From Happy to Healthy

Contents Introduction 7 A little background 9 Whatever happens, it all contributes to the person you are today 10 Happiness and health, a closer look 17 Happiness all the time all over the world 22 Emotions 29 Thoughts 29 The impact of emotions 32 Let’s get started on our way to a happier life 55 Intro 55 Movement 57 Rest, meditation 63 Introduction 63 Definitions 64 Meditation in a Western context 68 Physical postures 69 Spine 69 Mudra/Hand 70 Eyes 70 Focus 70 Health applications and clinical studies of meditation 71 Diet 75 How to discover what is healthy for you? 76 Lifestyle 81 Introduction 81 Attitude 81 Accept yourself 83 Emotional health 83 Gratitude 85 Environment and relationships 86 Conclusion 89

Introduction “I’ve decided to be happy because it’s good for my health”. Voltaire

After hearing for the umpteenth time “I don’t have the time nor the money” as an answer to my suggestion to start paying attention to a health related practice in my work as an acupuncturist, and after explaining again how little time is needed and how even without any investment you can start working on your health, I decided that it was time to write about this. Most people honestly want to remain or become healthy, but keep putting it off until they are forced to do something about it. I know that for many people this sounds very familiar. If this sounds like you, keep on reading and you will discover not only why, but also how, small adjustments in your life can improve your wellbeing and even prevent illness.

This is a book about Happiness; and how happiness is related to your health. How is that? Because most people believe that they have to be healthy to be happy, but in fact it’s the other way around. Happiness leads to health. The intention of this book is to show you that you can actually influence your health. Too many times I heard people say the “but” word. But I am too tired, but I have too much pain, but I am too busy, but………. Sounds familiar? In reality working on being happy quickly makes a difference. And I hear from many people that in retrospect they find their original “but” excuses silly. So this is the main reason I started this book, to show you that whatever your circumstance you can start to work on happiness and health.

After working in (alternative) healthcare for a long time I came to the conclusion that many, if not all, of my clients wanted to become happier and healthier. There are many books and teachers explaining how you can become happier or healthier but mainly they focus on one part of life, be it movement, food, meditation or lifestyle. After I realized that all of these areas needed attention, the next problem presented itself; Time and money seemed for many the greatest obstacles to actually start working on their happiness and health. Always the “but………”came up; “I’ll start as soon as I have more time…..more money….. a better job…..after I’ve moved house…….”. So it was clear that what is needed is a way for people to get started on all the areas that influence your well-being, happiness and health, a way that is easy, doesn’t take much time or money and is constructed so that people can overcome the “but-problem”. I’d like to say special thanks to Samir, my loyal friend and webmaster, for supporting me, to Kathy Rice, for being kind enough to read and correct the manuscript before it was send to print. And most of all to my loving husband, who stood by me, always encouraging me, and never giving up. The result is this book, which I hope you will not only enjoy reading, but also begin to implement in your life, and so taking the first steps on you way to happiness and health! Don’t worry, be happy!

A little background "There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading in the same direction, so it doesn’t matter which path you take. The only one wasting time is the one who runs around and around the mountain, telling everyone else that their path is wrong." Hindu Teaching

All my life I have been interested in alternative medicines. I read a lot about Native American medicine, Ayurveda, Kabbalah and everything else that had a relation to emotional and physical health. I ended up studying Western Psychology, and finding it too limited, Chinese Medicine. I liked the holistic approach Chinese Medicine. After all we are not machines, in which you can replace one faulty part with a new one, but rather we are a bundle of processes that our body very efficiently coordinates, making sure that all the parts in body and mind are working towards the same goal: making you healthy. I worked as an acupuncturist. I also gave Qigong, meditation and yoga classes because many problems are solved more profound and quicker by doing this. My knowledge of herbs also turned out to be useful, so I realized very soon that health cannot be obtained by a quick fix, like a tablet or some needles, but it required the active cooperation of the client and the practitioner. Today I am a lifestyle coach and a food consultant, and I am also still giving classes in Yoga and Qigong and Meditation. In addition I give weekend and one-day workshops on the method that I describe in this book. I love the interaction with clients and participants. Their questions every time give me much more insight and their enthusiasm provides me with the drive to keep on improving.

Whatever happens, it all contributes to the person you are today How many times do we put ourselves down? We are quick to judge others but also ourselves. Well, as Panache Desai says: “you are perfect, no matter what”. And that is true. Blaming yourself is not helpful. You are what you are and this is the result of your actions or lack of action and how you handled situations, so if the outcome can be improved upon, learn from it and keep trying, but do not blame yourself. So far you have made it to here, still alive, so……….