5 Habits Of Healthy People You Can Have Too

We all want the secrets to health and vitality. We can buy bottles, creams, and whatever else is advertised to us, but ultimately anything sustainable comes from self-awareness and choices.

I recently read the New York Times piece, The Economics of Doing What You Love, by Justin Wolfers. Wolfers outlines analysis of his habit of running and what it has cost him financially. Time spent running vs. potential extra hours at his teaching job, money spent on shoes vs. money saved, and so on. "By my calculations, my 16-week training program comes at an opportunity cost of several thousand dollars. A quicker runner would have a smaller opportunity cost. It's only because I'm both slow and an economist that I fret that the world's cheapest sport is actually incredibly expensive."

Analysis is interesting and useful when there is a problem that needs to be solved, but Wolfers loves running. No problem there. Thankfully he has decided to continue running, despite the financial strain. However, Wolfers, drawing on the principles of economics, has missed a piece of analysis: the events that can't be seen. He hasn't factored in the savings in medical expenses and prescription drugs over the years from maintaining a healthy body and mind through running. That is, of course, unless he becomes injured while running and then his costs might rise again. He also hasn't factored the probability that doing what he loves will keep him on his best path, and therefore inspire him to achieve his goals and strive for greatness. Maybe a best-selling novel reveals itself to him while on a hard run, or maybe he realizes and creates a new system of teaching that benefits students for years to come.

Growing up learning the discipline and artistry of ballet, my favorite concepts were indeterminacy, chance, and dance for the sake of dance. There came a point in the history of dance, exploded by favored icon Merce Cunnningham, where dance had evolved beyond the confines of narrative. The Nutcracker is nice and all, but bodies moving beautifully is more than enough. Culture had moved past the need for spelled out structure and acceptable emotions...at least in the theater.

There comes a point when you have learned enough technique and have enough knowledge to live in the world. Feeling, intuition, and awareness need to be introduced and merged into technique for real growth to happen. Dharma Mittra instructs his students to perform a pose. He doesn't say where to point your toe, what muscle to engage, and where your spirals are coming from. We are taught rules our whole lives. When we are working on growth and expansion, we don't need more rules. There are plenty of systems of learning, and systems of yoga, that will keep you in a cycle of rules and principles taught by someone who stands outside you, who knows something you don't. Dharma Mittra says just to feel it. It's already in you. Knowledge and intelligence are sometimes useful, intuition and awareness provide so much more.

I've come up with 5 habits that I've observed lead to and maintain good health. They are some tricks that work for me so far. What works for you?

Follow Tara Stiles on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tarastiles

Comments

[drsharm]

simple advice yet extremely helpful (for ALL ages)
--reminders like these help me come back to reality...especially when i get off track!
thanks

[fbr79]

I would love to be able to meditate, I have such a hard time clearling my mind.

[JustAThought56]

The word educate comes from the latin "educare" which means to lead or draw out. Even the concept of teaching relies on the idea that all knowledge lies at least partially within you, ready to be called forth.

[wdmax]

I agree...

Except for Yoga. Don't get me wrong Yoga is a good thing, but it is not the only thing. I would replace Yoga with movement - any movement as long as you enjoy it. Some may call it exercise, but movement in the act of play is what keeps you healthy. There are those that find Yoga dissatisfying, while tennis or some other form of play pleasing. Do whatever movement and play that best "floats your boat". Vary the type, frequency and tempo and do it outside if you can or do it with a friend. If golf is your thing then try speed golf, limit the clubs you carry and time yourself over nine holes (walk fast, jog or run; requires you to be the first one on the course). Life is about experiences, have as many as you can...

[missmcgillicuddy]

TS, I love you!

[aboveparr]

Graet post. i have two more: keep a gratitude journal, saying thanks you thank you to the universe for just being. And two, know when to say when. Letting go is its own elegance.

[datasoft]

I am really feel so fresh whole day!!  The first of my day when I have read your useful article 5 habits of Healthy People at that time my life has to be changed, Next day I started to do laughter exercise daily and I feel drastic change in my own no stress, no worries like these thing has been removed from my life.

Now, I just Greatful to you such a great help to me.

Thanks a lot
Perry Jackson
Recovery bull software

[cafecat]

:) It worked!

[mdspatsy]

Hi,Tara,
Happily noted of your saying on healthy life with five healthy habits.
I saw your video in my you tube website.
That also created more knowledge to me.
Whatever you said,here,i am following it.
Some times, i get irritated of people!s thinking,corruptions on many public life,violence ,anger,cheating and all related bad thoughts.
I wrote a comment on meditation in New York Times and in Current websites.
Very good responses from Current website users.
Thanks for giving useful,wonderful and practical inputs to us.
Hope to get more from you.
You can follow me in Twitter and in Face Book social websites.

[mcostello]

I will add 2 things to add, one easy one hard, that will have an INTENSE effect on most people's health:
(easy): Eat sea vegetables; (especially "nori") This stuff packs a protein punch, has epa and dha, has seritonin, trace minerals including iodine, and just makes you feel good. Try to get it in every day.

(hard): Balance your blood sugar. Use something like the glycemic index diet. Or the Pericone program. This straightens out so much stuff that you will feel new. Truly amazing! And ms. stiles' list is pretty bitchin too.

[fbr79]

I looked around for some answers about nori and mercury...have you heard any info on that?

[Commie]

i can dig it

[RyKi]

You're doing something right girl!

[captainindustry]

If you're a pretty girl, don't be smiling at strangers. Not men anyway. There are many out there who will mis-interpret your friendly greeting. They may follow you around for days.

Men are idiots. (yes, me included)

[tc2598]

You're giving me the willies, and I'm a dude.

[fbr79]

I think you meant that as a joke...i hope....

[Shrinath]

Hey Tara, You ROCK!!

Here is a little anecdote about smiling at strangers. I was shopping for some tableware and had finished and was exiting when I saw this lady coming in to the store. I held the door open for her and to my complete surprise that brought a huge smile on her face. She thanked me and all that, but I think I totally caught her unawares. This was on Broadway.

In this present day, we are becoming far more reliant on gadgets and losing touch with humankind. If only we were more empathetic, this world would be a far peaceful place.

Cheers.

P.S.: Tara another great post. Have you checked Esther Gohkale's work on body postures??

[kpal]

I recently heard that, physiologically, the muscle activity involved in smiling/laughing triggers the release of the 'feel-good' chemicals (dopa, sera?). So, smiling can actually make you a happier person. I equate smiling at strangers with a random act of kindness - the gift that gives back and (hopefully) gets paid forward. The response is always heartwarming. So many people ready to scowl who would much rather smile when given a reason to do so.

[protagonia]

Ge† out there and walk. Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.

[Tara Stiles - Huffpost Blogger]

Fantastic advice protagonia. I like to tie that in with inhale, exhale, repeat. :)

[athenatwo]

There is something to be said for the "anything goes" school of dance (and other things) which allows for spontaneity. But, The Nutcracker is always more popular. It is performed every year. It makes more money for the ballet and has delighted more people than whatever avant garde thing got performed over someone's angst in "freeform". There is a reason for that, Tara. When you are middle aged and not so pretty, you will find out what that reason is. Then you can get out there and say something wiser.