Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality

Taking great care of the body relieves stress, increases vitality and feeds the soul.
In this article we will cover 25 recommendations will leave your body (and mind) prr-ing like a cat.
By integrating the following tips your body will feel loose and fertile, and be on its way to becoming the well-oiled machine you know it can be!
1. Drink at least 30 oz of Water every day
Water is the elixir of life.  Too many of us walk around de-hydrated and over the long-term this can hurt our vitality.  Make it a habit to drink at least 30 oz of water every day.
2. Scrub your Skin
After a shower, take a wash cloth and literally scrub your body from head to toes.  This removes dead skin cells and enables the skin to excrete toxins and “breathe” easier.  Plus, you will look fantastic the next day.  I highly recommend 1) scrubbing outside of the shower and 2) performing this routine 2x a week.


3. Wear comfortable Shoes
The feet are the workhorse of the body, and it is critical for our long-term health to take good care of them.  ALWAYS wearing comfortable shoes is a great way to do this.
4. Sleep in the Dark
Light interferes with sleep, at least partly because it inhibits melatonin secretion and thus resets the biological clock. For this reason, it is very important to keep your bedroom as dark as possible to ensure full cycles of sleep. (if your room is not pitch black, I suggest using a sleeping mask)!
5. Eat Organic Foods whenever possible
Organic foods have less (if any) chemicals and pesticides than non-organic fare.  The fewer chemicals you ingest, the more vital you will be!
6. Go to a Comedy Club once a Month
Falling on the floor laughing is one of the best things you can do to increase vitality in your life.  Laughing boosts immunity, strengthens the heart, and improves lung function among a myriad of other benefits.
7. Use Hot Water Bottle
Placing a hot water bottle on the stomach (or lower back) at the end of the day does wonders for your “core”.  The sensation of hot water aids digestion, calms the muscles, and provides an overall sense of relaxation.  Use a hot water bottle when tension has taken hold of you.
8. Get Acupuncture
In my article 10 Simple Ways to Never Get Sick Again, I list Acupuncture as one of the best preventative measures for long-term health.  Acupuncture can leave you feeling renewed and in touch with you “chi” of life force.  Once a month is a wonderful idea!
9. Take Naps!
Taking periodic naps increases vitality and provides deep relaxation when the body needs it.
10. Eat Bigger Meal in the Middle of the Day
A great way to pamper your body is to get in the habit of eating your bigger meal in the middle of the day.  Your digestion is much more active during the day.  At night, the body naturally begins to slow down and it is harder to digest.
11. Use a Tongue Scraper
Scraping the tongue of unwanted bacteria is a great way to increase vitality.  In the ancient Chinese philosophy of acupuncture, the appearance of the tongue is very telling of the overall health of the body.  Scraping every day can make food taste better and even help prevent certain types of illness.
12. Get Frequent Massages
Massage stimulates increased blood flow to the muscles and tendons, and also generates a sense of deep relaxation.  Plus, it feels so good!  There is no better way to pamper yourself than to get frequent massages.
13. Give Frequent Massages
Giving a massage generates the same benefits for the person you are massaging, and providing this type of enjoyment for another person is a terrific way to feed the soul.
14. Stretch
Regular stretching improves blood circulation and increases energy levels!  Proper stretching is like giving the muscles, tendons and joints a great big hug and is a wonderful preventative measure to take!
15. Eat Spicy foods
Integrating a diverse range of foods, and trying new ones, can stretch your internal bandwidth of acceptance and is a fantastic way increase vitality in your life.
16. Take a Fish oil Supplement every day
Taking a high quality fish oil supplement every day is crucial for long-term health.  This supplement provides you with much needed omega-3 fatty acids and is especially high in the hard-to-get DHA compound.  Fish oils are wonderful for the health of the heart!
17. Sing in your Car
Too many of us hoard our feelings deep within us, and this is not great over the long haul. Singing out loud elicits a wide range of emotions (depending on the type of music you are listening), and is an excellent way to increase vitality!
18. Get a Water Filter for your Shower
Filtering the water that comes from your shower lessens the amount of chemicals your skin comes in contact with.  Over the long-term, this is excellent practice to increase vibrance (remember, the skin is the body’s largest organ and we HAVE to take good care of it).
19. Eat more leafy green Vegetables
In my article The 5 Greatest Foods for Your Health, I talk about the healthiest foods on the planet for long-term health:  Kale (leafy green) is on the list.  These vegetables contain the lifeblood of the planet, chlorophyll, and are so good for you that it would take two full pages to list their benefits.
20. Purposefully deal with Stress
Stress is the silent killer among mankind, and causes tremendous (and often unseen) inflammation in the body.  To create a sense of vibrance in your life, it is necessary to implement habits that deal with stress.  Breathing and meditation are wonderful practices for this.
21. Get a Pet or Plants
Having a pet can bring you unbound joy.  If you can not have a pet, buying a few plants can serve the purpose.  The point is, having other life around you creates vitality.  YES, for those of you with kids, this is even better
22. Listen to Relaxing Music before you go to Bed
Making a habit of listening to relaxing music at the end of the day is great practice for long-term health.  Light some candles and incense and really relax before you go to bed!
23. Plan a Vacation!
Nothing is better than planning a really great vacation, and consistently having things to look forward to is a great way to insure vivacity over the long haul.
24. Schedule Periodic Meals with Old Friends
In today’s super busy world, it is harder and harder to make the time for old friends.  Making a conscious effort to get together with old buddies is excellent practice for maintaining a fertile mindset.
25. Implement 20 minutes of Aerobic Workout 4 times a week
Getting a sufficient “cardio” workout increases the body’s ability to get oxygen to the cells efficiently; this lowers blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and decrease body fat.  These are absolute necessities for vitality.
There you have it, 25 great activities that can add years to your life!  Please feel free to share your methods for pampering yourself in the comments field below.