Energy as fuel | ||
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Fuel
Our body runs on energy. Just like a car, a
mobile phone or a plant.
We consume food; which our body converts into energy it can use to power our
body.
Different types of food contain different types of energy e.g.
sugar
relative to carbohydrates.
Fuel consumption
Our body burns fuel all the time. When we are awake, when we
sleep. When we exercise
and when we don't.
Even thinking uses up fuel.
It is important to be sensible when it comes to fuel consumption and energy
usage. Consider:
Food
Everyday body use
Exercise
Rest
Mind
Emotions
Conservation
1. Food
The aim is to ensure that we maintain a
necessary intake of energy from healthy food sources.
If we eat too much, the body converts the excess into
fat; intended for use when the food supply is low.
If don't eat enough, we may feel lethargic and our
mental processes are adversely affected.
The aim is to eat a small amount of healthy food at regular intervals -
little and often.
What should you eat?
The subject of dieting is a complex,
controversial and changeable one.
Our advice is to find out for yourself what works for you.
'One size fits all' is hardly going to work since everyone is different.
2. Everyday body use
A lot of people are lazy.
They are quite content to sit around all day and do as little activity as
they can.
In principle this may appear to be 'energy efficient' but in practice it is
not.
Sitting for a prolonged duration is bad for the body and still burns fuel.
It also encourages poor skeletal alignment which
puts pressure on the body and this in turn
uses more energy.
Habits
Bad body use harms the body and wastes fuel.
Stress is placed on the knees, back,
shoulders and neck through 'normal'
sloppy habits and laziness.
Poor poise,
imbalanced muscle use, being overweight and
hunching over mobile phones (steering wheels,
computers, watching TV or eating food) all lead to significant strain and
eventual damage.
3. Exercise
Many people go for an exercise 'blast' once
a week and then suffer afterwards. People go from sitting stationary for long
hours each day to suddenly undertaking
rigorous, demanding exercise.
They are unfit, not supple, not flexible
and the muscles have become weak.
There is little or no bodily awareness.
Exertion
Exertive exercise demands a massive amount of fuel.
The body is placed under considerable duress for a
sustained period and this is harmful to the system.
Instead of moderate,
sensible exercise - performed with
mindfulness - people often acquire habits that are
not energy efficient and can lead to injury (and other health problems).
4. Rest
We are encouraged to lead active busy lives and this is not necessarily good for
your health.
It is essential that we take time to rest.
Rushing around puts both body and mind in a state of anxiety.
Stress occurs when the demands you place upon yourself become too great.
5. Mind
Watching TV, the internet or playing
with your phone is not actually relaxing for the mind.
Worrying, watching the news,
gossip, fashions, negative
emotions, competitiveness, media, or
speculating about politics
- all put the mind
under duress.
They create
frustration, anxiety and a feeling of
helplessness. They force the
brain to work ceaselessly.
This is not healthy.
Stop
The antidote to mental over-stimulation is
meditation; bring your mind to a stop.
Root your consciousness in the
immediate. Try switching off all electronic
devices. How quiet
is it now?
Instead of flooding your
mind with stimulation, lie quietly, read
calming books or
meditate. Reclaim your
mind.
6. Emotions
Being angry, aggressive,
resentful,
frustrated, stressed out, upset, worrying or
simply over-analysing a situation all involves
emotion.
This costs energy.
A calm, clear logical mind is cost effective when
it comes to fuel.
By contrast; a wound-up, passive aggressive person requires a lot of fuel to
sustain that level of emotional agitation.
7. Conservation
Maintaining a tense muscle costs energy. Being
wound-up tires you out. Over-stimulation means
no actual rest. The body is required to sustain activity
indefinitely.
This is burning energy non-stop.
Household
Think of muscle tension,
stress or mental agitation as being akin to switching on
every electrical appliance.
Now look at the electric meter.
Fuel is being consumed in very large quantities, but for what reason?
Switch things off
If you switched off every electrical appliance you are not currently using,
how much power (fuel) will you save? A lot.
An incredible amount.
The aim in tai chi is to use the
least amount of energy at all times.
Our energy is more precious
than all the gold in the world. It is a more powerful anti-aging tool than
anything else.
Energy regenerates our liver and other tissue cells, flushes toxic waste
from the body, helps maintain our ideal weight, keeps our skin smooth and
our hair healthy.
The more energy we have, the better we feel and the more beautiful we
become.
(Kimberly Snyder)
Page created
12 January 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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