April showers bring May flowers… along with soggy shoes, dirt under the fingernails, and mud-stained grins. At least, that’s how it is for us gardeners.
Have you ever done something that you are absolutely immersed in and it seems like time stands still? That feeling is Yoga. Yoga means “union”, and you can achieve this state of being in ways other than practicing asanas (yoga postures).
Some of my ways I achieve Yoga are, you guessed it, gardening, along with strength-training & conditioning, writing, knitting, and basically anytime I am being active or creating something.
To take this a step further, Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, encourages establishing what I call “health non-negotiables”. Some of these are addressed daily, and others weekly. And, the best thing about this is that we can actually schedule time for the things that help us achieve this state of union!
Ayurveda provides us a basic foundation: -Rise early/bed before 10pm -Cleanse your mouth, skin, and colon upon waking -Eat 3 meals at the same time everyday, the biggest meal at lunch and the smallest at dinner -Drink when you’re thirsty -Get at least 8 hours of sleep
To this foundation, we can add our own personal health non-negotiables. These things are non-harming actions we do for the sake of caring for ourselves. They can include, but are not limited to, movement/exercise, weight-lifting, self-massage, baths, Reiki, energy work or massage, drinking a cup of herbal tea, eating a healthy & delicious meal, stretching, yoga, meditation, walking, gardening, biking, reading a book, and writing.
Despite believing in the concept of “everything is moderation”, I would not go as far as consider drinking alcohol (even a glass of wine) or coffee, “treating” ourselves with yummy but unhealthy food, or excessive shopping as health non-negotiables. I encourage that you make your health non-negotiables something that you can incorporate consistently into your lifestyle that will not cause any negative side-effects.
Some of mine health non-negotiables are -Taking my herbs & supplements everyday as indicated -Daily stretching & self-massage -Exercising 3-4x a week -Resting (and saying no) when I’m tired -Taking a walk in nature at least once a week
It might sound simple, but I’ve found that establishing a routine and my health non-negotiables has changed my life! I used to be too busy giving myself to others or to things that didn’t serve me. Now, I no longer glorify being busy. Instead, I lead a “full” life, with health, boundaries, and things that nourish my being. Everything else comes second.
Do you have any health non-negotiables you’d like to share? Please share them in the comments below!
Thanks Lynn for your very informative advice. I am doing many of the same things you are doing. I am a caregiver for my wife who was diagnosed for the 4th time with breast cancer in Dec 2018. Since then, I have been doing the food shopping and preparing dinners.
I wish your PURA VIDA store was still in Bryn Athyn.
Thanks again for the information on Ayurveda
Dear Edward,
Thank you for reading and for sharing your story. And thank you for caring so lovingly for your wife while she (and you) go through this very difficult time. Stressing about what’s for dinner is the last thing anyone needs, especially when there is illness in the household. The cook books “Eat, Taste, Heal” and “The Cancer Fighting Kitchen” are 2 cookbooks I particularly enjoy and use a lot when I meal prep. I I’m so glad that this post resonated with you, thank you again for reading. You and your wife will be in my prayers.
~Lynn