Point to Ponder:
Do you sweat at least once each day?
by Neissa Brown Springmann
While spending the month of July in Texas and getting to iGnite my life, one of the many things I loved doing was sweating! After every class (with the exception of yoga and swimming), I was hot, sweaty and shining bright. If you recently peaked at the extended Austin forecast you’ve likely noticed the consecutive 100 degree days that lie ahead, which means you’ll have that sweaty glow and will be shining bright too. If you don’t have water to submerge yourself in or plans to escape to the mountains, you may be finding yourself a little disgruntled and done with the heat! While there’s no doubt that the heat is stifling and the fall season can’t arrive fast enough, I’m hear to remind you of the top three benefits of sweat. After all, since we can’t change the temperature, we might as well look on the bright side and focus on the silver-lining, which is that sweat is a very good thing! It is a necessary physiological process that the body uses for a variety of important reasons. According to the website Fit Day, sweat provides us with the following benefits:
- Sweat is Cleansing and Detoxifying – One of the most efficient ways to detox the body, without juicing, is to sweat. Sweating is actually your body’s way of helping to keep your skin clean. Every day, toxins build up in your pores that need to be released. If they’re not, then your skin can break out and cause pimples, rashes and other skin infections. By sweating out these toxins, your skin stays cleaner and, over time, it will appear to look healthier than ever.
- Sweat Lowers Your Body Temperature – If you never sweat, there’s a good chance that you have a very high body temperature. In order to prevent this from happening, your body needs to sweat to avoid overheating. It’s one of the reasons that you start sweating when you exercise. Your body heats up to burn calories and keep your energy levels high. At the same time, your body starts to release sweat through your skin to help keep it from getting too hot. You need to stay hydrated if you exercise for this very reason. Without an adequate supply of water, your body cannot sweat and your internal temperature will be too high for you to workout normally. If you do not sweat enough, you can also suffer from heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
- Sweating Helps Fight Sickness – Getting a fever stinks! So when you get a fever, the first thing you do is run to the medicine cabinet to reduce it. However, a fever is actually your body’s way of fighting off sickness by trying to help you sweat it out.
All in all, sweating is one of the best things we can do to help keep our body, mind and spirit clean of toxins and negative thoughts, especially when it is a result of exercise. Therefore, in the midst of a hot flash, a workout or even running errands in the Texas heat, remember to embrace the sweat and all of it’s healthy effects. The positive benefits will allow you to smile tomorrow and everyday there after.
Action Item:
As you sweat, remember to embrace all of the healthy effects that sweating has to offer.
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My favorite quote: “You can be scared and brave at the exact same time.” -Brene Brown
The effects of my “self-love” revolution left no stone unimproved. I had already started my company, Hot Dang, at this point, but I was plagued by self-doubt and insecurity in the early days. I didn’t feel like I knew enough about business to be successful, and the truth is…I didn’t, but no-one does when they start something and are immersed in learning. The shift that happened for me in business was profound. I went from a mind-set of who am I to try this, to who am I not to. I have a vision for a healthier place to live and eat and my regret would be NOT doing anything about it. This shift allowed me to boldly do and learn and unapologetically pursue my vision. The trick of living the life of your dreams is not to judge what exists in you or others and go bravely (remember, it is okay to be scared here) forward and live the life that you are meant to live. Whether that is becoming an artist, a therapist, raising kids, starting a company, being the best friend in the world, you are entitled to live YOUR dreams. Who are you not to show us your shine?
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