Techniques | Breathe Network

A Clean Body, Both Inside and Out

: Image by US Army Africa via Flickr

It is widely accepted that promoting good personal hygiene plays an important role in promoting overall health and wellness. People wash and groom themselves to be rid of harmful bacteria, impurities, and other elements that, if left unattended, could easily lead to infection and disease. Yet how many people realize that same level of thoughtful care needs to go to cleansing the inside of the body from the same harmful agents?
Harmful bacteria, viruses, and germs live and breed within the body––infecting vital organs, infiltrating the bloodstream, and thereby affecting the body’s function to energize and heal itself. Proper precautions should be taken daily (in the same way people care for the outside of the body) to rid the body of these harmful agents.
Water is an essential agent for good health, both in and out of the body. It is used to rinse the outside of the body of impurities, and should also be ingested regularly throughout the day to not only to prevent dehydration, but also carry out harmful toxins out of vital organs. Water is also a necessary vehicle to transport healthy vitamins and nutrients to the areas of the body that need them to fight off disease. As the body purges itself of these toxins, the door is opened for the body to perform better and more efficiently, resulting in more energy and even possible permanent weight loss.
Natural fiber supplements such as flax and psyllium husk should be used as a daily cleansing agent, especially during diets where no other form of fiber is being ingested. These agents, along with a bi-annual enema, do much to rid the colon of unnecessary waste that has built up over time and impedes the body’s ability to digest food properly. A teaspoon of flax in eight ounces of water three times a day is an excellent way to ensure lasting heath and good clean body.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Health, Techniques Tagged With: Fasting and Cleansing, Vitamin, Weight loss

Need a Boost? Sing a Song!

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Much like laughing or even chanting, two indisputably proven ways to relieve physical stress and relieve tension, singing a song is a healthy, fun way to relieve anxiety, calm the nerves, and just plain feel good. Whether it is in the shower, an empty home, or in a car on the open road (where there are always a surprisingly high number of like-minded souls belting out a tune), singing is a wholesome, healthy way to send good vibes literally all throughout the body. Like laughter, singing creates vibrations that can release bad energy and stress from the body in very real, physiological ways. Singing also forces the abdominal core to work a little harder than usual, especially if one is really “going for it” on the high notes, and can open the lungs to better breathing and push more oxygen into the bloodstream.

Plus, singing is fun! And fun is the panacea for depression and lack of much-needed energy. For those brave souls who enjoy their song in a group setting, karaoke is a splendid way to not only enjoy the company of others and kick back, it can be a great way to sing in a safe, accepting, non-judgmental environment. It’s safe to say that even bad karaoke can be fun! And again, much like a good laugh, singing can enliven all the senses, and even make one feel like a rock star for a moment.

However singing isn’t for everyone, and may indeed cause more stress in some than good. So if the talent for singing isn’t there but the apprehension unfortunately is, try making a habit of listening to music that connects in a special way. In fact, just the simple act of listening to music can do much for personal wellness and can serve as a therapeutic tool to drive the blues away and create healthy awareness throughout all the senses.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Health, Techniques Tagged With: Circulatory system, Music, Singing, Stress

Laughter and Health – More Than a Clich

It has been said that “laughter by its very definition is healthy.” While the thought is warm and fuzzy and might make for a good t-shirt slogan, there may me more truth to the idea than not. The simple act of laughter has been shown to boost energy, increase healing antibodies, and diminish stress. A good chuckle also releases endorphins into the body’s system, which in turn promotes a wonderful feeling of health and happiness throughout the being. In fact, a hearty laugh can give the same sensation as a post-workout high, relaxing the body and easing tension caused by stress. And when laughter is shared between more than one person, especially in a crowd, it has a powerful binding influence that brings people together, builds closeness, and reduces conflict.
The term “laughter is the best medicine” may be yet another outdated maxim, but there is actually a large amount of truth to the power of laughter as an agent of healing. Laughter has been shown to reinforce the immune system and serves as a powerful (and thoroughly enjoyable) deterrent to stress. It protects the heart, increasing blood flow and lessening the probability of cardiovascular disease.
Best of all, laughter is fun, which leads to good health and a positive outlook on life. Attitude truly dictates wellness, and laughter is an easy way to feeling optimism, a powerful creative and spiritual tool. However, as in all facets of life, being open to humor and opening the window to the possibility of a good laugh is, in essence, always a choice. Dwelling on the negative, holding on to past pain, and going through life with a hung head are habits that don’t leave much room for laughter to find root. But once spirits are lifted and the body is open to feeling joy and happiness, a good laugh won’t be far behind.

Filed Under: Health, Techniques Tagged With: Happiness, Health, Immune system, Laughter

Good Decisions and Auto Insurance Help Prepare Teens for Independence

Research continues to confirm that the U.S. has a problem. More children and adults are fitting into the obese category on the body mass index scale every year. As studies continue to confirm this information, the general population is beginning to realize the serious impact obesity can have on health. People who are overweight increase the risk of developing life-threatening illnesses. Obesity can improve the probability of a person getting almost every disease from cancer to cardiovascular disease.

Part of the problem is a failure of parents to teach their children how to eat. Today’s diet consists of too few vegetables and too many processed foods. Quick meals have replaced nutritious ones. When teenagers get ready to move out of the house for college, they often don’t understand the need to prepare healthy meals. Instead, they grab fast food with friends, skip meals, drink pop, and engage in other unhealthy activities. Parents can help reduce the odds of this happening by changing their own lifestyle.

Just like a smart parent won’t let a teenager drive a car without auto insurance, he or she shouldn’t send children off to college without preparing them to survive on their own. Teens need to know the value of spending their dollar on fruit or raw vegetables instead of on packages of inexpensive soup. They need to know how to read a recipe and put meals together. As a parent, you may need to buy tools your children can have in their dorm rooms in order to cook meals. Regulations vary by university, but your son or daughter may be able to use a microwave, a toaster oven, a crockpot, or another counter-top device. Many dorms have kitchens for students to use.

By knowing how to use the right tools to prepare healthy meals and by understanding the value of making good decisions, your teen can enter independence with life-long healthy habits.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Techniques Tagged With: Auto Insurance

The Art of Strengthening and Stretching

The secret to good health is recognizing what the body does naturally, and building on it––making it stronger, more resilient, and training it to the point where it can run at optimum levels for longer periods of time. For example, to keep a healthy digestive system, one needs to eat a smart, balanced diet and drink lots of water. To build the heart and circulatory system, one should engage in good cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis and avoid foods that are high in cholesterol.
The same kind of care holds true for muscle strength and tone. The stronger and healthier the muscles, the better performance they can give and add to the overall structural integrity of the body. When it comes to building strength, it’s all about resistance. Simple exercises such as pushups and sit-ups can be done anywhere, anytime, while more advanced strength training with free weights or special equipment can happen with one of many portable gyms or a full-blown workout at the fitness center.
But in order to build strength, one must do more than simply build muscle mass. Muscles were built for elasticity, as that is their primary function. Through contraction and retraction, muscles provide the means to lift, move, even flutter the eyelids, and wiggle the toes. Yet for muscles to operate at peak levels, they must be cared for.
Constant stretching is key. If a muscle is tight, knotted up, or lacking in its flexibility, it can only function to a bare minimum and can adversely affect other parts of the body as they try to overcompensate. Constant stretching, from top to bottom, is a must for maximum muscle performance, and will help relieve stress. Even taking a moment now and again at the office and stretching the neck, shoulders, and back will increase blood flow, energy, and performance. Whether it be as part of a fun group yoga class, cardio exercise that requires stretching such as rowing or swimming, or the occasional massage by a licensed professional, keeping the muscles supple and flexible is key to creating good muscle tone and enhancing overall wellness.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Health, Techniques Tagged With: Aerobic exercise, Fitness, Physical exercise, Strength training

Keeping Exercise Simple With the Pushup

Exercise

It’s been proven that regular exercise does much to not only help induce weight loss and increase overall cardio and muscular strength, but also raise energy levels and enhance overall wellness. Yet many people shy away from regular exercise because they either don’t know how to or don’t have a place to work out.
The simple secret to strength training is building muscle power against some kind of resistance, and for a simple workout all one needs is a something to enhance that resistance effectively. A great example of an easy, anywhere exercise is the pushup, a simple work out that only requires a pair of arms and a floor. Simply put, doing pushups is a low cost, high-intensity workout one can do anywhere, anytime.
Pushups work more than just chest and arms; they are a great exercise to center the back muscles and strengthen the core. However, form really does determine function here, and bad posture will not only lessen the impact the workout may have, but possibly do damage to the back and shoulders. When it comes to pushups, keeping the body in a straight line, with no sag or arch, is key to producing the best results. Staying straight in form and in control will also do wonders for the core, as it will naturally tighten to support the body’s weight and build strength throughout the abdomen. From there, it’s as simple as pushing up and down, remembering to breathe at regular intervals. Inhale slowly as the body moves down; exhale as you push up. Remember in the up position to avoid locking the elbows, but keep them slightly bent, letting the resistance remain consistent throughout the set.
Pushups can be the perfect daily exercise in that they can be customized to anyone, at any level of fitness. Even a few reps at a time will grow stamina and strength, and as time passes, more and more reps can be added to the workout.

Filed Under: Health, Techniques Tagged With: Aerobic exercise, Muscle, Physical exercise