New Year, New You

Editor's Note: As we ring in the New Year, I’m happy to introduce our newest guest blogger, my friend, fellow yogini and Executive Health & Lifestyle Coach Sylvaine Hughson. Sylvaine is a certified Holistic Health Counselor, Raw Living Foods Health Educator, FirstLine Therapy Lifestyle Educator and a Life Coach. She creates customized diet, lifestyle, and detoxification programs for individuals and corporations around the world.  Everyone who works with Sylvaine feels empowered, inspired, vibrant and energized. So as we all embark on our latest resolutions to eat healthier, get more exercise, and be less stressed, Sylvaine shares some practical, yet life-altering tips on how we can feel our best physically, mentally and emotionally this year. To learn more about Sylvaine and participate in her special New Year’s Detox Program starting January 15, visit her website at http://www.hughsonhealthcoaching.com/

By Sylvaine N. Hughson

CHHC, HHED, PCC, AADP  

Executive Health and Lifestyle Coach

“Take responsibility for your healing.

Something so important should not be left to others.”

~ Anonymous

The more I study the human body and our extraordinary ability to heal ourselves – the more I am amazed.  The process is so simple and yet so complex…

Did you know, for example, that your body, fully regenerates itself every seven to ten years?  That your stomach lining renews itself every five days?  That your bones and skeletal structure have the potential to fortify themselves every three months?  When I think about the power and possibility of this continuous cycle of renewal and regeneration – it’s difficult not to get excited!   

So what does all of this mean?  Well for one, eating more nutrient-dense foods heading into the New Year is key if you are looking to build a stronger, healthier you in 2012.  We have all heard the saying “you are what you eat” and I am here to reiterate the concept but with an added twist.  The quality of what you eat, the quantity of what you eat, and the bioavailability of the nutrients in what you eat, all affect the speed and effectiveness with which your body performs cellular repair.  Pre-packaged processed foods with long ingredients lists and unrecognizable names are not only sub-optimal when it comes to cellular regeneration, but also toxic. 

If you want to feel more energized, mentally alert, physically fit, in-balance, stronger, younger, and happier – then keep on reading…  Here are a few tips to keep you functioning at your best this year:

When it comes to your diet and lifestyle…  

1.    Think Clean - Fresh, local, and organic ingredients/ produce are always best.  Food that has had less far to travel tends to be more vital – the vitamin and mineral content is unaltered and is more easily absorbed.  Food free from pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, chemical residues, preservatives, additives, etc. will also help you keep your body’s toxic burden low. 

2.    Think Nutrient-Dense - A diet rich in whole foods such as greens, whole grains, choice protein, quality fats, super-foods, etc. will provide your body with the best quality building blocks possible.  The more you eat nutrient dense foods, the more you will naturally reduce your portion sizes, experience fewer food cravings, and lose weight effortlessly.     

3.    Think Easily Digestible ­­– Eating big, heavy meals containing lots of animal protein can create a lot of work for your body when it comes to digestion.  Opt for plant-based meals when possible, especially when eating later in the evening.  The easier a food is to digest, the less time and energy your body spends on breaking it down into usable components and the more it can redirect that energy towards cellular repair. 

4.    Think Diverse – Eating from a full spectrum of colors and a variety of food sources will not only give you optimal nutritional coverage, it will also protect you from developing sensitivities to the foods you eat most.  Some symptoms associated with potential food sensitivities are lethargy, brain fog, anxiety, mild depression, digestive issues, the inability to lose weight, skin problems, etc.     

5.    Think Bio-Available – Juicing and eating raw living foods saturated with readily available vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients are a great way to jumpstart your body and improve cellular regeneration.

6.    Think Detox - We live in a modern world where, unfortunately, we are exposed to chemicals and toxins on a regular basis.  It’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the environment we live in…  As hard as we may try - we’re not always able to protect ourselves and that’s ok.  Make it a point this year to learn how to lower your body’s toxic burden, naturally.  Something as simple as increasing your daily water intake can significantly improve your body’s ability to detox and help it to function more optimally.        

7.    Think Balanced Lifestyle - Remember that regular exercise, stress management, positive thinking, supportive relationships, and a fulfilling career are all an integral part of your health and happiness.

So here’s the takeaway – please know that regardless of whether you have a list of New Year’s resolutions or not – your body gives you an extraordinary opportunity every single day to start afresh and begin building a new you.  When you feel ready to step into the future that you want to create for yourself, “take responsibility for your healing” - begin shifting your foods and your body will respond.  Day by day, fork-full-by-fork-full you will eat your way to a healthier, happier, and more vibrant you.  And doesn’t that make the future look bright? 

Happy New Year!

Practicing Generosity

I’ve been feeling very anxious lately.  It’s not the job search; it’s the gift search. Christmas does this to me every year. I agonize over what to give for presents and how much to spend. As I pour over hundreds of catalogs trying to find the right gift, my heart starts pounding and mind starts racing. What if they don’t like this present? Can I really afford to spend this much? Why is it so difficult to find the right gift? Ugh, I hate the holidays. Why does it create so much stress each year? Shouldn’t being generous feel more joyful?

In Buddhism, generosity is one of the 10 paramitas, or enlightened qualities to cultivate. In fact, it’s a virtue extolled in almost every spiritual and religious tradition. So why is it such a rare quality to find in others and so hard to practice oneself?

For me, it’s all about expectations --- the expectation of giving AND receiving. If I give to someone, I’m disappointed if I don’t get something in return. I know, it sounds selfish, but it’s true. It could be anything, from a Christmas present to a compliment. And that’s the whole problem. Real generosity is about giving without expecting anything in return. Not even a thank-you. The joy comes simply from giving.

That’s really hard…at least for me. So this holiday season I have decided to practice generosity, not just on Christmas day, but every day. Just one act, that’s it. It could be giving somebody a smile, holding the door open for the person behind me, teaching a free yoga class, or giving up the parking space I have been waiting patiently for to another person --- that last one was really hard…no joy there.  But I’m trying. Every day I look for ways…small and large… to give. It’s not easy, but I have to admit, when I let go of my expectations, giving can be easy and quite joyful.

It seems funny to me that we traditionally think about generosity during this time of year. Not to mention “generosity” that involves maxing out our credit cards. What if we thought about practicing generosity every day? Not just when it comes to our families, but when it comes to total strangers, and even people we don’t like.  Try it and notice how it makes you feel.

In one sense, generosity is a natural human instinct --- we see someone in need, and we want to help him or her. But a lot of times, our egos stand in the way --- we fear losing too much and being vulnerable. Just the other day, I reached into my wallet to give a few bucks to a homeless man. Instead, I pulled out a $20. Damn it, I thought. I handed the man the money as my heart sank. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. I should have felt good; instead, the whole way home I chastised myself for giving away so much. I need that money, I thought. Of course, I realized later how silly I was. My heart lightened. I didn’t really need that money, but my ego thought I did.

That’s why practicing generosity is so enlightening --- it teaches you more about yourself --- what you cling to, what you don’t, and how you can expand the limits of your compassion. Most importantly, it re-introduces you to your true self, which is infinitely open, loving and kind.