Spring has arrived and many people are thinking allergy season. However, nature can actually make you healthier with fewer doctor’s visits. Human nature is enmeshed with nature. Learn to get along with nature’s rhythms to reset your own biorhythms from technology overload – pay attention to the benefits that are free and available. When you are in balance, allergy symptoms diminish or even disappear. You will feel at least ten years younger, maybe even look it!
Here is what nature can do for you:
- Silent communication. Overscheduled and endless demands, you and your children need to detoxify the senses setting aside daily quiet time. Initially you might feel uncomfortable and bored. However, give it a chance – try just a few minutes. You can begin by looking out a window, sitting outside or taking a short walk. Learn to pay attention to feel alive and alert: bonus point – you will be less likely to fall and get injured if you are accident prone.
- Slowing down. Being crazy busy sets you up for chronic stress. Nature reduces the inflammatory response of stress which is damaging to all your bodily processes and sets you up for unhappiness.
- The sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D as transmitted by sunlight to your skin helps to release serotonin to improve your mood. Exposure to sunlight stimulates the pineal gland to produce melatonin which plays a role in quality sleep, so that you wake up refreshed to start your day – without irritability.
- Nutrients. Eating local organically grown pesticide-free fruits and vegetables provides superior nutrition because they go directly from harvest to table. Better yet grow fruits, herbs and vegetables in your own garden or a community garden. Did you know that gardeners don’t tend to get osteoporosis and they get a great workout that many gym members envy?
- Natural self-expression. Nature teaches us to be natural – embrace our bodies and dance with wolves. Silence, suppression, pretense – take their toll on your mood and cardiovascular system.
- Movement outdoors. Take your workout outdoors because man was designed to walk and run outside. One hour at the gym is not enough. Look for opportunities to move all day instead of sitting in front of the TV.
- The power of the pack. Nature teaches us to flock together for safety and close relationships. Isolation breeds depression, illness and cognitive impairment.
- The power of green. The fewer chemicals the better as everyone has a tipping point for illness. Chemicals stress the body. Also, the color green helps to promote healing as a visual cue for the mind. Perceived realities become realities.
The original article by : Debbie Mandel, MA is the author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, a stress-reduction specialist, motivational speaker, a personal trainer and mind/body lecturer at Southampton College. She is the host of the weekly Turn On Your Inner Light Show on WHLI 1100AM in New York City , produces a weekly wellness newsletter, and has been featured on radio/ TV and print media. To learn more visit her site.
