Boot camp Melbourne

I will never forget the feeling of bathing in warm volcanic springs hidden deep within the tropical mountains of
Hawaii, there was an unexplainable sacredness which touched my soul. It was an incredible healing experience as
I dived down, loving the sensation of water around me. I wanted to stay beneath the surface forever, if only I had gills!

In the tranquil stillness, only a slight vibration warmed the waters, a tiny warm bubbling was emanating upwards from within the volcanic rock… amazing! The moment was pure bliss, yet it wasn’t until afterward that I noticed that the tension and stress I had been carrying from the five hour triathlon the day before and the hot, frustrating, five hour drive to this special place (with many misdirections!) had left my body. I was now clean, alive, alert and with a timeless sense of tranquillity. So what was the magic of that water?

Can it be scientifically described? What about water and hydration at a physical level and water in our environment? Is
it possible that water could even respond at an emotional level to the way we speak to it? Most importantly, how can we use some answers to these questions in a practical, simple way to help ourselves, our clients and those around us to reduce stress and be more vital, fit, healthy and strong, every day.
Every dawn is a new beginning, make changes now!

Hydration – A few more reasons to drink up

“It is chronic water shortage in the body that causes most diseases of the human body.”
Dr Fereydoon Batmaghelidj (Your Body’s Many Cries For Water).

Dr Batmaghelidj has devoted years of research and investigation into why water works so well in keeping us healthy and pain-free. Personally, I believe it is important to remember that there are many other factors besides water involved
in a person’s health, however Dr. B’s pioneering work shows that what he calls Unintentional Chronic Dehydration (UCD), contributes and even produces pain and many degenerative diseases that can be prevented and treated. Put
simply, dehydration causes stress in our physical systems, we don’t work efficiently on all levels and the information transmission is scrambled.

A human can survive around 3 weeks without food yet only 3 days without water! For athletes focused on results, where every increment of performance is analysed, best practice hydration is even more paramount. Even mild dehydration can result in increased heart rate, increased lactic acid in muscles, increased body temperature, increased fatigue, decreased
strength, decreases in mental cognition, more stress and impaired judgement (are you shrivelling up and reaching
for your water bottle yet!). Keep in mind it is also important for those losing a lot of fluid through exercise to replace fluid and minerals/ electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and calcium, as water can be insufficient.

So listen to your body (see below how to hear your body is asking for water) and drink at least eight glasses-plus to two litres-plus of good quality water per day (depending on an individual, their exertion and their environment).
This miracle cure is actually the way our bodies are designed to function, straight from nature and plain common sense.

Hydration and how to hear your body asking for water

• Thirst is the most obvious sign yet this often comes too late (when you are already dehydrated) so be mindful to
sip water frequently before extreme thirst.
• Many confuse thirst for hunger and eat more than they need to. So if you are hungry, try having a glass of water first.
• Ideally, your body will produce clear colourless urine – this is the sign of good hydration. A somewhat dehydrated
body produces yellow urine and a severely dehydrated body produces orange or dark coloured urine (your body is crying out for water; so drink up).

A few tips on staying hydrated

• Make water easily accessible and available, it can be that simple
• Always keep a large water bottle with you and sip regularly (on your desk, at home, in your workplace, in your car or
by your bed)
• Drink water, as well as other beverages if you are eating out
• Be prepared and be mindful of your own circumstances and start to regulate how much water YOU need, everyone is different according to body size, type, amount of daily physical exertion and their environment, start paying attention and prepare accordingly
• During exercise, plan your water/fluid/electrolyte intake before and prepare to have it available
• Limit caffeine intake (coffee, coke, some teas) as this is dehydrating
• Drink herbal non-caffeinated tea

Water – a closer look

Apart from well-known hydration, what is really interesting is the powerful effect of water at a quantum level, at an emotional level and also the positive effect that simply being in a negative ion charged environment (beach, waterfall, rainforest) can have on your body.

Negative ions

Have you ever wondered why it is you feel so good being near the ocean, how refreshed you feel after taking a cold shower or about the crisp clarity which invigorates you walking through a rainforest and after a thunderstorm and fresh rain? The answer is largely due to negative ion particles.
Ions are small bits of charged matter floating around in the air and scientists will tell you that some ions are charged negatively, and some are charged positively. Negative ions are atoms that have gained an electron. Oxygen ions are in
such beautifully abundant supply near fresh, flowing water such as rivers, streams, seas and waterfalls.

Negative ions are at their most plentiful in natural, outdoor settings. In fact, scientists have measured the air around natural water settings such as waterfalls and found that each cubic centimetre can contain 95,000 to 450,000 negative ions. The typical office, on the other hand, tends to contain a few hundred negative ions per cc, and sometimes none. This becomes scary when you see just what negative ions do, and the damage that not enough negative ions will take on our bodies.

Did you know that time spent indoors can rob you of an ideal exposure to negative ions and cause fatigue, poor motivation, aches and pains, poor moods, and an overall sense of being unwell?

Why negative ions can be positively healthy!

“Positive ions, (ie the bad ones) which occur in high levels in many indoor environments, inhibit the body’s ability to prevent pollutants/contaminants from entering the vulnerable areas of the respiratory tract. However, an overdose of
negative ions has proven to provide counteraction to this effect” (Kreuger, 1974; Soyka, 1991; Tchijewski, 1960).

Countless studies prove the benefits of negative ions on health and well-being, including improved sleep, immunity and respiratory function – while positive ions can make us feel tired, depressed and irritable. Unfortunately for us, our modern indoor, internet, electronic lifestyles tip the balance downwards for our health, as fluorescent lighting, electrical and electronic equipment, television screens and static producing, man-made fibres in carpets, clothes and upholstery
all reduce the level of negative ions and increase the positive ones.

“Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more
mental energy. They also may protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various
particles that make you sneeze, cough, or have a throat irritation.” Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owner’s manual
for the Brain and director of research at the Centre for applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, North Carolina.

So let the outside in – it’s easier than you might think.

It’s good to know you don’t have to change your entire lifestyle to rectify the balance. In fact many ancient yogic well-being practices are those which would increase negative ions.
Here are a few tips and ideas to get your home office or environment back in balance.
• Open windows to let in fresh air and natural light, particularly if the outside environment has water or plants close by
• Walk/jog/train outside in fresh air, preferably by fresh flowing water, the beach, creek or river
• Add a small water fountain to your home
• Keep plants indoors
• Reduce the air-conditioner usage, turn off electronic equipment at the power point especially in the bedroom and reduce mobile phone usage where possible and realistic (as tough as it will be for some!).
• Dry clothes outside rather than in the dryer and wear natural fibres
• Choose natural, whole, unprocessed foods which have water content and gain sunlight as they grow (vegies, fruit, whole grains, organic or best practice farmed meats)

Water the mind/body connection

You may be familiar with consciousness, how every thought we think, every word we express and every action we take creates our future, creates emotions in our bodies and ultimately our lifestyle.
Most recently Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto has cleverly found a way to photograph water at its tiniest state in crystals. He has discovered that every word we express to water has an effect on the shape or image it makes. Water spoken to with the words ‘fool’ or ‘demon’ looks dark and malformed while water spoken to with the words ‘love,’ ‘soul’ or ‘birth’ are spectacular white, bright, sparkling and perfectly formed. When you understand that water is the basis
of all life, including your body, it gives new meaning to being mindful of how you think, speak and act. Our bodies are around 70% water.

“The muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transports nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control centre of your body is 76% water; even your
bones are 25% water.”
Dr Fereydoon Batmaghelidj (Your Body’s Many Cries For Water).

So, how do you want that 70% in your body to look and feel?
There is no need to be obsessive, simply choose to make some changes now and be appreciative of water and let it work its magic for you.
“Let sacred water be your guide and teacher to help you flow through life with the ease of a river, with the strength of a waterfall and with the abundance of an ocean.” – Masaru Emoto
 

 Article Contributed by:

Ultra Fit Magazine
www.ultrafit.com.au