The Vital Stroke. Aging and Vitality

I was savoring some well-deserved pupus on the ocean front lanai of the Royal Kona hotel this Saturday afternoon after the 18 miles Liliuokali race, watching the ocean and waiting for the first iron kane canoes to appear on the horizon. I could not believe my eyes but the water sprinkled with dots, two or three well ahead of some other much smaller dots. It was too early, I thought, to be our paddlers. Just about an hour and a ½ had elapsed from their departure time! But sure enough I was them! I continued staring in the direction of Kealakekua and now I could see clearly the 2 back dots taking the form of canoes. I wished I had binoculars to see the details of what was happening with the 2 first canoes. Short of having binoculars, I decided to get the most out of the experience on the level that I could. It became a great revelation. I received a clear message of energy and vitality. As the canoes were getting closer I could see the men paddling fast and hard as if they were paddling for a short distance race and they already had about 15 miles in their arms. They were giving all they had in their heart in the form of power, for the sake of racing. I was moved to tears.

This experience was so strong that I wanted to share it with our makule paddlers. I took a walk to the Kamehameha hotel to the outdoor award site, curious to observe the winners of the race and eager to share my experience with my team. I told the story to one of our paddlers. I told her how impressed I was with the speed and wholeness of the paddling team and she commented “ Yes but they are young”

This comment made me think: Is vitality the attribute of youth only and does it get lost inevitably with aging or can it be retained?

YES vitality can be cultivated!

Here are the ways that you can support a vital body:

Nutrition, exercise and positive thinking

Exercise, we got it, we all love it. Exercise is what is bonding us. Paddling! But this is only one part of the package. You also got to eat live foods

Live foods are as important as exercise to maintain the life force. We restore the damages done to our bodies with food and water. Food is more than what it taste like. Food is needed to repair properly the daily damage from time. Our body will use whatever we give it to do the job. Our body and brain is programed to eat food from the earth, whole foods not processed foods. The more live food the body/brain receives the better the repair job and the more lively and awaken we will feel.

Please make an effort to eliminate toxic foods from your life: processed food, dead food and non-food substances.

The next fundamental factor is how you think. You must think positively. If you think that aging is an illness that cannot be avoided, the corners of your lips are going to go down. I once had a patient who was exercising her upper lip muscles and I inquired: what was she doing? She explained that as we aged the corners of our mouth tend to look down and she strengthening the upper muscle of her lips to have a youthful smile and look. Certainly she was concerned about her appearance but the sagging upper lips is also a reflection of how we feel inside and making a conscious effort to fight gravity helps to uplift our feelings.

Gravity may create damage on many body parts. While the vital energy is the strongest at birth it does not take much effort to maintain it earlier in life. However, while growing old, it takes individual awareness and effort to maintain this vitality as long as possible. Cosmetic surgery will not do it. It may lure the other but not yourself. It takes effort and all effort is rewarding. Conserving vitality is an important component of happiness.

Please think positive. There is no limit to the power and creativity of the human mind. We can all have a vital stroke regardless of our age! This is not a matter of technique, it is a matter of believing that we have enthusiasm, passion and strength and our stroke will have the vitality of a 20 year old.

The source of a vital stroke is a vital mind and a vital body grown with real food, exercise and positive thinking .

by Maya Nicole Baylac N.D.