| Physical education or health and physical education are | | | | fewer calories than our body needs we burn excess |
| the areas of knowledge that will ultimately drive our | | | | fat. In each case we can develop serious health |
| success engine. We are physical and spiritual beings. | | | | conditions if either problem continues for an extended |
| Our mind, body, and spirit are all connected and learning | | | | period of time. One other fundamental principle is we |
| how they work together and how to care for them | | | | must keep our bodies hydrated. Dehydration is an |
| can save us from unnecessary pain and suffering. | | | | often ignored and a serious problem in America today. |
| Knowing how to take care of our body, mind, and spirit | | | | Within those foundations there are numerous other |
| will lead us down the path toward happiness, health, | | | | nutrition related topics that can be discussed all of |
| and wealth. | | | | which can impact our overall health. There are a |
| The most powerful tool of influence we have is to | | | | number of books that would be highly recommended |
| model good behaviors. We should be sure we are | | | | reading. |
| working on our health and fitness at the same time we | | | | The final category would be that of our well-being. It is |
| preach to others about the value health, fitness, and | | | | this area that may well be the most important, yet the |
| participation in sports. Each of us will have our own | | | | most misunderstood and the most difficult to share. |
| issues, goals, and obstacles to living a healthy lifestyle, | | | | Our well-being consists not only of our general health |
| but we must strive for excellence in this area. When | | | | and fitness, but our spiritual well-being as well. It is that |
| we live it, we will feel the difference. We will find it | | | | spiritual side that has be so over-looked in western |
| much easier to dream, act, achieve, and enjoy. | | | | medicine. We are spiritual beings anyway you look at it |
| There are a few areas of health and physical | | | | and denying that truth can lead to serious |
| education we will focus on at this time. First, I will | | | | consequences. |
| discuss the area of fitness. Fitness has to do with | | | | Spirituality goes beyond who we are. It includes things |
| stamina, strength, and flexibility. Our objective should be | | | | like beliefs, values, emotions and intelligence. These |
| fit enough so that a day of physical activity does not | | | | aspects of a person's personality are not easily |
| lay us up for a week. | | | | understood, but profoundly impact who they are and |
| To begin a fitness routine you need to visit your doctor | | | | their well-being. There are psychological processes |
| and let him or her know what you want to do. They | | | | that can show people how to change your beliefs, |
| will give you the practical advice based on your | | | | values, and emotions. We can do things to improve our |
| over-all health. In doing this fitness routine you should | | | | ability to think and reason. At the same time, genetics |
| build in stretching, anaerobic exercise, and aerobic | | | | plays a role in those areas and will influence health and |
| exercise. You most definitely do NOT need to buy | | | | well-being as do injuries to the brain. Those factors are |
| expensive gym equipment or memberships at clubs to | | | | only part of the spiritual picture. |
| get started. There are a number of good programs | | | | Spirituality has played a significant role in healing in most |
| you can do right at home. Having someone who will do | | | | religions of the world. Eastern religions and native |
| this with you and hold you accountable would be a | | | | religions have kept more of those healing arts in tact |
| great benefit. Any fitness program you actually do and | | | | over the centuries than have the western, Christian |
| do consistently will help you in all areas of your life. You | | | | nations. Any discussion regarding spirituality and health |
| will have more energy, will perform better on the job, | | | | would be incomplete if it did not include a discussion of |
| will feel less stress, and will sleep better. You must | | | | faith and religious creeds. It also must be noted that |
| take action to achieve those benefits. The motivation | | | | while religious people tend to live longer and healthier |
| to follow through and the building of the routine is most | | | | than non-religious people being religious does not |
| people's down-fall. That is topic of a future article. | | | | automatically mean you will be healthy; however, if you |
| The second area is that of athleticism. Athleticism | | | | are truly a convert of a religious faith you will tend to |
| covers things like stamina, coordination, speed, and | | | | be healthier than those who don't. |
| agility. It encompasses the skills that enable us to do | | | | Does it matter what religious faith you are? First, we |
| many different physical tasks. It is also the skills that | | | | must point out that ALL religions are mutually exclusive. |
| would allow us to participate in team and individual | | | | They have core beliefs that set them apart from other |
| sports for our entire lives. Skiing, swimming, basketball, | | | | religious views and those core beliefs cannot all be |
| baseball, softball, cycling, tennis, bowling, and of course | | | | true. Given that fact it is a reasonable conclusion that it |
| golf are several of many sports that can provide a fun | | | | does matter because each will have a different view |
| and competitive outlet for people of all ages. For those | | | | on how an individual is to live their life and what |
| who are not naturally athletic becoming fit and actually | | | | happens to you upon death. It then would make sense |
| participating in athletic activities and exercises can and | | | | to investigate the truth claims of the religions of the |
| will improve that athleticism. You can find that | | | | world. If you were to start your investigation with |
| competitive outlet and not feel embarrassed about | | | | Christian truth claims you may find that you can |
| your performance. Just go get in the game. | | | | dismiss all the other claims because a fundamental |
| Nutrition is a broad topic. There are basic principles that | | | | truth claim of Christianity is that Jesus Christ was the |
| you need to understand. First, your body needs basic | | | | only way to reach God, the father. If those claims are |
| building blocks for your cells. It must get vitamins and | | | | true then all other claims to the contrary are false. |
| minerals in the correct amount to operate to its | | | | We truly don't fully understand the spiritual realm but |
| maximum abilities. We get those vitamins in minerals | | | | we do know it does positively impact our physical and |
| from the foods and drinks we consume. The next | | | | emotional health and well-being. So, seek the truth, build |
| basic principle is that the fuel for our body is calories. If | | | | a relationship with God, and enjoy improved health and |
| we consume more calories than our body uses it | | | | well-being. |
| converts the extra calories to fat. When we consume | | | | |