The Healing Tree: Recommendations for Healthy, Balanced Living
The Healing Tree is my metaphor for a healthy lifestyle. I hope you find something useful here. Remember, though, to make changes in measured steps, one thing at a time, for maximum success. Also, be sure to check with your healthcare providers.
Leaves (mental/emotional/spiritual)
- Sunshine/Nature/Outdoors
- Prayer/Silent meditation
- Abdominal breathing
- Creative meditation (music, drawing, painting, sewing, writing, woodworking, etc.)
- Journaling (gratitude, dreamwork, introspective)
- Sleep enough to feel rested, bed by 10pm if possible, short naps
- Support network of family/friends
- Cultivate feelings of love and gratitude
- Laughter
Trunk (physical)
- Exercise ideally 30-40 minutes, 4 days/week
- Stretching/Moving meditation (yoga, tai chi, qi gong)
- Body work (massage, chiropractic, Rolfing, reflexology, physical therapy)
- Energy work (Healing Touch, EFT, reiki, acupuncture, homeopathy, BioSET)
- Regular medical checkups
Roots (nutrition/diet)
- Water pure, filtered to remove chlorine, lead, fluoride, etc.
- Whole foods and supplements
- Living foods raw or fermented for enzymes and probiotics (yogurt, kefir, kombucha, traditional sauerkraut)
- Organic or pesticide-free
- Meats grassfed or wild, according to your metabolic type
- Plenty of vitamin A and D (eggs, butter, cultured dairy, cod liver oil)
- Unrefined salt for mineral content
- More omega 3 (flax and fish oils) and less omega 6 fatty acids
- No tobacco, trans fats, processed foods, additives, preservatives
- Limit caffeine, refined sugar and flour, alcohol