

That’s it for now. We’ll explore breathing more in the next post.

Category:

Aging, Breathing

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when breathing is understood, post #2

Post 129-breathe

Breathing is key to longevity and quality of life. The rhythmic movements of the diaphragm and lungs determine vitality. Supplying oxygen, supplying force.

Many people attempt to lengthen their life by eating well or by seeking purpose. They misjudge sometimes.

Eating well?

Eating well is important; however, people who focus on the food they eat as if it is the answer to all their problems and they lose sight of proportion often breathe narrowly. They are too worried about each morsel that enters their mouth and they create an opposite effect–>the worry alters breathing negatively which then alters quality of life negatively.

People should eat wholesome and nourishing foods because the body requires them to function properly. The over-focus about nutrients and the under-focus about joyful eating create breathing that is stifled. Not good for aging wisely.

Looking for meaning?

Searching for meaning in life is uplifting, but can create havoc for the body when the focus on spirituality outweighs body care. Spirituality is just one aspect of living. Health of the body, emotions, and intellect are important as well. Deep breathing performed in meditative mindset is beneficial—yes, very beneficial.  But it is just one type of breathing that the body needs for creating good health.

Purposeful living brings many benefits, and one of those benefits can be longevity. Purposeful living combined with varied breathing (deep, neutral [neither deep nor quick], quick, intensified, and happy [when the emotions produce feeling of contentment]) lead to aging that is less troublesome.

An exercise to reach all four components of health

“When you breathe, you do so much more than fill the lungs with oxygen. You fill the body and soul with life-giving force.

Each day when you awaken, breathe deeply and remind yourself that your breathing adds oxygen to your lungs, adds hope to your emotional being, ignites your thinking abilities, and connects you to spiritual possibility.”

-from Vitality!—How to Create a Life That Is Healthy (to be published soon)

 

That’s it for now. We’ll explore breathing more in the next post.

Category:

Aging, Breathing

Tagged with:

Aging is manageable when done properly

Post 128-breathe

I recently watched a report about people living into their 90s. The researchers looked at lifestyle and physical factors. In general, they were confounded by what they learned. Things that people think aren’t good for you seemed to be somewhat helpful (not talking about smoking or obesity, which aren’t good).

Many people live long, but their lives are plagued by ill physical health and/or ill mental health. What can we do to live more “not ill” and to live less worriedly about difficult aging.

I have just asked Spiritual Presence what we need to do to not only live longer, but to live well. Here is the main tip: BREATHE! The more varied, deeper, relaxed, intensified, the more a person can live well.

B—R—E–A–T—H—E! breathe!! Br-e-at-he! breathe! BrEEEEEth!

The more varied the breathing, the less chance for illness to set in.

Let’s look at a few things experts tell us to do to live longer:

  • Regular exercise: it’s not the regular exercise that makes us live better, it’s the intensified and smoother breathing that regular exercise causes. Also if the exercise makes our body feel good, then we breathe more fully. Pain forces narrowed breathing. (Painkillers won’t fix the narrow breathing; addressing the cause of the pain is required.)
  • Drinking red wine: it’s not the resveratrol  in red wine that makes us live longer, it’s the relaxed breathing that moderate drinking induces.
  • Social involvement: the more we are socially involved, the more our breathing varies as we speak with others, have physical contact, feel different emotions, etc.

That’s it for now. We’ll explore breathing more in the next post.

Category:

Aging, Breathing

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud