More Than Just Another New Year’s Resolution !
As the local gym memberships swell and we set new eating and exercising standards for 2007 to deflate and
tone our bodies, we at the Center for Balanced Health, want to share our perspective about exercise for the
New Year.
Dr. John Douillard, is a Chiropractor, an Ayurveda practitioner, and also a former professional athlete. He is
also the author of The 3-Season Diet and Body, Mind and Sport. These books are references for the material
in this article. As well, they contain testimonials from athletes Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova and
how his teachings and programs changed their lives.
We are all different and unique. Ayurveda is a Sanscrit word meaning the study of life and longevity, and it
promotes this individuality and demonstrates why studying ourselves is of great value to our health. Knowing
our mind/body type or individual nature offers us information about our vulnerabilities, likes, dislikes,
strengths, weaknesses. Ayurveda promotes individuality in exercise as well. Dr. Douillard explains, “Each
person has a unique psychophysiological constitution or mind-body type. Your mind-body type will be your
natural guide to sports selection, diet, best time of day to exercise, breathing, stretching and much more.”
Dr. Douillard further states, “The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports tests children based on
the strengths and talents of one body type, when in reality we are all different and should be tested on our
individual areas of strength.” To gather a random group of people, put them all on the identical training
program results in different progress. Some progress rapidly, some slowly and others not at all. The reason
for this is we are intrinsically different. Our unique mind-body types give us each unique requirements for
health and fitness.
To further demonstrate this, think back when you were in school.
• Were you the kid who was on the skinny side, quick, restless, constantly on the move and maybe a little
nervous?
• Or did you excel at schoolwork, especially math and science? Were you extremely competitive and
sometimes overly demanding of yourself?
• Or were you one of the larger kids who was more calm and tranquil and learned and moved slower, but
with a great long-term memory and strength and endurance?
Knowing which qualities dominate our makeup determines our true psychophysiological, constitutional, and
mind-body type. These three basic body/mind types reflect the three fundamental governing principles of
nature. They influence how we think, eat, sleep and as well, the size and shape of our body. Once we know
our unique combination, we will know our fundamental requirements for action in harmony with nature.
By knowing our body type, we can create a more balanced program that is suitable to our individual nature.
Understanding our body type and using all aspects of the mind-body system in our exercise program can play
a major role in restoring balanced functioning, in harmony with our true nature.
Heal the Nervous System
Ayurveda encourages a holistic health lifestyle that balances physical, spiritual and intellectual needs. This means ongoing
communication between our body, spirit and mind. It is our nervous system that is the pathway of clear communication
between these systems that affect our balance. In Ayurveda calming the nerves is the first stage of healing. The strength and
stability of our nervous system is a major factor in fighting illness. The state of our nervous system determines how efficiently
the rest of our physiological systems function. Keeping the nervous system at its best is a daily endeavor. One day we are up
and another day we are down all dependent on our experiences of the day.
Adding daily healing into our life does not have to be complicated. There are many easy, accessible options. The way to the
nervous system is through the senses. When we become aware of what we are absorbing into our bodies through our eyes,
hears, nose and mouths we can adjust the stimulus towards include soothing and healing choices whenever we need them.
• There are so many pressure points and energetic pathways on our bodies that just changing the texture touching our skin
will create a different stimulus. Notice which you prefer; something smooth, light, rough, heavy. Your desires will change
according to your psychological needs. Try different textures to see how you react.
• Music is a great way to change how you feel. If you are agitated then listen to something calm. Try listening to a piece of
harp music or the birds in the yard. Chimes and gongs have a calming and healing effect on a cellular level.
• Be careful what you smell. We respond involuntarily to smell because smell travels straight to the limbic system. The
limbic system deals with emotions and motivation creating a privileged access to the subconscious. Having a bad day? Go smell
something you enjoy, something from your past that gives you pleasure.
• Remember those times you have looked at something or someone and it caused you to smile? Do that deliberately with a
piece of art, a color, a view of nature or your favorite person. The sights we take in through our eyes are powerful. Remember
to let the beauty in.
• Savor tastes, enjoy a fulfilling meal. Go heavier on sweet, salty and sour tastes which tend to be more nurturing and
satisfying for our body than bitter and astringent.
When we become aware of daily sensory stimuli and choose which stimuli we want and which we want to avoid we have taken a
pro-active step towards self-healing and well-being. To learn more about preventive holistic health please contact Susan and
Judy at Center for Balanced Health in Franconia. Call 603-823-7701 or go to www.balancedhealthstudio.com.
A Little Help for Your Allergies
Ayurveda understands allergies in the context of our ability to accept and adjust to changes in our diet and environment. These
adjustments occur at least seasonally for everyone and perhaps more often depending on our personal situation. Summer is
considered to be Pitta time of year when the elements of fire and water are strong in the environment and our physiological
systems. Fire and water are giving over to air and ether as we enter the season on Vata with less heat and less moisture around
us.
As the end of summer approaches hay fever allergies erupt. Ayurveda correlates symptoms with qualities of the elements. Hay
fever at this time of year is described as a Pitta problem because of a high incidence of heat in our system. For some of us our
internal fire has baked our nasal mucous membranes over the past months preventing the liquid blanket of mucous in our nasal
passages to continue its work as summer comes to an end. Ayurveda would explain this process as too much heat in some parts
the body and not enough in other parts of the body. Heat, agni, is required for proper digestion. Agni helps us maintain natural
resistances and intolerances strengthening our immune system. But the heat is a digestive assist. When heat causes
inflammation in our sinuses the appropriate use of heat has been misplaced.
Mucous membranes are critical for catching dust particles and dirt before they reach our respiratory system. When the
membranes are congested our nose’s filtering ability is compromised. Neti pots are good ways to break up and avoid congestion.
This is an irrigation of the nasal passages with a gentle saline solution. Neti pots offer us a way of mild, non-chemical daily
practice to cleanse our nasal passages. If congestion has already occurred then repeated use of a neti pot will loosen up the
congestion.
Simultaneous to eliminating nasal congestion there are a few dietary changes that may help. In general a Kapha pacifying diet is
recommended. That means less dairy, wheat and red meat. Ginger, cinnamon and coriander tea are recommended as gentle
stimulants for digestion. Eat some foods and spices with the taste of bitter and astringent. Examples are turmeric and burdock.
Turmeric, in particular, is very good for strengthening our immune systems.
Our balanced dosha (constitution) will determine if we will react mildly or severely to allergens. Different constitutions require
more specific dietary changes. Ayurveda looks at each person through clinical signs of pulse, nails, skin, heart, lungs and other
bodily symptoms. Prior health history of the individual and family is also taken into account.