With the London Olympics coming soon, athletes are intensifying their training. But, there is much more for them to watch then their practice schedule. How important is our eating habits in defining our heart health and strength? and why are we hearing about athletes who suddenly crash and collapse on the field? This is the topic of my new article on OnIlsam.net, you can access it here:http://www.onislam.net/english/health-and-science/health/457342-athletes-mind-your-hearts.htmlIf you like it, or want to add your opinion or experience, please do leave a comment!

With heath and healing,
Amira

Prayer is like water to a seed. Without water, the seed remains as a rigid shell protecting an endless potential for growth and flourishing, when you give it water it unleashes all its hidden powers and grows way beyond its limits and boundaries.

Prayer teaches humility and sincerity. It gives you the taste of Gratitude, and allows you the chance of seeking forgiveness and repentance. Prayers softens our hearts with love, compassion, and supplication.

For it to feed our souls, tough, prayer shouldn't be mere recitation of verses. When performed from within, it takes a deeper meaning that touches the soul and transcends the spirit.

Some people refer to meditation, breathing exercises, and other esoteric practices to seek spiritual enlightenment, while neglect seeking this ultimate connection through their daily prayers. There is nothing wrong with meditation, deep thinking, breathing exercises, reflection, and visualization when performed with the right intention, yet still, they cannot in any way replace our need for prayers. Prayer is indispensible and irreplaceable food for the hungry soul.

Dr. Miller, in his book Deep Healing, sees a great difference between these various spiritual practices. Meditation, says Miller, aims at increasing your awareness of the here and now and emptying your mind of your current problems and daily stresses. Deep relaxation, on the other hand, has the goal of reducing body tension, relieving stress and anxiety, and creating peaceful, receptive, focused frame of mind. While, prayer’s goal, he adds, is a deeper appreciation and communication with The Higher Power, with your Creator.

Early Muslims sought prayer time like a slave seeking his freedom of the soul from all earthly connections, boundaries and limitations. Prayer energizes our souls and helps us transcend to a higher level of awareness where life turbulences and challenges seem so far away and trivial.

With this meaning in mind, perform your prayers today from a new perspective. Let them emerge from deep within your soul, let them touch your heart, purify your soul and feed your spirit. 


Have a great day!

With Health & Healing

Next Monday, I'll be holding an email based live clininc with OnIslam.net.
The topic is about "Eating at Your Desk?"

"Due to hyper-fast working environment which has left many employees with more work and less time and due to the spread of fast-food concept that has also eradicated the previously famous midday lunch break at work, we all get busy! But we also need to eat. This, thus make us combine working with eating at the same time. But do you know this could be really dangerous? And actually, this could pose a lot of hazards to your health. Our modern life has imposed on us a certain pace that is too hard to cope with and that gets its toll on our physical, mental and psychological health".

To tackle this important topic, I will be with OnIslam.net,  on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 11:00-12:30 Makkah, 8:00-10:30 GMT/UTC

For details on how to participate please check the following link:http://www.onislam.net/ With Health & Healing!Amira

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His student asked for permission to operate on him, "you taught us," he said, "you could see again". "No," he firmly replied, "I've seen enough of this world!"
  These were the last days of the great physician Abu Bakr Al Razi (Razis) as he decided to withdraw from a pain-filled world. Weeks later, the greatest physician of his time passed away in his bed, blind and broke.

In the language of our modern conventional medicine, physicians will probably diagnose him with depression. In his own medicinal system, though, Abu Bakr al Razi wasn't depressed, he was just a 'Melancholic'.
  'Melancholic' is a body type, or temperament, as it is called in Greek, Unani, Islamic medicines, and modern-day Western herbalism. This is one of the four main human temperaments that reflect our human personality, inclinations, health and life choices. An old-day physician needed to know his client's temperament before any diagnosis could be made. This bit of information  makes all the difference. A sanguine (another human temperament) who says these exact words, is definitely depressed, while a melancholic, is not. He is just trying to restore his inner balance by choosing to temporarily seclude from a cruel disturbed environment.

A melancholic person may seem depressed to an unexperienced eye. As he/she tends to worry about the entire world's problems, he/she carries lots of woes and aches. A melancholic genuinely tries to ease the world's misery and pains. He/she has a very sensitive personality, he is very kind-hearted, giving and caring. He is an introvert by nature, may spend days non-end in reflection and pondering percolating his creative ideas until they finally see the light. No hurry. Despite being a very responsible person, boundaries, rules, and deadlines stress him/her beyond measures.

Melancholy is the temperament of philosophers, writers, artists and reformers. They may choose not to actively engage in changing the world and leading the crowd, yet they surely achieve that through their sincere consistent work.
  Still, melancholics are the most prone of all temperaments to depression and isolation as they not only drag their own pains, but carry the burdens and woes of the entire world. Although they are introvert, they need to be socially involved to feel their use and value in serving their community. This is the only cure for their aching hearts. Engagement in social services and/or in a valuable cause and mission is essential for easing their depressed nature and ending their tendency for isolation.

It is important to note here, that people rarely carry one pure temperament. So, generally, you will rarely find a pure melancholic. It is usually a unique combination of 2 or more among the 4 temperaments (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) with one of them being dominant. and this is what creates our uniqueness as human beings.

How do you detect a melancholic?
  A melancholic is an introvert, extremely sensitive, and creative person. He/she is very caring, yet he rarely shows his care or expresses it verbally. Their care is evident in times of need. He/she loves pondering, day dreaming, reflecting and deep thinking. He/she usually has a poor self-image, is pessimistic, sees all the negative and wrongs in a given situation. Physically, a melancholic has dry and cold constitution (i.e. dry skin, cold hands and feet...) and a fairly poor digestion. Their appetite varies according to their mood and they experience frequent gas and bloating. They usually do not have a very strong constitution nor do they have a great immunity. Ambiguity, stress, and rapid frequent life changes could seriously wreck havoc with their physical, mental and psychological health.

What do melancholics need?
If you are a melancholic, you will definitely benefit from lots of sunshine, gentle but continuous physical activity, and connection with earth and nature. You will also need lots of hugs and support from a close friend or a trusted relative. You need a sincere trustworthy friend to share your thoughts, perceptions, and insights with. And most importantly, you have to keep yourself engaged in a long-term meaningful project or life mission. Get your share of reflection and inner pondering, yet keep socially active and avoid total isolation.
On the physical plane, melancholics need light but nourishing foods. They needs lots of leafy greens and detoxifying vegetables to boost both their digestion and their immunity.

With Health & Healing