The holistic approach to staying physically fit: How meditation helps take care of your body

-By Ankita Choubey

When we talk about our physical body, it does not mean that only what we see needs to be maintained or taken care of. Our physical body is a 360-degree holistic sum of the daily efforts we make in our lives. From waking up in the morning to going to sleep at night, everything we do contributes to our physical well-being. Even the thoughts we carry throughout the day play a role in its maintenance.

I would like to explain the important factors that affect our physical body and how to take care of it accordingly:

1. Sleep: Good sleep is a very important factor for the body. As a spiritual person, I would say that it is not the amount of sleep that matters, but the quality of sleep. You may sleep for any duration, but it should be completely undisturbed and relaxing. Our body needs to go into a standby state for some time each day.

   
   

2. Food: What we eat determines the flow of energy in our body. We should listen to our body’s needs while eating. Our body communicates with us through signals such as bloating, vomiting, acidity, and other issues. What we eat is reflected in our face, body structure, and energy levels throughout the day. We should provide the body with the right ingredients in the right quantity.

   
   

3. Exercise: Our body needs to burn energy to function properly; otherwise, energy will accumulate. There are various forms of physical activity, such as swimming, football, dancing, yoga, and gym workouts. The burning of energy is also linked to sleep—if you do not burn enough energy, you will not get proper sleep at night, as the body needs to be sufficiently tired for restful sleep.

   
   

4. Meditation: You may wonder how meditation helps the physical body, as it may seem unrelated to the outer self, but this is a misconception. Meditation plays a vital role in maintaining the physical body. In today’s fast-paced world, people are overworked and face environmental challenges and unexpected situations. These lead to stress, anxiety, and discomfort, which can further result in health issues ranging from minor problems like coughs and colds to serious illnesses like cancer. Meditation addresses these issues at their core by balancing the mind and body. A person who meditates daily is less likely to experience stress or anxiety. Their perspective on life changes, they carry gratitude in their actions, and their decisions lead them toward a better life.

These factors play a vital role in maintaining the physical body in daily life. They are all interconnected, and together they create a healthy lifestyle. If even one of them is neglected, an imbalance arises, leading to various problems.

As a spiritual person, I believe we are blessed to have this physical body, through which we can serve others. Our body helps us cross the river of samsara; it is the gateway to Moksha or enlightenment. We should prioritise caring for the physical body above everything else, because it is through this body that the world exists for us.

My Guru, HH Guruji Sundar, says, “Our body is a temple for God to reside.”

This means that our body is a temple that carries our soul, which is none other than God Himself. We should care for our body just as we care for a temple.

Kabir says, “Jyon ki tyon dhani deeni chadariya.”

This means that God has given us this body like a cloth for the soul, and we should return it with minimal damage.