Dancing for Well-Being: Five Dances for Life

Dance is an amazing thing, and many people don't realize how dance helps you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Dancing is good for your soul. There are many reasons people have for not dancing, but these reasons can be easily debunked; here are five dances that can help improve our life in more ways than you can imagine.

Many people have excuses to not dance. Some people may think they have no rhythm, but they should simply remember that "the whole universe is in constant motion and you are probably not the exception to the rule" (Roth, 1998, p. 17). Some people may not dance because they do not like their bodies, but they should remember that dancing will work away any extra pounds. Whatever you don't work off is "meant to be part of you" (Roth, 1998, p.17). I find one of my biggest excuses is lack of time, but I have realized that the smallest amount of time spent dancing can change my mood completely. I have been figuring out different ways to incorporate dancing even if it is only for a few minutes into my daily schedule. Even if I only dance to one song a day I still feel better.

There are 5 rhythms of the soul, and they are known as flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness (Roth, 1998). Flowing is about being flexible like liquid. In flowing there are no "separations or distinctions between things, there's only continuous change" and flowing is the "rhythm of the earth" (Roth, 1998, p.52). In order to practice flowing dance "imagine that you are all circles and curves, arms round, spine undulating, hands soft, hips rolling gently, knees loose" and " let whatever you are feeling unravel" (Roth, 1998, p.55). Staccato is more of a tense dance. It is a type of dance that creates all "kinds of angles and edges like geometry in motion" (Roth, 1998, p.83). The dance of chaos is spontaneous and intuitive. It is meant to "dive below the surface... and get in touch with our whims, our impulses, and our poetic intelligence" (Roth, 1998, p.118). Lyrical dancing is one of the hardest dances for most people because it you have to experience it to understand it, but I feel comfortable practicing this dance, and I believe that my dramatic nature and love of dance makes this form of dance more natural to me. Perhaps this type of dance comes natural to me because in lyrical dancing "we realize we are works-in-progress" and this is an important lesson I try to remember at all times (Roth, 1998, p.156). Stillness is what I would call a typical type of meditation. It is about moving in "super-slow motion" and focusing your attention to "the ebb and flow of your breath, the beat of your heart, the pulsing of cells" (Roth, 1998, p.180).

Dancing is good for the soul, and people should dance more often. Nothing is more natural and pure than dancing. Let go of your excuses why you do not dance, and Dance!

Reference:
Roth, G. (1998). Sweat your prayers: movement in spiritual practice. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam.

Using the Powers of Gemstones to Increase Health and Wellness

 

Gemstones have magical powers that can help bring great things to those who are aware of the powers they possess. Gemstones are remarkable in many ways. They absorb and reflect light and energy; grow naturally in perfect patterns that humans have emulated for so long. Gemstones are beautiful and reflect all the colors of the rainbow. One of the most amazing qualities of gemstones is the power they have to help and to heal. Here is a detailed list of gemstones that can help in situations of health and wellness.

Agate is a commonly found gemstone that has the power to help with health and wellness. It is a useful tool in helping to heal many different parts of the human body. Agate comes in many different colors and is useful for many different things. Agate is best known for its parrellel strips and bands. It can help with confidence and balancing. Botswana agate is also useful for respiratory problems, the lungs, and those who want to quit smoking. Moss agate is an agate that is usually green, brown, blue, or dark gray and it is useful with problems with the blood and dietary problems.

Chrysocolla is a beautiful gem that has a lovely blue and green pattern to it. This stone is so intriguing because of the intricate patterns and swirls of the colors in this stone. It is also very helpful to those in need of health healing. Chrysocolla is helpful with bone problems, and treats pain such as arthritis.

Danburite is another extremely helpful crystal. It is commonly white, but it may also be found in clear or slightly tinted pink, beige, brown, and yellow. This stone is a powerful tool in helping detoxify. It is also a necessary tool for those who have weight issues and want gain energy. Another incredible characteristic of danburite is its ability to help with motor functions.

Another good stone for detoxifying is Enstatite, and it uses revolve around the cleansing of the circulatory system, gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. It is a radiant gemstone that is usually clear and commonly yellow, brown, orange, or greenish in color.

Labradorite is a truly beautiful stone that is grayish in color but reflects beautiful blue and green tones. It is amazingly iridescent and a wonder to behold in the light. Labradorite is helpful with digestion, and it is commonly used for weight loss. It is also helpful with immune problems.

Gemstones are glorious natural works of art that have so much energy and ability to help and heal. I hope this list will show you that gemstones can be an important tool in increasing your health and well being.

The Importance of Nutrients in the 4 Food Groups

 

The importance of nutrients in the four main food groups is huge. These nutrients provide the body with everything it needs to grow and maintain healthy function. This article will discuss the four main food groups, nutrition's affect on the body and image, and how to prepare and store foods to maximize nutrient retention.

The four main food groups all provide important nutrients for the body. Grains provide fiber, iron and b vitamins, which are important for several reasons including lower cholesterol, oxygen blood levels, and the nervous system (Nutritional importance of each food group). Fruits and vegetables provide potassium, folate, fiber, vitamins A, E, and C. Meat provides zinc, iron, vitamin E and magnesium, and the dairy group provides calcium and vitamin D. All of these nutrients help the body function and grow. They maintain health by preventing heart disease, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and many other serious health conditions. It is important to consume these nutrients to maintain health and a healthy body image. Eating right will enable you to feel and look better. Knowing what you are putting into your body will help to serve it instead of hinder it. It is a healthy lifestyle choice everyone should make.

Nutrition, lifestyle, health and disease are all interrelated because the choices we make in nutrition and lifestyle will impact our health and ability to fight disease. Nutrients provide the body with the substances needed for growth and maintenance of our bodies and minds. When preparing and storing food, it is important to maintain nutrition retention. Boiling and steaming are good ways to preserve nutrients, but raw foods are usually the healthiest choice (How to maintain food nutrients). When storing foods, you can preserve nutrients by freezing or canning them. When freezing, it is important to blanch many fruits and vegetables first, and when canning using a pressure canner ensures that the seal will be airtight.

Getting the nutrients our bodies need is important to maintain health and wellness. Meat, dairy, grains and vegetables and fruits are all important to a healthy diet and lifestyle. These foods provide the body with the nutrients it needs to grow and support life.

Reference

" How to maintain food nutrients." The Catalunya Chronicle | An English Newspaper for Tarragona and beyond . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2011. .

"Nutritional Importance of Each Food Group." Care in Containers -Providing Meals for Elderly. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2011. .