Lifestyle Medicine
Free, low tech lifestyle habits to clean and strengthen
Cold Showers/Immersion
Research demonstrates how cold therapy draws blood away from extremities, giving the heart less work to do, increases alertness and stimulates the vagus nerve, which moves us from fight-or-flight mode (the sympathetic nervous system) to rest-and-digest mode (the parasympathetic nervous system). We regulate temperature in our homes and venues so well now that our bodies have become deficient in being able to deal with the cold. The more we are exposed to cold in a therapeutic manner, the better our bodies are able to self regulate. We don’t overheat so much, our immune systems get stronger, we are able to stand a wider spectrum of temperature and climates, and reduced pain and inflammation. It allows us to produce much more brown fat, which keeps us warmer, as opposed to white fat.
Nature
Getting into nature for 20+ minutes every day has been shown countless times in research to calm the nervous system, increase productivity levels, boost immunity (including increasing vitamin D levels from natural light), improve emotional stability (stress hormone levels) and promote faster recovery and healing. Barefoot – stimulate the sole of your foot with the pressures and sensations of grass, earth, rock and water. The sole of the foot is the 2nd most nerve-rich part of the whole body. We normally retard their ability to keep us healthy by wearing rubber soled shoes and unnaturally hard, flat ground. Stimulating these nerve-rich soles brings increased neural feedback and fantastic benefits to prosperity, longevity and happiness. Not only do different natural surfaces give us some reflexology direct from nature, but there is substantial evidence that going barefoot recharges the body with electrons from the earth that are constantly and limitlessly being created. It is assumed that the influx of free electrons absorbed into the body through direct contact with the Earth likely neutralise free radicals in the body and in so doing reduce acute and chronic inflammation.
CleaningRelease Tension
StrengtheningAccept Inspiration
Passion & Purpose
Passion is felt in the pulse as a glowing vibrancy that enlivens the heart and whole nervous system. The beacon from a lighthouse blinking far into the night. When someone is passionate, it inspires the body and those around you. It is a powerful motivating force. Depression dampens the pulse, anxiety tautens it, anger fills it, cold makes it shrink. All of these arise mostly from health-depleting habits and partly from events and experiences. Aligning ourselves with health-generating practices allows a fuller expression of passion in the individual. Noticing, celebrating and engaging with those experiences that engage our passion is the path to high satisfaction, self worth and trust in life.
CleaningFind inner value, give less importance to the opinions of others
StrengtheningBe bold, dream big, take action, collaborate