We often talk about how important our mind, body, spirit, relationships, etc. are the most important things in our lives. How much time and effort do we actually put towards maintaining and improving these facets of our life?
Be well, stay healthy, be wise.
I can help. I have almost 40 years worth of experience in practicing and teaching others to take control of their health and well-being. Wellness lectures, classes, study guides & booklets.
Obesity and all its causes, are the elephants in the room that few people want to discuss for fear of offending those whom have these issues or suffering the backlash from companies that employ millions of US workers, while also profiting from the illnesses connected to their products. The fast food industry generates about $240 billion annually.
The CDC reports, the US adult obesity rate is now at 42% and rising each year, we need to get past being offended or the denial of this and truly see it for what it is. We can argue that seemingly healthy people can get Covid19 also, just as doctors get ill sometimes and dentist themselves get cavities. What is different though, is healthier individuals usually recover faster or experience less severe symptoms. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
People want to believe in science, or so they say. Often, we will agree with science when it supports our own viewpoint. Not so much when science makes us think more, work smarter or self-discipline. Science has proven that a healthy immune system is a definite issue in preventing illnesses, viruses or otherwise. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Eating healthier foods, being active, managing stress, quality sleep are all proven by science to help fight illnesses, but this is not the message being conveyed to the public. Masks, social distancing and vaccines will not make those prone to disease any healthier. Safer maybe? These methods help short-term but they are just a band-aid for the bigger issues of unhealthy lifestyles. Many people sit all day long, kids have little or no PE and/or recess in schools, there is less unorganized playtime for younger kids to explore and enjoy, and we often eat low-quality foods contributing to a 42% obesity rate in the US. To sum it all up: we havea general lack of public education of how to live a healthy lifestyle. Fix the root problems and let’s see the healthy tree grow to new heights!
Americans consume a ton of low quality junk food every day. Our economy relies upon the fast food industry to provide jobs and profits to investors. Makers of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, processed foods, fried foods, cigarettes, candy and many others would not be too happy if the president, CDC, or surgeon general made a public service announcement calling for Americans to reduce or reconsider the mass consumption of these items and instead eat healthier meals at home. The healthcare industry also profits from Americans being healthy enough to produce in the workforce but being unhealthy enough to need medications, procedures and surgeries that might be avoided from a healthier diet mentality encouraged at an earlier age. US annual healthcare spending is about 3.5 trillion. The US ranks about 35 in the world for quality of healthcare while spending far more than any other country. More spending does not equal healthier people; the US has proven this for much of the last decades. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2019/08/08/how-us-healthcare-spending-per-capita-compares-with-other-countries-infographic/?sh=241349ea575d
A large majority of US workers now sit for many hours a day whether working, watching TV or engaged in computer activities, all leading to a more sedentary lifestyle than what was experienced in decades past. The CDC reports that kids are sitting in front of a screen average 7.5 hours per day, every day. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/multimedia/infographics/getmoving.html
US citizens have more stress and anxiety than years past, trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, politics and other economic uncertainties. Most have little or no understanding of self-stress management often resorting to alcohol and drugs to relieve depression, anxiety and other emotional issues. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2019/stress-america-2019.pdf
Schools have been trimming back on physical education and recess in past years, in place of the seemingly more important time dedicated to academics, resulting in over-stressed overweight young adults. If a strong fitness ethic is not developed in earlier years of development, it is often difficult to recoup once an individual heads into adulthood with college, careers, social and family life. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/
These factors and others have contributed to a recipe for an unhealthy nation that has been baking in the oven for that last decades. DING!! The recipe is now complete and the cake is done baking! Here we our with a hot and fresh pandemic. In spite of masks, social distancing and new vaccines, Americans will continue to suffer in the future. If not from COVID-19, then COVID-20 or the next manifestation of disease that grows in unhealthy bodies. We need to stop trying to fix the root problems with temporary band-aids!
Discipline the mind in order to discipline the body!
Learn how this all works from private, small or group instruction.
A balanced mind, body & spirit make a person wealthy in being healthy!
Exercising to achieve performance or attractiveness is often rewarding. However, as we age the following become essential to maintaining health and well-being.
range of motion
joint strength
fine motor skills
adequate sleep
bone density
thought engagement
stress management
balanced organ function
vestibular balance
Self-discipline Can be Developed.
Anything of value is always going to require some amount of sacrifice of time, effort and resources.
For most people, it is very difficult to train or discipline their mind and consequently, their body. People often say or do things they regret only to realize later that they lacked the self control and self awareness to make good decisions to begin with.
By gaining control of the physical anatomy, a relationship with the physical body is developed. When aligning the limbs and joints to stretch and strengthen them, while also maintaining deep and deliberate breathing rhythms, an individual can cultivate a more harmonious link between the mind, body and spirit (self awareness). Practice of exercises that truly engage the mind and body, (very much like yoga) to improve health & wellness. The mind directs the body, while the body protects the mind.
Discipline the mind in order to discipline the body!
Learn how this all works from private, small or group instruction.
Harvard Medical School – recommends taking care of your immune system. Stay healthy by living healthy. Masks and social distancing don’t make someone healthy if their habits are not healthy to begin with. Take the steps before you get ill.
A perspective of top causes of death in the US and that most are somewhat preventable through choices we make. The US did not become ill overnight. We have been working hard at this for decades.
Take note that top causes 3, 4 & 5 are all very much preventable and directly affect others, even with no deliberate ill-will towards others.
Take care of yourself because no one else should care more about you than you. Eat better, move more, stress less, be nicer. Be well!
Learn how to maintain health, fitness and wellness with tai chi, gigong and other time-proven methods. Private, small or group instruction.
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