It's mid-September and many people have been enjoying the fruits, literally, of their time and effort spent with their garden this summer. I've been fortunate to enjoy many squash, zucchini, cucumbers, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, and even a couple small carrots so far this year. Some of these have been from neighbors or co-workers, and many have been from my own garden. It makes for a very nice change of pace from our fast food society to be able to go out and shop for dinner in your own back yard. In the effort of keeping our bodies healthy and clean, one of the easiest and least expensive ways of eating organic is to grow the vegetables ourselves. This allows us to more accurately control the contents of the foods that we ingest and ensures that no pesticides are used in their production. Another benefit of having a garden is that we get to eat the fresh veggies and fruits when they have fully ripened on the vine, rather than being ripened in a shipping container with a chemical so that they arrive at the grocery store apparently ripe.

If you haven't thought about it, now is the time to start planning for a vegetable garden to enjoy next year. If space is an issue, there are many methods available for limited space and other such potential barriers people encounter. Just this year, I came across information on square foot gardening and am planning to use this method next year, as my current garden does not get enough sun for a consistently solid crop of healthy vegetables. With the square foot gardening boxes I'm going to make, I'll be able to move my garden around the yard to suit the various needs of the vegetables with regard to sunlight and irrigation.

Few things are more satisfying than planting, growing, and nurturing a plant and then being able to pick the fruit and enjoy it at a meal. It is grounding, balancing, and healthy for your body and your mind. Start planning for a healthier, cleaner you by planning out next year's vegetable garden.

When we hear the word exercise we usually think of high-energy, high-impact, get-your-blood-pumping activity. However, there is another type of exercise that is just as good for you that doesn't require such high-impact, high-energy levels like running or aerobics or weightlifting. Tai Chi is practiced by millions of people all over the world every day and the benefits of this exercise practice can be profound.

Tai Chi is a martial art that originated in China nearly 2000 years ago. It stresses physical balance, flowing motions, breathing, and focused awareness of movement. Studies have shown that Tai Chi practice has some interesting effects on the body, such as increased immune response, particularly to Shingles (caused by the Chicken Pox virus), a marked increase in circulation, and in a study of 12 women with osteoarthritis it was shown to improve range of motion, while decreasing the discomfort and pain associated with the condition. Furthermore, the practice of Tai Chi does not require complex and exotic movements that require a degree of fitness to begin. It can be practiced by virtually anybody.

Another benefit is that you can practice Tai Chi almost anywhere that you find a little open space. You can do it in your room, the back yard, the park, or in your office. If you are feeling low on energy, simply giving yourself 10 minutes of practice can re-energize the body and mind and help you feel more rested and alert.

There are many good Tai Chi videos that you can rent or purchase if you do not have access to a live instructor. There are also many videos that can be found on the internet, such as: YouTube.com if you search for Tai Chi Instruction. Good luck and get moving!

The human body is an amusement park of fascination to me. The interplay between our biology and our perception is particularly interesting, take the placebo effect for instance. In this month's issue of Wired Magazine (Sept. 09'), an article discusses how commonly used drugs seem to be getting less effective and the placebo effect seems to be getting stronger. Very strange. The connection between body and mind is a fruitful place to consider your health from. Consider that even if you eat healthy and exercise regularly, it may seem that you are doing everything correctly, and yet if you carry a lot of anxiety, stress, or anger throughout your day, you may actually be doing damage to your body; effectively undermining all that you work so hard for. Your attitude about your life, your actions, the people around you, money, love, etc., all play an important role in your health.

This idea seems to beg the question: "How am I supposed to control how I feel about money? or love? or the jerk that cut me off on the way home? or the trouble my children get into? etc., etc., etc." Well, I say to you that this is where a regular meditation practice comes in extremely useful. A focused, yet relaxing meditation practiced over a period of time seems to build or set a baseline within us. This then begins to be the platform from which we begin to perceive the world around us. In other words, the more involved we allow ourselves to become in our subtle states of consciousness, the more prominent they become in our lives. The more practice we have in being aware of that silent, peaceful, and calm state within us, the more frequent and present that state becomes in our everyday lives. This is what allows us to more easily control our anger, anxiety, and stress as we live out in the world.