May 2009

• Grant Yourself Immunity
• Run for Your Life
• Wake Up

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

• Recent swine flu pandemic reminds us of our immune system.
• Immune system's integrity can be compromised by environmental toxins.
• Regular cleansing reduces the strain that toxins place on our immune system.

The recent world wide outbreak of swine flu brings to mind our immune system. It is our immune system that protects us from disease. Pathogens such as the H1N1 virus can significantly impact our health to the point they can be deadly. The stronger our immune system, the better chance we have of fighting off infection. Our immune system is a collection of biological processes that identify various agents of disease and neutralize them. As one might suspect, these defense mechanisms are quite complex and can be compromised in various ways. One reason our immune system may be diminished is because of the ever increasing presence of environmental toxins in our bodies. These days, it is impossible to avoid environmental toxins. They come in the form of pesticides in food, gas given off by new carpet, chemicals in drinking water, that new car smell, prescription drugs, etc. The body naturally detoxifies itself, but the environmental toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis are entering our bodies and overwhelming it. Some are stored in the fat where they can remain for years, producing a cumulative effect. Toxins can disrupt information pathways thereby compromising immune system functions. This is just another reason why regular cleansing and detoxification should be a part of your life. Our bodies can use some help. Our immune system can use some help. Give your body a break by incorporating nutritional cleansing in your life. For more information about nutritional cleansing, visit www.fit.org.

Vitamin X

• Running is a fundamental exercise and simple joy that seems to be forgotten with age.
• If you are new to running or have been sedentary, start slow.

With the arrival of spring comes the desire to get out of the house and get into better shape for the upcoming summer months, when getting out and being active is most inviting. There are many ways to start getting into shape and being more active, but one of the most fundamental ways is running. When we are small children one of the simple joys we experience is running. We ran just to run; running with friends, running to the park and then running more once we got there. It is a simple joy that all too often seems to be forgotten with age. So when we want to get out and move our bodies for fun and for health, running is a great way to do it. If you are new to running always start slow. In fact the best way to start running is by walking. If you've been sedentary for a long time then it is best to start with a brisk walk three to four times a week. After two or three weeks of this, begin adding intervals, that is, after warming up begin your brisk walk, then add jogging at a light pace for 30 seconds, then return to walking for a couple of minutes, then back to jogging for 30 seconds, then walking, and so on. This will ease your body into the intensity of jogging and prepare your cardiovascular system for running for a longer duration. It takes some time for your body to get used to the new level of activity, so don't rush it. As with any exercise, consult your doctor before you begin and listen to your body. As you practice the run/walk method, slowly increase the time you run from 30 seconds to 1 minute, to 1:30 to 2 minutes and so on. At the same time you can decrease your walk time from 5 minutes to 4 minutes to 3 minutes, etc. If you find that you are pushing yourself too hard on the timing, then take it down a notch and ease into it a little more. Following these guidelines can make running fun again. If you find yourself gung-ho at first be careful not to overexert yourself or burn yourself out before you get into the groove of the activity. If you want to make running a part of your routine then be sure to keep it enjoyable. The peace and clarity of going out for a morning run can be the highlight of your day if you follow these guidelines.

Meditate on This

• Teachers say our perception of reality is a dream.
• Studies show brain improvement as a result of meditation.
• Meditation "wakes" us up.

For thousands of years, meditation has been practiced and taught as a way to come to great peace within ourselves and also as a way to be immersed in our experience as a human being. Spiritual teachers have told us that the reality we experience is as a dream compared to the reality they experience. They have urged us to quiet our minds and focus our attention so that we may gain greater clarity. For some, this advice is pie-in-the-sky, jibber-jabber, new-age nonsense. However, recent studies have shown that those ancient mystics were actually on to something. Scientists studying the effects of meditation on the brain have shown that consistent practice of a relaxed and focused meditation can actually increase the thickness of areas of the brain that relate to auditory, visual, somatosensory, and interoceptive processing. In other words, meditation practice allows the brain to more readily process sound and vision sensory input. It allows us to be more aware of our posture, our temperature, what we are feeling inside of our body, and what we are experiencing in our state of mind. When those mystics of ancient and modern times claimed that meditative practice would wake us up to what is really happening, we can now say that it's actually true so far as science is concerned. Strengthen your brain, calm your mind, ease your being, and awaken your awareness to the life right in front of you this very moment. Take time for yourself each day to meditate.

Physical Fitness - Mental Fitness - Spiritual Fitness