The notes below are designed to give prospective readers an idea of what to expect from the book, and to aid in making a decision on whether to buy it.
Body Thrive, Cate Stillman
General Notes
Find rhythm and all and live in that set of vibrations.
If you aggregate the body then you have anger and suffering.
Prana is energy which is bliss and inner-connection.
Ayurveda is living in sync.
There are 10 habits listed in the book. Pick up one per week. They must become habits, not just one offs.
3 causes of diseases:
1. Bad choices repeated.
2. Disrespecting the senses.
3. Age.
Ease is being linked with the flow.
One has to be clear about what you want and to set an intention (Sankalpa). Kaizen is a habit.
Keystone habit is the one that is key to all others. For some it’s food, others sleep. Focus on your keystone first so that everything does not go out of balance.
10 Key Habits
#1: Eat earlier, lighter dinner. Order (krama) matters. Digestion is the strongest 10am-2pm. Body needs breaks. Supper means soup.
#2: Go to bed early. Kapha, pitta, and vatta times. Best to get to sleep before pitta time (10pm), need to wind down by 8pm to lower cortisol and to balance the endocrine system. Use an ahh exhale or shavasana in the bed.
#3: Start the day right. Clear all your thoughts, set an intention for the day that is not ‘me,’ drink as much warm water as is needed to force a bowel movement (1 qt?). Neuroplasticity is the highest when waking up. Set the daily rhythm. Wake before sunrise at the Brahmamudra.
#4: Move and breathe for 20 minutes before work. Detox your cells, life vibrations. Deep breaths can increase your exercise ability. If vatta, light exercise; if kapha more intense exercise important; balanced if pitta—don’t over do it.
#5: Eat a plant-based diet. Less processed foods. Rice, corn, and wheat are 60% of calories but only 3 of the 300,000 plant species. Change plants to change energy. Honor your body. Eat weeds as their roots go down deeper. Eat local. Context: you always need support to get this done. Understand who is uplifting you and who is not. Build accountability into relationships.
#6: Self-massage everyday. Dry brush if oily skin or oil if dry skin. Run in circles at joints and long strokes at bones. Nourish your soul. Left hand is female, right hand is male. Almond and sunflower oil is neutral. Sesame oil is warming. Coconut and avocado oil is cooling.
#7: Sit in silence. Too much data taxes your mental agni. Need opposite energies—idea of spanda (pulsations). Balance is the pulsations of opposites. Meditation rewires the brain and increases number of cells and grey matter. Relax and pay attention. Manage your energy, not your time. Stop making decisions, start making commitments. At first just sit there for 1 minute, then make it longer. Nose breathing helps get the oxygen even deeper.
#8: Eat 2-3 meals a day, be okay with hunger. Hunger tunes you in to the universe’s vibrations. Taste the tastes, don’t be distracted. 13 hours from dinner to breakfast. Eat during daylight. Fill stomach with 1/3rd food, 1/3rd water, 1/3rd empty space. Smaller plates are best. Only drink water between meals. Life breath you must exhale to inhale cleanly - you must create room in your gut for more food. Let go of processed foods, corn, meat, and wheat. Bitter foods such as greens will decrease sweet cravings. Raw fruits should be eaten with greens or alone. Eggs and yogurt best eaten with greens. Do short exercises when you crave a snack.
#9: Take care of the senses. Do karnu purana (oiling ears). Darkness is ama. Lube your nostrils if dry (circular motions inside). Neti if nose clogged. Seasonal detox with each change of seasons.
#10: Live in ease. The problem is not your problem. The problem is your reaction. Reactions can create stress, but reception comes easy. Feel ground below and spirit above, keep your awareness between the two. Today is a new day, not tomorrow but today.