Reinvent Your Health – Balancing Body, Mind and Spirit

What does good health mean to you? A streamlined silhouette? Ceaseless energy? A clear, contented mindset? The human body is a labyrinth of integrated systems, and inner harmony and external radiance hinge on a cocktail of physical health, a peaceful mind, and a connected spirit. When all of these vital elements are brought into balance, optimal health is achieved.

Now is always the right time to reinvent your health. It is never too early or too late. Taking your health by the reins today could mean entirely rewriting all of your tomorrows. Today you are the youngest that you will ever be, and it is what you do with your youngest moments that will determine how you will look, feel and live both in your twilight years and throughout your entire journey there.

So how do we go about reinventing our health? This may seem like a monumental concept, an impossible task, but when we break it down with direction and clarity, it all slides neatly into place.

Body beautiful

Let us start with the body – our physical self. This is where optimal health begins. Wise nutritional choices combined with regular exercise provide the pillars of physical well-being. Eat a ‘clean’ diet, which features quality proteins, essential fats and plenty of vegetables, while skipping the sugar and refined foods.

Good nutrition strongly influences our immunity, brain function, skeletal system, mindset and everything in between. Each cell and fibre of your body is composed of the nutrients in your diet, so learn to eat to live. Of course, it is important to enjoy your food, but it is also important to view it as serving essential functions in the body, rather than simply pleasing your taste buds or satisfying empty cravings.

Fitness is a lifestyle, not a chore. We were designed to be in motion, so walk more and find physical activities that you love to do, such as yoga and Pilates. These exercises not only serve to work the body – they also engage the mind and spirit, as well. According to world-renowned yogi Baxter Bell, ‘yoga has a sly, clever way of short-circuiting the mental patterns that cause anxiety.’

Mind over matter

Your mind is the most powerful tool you own. It has abilities beyond our comprehension and may control far more than we know. What we do understand is the importance of a positive outlook.

Train your brain to seek out optimism at every opportunity – if you believe that you can do something, then your brain will pave a pathway to success. Similarly, if you tell yourself that something is not possible, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Your mind helps control your health and overall well-being. Manifesting negativity, stress, and worry is shown to be physically harmful. Nurturing a positive outlook is essential not only for a happier life but for a healthier one, too. As Aristotle noted, ‘the energy of the mind is the essence of life.’

The spirit moves you

How do we nurture our spiritual selves? Begin by engaging with your thoughts. Many of us are strangers to our deepest thinking because we are so consumed with our busy lives and daily routines. Allow time to reflect and to escape daily stresses.

According to spiritual counsellor Zeenat Merchant-Syal, “meditation is the ultimate way to know yourself. By learning to meditate, you can pull back from the world and focus on what’s going on inside.”

Compelling research has demonstrated that meditation can help you live both longer and younger. The International Journal of Neuroscience reported that a group of long-term meditators was found to be physiologically 12 years younger than their chronological ages, as measured by markers such as blood pressure, vision and overall well-being.

Only after striking a balance between physical health, a positive mindset and spiritual liberation may our true well-being be fully realised.

In the coming weeks, we will be focusing on achieving optimal health at any age – 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. Look for these featured articles beginning next week with Best Health in Your 20s!

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