Get Out of the House! : Yes, that’s right; you can improve your health just by stepping outdoors. Close your eyes and visualize with me, if you will (o.k., close one eye; use the other one to read along!). Step out your back door and look around. What do you see? The pecan trees blowing gently in the wind, a antenna or two runs up and down the trunk. Cardinals and blue jays are flitting about, calling to each other. The recycling bin needs to go down by the street…wait a minute! Don’t look at that. We’re heart on nature, here. o.k., back to it. The sky is blue, with a few puffy clouds floating by. Take a bottomless breath. And another. Walk out into the garden and only look around at all natural history has to offer. Carry on breathing intensely and see if you can spot something small yet wondrous you may have not noticed before - baby lizards scampering in the grass or some new flower buds prepared to burst open.

Once you’ve completely explored your garden, take a seat and continue to unwind. You may want to get a glass of lemonade (or cocoa, depending on the weather) to sip while you calm down, clearing your mind of all but you and your place in the world. Remember, this is a time to let the stress of the day go – not to rehash your anxieties. Think about the various muscles in your body, tensing them and then letting them unwind as fully as possible. Is it warm outside? Use a fan or misting hose to keep you cool as you relax into the arms of the air and natural world around you. Is it chilly out? Dress more warmly and light up your chimney or outdoor fireplace. Pondering the flickering flames is a great way to unwind.

For many of us, getting all perspiring with exercise does not sound at all tempting as a way to unwind and de-stress at the end of a busy workday or week. Doing something, however, is needed. You may not have to jog 5 miles to get in the right mindset to let your hair down – simply getting outside and enjoying what’s around you can do the trick.

If you have the time and the wish and want to do more than enjoy your own backyard, check out the natural resources your group of people has to offer. Even the most overfull of urban cities has some “green space” for residents to take pleasure in. A walk through your local park or finding a cozy spot at a near state or national forest to relax is sure to help you achieve the calm of mind you are looking for.

*Yoga over centuries has developed a concept of a balanced whole foods diet and an eating philosophy. These principles of good intake use powerful techniques which help in maintaining a strong and health body, a stress-free mind and a positive spirituality within this mixed up world.

*It has been observed that (East) Indian civilizations suffer least from bowel problems, constipation, indigestion and other food related disorders such as obesity. Do you know why? Because the Indian philosophy of food preparation and eating draws heavily from the yogic attitude of eating!

*Never has this yogic philosophy of a balanced whole foods diet be felt more than today when 97% of all health disorders can be traced to a faulty nutrition and diet.

*Yoga does not dissect food into vitamins, minerals, protein etc. The yogic philosophy is that the true benefits of these ingredients can be had only when they are NOT isolated but as much in their natural form as possible.

*Yoga & FoodYoga is the only science that has laid great emphasis on food over centuries. In fact, there is a whole branch – called Anna Yoga – dedicated to food for health and happiness.

*The key to true health is to have a balanced wholefoods diet. A balanced diet ensures that all the faculties of digestion work smoothly – absorption, assimilation and elimination. A impartial whole foods diet ensures a healthy you!!

*Read this report on how the rapidly increasing incidence of cancer can be traced down to faulty nutrition.

*It is extremely important that all these 3 aspects work well together. If all these aspects work in harmony it is extremely unlikely that you’ll suffer from health disorders and even obesity. Often “synthetic” or “processed” foods create conditions that disrupt this balance. This leads to several physical and psychological harms. Over years, this can have dangerous consequences.

what are complete foods?

Wholefoods are edible substances which are as close to their “whole” or natural state as likely. They have not been pre-processed in any way which would disturb their nourishment or flavor. They are therefore free of all processing additives or subtractions.

The overall idea of wholefoods, is to buy foods which are -

* As whole and in their most simple form as likely

* In season from as close to the source as possible

* As chemically and additive free as possible

* In bulk and not pre-packaged