Although we all love to talk about health, diligently practicing a healthy lifestyle is another matter. We are familiar with the concept of balancing physical exercise, sleep, a stress-free life and nutritious diet as the basic foundation for a healthy life. But I wonder how many of us strive for it in reality.
I, for one, am among those who have been struggling with this effort to find that balance. I have experimented with so many combinations, with little, and inconsistent, success. In recent years, however, my interest in health has shifted somewhat to a deeper and more original (as in, closer to the origin) approach.
I now believe that health is innate in our body. The body knows health and wishes to express it. That is, the body wants to be healthy and it does actually know how to be healthy. However, we often repress this expression of health.
Take sleep, for instance. We know that if we feel sleepy, chances are, sleep is the best antidote. But we keep on going. We drink coffee or energy drinks, smoke or whatever, to help us stay awake. We deprive our body of its right to rest.
Another example is stress. Stress has obvious symptoms: prolonged muscle ache, recurring headaches, high levels of stomach acid, insomnia, lack of concentration, short temper. The body is trying to get us to stop and look at how we are. Unfortunately, we do not always listen.
These are just two simple examples. We can apply this observation to just about any physical or emotional sensation. The body is continually sending us signals about what is going on and hinting “this way!” If we listen, it can guide us toward health.
I am a witness of this phenomenon – and an avid supporter of it. My journey toward health really got going when I started to slow down and to listen to my body. My snowball of health has been rolling and growing since then, although I am still far from the bottom of the hill.
For several years now, I have gone on meditation and spiritual retreats. I recently went on a 12-day meditation retreat in Bali. The food was vegan. I drank plain, warm water. The meditations focused on feeling physical sensations (including sensations created by traumas or emotions) and noticing the changes in the body, with loving-kindness intention.
It was a challenging retreat, with past traumas resurfacing. But at the end, in addition to feeling like the healthiest person in the world, I felt that I had resolved some crucial non-physical issues. My mind became clearer. I felt more confident about what I needed to do and was more at ease with myself.
Hear Yourself
It seems that when we start listening – that is, neutral listening, without judgment or a desire to change anything – to our body, we create a safe environment for it. Once this happens, the body can reveal its unresolved issues, intelligently presenting them in order of priority without overwhelming our system to help us gradually resolve those issues and strengthen our system.
Consider how whenever our children or friends feel that we are truly hearing them, they start to open up to us. As we are hearing what they are expressing, the healing process happens naturally, often without us needing to provide any verbal advice.
I have also witnessed this amazing phenomenon in other people through my biodynamic craniosacral therapy practices. The principle is the same: The patient’s body knows health and it has an inherent “plan” for fully expressing that health. The therapist is there to listen deeply to the system, creating a safe environment for the body.
I am still in awe of how potent this approach is, whether I experience it through my own body or somebody else’s. The healing process comes from within, with each body having its own unique pattern and plan.
Our job is merely to listen and follow the body’s process, rather than to push or to manipulate the body toward a theoretical ideal state. As we are listening, we start learning what is happening within our body (and mind and soul), acknowledging it and moving in alignment with it. The body can guide us and provide hints on what works and what does not.
The process is natural and in accordance with our particular needs. Before we know it, we can see our self, our lifestyle and our habits changing. We note what kind of diet, lifestyle and exercise is most suitable for us. And as the answers are coming from within us, we do not feel obliged to do it. It flows more naturally.
Now, here’s the good news: It is never too late to start, regardless of our current condition. In fact, living in Jakarta has its perks when it comes to maintaining our health. Numerous types of support are available. The media continuously provide information on this issue. (Natural) health specialists and therapists are available to offer advice and support. Fitness centers are booming. Short getaways are within reach.
I also love the fact that public spaces in Jakarta are becoming more available for community sports. We can, for instance, jog at Gelora Bung Karno stadium, the Ragunan zoo or, on car-free days, in the Sudirman–Thamrin area. A group called @SocialYogaClub now even conducts yoga sessions at Taman Suropati in Menteng on Sundays. Staying healthy does not need to be costly and it can certainly be fun.
So there you have it. It’s all there. Our body can serve as our guide toward health. External support, whether facilities or like-minded friends, is available. Affordable options are at hand. It is up to us to take it from there. And while it is never too late, it is nevertheless advisable to start sooner rather than later.
