Balance, Harmony and Homeostasis
Balance can be viewed as a state of bodily, mental and emotional equilibrium. In addition it can be seen as two counterbalancing weights bringing harmony to a set of scales.
Harmony originates from the Greek Harmos, which can be translated to mean agreement, joint or means of joining. Harmony can be seen as the parts being in agreement regarding actions, approach, feelings and opinions with one another and with the whole. We can observe this with friendly, like minded people forming a closely knit community; in which individuals assist each other as a priority, safe in the knowledge that as a whole they are more stable, safer and stronger than as individuals.
Homeostasis refers to an organism being able to maintain internal balance by adjusting its bodily processes. When homeostasis is achieved the body is healthy and vibrant, yet even a slight imbalance can manifest as physical symptoms.
If we look at the cycles of nature we can see that for each aspect there is an opposing one, ie day / night, summer / winter, and full moon / new moon. You need one, to have the other. Together they exist in harmony, alone they would cause imbalance.
Now let us embrace the idea that a state of balance is desirable and indeed essential for sustained wellbeing, and view modern living in terms of Yin and Yang.
The stresses and the pressures of modern day living can be viewed as very Yang.
In addition with the high dietary levels of Salt and Meat (both very Yang foods), we can see why people are moved towards Yin activities/foods to help move their lives back into balance and harmony and their bodies into homeostasis. In our society the easiest Yin choices are often: Alcohol, Chemicals, Coffee, Drugs, soft drinks, sugar, and watching television. People often find themselves being drawn towards these choices; unfortunately they all have the tendency, especially when taken in excessive quantities, to shift the body towards a more acidic state. So disrupting the essential acid/alkaline (PH) balance in the body, or homeostasis.
The effects of having your body shifted towards a more acidic state, can include a loss of bone/teeth strength and ultimately increase the chance of breaks/fractures, as these are where Alkaline minerals such as Calcium are stored, ready to buffer or neutralise any excess acidity in the system, so bringing the body back into balance and harmony. If left unchecked an acidic condition can lead to even more serious health issues.
Alternative Yin food choices include Fruits and Vegetables, these being even more Yin if they are eaten uncooked.
So if the thought of eating all junk foods sounds extreme, you may want to include more raw foods in your diet. In addition, steps like incorporating an activity like Tai Chi, Yoga or Meditation as well as receiving regular Massages and Reiki treatments can have a profound impact in helping our bodies to gravitate back into the state of balance, harmony and homeostasis, that they are constantly seeking.
