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The Wisdom of Ancient Health Practices
by Gunterdheis Deskige
http://www.ruhealth.com
More and more people have begun to realize that the
phenomenon of health is not restricted to physical well
being only. The term psychosomatic is often used to explain
the connection between physical and psychological health. In
this context the relevance of ancient health practices like
yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, and ayurveda is being felt.
Health refers not only to physical but also to mental,
emotional, and spiritual health. The ancients in Eastern
cultures recognized that our emotions and mental abilities
play an important role in our physical health. They talked
of the spirit as the focal point. Although Western cultures
do not believe in the spirit, they do see connections
between mental, emotional, and physical health. And for that
reason many people are turning to ancient practices to help
them feel better today.
Health practices like ayurvedic medicine, yoga, tai chi and
acupuncture, that are popular today, originated in the
Eastern cultures thousands of years ago. People in the East
would use them to stay physically fit and also emotionally
and mentally stable and spiritually centered. All these
practices believe that a person is much more than a physical
being and the whole being needs to be healed. Today, we term
such practices as holistic, because they believe in
treating the whole person, and not merely his or her
physical self.
Perhaps, the most popular and widely accepted of these
health systems are yoga and acupuncture. Yoga strives to
bring unity to the physical, mental and spiritual selves of
a person. The physical body is able to gain strength and
flexibility; the mind becomes quietly receptive to the
truth; and the spirit becomes willing to seek the divine.
The benefits of yoga are an alert and active mind, a
contented spirit and greater resistance to illnesses. In its
ultimate sense, yoga is said to help a person achieve
enlightenment. Acupuncture uses properly placed needles to
direct the movement of positive energy through the bodys'
energy channels. This is believed to invigorate the mind and
keep ailments at bay.
Tai chi and ayurvedic medicine are both lesser known health
practices, but still widely used. Tai chi is an ancient
martial art cum modern exercise program that is meant to
strengthen the body, direct the energy through the body,
and bring the different aspects of the body into harmony,
much like yoga (although the system behind it and the
movements made are different). Ayurvedic medicine is the
ancient medicine of India that combines a variety of
practices and treatments to ensure that the whole body is
in working order.
By taking advantage of some of the health wisdom of the
ancients, it is possible to enjoy fuller, more satisfied
and health filled lives today.
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