Time…
When you talk about time, perspective is everything. I saw a post recently that said “Life is not short… it’s the longest thing you do!” That may be true, but is it going to be as long as possible? Consider your life represented by grains of sand in one big hourglass, slowly pouring through the center, with no chance to turn it over to start again. What if you had some control over the size of the center hole? Do your thoughts and actions affect how fast the sand drains away? And what could you do to narrow the hole, slow the grains of sand, and add years to your life?
Simple steps can yield substantial results. According to a new study, adding just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day (or 92 minutes per week) has been associated with a three-year increase in life expectancy and a 14% reduction in risk of death by any cause, compared to a sedentary lifestyle. Each additional 15 minutes of daily exercise (up to 100 minutes a day) reduced the risk of death by an additional 4%, the study found, and people who got 30 minutes of activity a day added about four extra years to their life expectancy, compared with their sedentary peers.†
Another way to “spend” little and increase the grains of sand in the top of your hourglass is to add relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, to your daily routine. A recent study carried out by the Preventive Medicine Research Institute of Sausalito, CA, and the University of California, San Francisco, reveals that breathing exercises, along with other stress management techniques, can increase levels of a substance called telomerase.‡ Long story short, this substance controls how our cells age and potentially controls our risk for cancer and other life-shortening illnesses.
The best part of adding these small changes into your life is that the benefits are immediate. Adding exercise and breath work daily will not only add years to your life, it will make those years more enjoyable. You will start feeling better NOW, and you will extend the vibrant, active years of your life. None of us can turn over our hourglass and start over… so learn to invest your time wisely now… and the rewards will be there in your future!
Make 2012 the year you find Time Enough 4 Health!
‡Read more: http://www.control-your-blood-pressure.com/lower_blood_pressure_breath.html
Beautiful ! This article really makes you realize how life just keeps going!