Quotes about Health in the Body, Mind and Spirit

This is a collection of quotes and images about health. These are not your typical quotes about diet and exercise. They are a compilation of ideas that encompass the totality of our construct. They address the body, the mind, the emotions and the spirit. Some are timeless and many are irreverent but all have a place in the balance of being. 

Health is dynamic, flowing and ever changing to accommodate us from omens to moment. Our physical form is interconnected with all that is us and with all that is seen and unseen. Emotions, thoughts, beliefs are at least as powerful as diet and exercise in shaping our health. I hope you enjoy these tidbits of wisdom and may they become food for thought. 

"With every pill we have prescribed for us we should also be given a creative prayer, a suggested way to correct our destructive patterns of thought." 

Ernest Holmes, "Health Is Normal"

"It has often been remarked, that persons destitute of ambition and avarice are peculiarly likely to enjoy long life. They feel no regret for the past, nor anxiety about the future. Enjoying that tranquility of soul, on which the happiness of our early years so much depends, they are strangers to those torments of the mind, which usually accompany more advanced years, and by which the body is wasted and consumed. Hence a calm, contented, and cheerful disposition, may be justly considered the great source of health, in regard both of body and mind; and ought to be accounted the most important of all our possessions." 

John Sinclair, The Code of Health and Longevity, 1807

"The great majority of us are required to live a life of constant duplicity. Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite of what you feel, if you grovel before what you dislike, and rejoice at what brings you nothing but misfortune. Our nervous system isn't just a fiction, it's a part of our physical body, and our soul exists in space, and is inside us, like the teeth in our mouth. It can't be forever violated with impunity." Boris Pasternak

"Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick.  Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place."  

Susan Sontag, Illness as Metaphor, 1977

"Men that look no further than their outsides, think health an appurtenance unto life, and quarrel with their constitutions for being sick; but I that have examined the parts of man, and know upon what tender filaments that fabric hangs, do wonder that we are not always so; and considering the thousand doors that lead to death, do thank my God that we can die but once." Thomas Browne

"Despise no new accident in your body, but ask opinion of it.... There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic. A man's observation, what he finds good and of what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health." Francis Bacon

Live in rooms full of light
Avoid heavy food
Be moderate in the drinking of wine
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water
Change surroundings and take long journeys
Strictly avoid frightening ideas
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements
Listen to music.
A. Cornelius Celsus

"To be always considering "what we should eat, and what we should drink, and wherewithal we should be clothed," in order to avoid the approach of disease, is the most likely means of provoking its attack. A man who is continually feeling his pulse, is never likely to have a good one. If he swallow his food from the same motive as he does his physic, it will neither be enjoyed nor digested so well as if he ate in obedience to the dictates of an uncalculating appetite. The hypochondriac who is in the habit of weighing his meals, will generally find that they lay heavy on his stomach. If he take a walk or ride, with no other view than to pick up health, he will seldom meet it on the road." 

John Reid, M.D., "Occupation," c.1818

"Every symptom has a story to tell about your life. A fascinating story, that can reveal the complex links between your body, mind, emotions and spirit." 

Kristina Turner, The Self-Healing Cookbook, 2002, originally published 1987

"It is very strange, this domination of our intellect by our digestive organs. We cannot work, we cannot think, unless our stomach wills so. It dictates to us our emotions, our passions.... We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet it with care and judgment. Then virtue and contentment will come and reign within your heart, unsought by any effort of your own; and you will be a good citizen, a loving husband, and a tender father—a noble, pious man." 
Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog), 1889

"In the pause between dying to self, and awakening to Self, there is a "limbic" state, a borderland neither here nor there. The body is laid in the tomb, and the resurrection only an inconceivable promise. Letting go of our bodies is no small thing for creatures so deeply identified with them as ourselves. Yet if I have learned anything over these years of study, it is this: I am not my body. Our bodies are but passing iterations, reflections of an inconceivably bright and steady truth, and the parts we play, we also drop as the curtain falls. Let the curtain fall, along with tears, and cast off the role. You will live well beyond the leaving."

Gil Hedley, Integral Anatomy

"Every day we touch what is wrong, and, as a result, we are becoming less and less healthy. That is why we have to learn to practice touching what is not wrong—inside us and around us. When we get in touch with our eyes, our heart, our liver, our breathing, and our non-toothache and really enjoy them, we see that the conditions for peace and happiness are already present." Thich Nhat Hanh

"My definition of fitness is to be able to carry out all of the activities in life that you desire, plus have a physical reserve at the end of the day to do something besides lie down and flip the remote. If you can do all that, if you're functional, then you're fit. It doesn't matter if you have great abs or can bench-press your body weight. Those things have nothing to do with real life." James Glinn, physical therapist, in an interview with Joe Kita for his 1999 book Wisdom of Our Fathers

"Everyone should be his own physician. We ought to assist and not force nature. Eat with moderation what agrees with your constitution. Nothing is good for the body but what we can digest. What medicine can produce digestion? Exercise. What will recruit strength? Sleep. What will alleviate incurable ills? Patience." Voltaire

"The deviation of man from the state in which he was originally placed by nature seems to have proved to him a prolific source of disease." Edward Jenner

"The cause is within us. The cure is within us. When we know this our concept of disease is no longer that of something fixed upon the body cells which must be purged, cut or burned away. It is not something coming in from the outside which we cannot prevent. Rather it is a change from within, and we must find the reason why the body changes its perfect pattern to vibrate to discord rather than to harmony." Rebecca Beard, 1951

"Illnesses which occur because of physical causes should be treated by doctors with medical remedies; those which are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means. Thus an illness caused by affliction, fear, nervous impressions, will be healed more effectively by spiritual rather than physical treatment. Hence, both kinds of treatment should be followed; they are not contradictory." 'Abdu'l-Bahá

"The root of all health is in the brain. The trunk of it is in emotion. The branches and leaves are the body. The flower of health blooms when all parts work together." Kurdish Saying

"From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health."  Catalan Proverb

"Health is a large word.  It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well;... and not today's pain or pleasure alone, but the whole being and outlook of a man."  James H. West

"In later times wise men were never wanting who endeavoured to restore among their contemporaries primitive habits and ways of living, to bring mankind back to the observance of those simple and rational rules of life to which the ancients owed their health and strength." Sebastian Kneipp, 1889, translated from German, introduction to Thus Shalt Thou Live  [Kneipp (1821–1897) was a pioneer in naturopathic medicine and was known for his strong beliefs in "water cures" a.k.a. hydrotherapy. —tεᖇᖇ¡·g]

"What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease". George Dennison Prentice, Prenticeana, 1860

"In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else."  Alison Rose Levy, "An Ancient Cure for Modern Life," Yoga Journal, Jan/Feb 2002

Wishing you health, balance and harmony today and everyday. Thank you for visiting.

For more information about In the Flow Studios ~ Body 

goto the website at http://intheflowstudios.com

or to follow us on fb goto In the Flow Studios ~ Body 

In the Flow Studios ~ Body Pinterest

Aurora's "Speak Your Art Blog Hub" combines posts from seven of her other blogs: In the Flow Studios Arts, In the Flow Studios Body, I Love Shelter Dogs, Mana Keepers, PaaMano Eskrima & Performing Arts, Self-Actualization thru Women's Empowerment and Speak Your Art Poetry. It brings her organizations together and offers her readers an easier way to follow new posts in one convenient location. 

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Some of the Benefits of Walking

Image credit AnswerThisCo

For thousands of years bipedalism has been a defining human characteristic. Our ancestors traveled upright through African savannas, the snow covered ice age and into the 21st century. While most of us already know that walking is good for our health most of us are unaware of the unique and powerful physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits it offers human beings. 

Until relatively recently in our human history walking was a daily part of our existence. While our society has made incredible advances in medicine and technology in the past 150 years we are still experiencing individual and societal health problems. Some of which are do to our modern sedentary life style. There are many options in modern societies to get some for of exercise but commonly walking is overlooked as a fundamental component of many fitness programs. Walking is a unique form of exercise providing multiple health benefits simultaneous as well as enhancing quality of life. Regardless of your age or physical fitness level walking is crucial in building a foundation for health and vitality.

human evolution.
(Image by Peter80, GFDL)

Walking played such an integral roll in our human development that we have a specific classification for the first known observance in our human evolutionary story with the discovery of the Hominid aka Hominin dating back 5 million years. 

One of its offshoots became Homo Erectus, the fore-bearers to the modern Homo Sapiens...us. The human body and brain have been shaped for millennia by refining the ability of walking. Simthsonian.com offers Hominid Hunting’s new series “Becoming Human,” which periodically examines the evolution of the major traits and behaviors that define humans, such as big brains, language, technology and art. Here they look at the most fundamental human characteristic: walking upright. Becoming Human: The Evolution of Walking Upright. For a different and more controversial perspective on the human evolution of walking upright read Savanna Theory Versus Aquatic Ape Theory of Human Evolution . (Those that enjoy anthropology, human evolution and/or developmental anatomy will want to take a look.)

The health benefits of walking are impressive and vital to longevity. Walking can not only strengthen your muscles and cardiovascular system it can also help decrease or eliminate he need for certain types of medications by balancing chronic health problems.

Harvard Health writes about the general health benefits of walking, "the cardiovascular benefits of walking are biologically plausible; like other forms of regular moderate exercise, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. And if cardiac protection and a lower death rate are not enough to get you moving, consider that walking and other moderate exercise programs also help protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction." 

Walking is a low impact way to get the synovial fluids flowing by the articulation of our joints, encouraging greater range of motion and healthier joint functions. 

Arthritis Health writes about the function of synovial fluid and why it is important to move those joints. "When a healthy joint moves, its bones glide against one another with little or no friction. This ease of motion exists because the boney surfaces are buffered by:

Synovial fluid's primary job is to provide cushion and lubrication for joints. A joint's synovial membrane produces substances called albumin and hyaluronic acid that give the synovial fluid its viscosity and slickness. In addition, synovial fluid delivers nutrients to the cartilage and removes waste from the cartilage.

When the joint is at rest the cartilage absorbs some of the synovial fluid. When the joint is in use the synovial fluid is squeezed out of the cartilage, much like how water is wrung from a sponge. Consequently, joint use is essential to circulate the synovial fluid throughout the joint." 

Meditating while walking provides
greater results in stress relief.

White Wind Zen Community explains Kinhin or the walking meditation. The word kinhin means sutra walk in Japanese. In traditional Buddhist cultures there's a customary practice of circumambulating. Walking around sites designated as sacred and reciting mantra or sutra. Sutra are records of a talk or discourse by the Buddha. A talk about practice. More generally, sutra can mean a presentation of Awakened Mind. As we step forth in kinhin, we are embodying that presentation of Awakened Mind. 

Julie Garden-Robinson of North Dakota State University writes, “Getting moderate exercise such as walking can enhance our mood while it strengthens our hearts and reduces our risk for diabetes, cancer and numerous other health issues,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, food and nutrition specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Research has shown that walking promotes the release of brain chemicals called endorphins that stimulate relaxation and improve our mood. Walking does not have to be done at a fast pace to have stress-relieving benefits. Even a stroll at a comfortable pace promotes relaxation, studies indicate.

Meditating while walking had the greatest impact on mood enhancement, according to a 16-week study that involved 135 volunteers divided into five groups. The different groups walked quickly or slowly. Some groups meditated while they walked, and some groups did not meditate.

As their meditation, the walkers simply counted “one, two, one, two” as they walked. The meditation was designed to have them focus on their steps instead of thinking about other concerns. Regardless of the speed of their walking, the meditating groups experienced the greatest impact on stress reduction and mood enhancement."

Whenever possible, walk outdoors, nature is an incredible healing balm. 

Wishing you health, balance and harmony today and everyday. Thank you for visiting.

For more information about In the Flow Studios ~ Body 

goto the website at http://intheflowstudios.com

or to follow us on fb goto In the Flow Studios ~ Body 

and the In the Flow Studios ~ Body Pinterest

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In the Flow Proprio - Longevity, Vitality and Movement Classes

In the Flow Proprio Adult Program

This program is about prevention and redemption. The focus is on understanding our bodies and their needs through mindful movement, proprioception exercises, self-release work, breath and understanding. 

This class is open to adults from beginner levels to advanced levels of physical fitness. It is a foundational course created to help the student develop or recapture greater physical vitality and strength through developing greater mobility, balance and breath. While the work we will do is beneficial at any stage or fitness level, one need not be in prime shape to participate in this class. 

In the flow Proprio is not a supplement to fitness or cardio training it is the body/mind foundation that lets us participate in these other forms of exercises/movement for a lifetime. 

I have had the great opportunity to experience high levels of physical fitness and vitality as a martial arts instructor at Kadan Martial Arts & PaaMano Eskrima Performing Arts and a teacher/coach in Self-actualization thru Women's Empowerment as well as experience the challenges of injuries and health problems. I have had to walk the road to recovery and healing on more than one occasion. I find myself at this crossroads once again. First my back injury, then shoulder injury, knee injury and then health problems knocked the wind out of my sails creating a sedentary life-style for years. I am 48 years old and I haven't spent time rehabilitating my previous injuries or nurturing my mind and body in years. I am ready to walk the walk back to physical fitness and vitality of spirit and I invite you to share my walk and make it your own. 

We will...

Gently wake muscles that may have been over looked as well as relax the muscles that may have been over worked by the challenges of modern living... 

Encourage balanced body systems and better neuroplasticity through proprioceptive movement and centered mind exercises...

Increase our mana/chi/prana (eternal life force - vitality) through the ancient breathing practices of Tibet, India and Japan...

Open the flow of our bodies to encourage vitality and longevity of movement through promoting free moving joints, increase in synovial fluid production, and lymph drainage techniques. 

Combining Pilates mat and modified chair work, proprioceptive (balance) exercises, breath work, Earthing, Reiki, self massage, continuing education and mind-centered movement this class focuses on promoting longevity of movement and revitalizing the mind, spirit and body. 

In the Flow Proprio classes are perfect if you are looking to make your body stronger from a previous injury, gently ease yourself back into movement or increase your body's resilience to injury and improve biomechanics. 

Our movement and breath work not only strengthen our vital organs and our muscles but also promote a more open flow of our lymph, endocrine, meridian and circulatory systems. 

Class size is extremely limited so students must pre-register every month to ensure their space in the class for the following month. Pre-registration is open now for Introductory In the Flow Proprio Foundation Workshops on Sat., Feb. 27th or Sun. Feb. 28th. This workshop is a prerequisite for registration in the March Class. 

In the Flow Proprio March Class Schedule:

Class meets twice a week for four weeks in La Mirada, CA.

Tues,   3/1/16          7:15pm - 8:30pm 
Thurs, 3/3/18         7:15pm - 8:30pm
Tues,   3/8/16         7:15pm - 8:30pm
Thurs, 3/10/16        7:15pm - 8:30pm
Tues,   3/15/16        7:15pm - 8:30pm
Thurs, 3/17/16        7:15pm - 8:30pm
Tues,   3/22/16       7:15pm - 8:30pm
Thurs, 3/24/16       7:15pm - 8:30pm

If you live in Southern California and are interested in participating please email info@manakeepers.com for more information. 

Wishing you health, balance and harmony today and everyday. Thank you for visiting.

For more information about In the Flow Studios ~ Body 
goto the website at http://intheflowstudios.com
or to follow us on fb goto In the Flow Studios ~ Body 
and the In the Flow Studios ~ Body Pinterest

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