The Challenge of Being Healthy

Tidying my office last week, I came across a definition of health as:

•         Good functioning of organ with flow rather than congestion
•         Energy to do what you want in life
•         Not being limited by pain
•         Feeling positive 
•         A state of balance in body, mind and spirit
•         State of resilience

I find this a really good definition and can recognise that I have felt like this.  However, I find that
being in a healthy state like this is a daily challenge!  We humans are so good at challenging our bodies, minds and spirits with things that cause imbalance, such as poor nutrition, exposure to toxins, negative thinking, stress and disconnection from Nature.  One of the things I observed when nursing my mother was the way her body had an amazing ability to try to maintain healthy balance, even when her cancer was very advanced.  In her last weeks of life, she even managed to fight off an infection.  This showed me that given the right support, our bodies, minds and spirits are constantly trying to achieve and maintain balance, if we allow them. 

Covid-19 has made most of us more aware of the challenge to stay healthy and that certain conditions of poor health make further illness more likely.  Many people are struggling with Long Covid which, as with many other health conditions, requires rest for recovery.

I have been exploring rest deeply in the past months, having been completely exhausted in body, mind and soul.  With my body still preferring to be in a ‘fight or flight’ state than a ‘rest and digest’ phase I have not found it easy relax or rest.  Deepening the connection to my spiritual self has been the key to this.  Also, self-care is one of the things we often don’t prioritise in the belief that the needs of others should come first.  I am experiencing the truth of the teaching that without that self-care we end up not being able to help anyone.  It is no accident that self-Reiki, which is restful, quiet and reconnects with body and soul, is the foundation of our practice.

I hope soon to restore my health, so that I will feel more positive, resilient and have the energy to do what I want in life, which is to support others in having all the benefits of being healthy.  I am doing what I feel able to do, gently and gradually.  It’s not easy to take this time because although I know it is necessary, there is so much I want to do!  I am grateful for the Reiki healing I have received to help my recovery so far.

With my sabbatical over, I am making a phased return to work.  It has been good to have time to catch up on some projects that have been waiting for a space like this, including creating the e-book ‘Musings of a Reiki Master’, having my Professional Reiki Practitioner Course verified through The Reiki Association and completing my Nutrition Coaching course.  I do not feel ready to return to face-to-face teaching or treatments yet, but am starting with a few online mentoring sessions and preparing for further teaching later in the year. 

So I have a few more things to offer you this month…

Wishing you good health.

Can being more healthy change how Covid-19 might affect me?

I’ve been interested to hear how Covid-19 affects people differently, because I had already noticed that when my health improved, through reversing type 2 diabetes, my body’s response to common   I didn’t get ill as often and I was really interested to notice that even if I did catch something, the effects were less severe.  In the past a cold would often go onto my chest and cause bronchitis, sometimes requiring antibiotics to shift it.  More recently it’s just been a cold lasting a few days.

viruses changed.

At a Reiki retreat a couple of years ago, I caught a nasty chest bug.  Other people in the group become feverish and ill for several days, with a persistent cough after that.  I had feverishness and muscle aches, for which I took some paracetamol, even though these days I take very little medication.  From past experience I expected to take more and for these symptoms to last several days, but after 24 hours I felt better, so only took that one dose of paracetamol.  I had expected the cough to go on for weeks and become more severe, but I was completely well within just a few days.  I am convinced that the difference was due being healthier, with an improved immune system, thanks to Reiki and reversing my diabetes.  I believe there is evidence that having less sugar in your bloodstream is beneficial when fighting infection.

As a type 2 diabetic I am at ‘moderate risk’ of developing more severe symptoms from Covid-19, so I am ensuring that my health is as good as possible before I put myself at risk of catching it and being at home offers an ideal opportunity to focus on this. Here are some things I’ll be doing over the next weeks to foster good health:

Sleeping well: Although good sleep can’t be guaranteed when there is a lot of stress around, I know things to do and not do that will help, such as being in bed by 11.00 pm most nights, not looking at my phone before bed and not eating after 7.00 pm.  I find that good sleep is particularly helpful in managing stress, which in turn helps me eat better.

Eating well: I am ensuring that my diet is as nutritious and well balanced as possible, with almost no sugar, plenty of vegetables, protein with each meal – mostly nuts, seeds and fish.  I also take various vitamin and mineral supplements, including vitamins C, D, and the Bs, fish oil, chromium and a probiotic.

Staying hydrated: I am ensuring I drink plenty of water – around 1 ½ to 2 litres a day.  Some of this will be herbal teas.  

Exercising: Like most people, I have been walking every day.  I have also been doing some relaxation and more active movement with my online singing groups each week.  I plan to increase my exercise to build muscle strength.  

Keeping stress levels down: Reiki practice, including daily Reiki self-treatment and sending and receiving distant treatments, helps to keep my thoughts calm and positive.

I hope you are also finding ways to stay healthy so that, if you do catch the virus, your immune system is strong enough for it to be just a mild illness and you can enjoy your 14 days self-isolation relaxing and doing something you enjoy!