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Your body and spirit entwine. Heart disease patients often become depressed. And, people who are depressed often develop heart disease. Some say our obesity epidemic reflects our starving souls.
You'll find this soulful connection acknowledged in wellness spas such as the legendary Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson. Long a Mecca for the rich and thin (and those who want to look like them), the former fat farm has morphed over the years into a citadel for true health. Exercise classes are now active lifestyle lessons and celery with water lunches are delicious spa cuisine feasts.
For the soul, the spa has a spiritual program director, Jonathan Ellerby. If you can't squeeze out the time or funds for a visit, check out his book Return to the Sacred. In it, he cites Twelve Master Paths and Practices. Here are a few to put you on a spiritual path.
A daily ritual is a chance to stop, get centered and be thankful. Burn incense or herbs, present a tiny simple offering such as rice or tea leaves and reflect on your place in the universe.
Yoga positions, Tai Chi, dancing with abandoned all put the soul in tune with the body's rhythms and balance.
Associated most often with Eastern practices, some form of this practice of sitting and stilling the mind and body is a part of nearly every spiritual practice. Whether focusing on a higher being or repeating a phrase, meditation not only reduces stress but, according to Harvard researcher Sara Lazar, it increases the brain size.
Nothing launches your spirit to flight like helping someone. The path of service isn't writing checks, it is giving of yourself. Volunteer at the crisis nursery, animal shelter, soup kitchen, hospital or in your own neighborhood. Your soul will receive far more than you can imagine.
You'll find this soulful connection acknowledged in wellness spas such as the legendary Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson. Long a Mecca for the rich and thin (and those who want to look like them), the former fat farm has morphed over the years into a citadel for true health. Exercise classes are now active lifestyle lessons and celery with water lunches are delicious spa cuisine feasts.
For the soul, the spa has a spiritual program director, Jonathan Ellerby. If you can't squeeze out the time or funds for a visit, check out his book Return to the Sacred. In it, he cites Twelve Master Paths and Practices. Here are a few to put you on a spiritual path.
- Ritual
A daily ritual is a chance to stop, get centered and be thankful. Burn incense or herbs, present a tiny simple offering such as rice or tea leaves and reflect on your place in the universe.
- Movement
Yoga positions, Tai Chi, dancing with abandoned all put the soul in tune with the body's rhythms and balance.
- Meditation
Associated most often with Eastern practices, some form of this practice of sitting and stilling the mind and body is a part of nearly every spiritual practice. Whether focusing on a higher being or repeating a phrase, meditation not only reduces stress but, according to Harvard researcher Sara Lazar, it increases the brain size.
- Service
Nothing launches your spirit to flight like helping someone. The path of service isn't writing checks, it is giving of yourself. Volunteer at the crisis nursery, animal shelter, soup kitchen, hospital or in your own neighborhood. Your soul will receive far more than you can imagine.
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