3 ways I stay healthy in mind and body.
It's easier than you think.
No one who lives in fear is really alive. — A Course in Miracles
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How “spiritual” are you?
It’s been said that to gauge how “spiritual” you are, go spend a week with your family — but I prefer to lay down my spiritual punch card and say, Well, I guess I’m not spiritual and — by and large — avoid my family for my mental health.
I prefer to say, If you want to gauge how spiritual you are, become a solo entrepreneur fully invested in your business and ride the wave for 20+ years, especially the 1st quarter with taxes due, Mercury Retrograde, eclipses, the rare client who doesn’t pay an invoice, car dealers, wire transfers that don’t reach their destination but are needed, codes that don’t work, etc.
THEN you’ll see how spiritual you are.
But hey, I like to look at this entire experience as a video game.
I’ve heard simulation thrown around quite a bit lately but I see my life as The Adventures of Raven. Ooh, that happened. What will she do next? Ooh, she’s walking down the road, crying and screaming at the sky. What will she do next? Ooh, she’s chill and easy, even when difficulties are thrown her way (I’ll take that punch card back, thanks). Ooh, a silly car dealer thinks they can lowball her (she’ll say, We all know where sales are going, so keep my number when those cars sit on your lot and you’re actually ready to make a deal). Ooh, she is so happy right now, puttering in the kitchen. Look at her! Wow. Look at that book being created out of nothing! That Raven is so amazing!
Or, as Florence Scovel Shinn wrote in The Game of Life and How To Play It:
Games take discipline, strategy and endurance to enjoy moments of fun — especially the one we play right now on planet Earth.
Here are three ways I stay healthy in mind and body. My spirit is beyond all of this — the essence of me — but my human self needs all the help she can get and I provide it.
1. I cook and bake using organic products and avoid the poisoned food system. I make my meals from scratch, for the most part.
I’ve written extensively for years about my commitment to organic products and farmers, even when I endured periods of financial hardship. A good friend of mine recently said, I love how you really care about being healthy and I laughed and said, Why wouldn’t I? If my body isn’t healthy and my mind is clogged, say goodbye to Shivaya Wellness and any modicum of a happy life. Yet so many people walk around in a rage because they are constipated or in pain from processed and inflammatory foods. There is so much info online and free videos on how to grow and cook organic (one organic squash will provide dozens of seeds) that it really is a choice for most people to stay unhealthy or replace one item in their pantry, even if it’s soda to organic juice, for example.
Sprout seeds are an easy and very cheap way to have a powerhouse of a food source — throw them in good soil and a pot and they’ll be ready to cut in 2-3 days.
I don’t preach to anyone about my food choices and say to each their own. However, I encourage anyone who is interested in upgrading their diet to check out Moms Across America and view their tests of processed food — especially fast food — and the poison contained therein.
A happy liver is a happy you — and if we continue to stress ours with weed killers, heavy metals, toxins, our liver will struggle.
I rarely eat at restaurants unless they are organic and trace where their food originates. Yes, I’m one of those people and make no apologies. Chipotle is the only fast food joint I’ll occasionally indulge because of their commitment to non-GMO and clean food.
I do eat meat right now but have been vegan otherwise (no dairy) and gluten free for years. I’d like to go back to being fully vegan and when my body says it’s time, I will. For now, I love Minimalist Baker for quick and easy recipes and am going to make an awesome beet coconut bread and a turkey black bean chili later today. I eat from 7ish-4:30pm — whatever I want — and strive to not eat food past 4:30pm. That just works best with my digestion.
Because I consistently invest in my health, my body responds with being largely pain-free and I’m leaner and stronger than I’ve ever been. My strength after menopause is more of an enduring power, rather than rippling muscles during the times I went to the gym. As long as I feel good for the majority of my days, I’m happy.
My cat is also included. Here’s how I help her:
2. I make my own laundry detergent and wear organic fabrics. I’ve never dyed my hair, nor do I wear makeup or nail polish anymore.
Sometimes I do a new thing and say, Why didn’t I do this years ago? I used to use clean laundry strips with organic oils but recently found a recipe from Martha Stewart for DIY laundry detergent. It works great! I use food grade peroxide, just in case — and have a year’s worth of laundry liquid from a quick and easy recipe.
I’m always looking out for my liver and a few years ago, gave away most of my clothes that were made of polyester (especially yoga pants) and replaced with organic cotton, hemp, silk and natural fabrics. It’s still a process but I am committed to only wearing natural fabrics for my sensitive skin and once they are worn out, will biodegrade naturally in the Earth — as I will someday!
I understand why women like to wear makeup and dye their hair, so this is not a criticism because I love women. I personally will not dye my hair or wear makeup because of my liver and only use organic oils, lotions and shampoo bars. If I were to wear nail polish, dye my hair or use makeup, I would buy the highest quality organic products— and there are thankfully many out there now. Anything we place on our body is processed by the liver, so I keep that in mind when applying to skin or scalp.
3. Yoga. Rest. Silence. Nature.
I’ve practiced yoga for decades now and always thank my past self for trying out that first yoga class in Brooklyn so many eras ago. Yoga just fits — and it is the best way that I retain bodily strength and keep my mind from going off the rails. I go through periods where I do it a few times a week, then not, then once or twice. But I have NEVER done yoga and said, Ugh, wish I hadn’t done that. I practice at home now — I’m too used to doing it online and haven’t gone to a class in a long time but there is much value in practicing with others, especially as a newbie. Any great yoga teacher will instantly make you feel welcome and loved, no matter where you are in your practice. If you prefer at home, there are millions of free YT videos. My favorite site is Do Yoga With Me — they have excellent teachers (David, Fiji, Christa and Tracey are my favs) and beautiful outdoor practice spaces.
If I’m not feeling yoga, I still have a mat laid out in my main room so that it reminds me to practice, even if it’s basic stretching or holding plank for a minute or so.
I’m a morning bird, up with the sun — but once night, I’m in bed by 9ish and read a book or throw cards. Absolutely no devices in the bedroom and I strive to be off computers at least an hour before bed. I turn off the wireless modem, too. More studies will come out in the next year or so that will warn of the dangers of this tech, so thanks to one of my clients, I started to switch off everything before bed. I sleep 8-9 hours and it powers me through the next day. Rarely do I nap but if sleep has been wonky or I don’t feel 100%, I’ll catch a nap if necessary.
I’m always driven back to meditation when life gets stressful and I do a basic inhale/exhale routine if my nervous system is buzzy. Nothing special — I sit on a pillow or go outside and rest for however long my body wants. If my mind wanders, I say inhale/exhale. That’s it. After about 10 minutes, I hit that theta state and come down from stress and feel better about life — usually. If I need more mediation during the day, I do it again.