One of my favorite sayings is “Imagine yourself as a being of energy and light—because in reality…you are!” We’re in fact energetic sentient beings and we often forget just how precious and important this vital energy is to our body as well as our Soul.

This energy, this life force is Spirit that fuels all life. Spirit is the spark or the portion of the Divine Source that’s in all of us and every living thing. It has a consciousness of its own. This spirit force is known as “Chi” (prana in Sanskrit).

Here’s a brief summary of Chi:

• Your Chi carries your thoughts, belief and emotions while mixing with the energy around you.

• You radiate Chi all around you, sending out your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions.

• You can change your Chi internally by activities such as meditation, stretching or breathing.

Sometimes, energetic cords emanate from you and become attached to certain worries and even people that you think about excessively. When you spend too much time mulling over something that’s bothering you or a person who has hurt you—the thicker the cord becomes.

“The God within me meets and recognizes the God within you” is the basic meaning of the word namaste.

Though we all seek different paths and adapt to our own unique beliefs, we are all made of the same energy and essence of God. Our life force as humans is the same. We have discovered among indigenous people of the world, that though they lived in separate countries and did not have the means to communicate, they shared similar rituals.We have the immense ability to connect with the human heart beyond language and geographical borders.

To thrive on the level of the body requires the support of an optimal functioning physical system. For that, proper diet is required and that means a diet that is suited to your unique needs, situation and location. If you live in the tropics and do hard labor your diet will be quite different from someone living in a polar region who is sedentary. If you are tall and thin naturally, or if you are short and stout your requirements may be different. The same holds true for age and activity levels. Does eating seasonally feel good to you? And your philosophy will affect your diet; are you a carnivore or vegetarian? Some people tolerate caffeine and alcohol and some don’t. Some people can eat late at night and sleep well and others can’t. You are unique.