Physical wellness starts from being aware of the functional aspects of the body mechanism and being ‘Body Positive’, just not in the sense of how one’s look or color is like, but being very aware of the body’s functional mechanism.
Sharira is a Sanskrit word meaning “Body.” Ayurveda describes Sharira as the seat of consciousness; a composition of the aggregate of products from different permutations of Pancha Mahabhuta. This is the structure in which the ‘I’ consciousness resides and functions with the help of different motor and action organs to express that ‘I’ as a living being.
We seldom throw a deeper look at our body, its structure and mechanism except on certain occasions, events where the look matters. We seldom connect with our bodies. We never acknowledge the contributions of those organs that keep on working ceaselessly, but silently to make us function as human beings.
A fist-sized organ pumps 5 liters of blood a minute, 7600 liters a day. One million barrels of blood to our arteries, in the process beating more than 2.5 billion times, if one lives for 70 years, it is enough to fill more than 3 super tankers. Except for the fear of having a heart attack, and taking adequate precautions and care, when was the last time we acknowledged its contribution to our existence as living beings expressed our gratitude to our hearts and said thank you my dear for keeping me alive and kicking?
Or, about a pair of kidneys, weighing just 160 grams each filtering 200 liters per day of fluids inside our body getting rid of between one and one-and-a-half liters of urine from our body every day helping the body remove toxin substances? When have we expressed our appreciation to this vital organ that ensures that we lead a healthy life?
Or, the lungs that filter out particulate matter like clots, fibrin clumps, and other endogenous and exogenous materials from entering the systemic circulation? That organ ensures that the carbon dioxide is breathed out and enough oxygen to cells is delivered to our body. Have we spared a minute to think about our lungs that keep us alive every moment of our human existence?
Or, are the organs associated with our digestive system that convert food into energy in the form of nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and protein, essential for our physical growth, stamina, and vigor? These organs work in tandem day in and day out. Do we ever try to connect with these organs and say love you dear ones?
I doubt if anyone makes a connection with the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs, and other organs and talks with them.
Except when an organ or a part of a system in our body revolts over its abuse or neglect, gets afflicted, and sends out an SOS, we seldom bother to think about them. Even, in many such instances, we ignore the signal and do not investigate until it becomes absolutely necessary to take notice and seek remedial measures. Even during that phase, we do not connect with that organ or system.
Physical wellness starts from being aware of the functional aspects of the body mechanism and being “Body Positive”, just not in the sense of how one’s look or color is like, but being very aware of the body’s functional mechanism. It is about establishing a farm-friendly connection with the body and its parts. It is about speaking with them, acknowledging their contributions, expressing gratitude, patting them for their efficiency, and showing indebtedness. Because it is a mega society we are dealing with for our own good!
To me, these are the first steps toward natural healing of the body. The first step towards holistic Physical Wellness is by offering Shraddha!