Lana shares how and why it is so much easier to have a balanced mind with a balanced body.
1. EXERCISE
We all know that exercising is important, but many people tend to exercise with the wrong intention. Exercise is so much more than moving to burn calories or improve cardiovascular health. When you find a form of movement that you learn to enjoy. It can become a social thing, helping you feel connected to a community, and providing more peace and joy, which helps your digestive and nervous systems calm down and function better.
When your body is functioning optimally, and you’re benefiting from all the happy chemicals being released by your brain during exercise, most people feel an immediate improvement in their mood.
If you exercise regularly, it can reduce your stress and symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and help with recovery from mental health issues. It can also improve your sleep, which is important in many different ways.
2. MEDITATION
Meditation helps your nervous system become and STAY regulated for hours later so your body feels calm and capable of handling everyday stress in an environment you may not always have control over.
There are different forms of meditation so it is all about finding the right one for you. Guided meditations are among the most common and it can just be a couple of minutes out of your day for you to benefit. Breathwork, yoga, and tai chi are other common forms of meditation.
3. SUPPORT YOUR GUT
Did you know your gut is often referred to as the second brain? Many of your feel-good hormones are produced here. In fact, up to 70–90% of your serotonin which is your feel-good hormones are produced in your gut meaning that if your gut health is not optimal, you’re missing out on receiving those happiness hormones.
When things like stress begin to affect your ability to produce chemicals associated with happiness, pleasure, and satisfaction, supporting your gut health becomes even more of a priority.
So how do we support good gut health? By supporting the healthy bacteria that make up your gut flora which can be found in many fermented foods, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and R’s KOSO. Eating certain bacteria strains found in fermented food can strengthen your resilience against stress by supplying your body with live bacteria (probiotics), fibers, resistant starches that feed the gut flora (prebiotics), and nutrients produced by probiotic bacteria (postbiotics).
4. HOBBIES
The purpose of life is to live and when you don’t make time for the things that make you explore, feel creative, try new things, you end up feeling resistant towards your life and your routines. Your body isn’t designed to be happy on auto-pilot, so it is up to us to break that habit and be intentional about doing more things that bring us happiness- even if it’s 10 minutes of reading, walking, painting, or being open to trying new things. You will feel much lighter and more vibrant!
5. Spend time with people who make you happy
You’ve probably heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine” but do you know why? Being surrounded by people that make you feel good helps you feel good as a result of some healthy physical and emotional changes that go on in the body. Similar to exercise, laughter releases natural chemicals endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine which are feel-good hormones that also strengthen your immune system, boost mood, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. It also helps you release any emotions you may be holding in such as anger and lowers cortisol (a stress hormone)
All 5 of these are important and can be done easily. Stock up on your Rs KOSO if you haven’t already as an easy way to keep your gut health in check so you’re benefiting from all those happy hormones and remember to laugh often, with people you love, while doing the things that light you up.
