- HOT / COLD SHOWERS
- BREATH HOLDING
- QI GONG
- FASTING
- HYDRATION
- SLEEP
- NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS & CALORIES
- POSITIVE FUTURE-SELF CONSTRUCTS
There’s my list, what’s yours? All too often I ask that question and get blank stares in response. Take charge of your wellness.
HOT / COLD SHOWERS
Also known as contrast therapy, the claim is expedited healing or recovery.
My physio says the peer reviewed research shows that no benefits come from it, yet users of establishments such as P3 swear by it.
In their professional facility you can use pools to fully immerse yourself in cold water (10°c). Your body will automatically seek to protect it’s vital organs be keeping all the blood flow concentrated around the heart. As you swap out and enter into warm (40°c) water your body does the opposite, pushing blood out into the extremities of fingers and toes, flushing out the toxins.
If, like me in the past, you’re too cheap to spend the $20 for a session at P3 try this …
Got a shower? Here’s the easiest method, moment by moment;
A. Start with a warm shower
B. Move the water away
C. Turn it to cold
D. Rub hands only together in cold water
E. Then move forearms in
F. Once acclimatised, move whole body in keeping hands in stream.
G. Stay in the cold for at least 4 mins and no longer than 20 mins.
H. Repeat with warm water.
Alternate hot / cold for as long as you like. End on cold to feel fresh and awake or end on hot to feel relaxed enough to just melt into a deep sleep.
BREATH HOLDING
The easiest way to alkalise your blood.
Why do that? They say viruses cant live in alkaline environments, and it’s scientifically validated by neuroscientists like Andrew Huberman for reducing the severity of, or in some cases blocking the onset of, illness symptoms by releasing hormones like cortisol.
A. Lay down
B. Take 3 deep breaths, slowly.
C. As you let the third breath out, instead of forcing it all out just let it out to a relaxed mid point where it comfortably stops.
D. Hold it there
E. Wait till it tingles and you can feel the chemistry in your body change.
F. Breathe in
G. Relax, to calm again
H. Repeat at least 3 times.
Qi Gong
A ancient chinese form of energy cultivation.
Essentially it’s abdominal breathing that can be done with or without meditation.
A. Be seated
B. Rest left hand on lower belly
C. Rest right hand over left (women only)
D. Place tip of tongue on roof of mouth behind teeth
E. Close eyes, focus on third eye (between eyebrows)
F. Push belly out to breathe in
G. Hold as it relaxes in
H. Pull belly in to breathe out
I. Hold as it relaxes in
J. REPEAT…
Masters do it for hours
FASTING
Stop eating dude!!!
The most energy consuming thing the body does is digest food. Stop eating and give your body a chance to use that energy to heal.
The easiest way is to miss dinner.
It stimulates AUTOPHAGY, which is defined as the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells, according to Priya Khorana, PhD, in nutrition education from Columbia University.
HYDRATION
Do we really need to discuss this??? Yes, I know what fish do in it. Drink it anyway. Yes, it’s possible to have too much, but almost none of us ever do.
They say the best things in life are free. Yes I know you can easily pay more for water these days that you do for petrol but seriously the stuff falls from the sky. Take the hint, drink water.
SLEEP
If you’re not tired, dont sleep, but dont get faked out.
External stimulus can easily fake you out. Just because you feel awake while you engage with the bright lights and addictive content of smart phones, late night gaming or Netflix binging does not mean your energy reserves are filled.
Take a break. Get up for a toilet stop or drink. Decide that you’ll try sleep mode and if it doesnt work in 15 minutes then you’re allowed to go back to your other pursuits.
Like I said, if you’re not tired, don’t sleep. Go test this out and let me know how it works. If I don’t hear back from you till the morning I will understand.
If you want to read a good book on the subject check out Matthew Walkers book called, “Why we sleep”.
NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS & CALORIES
It’s true that eating can be a distraction from healing. It consumes energy and autophagy won’t kick in either.
So for that reason I think its really important to get some value from the food we consume when we do eat.
So, eat clean.
Then add extra goodness with nutrient supplements.
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POSITIVE FUTURE-SELF CONSTRUCTS
Think it … the way you want it.
Say it … the way you want it.
Make it … the way you want it.
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