Cleansing
The Skin
Sweating
The
skin is the largest eliminative organ of the body. Elimination
through sweating requires less energy than elimination
through the kidneys, liver, or bowel. Working up a good
flowing sweat through physical exercise is very healthy.
Sitting in a sauna is very beneficial. Cold water after
the heat is invigorating and stimulating to the immune
system. Consult your healthcare professional if you
have high blood pressure, heart disease, a weak constitution,
or are recovering from an illness before using a sauna
or very cold temperatures.
Deep
Skin Brushing
Using
a good quality natural bristle brush stimulates the
skin all over the body. Brushing loosens and exfoliates
dead skin cells opening the pores and allowing for toxins
to be released from the skin and body. Start with small
circular movements and progress to larger ones. The
skin will become red, which indicates increased circulation
and elimination of toxins. At first your skin will be
quite sensitive, but in a short time you'll toughen
up. Dry brush before you shower.
Clothing
Our
skin is referred to as the third kidney. Our skin is
designed to breath and release toxins. Often clothing
is worn that does not allow the body to breath by holding
toxins and sweat against the skin clogging the pores.
Synthetic clothing is the primary culprit. It is important
to wear clothing that breathes. Avoid synthetic clothing,
such as nylon, polyester, etc. Cotton, linen, silk,
and wool are best. Wear 100% natural fiber underclothing.
Use knee highs instead of panty hose.
It
doesn't have to be for a long time at any one stretch.
Using the breath to bring us back to the present moment
takes no time at all, only a shift in attention. But
great adventures await you if you give yourself a little
time to string moments of awareness together, breath
by breath, moment to moment.
Begin
the Breath Observation Meditation by sitting in a comfortable
position with your back straight and your eyes lightly
closed. Loosen any tight clothing. Focus your attention
on your breathing, and follow the contours of the cycle
through inhalation and exhalation, noting, if you can,
the points at which one phase changes into the other.
Try staying with one full in-breath as it come in, one
full out-breath as it goes out, keeping your mind open
and free for just this moment, just this breath. Abandon
all ideas of getting somewhere or having anything happen.
Just keep returning to the breath when the mind wanders,
stringing moments of mindfulness together, breath by
breath.
Do
this for five minutes once a day. Work up to 45 minutes
per day. Your goal is simply to keep your attention
on the breath cycle and observe. It may speed up or
slow down; it may get deeper or more shallow; it may
seem to stop for a time. Whatever happens with your
breathing, innocently observe it, without anticipating
or resisting any changes.
You
will find that at times your attention drifts away from
your breath and goes to a thought in the mind, some
sensation in the body, a sound in the environment or
some emotional feeling. Whenever you notice that you
are not observing the breath, gently bring your attention
back to your breathing.
During
the practice of meditation, you will have one of three
experiences. All of which are correct.
- You
may feel bored or restless and your mind may become
filled with thoughts. This is an indication that
deep-rooted stresses and emotions are being released
from your system. By effortlessly continuing with
meditation, you will facilitate the removal of these
impurities from your mind and body.
- You
may fall asleep. If you fall asleep in meditation,
it is an indication that you need more rest during
other times of the day.
- You
may slip into the gap. When the breath becomes very
settled and refined, you slip into the gap between
thoughts, beyond sound, and beyond breath.
Recommended
Reading: Wherever You Go, There You Are,
by Jon Kabat-Zinn . |
