GET FIT STAY FIT

‘Future doctors will not give medicines. Instead they will teach patients how to take care of the body, choose the right food, know the cause of the disease and prevent it.’
 – Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), US inventor

Today it is possible to realise the above idea of Edison. So this is a small attempt to write something based on the findings and opinions of several researchers and physicians from all over the world.
Good health means a  strong immune system and it is built on three pillars: proper physical exercise, balanced diet and a cheerful mind. The last one is the most important. There is a saying that tension has filled more graves than cancer. So be cheerful. Involving oneself in honest, useful and creative work brings joy and has no alternative.
 Exercise should begin at the age of four. There are many types of exercises. Walking, jumping, running and swimming make a type; using instruments, like a spring or a bicycle, makes another and lifting weights yet another. Massage (rubbing or kneading different parts of the body) is also an exercise. All these have movement in common. On the other hand, yoga is an exercise which emphasizes more on certain postures of the body than on the movement of it. However, every type of exercise is beneficial. Choosing the right type for oneself needs considering one's age, physical condition, environmental facility, time limit and sense of well-being. Yet there are some exercises which are suitable for all except those who are unable to move. Here are some of them.
Walk briskly for 45 minutes everyday. If it is not possible to do it at a stretch, do it in phases. Walking keeps the body flexible and supplies enough, oxygen to the brain which reduces tension. It also prevents women's menopausal bone decay and other complications.
Massage makes blood circulation easy and fat deposit difficult. Massage on some important areas is mentioned below which benefits not only the adjacent limbs, but other parts of the body.
a) Massaging the head keeps the brain healthy. It also prevents hair fall and premature graying of hair.
b) Rub the forehead with wet fingertips in circular motion for ten minutes everyday. It is good for the pituitary gland responsible for bodily growth.
c) Massaging both sides of the ears and twisting them keep the stomach well.
d) Rubbing the nose with a palm in circular motion keeps the kidneys strong.
e) The first sign of any physical or mental pressure is a stiff neck. So in order to keep the neck supple, massage and rotate it with an up and down movement.
f) Massaging both sides of the throat below the jaws keeps the thyroid and the tonsil glands well.
g) To keep the hands very active massage the elbow joint with a little pressure and the area between the elbow and the wrist normally.
h) Massaging around the navel eases tension and doing it lying flat prevents intestinal disorder, too.
Taking deep breaths through the nose when putting two hands on the belly lying flat and then slowly breathing out through the mouth keep the lungs strong. Doing it for 20 minutes everyday assures good sleep. Another good exercise is squeezing and releasing the anus continually as long as possible. It strengthens the immune system and retains youth.
A large portion of our nerves ends at the palm, or to be more precise, at the entire inner surface of the hand including fingers and wrist and at the sole i.e. the bottom surface of the foot including toes and ankle. Rubbing these areas with. a hard plastic brush or any rough object for 20 minutes everyday is very beneficial. It gradually cures many diseases like insomnia, high blood pressure and heart disease. Even frequent clapping reduces high blood pressure, cures cataract and enhances memory. It also prevents stroke. Women should do it during pregnancy.
Throw cold water on closed eyes at least 25 times whenever you wash your face. It is good for the eyes. Draw and release as much water as possible through the nose. It is an antidote to cold and good for headache, sinusitis and migraine.
Yoga, originating in the sub-continent, is now popular throughout the world. Yet many of us are ignorant about it or mistakenly think it belongs to a certain religious practice. One may learn about yoga by reading books on yoga and from experts. The main characteristic of yoga is fixing the body in a particular stressed posture for a short time and then taking rest. Yoga also gives much importance to breathing and the practice is called 'pranayam'. A posture is called an 'asan' and there are hundreds of asans to choose from, according to one's requirement. After remaining in an asan for as long as it is bearable, usually 30 to 60 seconds, one has to take rest in an asan called 'Shabasan' or corpse posture.
As its title implies, Shabasan is lying flat on one's back without a pillow under the head, spreading arms and legs and keeping the mind tension-free. When you wake up In the morning, do not jump out of bed. Lie in Shabasan for some time as it will boost your energy and confidence. Doing Shabasan for half an hour a day keeps the spine well, increases stamina and tolerance and eases any pain or hidden problem. Most of our blood is produced from the spine and the ribs.
Two more asans should be done before breakfast Pavanmuktasan (wind release posture) and Bhujangasan (snake posture). The gas produced in the stomach during digestion after dinner is liable for nearly one-third of all diseases. The above two asans improve digestion and bring out the harmful gas. Pavanmuktasan is also good for asthma, back pain, waist pain and diabetes while Bhujangasan is for back pain, waist pain, high blood pressure and female diseases. There is another asan called Bajrasan (diamond posture) which is an exceptional one because, like other asans, it does not need to be done on an empty stomach or 2 hours after a meal. It is done immediately after having a meal and helps digestion. It is also good for sleep, keeps the lower part of the body strong and flattens the belly.
(Continued next week)
The writer is Organiser, HEAL.