U: UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF EXERCISE, UNLOCKING THE CHAKERS, UNFOLDING LIFE’S MYSTERIES
Understanding the role of exercise
The human body is absolutely an amazing machine. If you put in the right amount of activity levels and eat wholesome foods, you can truly start feeling fantastic. A healthy body positively affects the state of mind. By looking after your body you empower yourself, rather than limit your potential.
To keep your body fit, tuned and functioning efficiently, you have to make a determined effort to be active. You need to get off the couch and out of sedentary habits and make exercise a part of your daily life.
An investment for good health
Everyone benefits from exercise! Also, different types of exercise can help specific conditions. For example, regular weight bearing exercises can prevent osteoporosis and aerobic exercises can improve the working of the heart.
Banish all arriers
Excuses such as, “I am too old or tired to exercise”, or “Exercise takes up too much time” or “I am embarrassed to join a gym because I feel so out of shape”; are all barriers that must be banished. Instead, focus on what can be gained from regular exercise – whether the aim is to improve general health, body shape, de-stress or lose a few excess pounds, commit to achieving your goals.
Forms of exercise
The key to staying consistent with exercise is to select an exercise program that is enjoyable – one that fits in with your personality, lifestyle and fitness goals.
Cardiovascular exercise burns calories, promotes blood circulation and strengthens the heart. A low-impact routine places minimum stress on the joints is therefore, safe and effective. Good choices include walking, swimming and cycling.
Weight bearing exercise plays an important role in maintaining bone density and keeping the body strong. An effective routine would include exercises that target major muscle groups of the upper, mid and lower body. Good choices include resistance exercises using machines, dumbbells or resistance bands.
Right form and technique protects the joints and safeguards the body from trauma, whereas wrong technique or jerky movements can cause injury. Focus on properly aligning the body while exercising.
Flexibility exercises help in keeping the body supple, flexible and free from muscular stress. Good choices include yoga, pilates, stretching exercises and tai chi.
To benefit from an exercise program, workout 3 to 5 days a week, for a duration of 30 to 60 minutes.
Unlocking the Chakras
There are seven chakras in the astral body. Chakras are powerful energy centres, which store prana or life energy. These chakras correspond to nerve plexuses and endocrine glands in the physical body. Yoga, pranayama and meditation help unlock the chakras allowing the life force to flow freely in these regions resulting in improved mental, physical and emotional well-being. As you begin to unlock these centres, you will bring vitality and balance into the corresponding glands and nerve plexuses.
Tension causes contraction of the muscles, which leads to blocked energy pathways. Imbalances in these energy centres results in disease or ill health. When you consciously start to release the tension or tightness, the pranic energy starts to flow more freely through the chakras.
Mental, physical and spiritual progression
As you unlock the chakras, you enhance the qualities and abilities associated with each centre. The three lower chakras are associated with earthly qualities and needs, while the four higher chakras are associated with spiritual evolution.
The base or root chakra is referred to as the kundalini – a coiled serpent that rises and travels upwards unlocking the higher chakras. When this happens, the body and mind are better balanced and there is spiritual progression.
Unfolding Life’s Mysteries
“You are a part of the universe, no less than the stars and trees, and you have a right to be here. And whether it is clear to you or not, do not doubt that the universe is unfolding itself to you as it should…”
“You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You only decide how you are going to live. Now.”
- Joan Baez