What is a healthy body?

Each of us will have a unique answer to this question. But for the most part we recognize a healthy body to be one that has overall muscle definition, sturdy bone structure, clear eyes, intelligent mental awareness and the reasonable emotional disposition found in someone free from pain. 

Although genetics do play a part in creating such a body, we also know that nutrition, exercise, parasympathetic rest and quality sleep also play key roles. For the purposes of this article, I’d like to focus on two factors: activity and rest.

Activity
All kinds of activity can lead to good muscle definition and strong bones. A combination of resistance training, isometrics, movement puzzles, walking and cardio can create a well-rounded environment to develop suppleness in the mind and body. Let’s break this down.

• Resistance training: Any weight bearing exercise, including moving your own body weight (like yoga or TRX) or weight machines/free weights.

• Isometrics: I like yoga for this, because it gives comprehensive exposure to all the body movements through strength building, with simultaneous flexibility.

• Movement puzzles: Yoga helps with this too, as it combines mental concentration with sequencing, increasing neural plasticity.

• Walking: Just like it sounds. This is the most ancient of movements, and the most healing to the primal system.

• Cardio: Any form of cardio that gets your heart rate up and then allows it to drop back down. Remember, the long-term practice of cardio that keeps the heart rate chronically elevated is never advised. The subtle rise and fall of the heart rate is a natural component of human genetics.
  
  

Rest
Most of the time we think of resting as taking a nap on the couch or getting a good night’s sleep. While quality sleep is vitally important, there’s more to it than that. When we don’t pay healthy attention to our resting cycles throughout the day, we can deplete our vitality reserves. By being still but awake, we activate our parasympathetic nervous system—also called the “rest and restore” system, which is another component to longevity. It’s not a complicated process. Use my Take Five method (don’t worry, we won’t call this “meditation”).

• Take five outside: First thing in the morning, go outside and sit still for five minutes.

• Take five in the car: When you get into your car and before you get out, sit still for five minutes.

• Take five on the hour: Every hour, sit still for five minutes. (Noticing a theme here?)

• Take five before bed: Yep. Sit still for five minutes.

Remember to take five in silence! No TV, no radio, no talking, no interruption, no thinking. Just “be-ing.”

Fasting

Here’s a radical notion: Fasting is another form of rest. 

Intermittent fasting has received huge acclaim in recent years. Freeing the body from its processing and storage functions allows it to rest, lowering insulin levels. Lowering insulin levels activate the processes of autophagy and apoptosis—the clean-up and removal of cells that should no longer replicate—so the body can run more efficiently. 

This is one of the greatest longevity secrets of yoga. Simply fasting for 12 or more hours—consuming only water, black tea or black coffee—allows the body to rest and reclaim its deep internal vitality.

If you’re already doing all the things I’ve recommended here but you’re still feeling exhausted, consider the ancient yoga technique of fasting. 

This is just a quick peek into using activity and rest to balance your body and mind. Moving toward better health is a choice. Choose you! Nāmāsté.

Laura Tyree is owner of Dragonfly Yoga and Hot Yoga OM, in Fort Walton Beach. For more information, visit LauraTyree.com.

 Did you know?

You don’t have to be a vegetarian to do yoga. Ayurveda, a sister science to yoga, includes many animal remedies, although they’re often negated due to religious preference. Both men and women need protein to build muscle and maintain testosterone as they age.

Did you know?

The myelin sheathing around our nerves consists largely of magnesium and healthy fat. That means we need sufficient magnesium and healthy fats to keep that sheath lubricated like a well-oiled piston. Without them, our entire neural network can feel dry, raspy and cranky. With them, we feel relaxed, calm and capable. Research the eight necessary magnesium types and the foods that contain healthy fats (like non-seed oils).