What's Your Medicine?

The thought of the week is based around a simple question. What is your medicine? Perhaps the first thing that came to mind was what prescription medications do I currently take? One definition of medicine is:

"a compound or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease, especially a drug or drugs taken by mouth."

However, this week I'm asking what is it that you "ingest" on a daily basis that gives you connection to the harmonious balance between body-mind-spirit? The Global Wellness Day describes being well as:

"Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life.  It is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth. A good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity; welfare."

"Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." - The World Health Organization.

Finding the key to wellness is an active pursuit, not something that simply happens to us. And in asking the question this week, it helps to elevate into our awareness the many things that contribute to creating our individual state of well-being. For me, my daily dose for the past 12+ years has come in the form of my meditation practice, supplemented by trying to live from a broad yogic perspective. It's that one thing that is completely non-negotiable and feels the same as the daily brushing of teeth...it's simply part of good health hygiene.

So when you notice when you're feeling less than optimal, there are many things that people have said are good medicine for them:

• Nature- Get outside and feel the impact of the natural environment. The sun on your shoulders, the wind tossing your hair about, the grass under your feet, or plunging your hands in the dirt. Breathe in the aromas of a pine forest or a damp desert morning.
• Ocean - Open and moving bodies of water are great medicine. Give yourself time to sit and watch the waves coming and going, or the gentle flow of a meandering river.
• Moon and Star Gazing - Head out into the night and take notice of which phase the moon is in, or perhaps the first stars to appear in the night sky.
• Music - One of the most powerful tonics is that of sound. Classical music has been shown to improve childhood development. Communities have gathered for centuries using sound and music to celebrate, mourn, and transcend.
• Pets - It's been shown that simply petting your dog or cat lowers your blood pressure. That's furry good medicine!
• Exercise - We inherently know the benefits of exercise as it's not only for our bodies but our minds with feel-good hormones getting released through movement.
• Quiet time - meditation, contemplation, sitting in silence in nature and prayer all connect us to our deeper selves.
• Reading - diving into the words of others can completely transport us into other worlds.
• Quality time with loved ones - Sitting down with a long-time friend and having uninterrupted conversation = gold!
• Essential Oils - I have my own apothecary of essential oils that I use daily. They help to activate different areas of my brain that can feel stimulating, relaxing, and grounding.
• Nourishing Home Cooked Food - Recently on retreat, we all remarked how you could taste the love in the food that was being served to us. 
• Yoga - So many tools and practices exist within this ancient wisdom tradition, that the more experienced you become, the more you uncover its magic.
• Sleep - Nothing heals the soul, heart, and body more than a restful nights sleep. Get your eight hours to boost your health.
• Humor - Laughter, whether it's a giggle or bellyaching roar is good medicine. It releases feel-good hormones and automatically puts those smiling muscles to work.

These are just a few ideas that people have been sharing throughout classes this week. Find what nourishes you and actively pursue it. In doing so, you may realize that you're surrounded by a full medicine chest of personalized, good medicine!