Complete physical health means being disease-free as well as having abundant energy and vitality. We take our health for granted until something goes wrong. Illness can guide us to change our life habits for the better, but this is not a pleasant way of being reminded. If we can bring some of our focus on physical wellbeing to learning how to take care our body and understanding the integral function of our body, mind and spirit, we can heal ourselves with our innate healing power or prevent illness before it occurs.

The basics to improving our physical health and preventing illness include:

• Balanced diet and healthy nutrition
• Good sleep and plenty rest
• Suitable exercise
• Clean environment
• Support with herbal supplements and natural healing

Balanced Diet and Healthy Nutrition: We become what we eat! If we eat healthily, we become healthy. When we eat junk, our bodies become like junk and need repair. Today there are many different diets which have been tailored for different purposes. Some that are extreme and not very well balanced are actually harmful to our bodies. A balanced diet and a moderate intake is all most of us need. Over-eating can burden our digestive system and quickly wear out our whole body. It is healthier to eat less more frequently. Regular cleansing and de-toxification processes are also recommended to aid bodily health - click on “Tao of Wellness” to learn more about our de-tox program. Many foods can also help to heal our bodies - read Dr. Mao’s “Secrets of Self Healing” or visit his website Ask Dr. Mao at Yahoo Health for more information.

Good Sleep and Plenty Rest: The importance of sleep for optimum health is usually underestimated. Our bodies can easily deteriorate without sufficient sleep. We should avoid excessive stress and food, and too much use of the mind with activities like reading, and television to establish a healthy sleeping pattern. Fresh air, plenty of walking or other physical and chi exercise, and meditation can also help to balance our lifestyle and reduce our stress levels.

Suitable Exercise: We may equate exercise with vigorous activity. Sometimes this is appropriate, but most people can maintain good physical health by combining walking with chi exercise. Even professional athletes now accept that less vigorous stretching or yoga style exercise is important for overall strength and vitality. Many of the chi exercises offered by the Integral Way not only enhance bodily strength and flexibility but also stimulate the overall flow of chi to provide a deep protective layer for a healthier mind and body.

Clean Environment: We often forget the importance of our living environment for optimum health. The ancient Chinese knowledge of feng shui, used to promote good health through the energy arrangements in our surroundings, can be quite complicated. Yet we can all take advantage of the basic tenets. Make sure your surroundings have fresh air with no contaminants, and keep your living space clean and uncluttered.

Healthy Support: Many of us only pay attention to our health when we have serious health issues. Our body usually tries to communicate the need for change as we all have the inner power of healing and just need to learn how to access this ability. The Integral Way offers many effective methods to improve our health. To learn more, click on Chi Practice and Healing Arts. When Western medicine is needed for some conditions, the chi practices can often help progress the healing process and alleviate possible side effects.

It is very important to understand that the body has its own healing power. When we are helped by health professionals, special nutrition or tonics, it is still the healing ability of our own body that eventually overcomes the illness and facilitates the return to good health. Good health comes from a balanced lifestyle and routine, an appropriate diet and regular daily exercise. When all the right things have been done, yet you still face a health challenge, it maybe time to check other areas, such as hidden emotions (see mental health) or the need to enliven your spirit (see spiritual health). An undisturbed mind and a good life spirit are keys to achieving complete physical health. Having good physical health can be within our control.

Further reading:

1. The Power of Natural Healing, Hua-Ching Ni
2. Mastering Chi: Strength from Movement, Hua-Ching Ni
3. Entering the Tao, Hua-Ching Ni
4. The Tao of Nutrition, Maoshing Ni
5. The Eight Treasures: Energy Enhancement Exercise, Maoshing Ni
6. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, Maoshing Ni
7. 18 Harmony Tai Chi, Maoshing Ni
8. Secrets of Self Healing, Maoshing Ni
9. Secrets of Longevity-Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, Maoshing Ni
10. Ageless: The Natural Guide to Menopause and Living Your Second Spring, Maoshing Ni