Life Lessons from Motorcycles: 7 Aspects of Holistic Nutrition

Holistic Nutrition: Body, Mind, Spirit

Holistic NutritionHolistic nutrition is derived not only from the food we eat, but also from community, meditation, wisdom, sensuality, and play.  Here again, motorcycles have much to teach us.

These 7 aspects of nutrition apply equally to machine and body.

Quality

Motorcycle: The quality of what we feed it – fuel, fluids, air – affects performance and longevity. Owner’s manuals give us specific for vital ingredients such as the grade of fuel, weight of motor oil and the designated brake fluid.

Lesson: Humans don’t come with an owner’s manual. We’ve all heard, “You are what you eat.” We’re also what we hear, see and feel. Making wise, informed decisions on what we allow into or on our body, or into our mind keeps us vibrant, dynamic and beautiful. Inside and out!

Quantity

Motorcycle: More is not better when it comes to motorcycle fluids. Too little can ruin your bike – and its rider. Imagine what happens when you apply your brakes and there’s insufficient brake fluid. Or you’re sitting in traffic with your water-cooled engine and your coolant level is low.

Each fluid has a specific amount required for optimal performance. .

Lesson: Unlike a motorcycle, humans don’t come with gauges or fill marks. We have to figure out our own nutrition.  Click to tweet quote. Like a bike, there is an optimal amount of food we need to maintain a healthy body and mind. Too much or too little creates health risks over time.

Mix

Motorcycle: Each fluid is unique in characteristic, purpose and quantity. You can’t substitute motor oil for brake fluid; or gasoline for coolant.

Lesson: Include all food groups in your physical diet in the correct ratio of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Also include a mix of activities to nourish mind and spirit.

Maintenance

Motorcycle: Regular, proactive maintenance enhances performance and promotes longevity. Replacing fluids or parts before they’re worn out reduces the risk of breaking down in the middle of nowhere or having an accident because brake pads were worn, the tire tread was gone or your wheel bearings were shot.

Lesson: Regular maintenance, care and nutrition keep our bodies at their healthiest. Routine screening can detect small problems and allow early treatment.

Our bodies house our spirits so taking good care of them respects who we are.

Adjust to External Conditions

Motorcycle: Riding faster burns more fuel and requires more gas stops. We may need a different grade of motor oil for prolonged extremes of heat or cold. The type of bike, riding and roads will influence the type of tires we choose.

Lesson: Ambient temperatures can affect our appetite. Staying well-hydrated is important when we’re exposed to prolonged heat, especially when riding.

External influences on mind and spirit are not always so easy to recognize. Pay attention to stress levels, toxic environments or even being so busy, we neglect these areas.

Adjust to Internal conditions

Motorcycle: We get to know the nuances of our motorcycles and can detect subtle signs that something is wrong. It may be that the engine sounds different, it handles differently or it starts consuming oil or excessive fuel. All of those are indications to take a closer look at what’s happening. Your life may depend on it.

Lesson: Applying regular attention to body, mind and spirit, maintaining balance and listening to our intuition keeps us alert to signs we may need to take time out for an assessment. Our life may depend on it.

Interdependence

Motorcycle: All systems have to work together for the machine to operate a maximum efficiency. It matters not that our gas tank is full if our tires are worn out. Or our battery is dead. Fuel, electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems all need to be functioning well to achieve safe and effective performance.

Lesson: Our body is merely the physical component of our being. Dysfunctions in our energy systems and spiritual body affect our physical body.

Body, mind and spirit are interrelated so neglecting one at the expense of another will affect the whole.

 

This post continues exploring the themes introduced in Life Lessons From Motorcycles: 12 Principals of Survival.

 

About

Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.