Identifying the Benefits of Daily Practices

I’ve been struggling recently, as I often do during the winter. Along with the physical dip I often find my brain chemistry affected, particularly my motivation. As this is such a common occurence I’ve written lots of posts on low motivation and getting over a dip, but today I realised I needed to focus in on the benefits of my essential practices, so I thought I’d share my process.

I have several essential practices that I know are my foundation for the best well-being possible at the time, but that knowledge seems rather distant in the moment when my lack of motivation is telling me I can’t be bothered. So today I want to bring that knowledge back into the forefront of my mind and create a reminder to my wholeness for why it’s worth actually doing them!

1. Tai Chi

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • I have a little more energy and my energy feels a little freer on the days I do my tai chi compared to the days I don’t
  • Combined with my other morning practices (rehydration, essential oils and meditation) Tai chi can be extremely effective at getting rid of the ME morning hangover symptoms (that feeling of being hungover even when you haven’t drunk anything) or even that sense of waking up feeling run over by a bus.

Things I believe:

  • Morning movement is important for getting the lymphatic system flowing, which is important for detox and optimising the immune system
  • Time practising Tai chi is parasympathetic time which is time my body can send its resources to healing
  • Tai chi is an opportunity to practice mindfulness

Things I choose to have faith in:

  • Tai Chi helps to balance and unblock my energy channels which will lead to better health
  • Tai chi is an opportunity to practice being one with the way (Tao); an opportunity to practice opening to a connection with the universe

2. Mediation

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • When I practice meditation regularly, I sleep better
  • Many of my meditations leave me feeling uplifted
  • Many of my mediations set me up with a good mindset to start the day with
  • I often feel lighter and clearer in my body after a self-healing meditation

Things I believe:

  • Time practising meditation is parasympathetic time which is time my body can send its resources to healing
  • Meditation is means of developing mindfulness skills, which enable me to make better well-being choices throughout the day
  • Meditation is a way of connecting to my higher wisdom
  • Meditation helps me become a more peaceful, loving, joyful and compassionate person which will benefit those around me. I can also benefits others by sharing my skills, teaching, encouraging and inspiring.

Things I choose to have faith in:

  • Healing mediations have a positive influence on my biochemistry, through the mind body connection
  • Meditation is an opportunity to open up to a connection with universal oneness

3. YogaHow focusing on the benefits of your daily practices can boost motivation

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • Practising my gentle yoga routine consistently, leads to a better baseline of sustainable activity
  • I can dramatically reduce the intensity of a headache, if not get rid of it all together, with my short practice
  • I can relieve aches and pains in my legs and feet with my practice
  • I can get my blood pressure up, when it is so low that I feel awful, with my gentle practise
  • I always feel better for doing it, sometimes only slightly better, but mostly substantially better
  • Once I get on the mat it’s easy to continue, I don’t need to have a lot of energy to invest in it, I just need to make a start

Things I believe:

  • Yoga can help keep me fit even though I practise without exertion
  • Time practising yoga is parasympathetic time which is time my body can send its resources to healing
  • Yoga is an opportunity to practice mindfulness (which will enable me to make better well-being choices throughout the day)
  • The compassion I develop for myself during yoga is something I can share with others
  • Yoga helps me become a more peaceful, balanced person which benefits those around me

Things I choose to have faith in:

  • Aligning my body physically with yoga helps to balance and unblock my energy channels which will lead to better health
  • Yoga is an opportunity to practice opening to a connection with universal oneness

4. Donna Eden Energy Exercises

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • My body feels lighter and more energised after less than 5 minutes of practice
  • During one of the exercises I can feel tension flowing out of my body
  • During another of these exercises I can feel myself getting lighter

Things I believe:

  • Time practising these exercises is parasympathetic time which is time my body can send its resources to healing

Things I choose to have faith in:

  • The body is made up of many different energy systems, creating better balance and flow in these systems will lead to better health
  • Regular consistent practice will aid my healing

5. Time Restricted Feeding

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • I have less gut swelling and wind when I am consistent with a 15-hour gut rest
  • I have less cravings and find it easier to eat more healthily when I consistently restrict my food intake to a 9-hour window
  • I lost excess weight when I was consistent

Things I believe:

  • When I eat is just as important as what I eat
  • The more consistent I get the more I will benefit
  • An 8-hour window could be even more beneficial

6. Daily Walk

Things I know (have evidence for):

  • Time spent outside nearly always lifts my spirits
  • I can always find something natural to appreciate, and the more I choose to appreciate the more naturally joy finds me

Things I believe:

  • Gentle walking will benefit my lymphatic system, aiding detox and supporting the immune system
  • A daily walk, no matter how short is an opportunity to practice mindfulness (which will enable me to make better well-being choices throughout the day)
  • Getting out in natural daylight will help balance circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep and aiding the endocrine system
  • Getting skin exposure to daylight promotes vitamins D which has many benefits for health

Things I choose to have faith in:

  •  A mindful walk is an opportunity to practice opening to a connection with universal oneness
  • A daily walk is an opportunity to add to the love in the world by silently wishing everyone I pass happiness, joy and laughter

What are the benefits of your daily practices? Are you keeping those benefits in the forefront of your mind when you come to practice?

Could I ask a favour? Could you rate this article using the stars below the related posts? I’d be really grateful, thanks! 

Image courtesy of pixabay.com

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