In honor of Earth Day
at the Santa Barbara Sunken Gardens
by SARAH
GARNEY of SYNERGISTIC HEALING ARTS
SLEEP IN THE DARK: According to T.S. Wiley’s
book, LIGHTS OUT, staying up after dark with artificial light
is a significant cause of the decline of our health. Taking
a cue from nature’s other non-nocturnal creatures, go
to sleep just after sundown and rise at dawn. For optimal
health benefits, sleep 9-10 hours in a pitch dark room. Eco
friendly conservation of electricity from turning off all
of those lights.
WATER
IS YOUR FRIEND: drink plenty of purified water in
eco-friendly packaging, a glass or a reusable water bottle,
keep a gallon of water in the car for refills. Only about
10% of disposable plastic bottles get recycled so let’s
stop using them. Send love and blessings to your water and
all water. Our planet is 70% water, our bodies are 70% water,
water is the main source of energy in the body, chronic dehydration
causes aging and illness.
Books: Water, You’re Not Sick,
You’re Thirsty, by F. Batmanghelidj
The Hidden Messages in Water, by Dr. Maseru Emoto
www.thank-water.net/english
GOT
SOL? Make it a practice to eat Seasonal, Organic
and Local. Shop for local, organic produce at the farmer’s
markets. Grow your own in your backyard or community garden.
No back yard? An amazing amount of produce can be grown in
containers & window boxes. Eating SOL, reduces transportation
costs. Eating SOL is VERY healthy & eco-friendly.
GET
BACK TO NATURE: ditch the gym and do your workout
in nature. Walk, hike or run trails and beaches, do yoga out
of doors, ride your beach cruiser, swim or kayak in the big
blue ocean, stop and meditate in front of a waterfall on a
trail in the mountains….. Being in nature fulfills and
rejuvenates the body-mind-spirit in a myriad of wonderful
ways. Please remember to leave no trace behind. Conserves
electrical energy, reduces stress, and it’s free!
SLOW
DOWN & BREATHE: Our modern culture’s fast
pace is out of touch with our very real human needs. Take
a leisurely pause and breathe back into the moment. Breathing
carries life energy or chi that enlivens every cell, controls
our mental state & impacts how we feel emotionally. Conscious
slow deep breathing reduces stress and tension, increases
energy and endurance, & facilitates emotional mastery.
Try breathing slowly & rhythmically in and out. Inhale
deeply, allowing your belly, ribs, back and upper chest to
expand, pause and now exhale slowly letting your belly relax.
Breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically for several minutes
until you feel calm, relaxed and energized. Repeat throughout
the day. Eco positive!
TUNE IN: journal daily on recycled paper,
natch! Daily journaling is a wonderful practice from Julia
Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. The idea is
to write stream of consciousness for 3 pages in long hand
first thing in the morning, everyday. Once you get the mental
clutter out, real creativity can begin to flow into your writing,
your life, your work and your relationships. It is a fabulous
practice for getting in touch with your self. Too often, we
feel lost and confused looking outside ourselves for the answers
to our biggest questions when so much wisdom lies within.
See www.artistsway.com Tuning in is eco positive.
EVOLVE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: seems like life
here on the planet is all about relationships so learning
skills to create the highest, most loving and harmonious relationships
possible makes sense. The Conscious Heart is a wonderful book
by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, a compelling core of the book
is what they call the 7 soul commitments which form a wonderful
template for creating conscious communication and relationship.
Also highly recommended is Marshall Rosenberg’s book
Non-Violent Communication www.marshallrosenberg.com
Eco impact: very positive
CREATE
PEACE WITHIN: Deepak Chopra recently wrote an insightful
essay on peacemaking called, “On Consciousness, War
and Peace.” He writes: ‘Mahatma Gandhi spoke the
truth when he said "You must be the change you want to
see in the world." We are units of consciousness, and
the world is our projection. If there are enough units of
peace consciousness and they connected with each other to
reach critical mass, we could heal the world by healing ourselves.’
Cultivating a meditation practice is a wonderful way to begin
creating peace within. Peace we might share with the world.
Peace is Eco Positive.
HEALTHY TOUCH: receive holistic massage for
health, well-being, a renewed sense of harmony and wholeness.
Massage facilitates deep relaxation and integration. Integration
is unity, cohesive-ness, harmony, connection….Relaxing
holistic massage allows a deep letting go that can be very
healing allowing the body to repair and rejuvenate, releasing
stress, discomfort and pain….uplifting and inviting
in calmness, peace, well-being and renewed energy for life.
Health and ease is eco positive
HEAL YOURSELF, HEAL THE PLANET: healing is
about wholeness and connection…being in right relationship
with your self, others and the planet. Tending to, addressing,
resolving and healing old negative patterns, limitations and
other issues unlocks the vibrancy and love within bringing
more peace, joy, harmony and meaning into your life and relationships.
Work with a qualified healer or other holistic practitioner
to overcome negative blocks and vibrate with renewed energy
and healthy, life affirming consciousness. Together, we make
a difference, we can heal the planet—tending to, resolving,
protecting and healing our environment, our one and only beautiful
planet. Infinitely eco positive.
HAPPY
EARTH DAY SANTA BARBARA!
