The wakeup after Hurricane Irma
It wasn’t expected. It wasn’t requested. But it happened without agreement, and it really hurt. Irma was a wild beast furiously destroying all she encountered. Many were astonished by the devastation she left behind. Some were in tears, others in disbelief. Coming out of shelters on trembling legs, eyes were confronted with unimaginable pictures that they weren’t prepared to encounter or accept. Little by little, despair sank in along with the realization of loss. Some lost all, others lost some and a few were very lucky, because they lost none. Deep inside, it’s like being physically and emotionally assaulted. For some, it will take years to heal their scars, but life goes on and leads us in only one direction – forward.
Some will argue that overcoming challenges only makes people stronger. That may be true, but not everybody has the energy to move on to that brighter future. L’Aqualigne has introduced a program to help people heal in the right direction. The program is called BE ALIVE and is designed to assist participants in living happier, healthier lives. Now, more than ever, it is important for people suffering from Post Hurricane Syndrome (PHS). BE ALIVE is a sustainable program designed around three elements: eating, moving and relaxing (EAT.MOVE.RELAX). It allows you to cater the process to your needs.
Now is the time to pay attention. People are increasingly suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart and coronary diseases, obesity, autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure, cholesterol and osteoporosis. What better time and place to start, especially for those suffering from PHS? L’Aqualigne Spa has an introduction to the BE ALIVE program and the Whole Plant Food diet plan, with a daily 30- to 60-minute walk or running session, four whole Plant Food Diet lunches at Top Carrot, yoga classes, exercise sessions, relaxation massage, Reiki session, use of the sauna and personal consultation.
It’s important to restore your body, mind and spirit. However, it’s always a challenge to change a lifestyle for psychological and practical reasons. For some, it means losing weight and restoring energy; for others, feeling healthier and happier. Psychiatrist Jurgensen and Medical Doctor Ferero have joined the team, especially for those traumatized with PHS. They are there to provide additional psychological assistance if it is requested. If the goal is to be happy, beautiful and healthy, it will be difficult disregarding the scientific and technical advances, which can be benefited from. Social, economic and environmental conditions all influence health. The fundamental base of health is to use naturally given potential to the maximum ability. It all starts with self-love. Love is the main energy, the essence for survival and for developing a full human life.
EAT. MOVE. RELAX.
EAT: Why is healthy nourishment and diet important to the program?
A wholefood plant-based diet is recommended, because it is believed that the benefits surpass the disadvantages. Nature has been construed to supply all living beings with energy essential to function optimally in their environment. Scientific research conducted by Colin T. Campbell for the last 40 years shows that 95% of all chronic diseases can be avoided and reversed by eating a plant-based diet.
Humans eat to live; they do not live to eat. Nature provides us with the food that is necessary for us to survive. In Western culture and society, it can be stated that there is almost no more lack of food. On the other hand, we can see that excess in eating habits produces a lot of life-threatening diseases and disorders. Eating habits are also related to region, country, religion and culture. That is why it is not possible to prescribe a standard for everyone, as all elements necessary for survival have to be taken into account. Some practical conclusions can be drawn from many scientific studies and research.
No amount of money in the world can bring back health once it has been lost. Quality food means biologically cultivated food is preferred, grown in its natural environment with no artificial fertilizers used. Products with artificial colourings and flavourings, preservatives, and treated with hormones; GMOs and antibiotics should be avoided. All refined products, such as white sugar, rice, bread and pasta, have to be replaced by whole wheat. These refined products are stripped of most of the nutritional values. Intake of fats and sugars has to be reduced drastically. Many people suffer from overweight and diseases with consequences resulting from poor nutrition. It is more difficult for people who are predisposed to certain diseases to maintain control than for people who aren’t.
The body has its own intelligence and knows how to use its energies economically even under extremely difficult circumstances. However, as long as we create the appropriate circumstances for the body, it utilizes its own intelligence to fight obesity. These circumstances are of course not starving, but using correct nutrients. Dr. Campbell’s scientific research gives evidence that genetic predisposition will only be activated when the circumstances for it are provided. This is also the reason he came to the conclusion that a whole-plant diet is the most recommended to avoid or prevent certain diseases.
Emotions and food
Everyone has felt frustrated or unhappy in his or her personal life and drowned their sorrow in food to compensate this emotional imbalance; most of the time, it’s sugar or alcohol. The way one eats to cope is related to cultural characteristics and family antecedents. The contrary is someone no longer eating, because of depression. It is therefore easy to understand that an emotionally balanced, happy and stable life will help immensely to develop a healthy body.
MOVE: What does exercise have to do with healing?
Our body is designed to move. Keeping the mechanisms in good shape requires physical activity. The body is a sophisticated precision mechanism that slowly deteriorates if it is not used. By regularly doing aerobics, you will achieve an improvement in heart and lung capacity. The heart muscle is strengthened and becomes more efficient, and the blood circulation improves. The heart becomes more stable and fit, and will get back to its normal heartbeat after great efforts more quickly. The lung capacity increases by which the breathing becomes deeper and calmer; and a large quantity of oxygen is absorbed. The metabolism starts to function better. People, who do physical exercises on a regular basis, have a higher level of protective lipoprotein and a lower level of stress hormone, catecholamine.
Yoga – proper breathing and oxygen:
Yoga is a philosophy of life that was developed in India some thousand years ago. The basis of yoga is to find a balance between body, spirit and soul. By way of movement and breathing techniques, we learn to improve our energies of life. Different positions are assumed by which the muscles and ligaments are slightly stretched. By breathing correctly, relaxation is learned and a maximum amount of oxygen is taken in; this helps to better control the body. Movements are always slow and the limit will never be forced. If yoga is applied in its atmosphere of love and respect, injuries will never occur.
RELAX: How massage, Reiki and sauna work together to combat stress.
Stress is experienced when demands exceed personal and social resources to respond to a particular situation. Stress is greatest when there are feelings of loss of control of a situation that has a direct impact on daily life. Life-threatening situations instinctively trigger the “fight-or-flight” hormones to survive in critical moments. Being attacked will be perceived as a threat. It triggers our adrenaline to help us run faster and fight harder. It increases heart rate and blood pressure, delivering more oxygen and blood sugar to power important muscles. Sweating is increased to cool the muscles and help them to stay efficient. Blood is diverted away from the skin to the core of the body, reducing bleeding if we are damaged. Research shows that it is common to experience the “fight-or-flight” response by simply encountering something unexpected.
This response is part of daily contemporary life with different intensity depending on the lifestyle. If experienced on a continuous basis, it could have a severe impact on health and lead to “burnout” whereby people become excitable, anxious and irritable. When not taken care of, it may provoke serious mental, emotional and physical diseases. Helpful, relaxing treatments like massage, reiki and sauna hydrotherapy are incorporated in the “Be Alive” program.
You decide for yourself how far you go in the spectrum of a healthy life style. There is only one way to know and that’s to try it!
This information was provided by L'AQUALIGNE HEALTH & BEAUTY SPA at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina. Phone/Fax: 1-721- 544 2426 / email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
