Macrobiotic Diet And Exercise

Want to live well, eat well, and simply feel well? Looking for a simple, holistic and natural way to adjust your lifestyle, so you can achieve just that? The macrobiotic diet is not just a diet, but is also a lifestyle. Now overtaken by cooler and newer ways to live, the macrobiotic diet is, in some ways, the mother of all health-focused diets — and we'd be short-sighted if we were to toss all that wisdom aside simply because it's been around for a while.

Followers of the macrobiotic diet believe that this diet is a version of an Eastern, zen-like philosophy, that promotes well-rounded health for the entire individual. The term 'macrobiotic' comes from the Greek words meaning 'long life' or 'great life.

The macrobiotic lifestyle promotes the balanced health of our 4 "bodies", or aspects of being:

• mental,
• physical,
• emotional
• spiritual.

This lifestyle does not only focus on what food we consume and how we do it, but also on how we approach life in general. Maintaining a zen-like balance between yin and yang also refers to the food a person eats; helping to pair up balanced matching foods, and to avoid extreme foods.

Primarily, the macrobiotic diet focuses on eating wholesome foods, that are grown locally, and organically, if possible, to achieve a balance with the earth and to reduce the negative impact we have on nature. Foods are grouped into two categories, yin and yang, and should be eaten in a balanced form.

Yin foods are sweet, cold and passive. These include chocolate, honey, coffee, sugar and very hot spices. Yang foods are hot, aggressive and salty. These include meat, poultry, eggs, and salt. While Yin foods are said to over-stimulate the body and mind, Yang foods are said to have a strengthening effect. Too much of either is not healthy, and too many Yang foods can lead to problems.

Exercise for a Macrobiotic diet

Exercise is an essential and integral part of a healthy macrobiotic lifestyle. The nature of the exercise fits into the Zen balance, and is not meant to be extreme. Many famous athletes follow this practice, balancing healthy exercise with a balanced diet. A part of this is to exercise every day, for 30 minutes. A part of keeping your balance is to not damage one of the 4 bodies mentioned above. As a result, it is important to actually enjoy and appreciate the moments you spend being healthy and improving your wellbeing.

Picking an activity which you can appreciate and enjoy helps to keep your 4 bodies well by avoiding damage. Think of yourself going through a grueling workout which you dread going to. Your emotional  and spiritual health is paying the price for your supposed physical health in this scenario. Rather, find activities which you enjoy, and keep it simple. A 30 minute walk on natural earth is recommended on this diet, ideally barefoot. Sand, grass, or dirt are all natural surfaces we should walk on, and this keeps us close to nature. This practice is known as Do- o-Raku, roughly translated to “live to enjoy the order of nature” in Japanese. 

Best Macrobiotic Exercises

Exercise which complements your macrobiotic diet lifestyle should include exercise that you enjoy, as mentioned previously, and it should also help you get in touch with your spiritual self. Whether appreciating your life or the life around you, physical activity is not only beneficial for your physical health. Scientific studies have proven that exercise affects mood and emotions in addition to the physical body, improving overall health.

However, these are traditional exercises, and others can also use the same principles to achieve mindfulness. Try chi running or walking, which helps to bring awareness and better breathing practices to these activities.

There are many different styles of yoga, ranging from meditative to demanding strength. Though the pace and poses differ between the styles of yoga, the principles remain the same; a focus is placed on breathing, and thus on being in-touch with the body.

Similarly, in pilates, a focus is placed on body-awareness, which includes breathing. Both strengthening and stretching the muscles which generate movement, focusing on posture and breathing is a part of the macrobiotic lifestyle.

Another exercise recommended is total-immersion swimming, which also helps to keep the body connected to the mind while exercising. Practising total-immersion swimming is said to help relax the mind, and help keep it sharper as we age.

One should practice one or a few of these exercise modalities several times per week, in moderate amounts. This helps to maintain a balanced, healthful lifestyle.

Clothing and Macrobiotic Exercise

According to the macrobiotic lifestyle, the body needs to be able to breathe. As such, clothing considerations should be made for your exercises. Rather than picking up the latest fashions, fabrics which are natural, like cotton, breathable and organic, should be your choice. Avoid synthetic and stretch materials, which constrict the skin. 

Mindfulness

The most important part of macrobiotic diet and exercise is to be mindful at all times. Aside from eating a balanced diet, preparing foods in a natural way and maintaining regular, moderate activity, a persons outlook on life is significant as well.

In addition to mindful physical activity, be sure to practice breathing exercises regularly. Each day, spend a few minutes meditating in some form or another. This can be done first thing in the morning to prepare your mind for the day, or at night, to help calm the mind before bed. During a tough day at work, meditative breathing exercises help to calm and regroup your mind so you can be productive and focused.