Some Macrobiotic Lifestyle Suggestions

1. Be as active as possible in your daily life, including activities such as cleaning your house, working in the garden and others, exercise programs, such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, weight lifting , dancing etc.

2. For the deepest and most restful sleep, retire before midnight and rise early in the morning.

3. Walk outside in the fresh air for two times 30 minutes or longer every day. In summer time it is great to walk barefoot on the grass in a park, in nature or on the beach.

4. Try to wear 100 percent cotton clothing next to the skin and use cotton sheets and pillowcases on your bed. Cotton allows a smooth flow of energy with the environment.

5. Keep green plants in your home and office to increase oxygen and improve air circulation.

6. Try to use more natural quality body care products and cosmetics. They may be better for personal health as well as for the environment.

7. If you watch television, do so at a great distance, to minimize exposure to radiation.

8. Self-reflect a few minutes each day on your life and express your appreciation to God, nature, or the universe. This may take the form of prayer, meditation, chanting, and visualization including the creation of healthful, positive thoughts and images.

9.Live each day happily. Keep mentally and physically active and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude.

10. Sing a happy song!

11. Do a body scrub in the morning to wake up, in the evening to help relax and sleep, or both.  This activates circulation, promoting clear, soft skin, by helping the skin eliminate toxins from the body.

Quarter fold a cotton cloth.  Using hot water, wet the cloth and begin to scrub your body (without soap), rubbing gently with just the weight of your hand, until your skin turns pink all over. Start with your hands, rubbing palm and back side, between your fingers and work your way up your arms toward your chest. Next, rub your chest and back, but for women, avoid the breasts and for men and women, the genitals, but scrub your groin area. Work your way down your belly, scrub your buttocks and then work your way down your legs, front and back to your feet, scrubbing the tops of your feet, between your toes and even the soles of your feet.  At first, you'll notice that your skin turns a mottled pink. As the body breaks down accumulated, hardened fats, your skin will turn a uniform, rosy pink in minutes.