Human awareness is complete and balanced functioning of the primary (instinct)/secondary (reasoning) representation systems. Zazen, the path to wisdom (intuition), is the modern, paleolithic approximation of ancestral awareness.
Human dietary strategy is based on vegetable matter in the primary position and animal matter in an essential, secondary position. Paleolithic nutrition is the modern, paleolithic approximation of our ancestral dietary strategy. Human movement capabilities are based on terrestrial, bipedal movement and arboreal-based movement such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, carrying, tool making and throwing. Movement qualities include power = fast execution/moderate intensity, strength = slow execution/high intensity, endurance = moderate execution/low intensity. A functional movement practice is the modern, paleolithic approximation of ancestral movement.
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Human by Design is a pragmatic, practical and wise approach to health and wellbeing. How so?
Pragmatism is an approach that assesses the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application. Practicality is the quality of being able to provide effective solutions to problems. Wisdom is the soundness of a decision or action with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Pragmatism is the framework. Practicality is application. Wisdom is the outcome. Adaptation is as good as it has to be. It doesn't have to be perfect to be effective. Adaptation depends on context.
Action only needs to be as good as it has to be in order to be effective. It doesn't have to be perfect to be effective. Actions depend on context. If everything is context dependent, in what context are you developing health and wellness. Appropriate View - See reality as it truly is.
Appropriate Intention - Be kind. Appropriate Speaking - Say what is true and useful. Appropriate Action - Do no harm. Appropriate Working - Find your vocation. Appropriate Effort - Do not give up the way. Appropriate Awareness - Be completely present. Appropriate Concentration - Pay attention. Survival is associated with minimal health. It is when environmental conditions push the threshold of design. Thriving is associated with optimal health and wellbeing. It is when environmental conditions and design are congruent. Are you surviving or thriving?
Execute the following movement session three times a week, ideally every other day. Rest only long enough to catch your breath between movements. (add pics?) Lay on your back and stand up, then return to lying on your back. Do this six times. Immediately after, lay and your stomach and stand up, then return to lying on your stomach. Don't forget to alternate legs. Do this six times. You can use your hands to assist if necessary. Jump in place like you are jumping rope. Do this ten times. Immediately after completion of repetitions, begin jumping forward and backward, using the same motion. Do this ten times for each direction (front/back). Immediately after, jump side to side ten times each direction (left/right). Pretend you are hopping over an imaginary line with front/back and side/side motions. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder width apart with your hands clasped together in front of your lap. Bring your arms up and around, tracing a large circle in front of your body bringing them to rest in the original position in front of your lap. Repeat the same motion to the opposite direction. Do this eight times for each direction for sixteen total repetitions. Make the largest possible circle that you can. Find a door that can support you weight. Hook your hands over the top of the door and pull yourself to the top, using your legs and feet if necessary. Hang in this position for five seconds, ten seconds if you can. When finished and once your grip feels good, hook your hands back over the top of the door and curl your legs up so they clear the floor. Hang in this position for five seconds, ten seconds if you can. Begin by standing with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with your hands clasped together in front of your lap. Keeping your arms straight, bend over at the waist and push your butt back bringing your clasped hands back between your legs. From there, stand up and bring your arms up and over your head in a dynamic, arching motion - like throwing a ball over the back of your head. Do this four to six times. Begin by standing with your feet close together, with your hands clasped together in front of your lap. Keeping your arms straight, bring your arms up above your head and stand on your tip toes. From there, bring your arms down in a dynamic motion - like slamming a ball onto the ground. Do this four to six times.
Intro to Paleolithic Nutrition - Sample daily meal plan
Ingest a mixed fruit salad, mixed vegetable omelette, a large, mixed salad with lean animal protein and a small handful of mixed nuts over the course of a day. Do not ingest cereals/grains, potatoes, legumes and milk and dairy. Ingest water, tea without sweetner (green or black) and black coffee. Include a cup of berries and two, four to six ounce servings (two small pieces) of fruit in the fruit salad. Vegetable omelette is composed of two to three eggs and two, one cup servings of vegetables. You can replace the omelette with a meal composed of two, one cup servings of vegetables and one, three ounce serving of lean animal protein. The large salad is composed of two cups of salad greens, two one cup servings of vegetables, three tablespoons of light salad dressing and one three to four ounce serving of lean animal protein. Mixed nuts are ingested as a snack. Do not exceed one ounce of mixed, unsalted/unroasted nuts. Peanuts are not a nut. It's much more effective if you prepare your meals the night before and have them available to you the following day (pack your meals). Intro to Zazen - Four second breathing.
Inhale deeply for a count of four seconds, making sure that your abdomen/belly pushes out or up; depending on your position (upright or supine). Hold the breath for a four second count. Exhale for a four second count. Your abdomen/belly should descend or recede, depending on your position (upright or supine). Hold the breath for a four second count. That's one series. Repeat the series four times in a row. Repeat the series at least three times a day - ideally morning, noon and night. However, this practice can be done anytime. Pay close attention to your abdomen/belly as you inhale, hold and exhale through the entire series. |
AuthorSeth Clayton is the creator of the Human by Design System. He is a human from Charlotte, NC who is interested in helping you achieve optimal health and wellbeing through the avenues of Zen Buddhism, Functional Movement and Paleolithic Nutrition. Archives
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