These past weeks we have been talking about cherishing the mind and soul. What about the body that houses it? Shouldn’t that be cherished too?

Creating a healthy lifestyle should be your number one priority.

There’s more to getting fit than eating well and regular exercise. Getting fit is an emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical process.

Be bold – Immediate energy activators.

Learn fast, simple, new ways to revitalise your mind and body.

Just think. How many times this week, have you said (or wanted to say) to someone who asked you to do something – that you don’t have the time or the energy?

This happens to most of us. Our fast paced life leaves us no room to think about what our body needs and desires. We take it for granted and we realise its worth only after it breaks down or falls sick.

Isn’t it high time you answered the call of your body and allowed yourself to relax?

You only live once but if you will live it right, once is enough.

This is a lesson to be taken to heart.

There are many of you who equate losing weight with a healthy lifestyle. This myth needs to be exploded. You don’t need to lose a certain amount of weight to feel good about yourself. Although losing weight may be important to you, let that be a by-product of living a healthy lifestyle. You need to shift your focus from losing weight to taking care of your body on a daily basis.

Inculcate good eating and exercise habits along with some kind of spiritual activity like meditation and the weight loss will come naturally.

Breathing is unquestionably the most important thing you do in your life. And breathing well is unquestionably the most important thing you can do to improve your life.

Deeper breathing during exercise plays a key role in expanding your feelings of alertness and energy. And deep breathing anytime is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to experience life more fully and vigorously.

This very simple exercise – straightening the back, drawing in a fresh breath, completely clearing your mind for the moment – can be effectively used to break the grip of tension and tiredness and provides a refreshing island in the rush and roar of everyday life.

Take a deep breath of air. Don’t force it; be aware of it. On the inhalation, relax your shoulders, straighten your back and let the air open your chest as you take a moment to be silent and to vividly imagine yourself drawing in vitality and strength from the oxygen-rich air.

Draw the breath into every fibre of your being, into every cell of your body and imagine new light filling every corner of your mind.

Hold the breath for an extra few moments, feeling it lift your spirit, and, as you exhale, release every bit of darkness and tension from your thoughts and muscles, letting your attention sink into the centre of your chest.

You can add a word or sound as you breathe in and out. For example ‘Om’ or ‘Hu’, both signifying power.

This kind of meditation is certainly a simple technique, but it certainly works. It can be used again and again throughout the day – particularly as an easy way to stay calm when things around you are hectic and tempers are frayed.

Research indicates that even practising meditation for five minutes can nourish the mind, body and spirit.

During meditation, you can learn to access a profound inner silence and tranquillity. You can also achieve higher mental clarity and emotional ease.

How do you achieve this?

Select a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Take at least a ten -minute break. Take the phone off the hook or lock the door. Once you have learnt to meditate easily and effortlessly, environmental distractions will be less bothersome.

Sit in a comfortable position, in a chair or a couch, with your feet on the floor. Ever so gently, close your eyes.

Relax your muscles, letting go of tension with each exhalation.

Don’t judge your experiences. If you begin to wonder how you are doing or why your mind keeps dancing off on other thoughts, don’t worry about it. Don’t be concerned about your performance or try to stop your mind from wandering. Just gently bring your focus back. It will get easier with time.

When you finish, sit quietly for another half-minute or so, at first with your eyes closed and then with your eyes open. Do not worry about whether you have been successful in achieving a deep level of meditation. Maintain a passive attitude and permit your relaxation to deepen and expand at its own pace.

Nearly any type of muscular activity – such as walking up a flight of stairs or down a nearby hallway, can immediately increase your energy and alertness levels. You don’t have to follow a regular gym schedule or walk a mile. Just taking a walk, stretching, or even chewing gum can stimulate your level of alertness.

Alertness switch – Many of us don’t realise that something as simple as a cool, fresh breeze or even a splash of cold water on the face and neck can be a quick, effective way to promote alertness.

Another very effective way of staying alert is to laugh. People who know how to have fun are generally healthier. So laugh more, maybe even hundred times a day, for no rhyme or reason. You may be called mad but who cares! Anything for good health!

So, here’s to some fit times. Let your cup brimmeth over!