Wisdom of the ancients: 10 secrets to abundant energy.
Yoga Leaks
They didn't know about calories, cave man diets, protein, north beach, south beach, vitamins or supplements. They did know about sacred geometry, astronomy, astrology, numerology, phi and pi. They also knew a lot about nature, and the laws under which it abides. Civilizations of antiquity manifested their knowledge into daily habits of living in balance, and for a long, long time. Here are ten ancient habits proven to support a spirited and dynamic way of life.
1. Eat Right, Eat Light
Digestion consumes more energy than any other activity. Less quantity = more energy. Breakfast – think Vibrant ! Fruits for summer. Warm grains or bread accompanied by live food such as avocado, and sprouts for winter. Juice your favourite vegetable combination. Lunch is the main meal of the day. Dinner is early and light; think soup, congee, salad or fruit. Eat raw at every opportunity.
2. Alcohol
Only if you want to drag your feet the next day. Your liver is the gatekeeper to abundant energy. If you can’t remember the last time you enjoyed a dry day, try it. It may take a few of days for your liver to detoxify and balance, but its worth checking out (hic!).
3. Wake Early, Sleep Early
The Chinese Medicine meridian clock is divided into nurturing your body’s systemic (yin) and superficial (yang) systems. Hours before midnight are considered two to three times more valuable in terms of quality sleep than the hours after. They nurture critical systemic functions and the all-important parasympathetic nervous system - which is responsible for regenerating the body. After midnight the energy of the earth shifts and solar energy increases, even though it's dark outside. Sleep becomes lighter, and it is more difficult for us to complete the necessary regeneration that our body needs.
4. Exercise
Thats me. Do you like my new running style? I choose not to touch the ground. Mind-over-matter!One might imagine burning fat or loosing weight when the subject is about exercise, but these results pale in comparison to the more profound outcome such as keeping our organs toned and healthy. But wait, there's more! The cleansing system – the lymphatic system – requires physical movement to function. Stronger oxygen demands that come with exercise steep the body with energy. Let's not forget the endorphins and serotonin chemicals which the brain releases during exercise. Exercise has never let me down; I feel like a powerhouse of optimism and possibility every time.
You are only as young as your oldest organ -- Benjamin Franklin *
5. Drink
Water. It's the currency of the body, and more valuable than gold. Nothing can happen without water as a bridge, from processing information or emotions, connecting with creativity, to generating natural energy for the body. It cures stomach ulcers, headaches and chronic fatigue. Drink a lot of water. Not all at once, but regularly. But here's the thing: Water ain't water! Some water filters turn pH neutral water acidic. Water can also loose its all-important negative ions in the process. You might want to look into water ionizers or filters that maintain pH balance. One filter I recommend is the Zen Water Filter . It produces the nicest filtered water I've tasted. Pouring water from a height into another glass charges the water with negative ions. Waterfalls tried to tell us that.
6. Passion and Purpose
What's your passion that pulls you out of bed, excited you to meet the day? Even in ancient times, people believed they had a purpose, an indivicual talent they were blessed with to enrich their tribe or community. Usually it's creative. If you don't know what your passion is, you don't have to be discovere by way of a peyote-fueled vision quest or take years of therapy. You've probably known what your passion is since you were six years old. What do you just love to do if you had a spare day? Finding our place in the world is as important as realising perfect health.
7. Detoxify
There is no other activity in this world where I feel more energy or happier. We understand the logic of maintaining the plumbing system for the house, and the gas and oil systems of the car. Why do we not clean the pipes in our body? They accumulate undigested material, excess mucus, and foreign particles, and bundle it all together to form toxic Mucoid Plaque. It’s black. It’s harder than the rubber of a car tire; and an average one month cleanse will see approximately 27 feet (9 metres) exit the body. This plaque gets in the way of 
the body’s daily processes, and contributes to the deterioration of our health. Want to learn more? Here's one cleanse system that I personally use. Eating raw or only juice one day a week is fantastic maintenance.
8. Sunshine
Mal-illumination kills more people than over-exposure of the sun. Full spectrum natural sunlight is crucial to the health of our body. Vital nutrients that we obtain from the sun are just as important as the life-sustaining nutrients which we receive from food. Two generations ago the average person netted three to six hours of sunlight each day, compared to today's 30 to 45 minutes. There were few cases of skin cancer. Without sun light, we are far more susceptible to cancer, depression, obesity, and osteoporosis. Sunlight stimulates production of energy-enhancing neurochemicals in the brain.
9. Meditation
Studies prove what I experience: twenty minutes of meditation is equivalent to getting three hours of sleep. Not bad. Meditation stimulates brain cortices that are normally dormant. It balances the parasympathetic nervous system and subtle hormonal systems in the body. More importantly, meditation neutralises the stress within the body and mind, which absorbs much of the energy that we would otherwise access. Meditation enhances our sense of well being. It nourishes our spiritual body.
10. Simplicity
Dare to lead a simple life. If we hold our needs up against scrutiny, they might all be wants in needs' clothing, if I may fumble this metaphor. We need very little. And if we break through the belief that we need all of this stuff in our life, there is a simple, happy future that awaits us, not to mention effortless.
The body dedicates two hours to rejuvinating each organ. If you wake in the night, or feel sleepy in the day, It might be because the corresponding organ requires more energy to rejuivinate.
* Benjamin Franklin didn't say that.
Reader Comments (11)
Why is alcohol so huge in society anyway?! A lot of people can't imagine going a whole day without something alcoholic! Its so damageing. What's wrong with our society where we need to numb ourselves to un-evolution!?!
Where I live, no one trusts you if you don't drink. The young ones suffer this pressure more. Its like an old (broken) gene that keeps anybody or their society from becoming better; higher minded. Its a really good point the previous commentator made. Why do we use this as a social bonding tool, rather than say, meditation or yoga. Hey friends: Lets get together and meditate - sounds much stranger than Hey friends: Booze up at my house! We sabotage ourselves more than any government could.
Hi Presidentess. Great post. I love your angle on things, and your tone is always enjoyable to read. I hope you keep this up. Its become my regular Sunday Morning Read!
Sleeping early is the hardest for me. Damn you light bulb!!!!
I never knew about this Chinese Clock! OMG Why don't western doctors hook up with Eastern doctors once a year and have a big pot luck. Share! Share! Share!
Cruciferous vegetables boost immunity as well as provide minerals and nutrients.
Adding fruit contributes sugar and more calories in addition to more nutrients
Green juices usually start with fresh vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli or others as your base. In a study published in the journal "Cell" in 2011, researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, England, reported that cruciferous vegetables such as bok choy and broccoli contain a compound that boosts immunity and provides an extra layer of protection to cells in the body.
Timing Is Everything
green juice seems an easy way to add more leafy veg to our diets.
Kiwifruit also tops many a list of popular superfoods. Its benefits are similar, for the most part,
One could just as easily include green tea, coffee, dark chocolate, yogurt, and olives to the superfood list for a variety of reasons mentioned above.
Criticism of the nomenclature