The world of wellness is all about harmony.  Internal medicine is centered on homeostasis, the inner stability of our physiological systems through coordinated responses to any stimulus or circumstance that pull us out of equilibrium.  Our human bodies are robust.  Yet we rely on a delicate balance of sleep and wake, movement and rest, nutrition and hydration.  If you’ve ever been dehydrated, you know the power of simply sipping water throughout the day.  All our systems are able to function better with adequate water intake. Our daily actions of self-care help us maintain homeostasis. 

When you hear the word balance you may think of a circus performer gracefully executing tricks on the high wire.  While your daily life activities may not include tight rope walking, physical balance is critical for human beings.  Fall prevention programs for elders incorporate balance exercises and are prescribed as daily practices.  Adults of all ages are encouraged to improve their stability.  Athletes are advised to cross-train, e.g. if you are a runner your cross training includes lots of lateral (sideways) motion.  Kids at play are constantly cultivating balance.  Do you recall games like musical statues, hopscotch, climbing trees or Double Dutch?  Perhaps our young ones are showing us the best ways to tend to balance is with regular bouts of laughter and exploration.

Sometimes you can be off balance, and you don’t know it.

The American Red Cross routinely checks your hemoglobin before each blood donation.  If your hemoglobin (a protein in your body that contains iron and carries oxygen to the tissues in your body) is too low, they cannot accept your blood donation. 

I learned in March that my blood was low in iron.  (Thank you, perimenopause.)  I am little embarrassed to admit that the news of anemia took me by surprise.  I had not felt any of the common symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath.  If it had not been for the denial to donate blood, I might have carried on with an imbalance in my internal systems for a much longer time.

The first time I was rejected I was shocked.  A month later, the second refusal annoyed me.  Luckily, I knew to channel the frustration into the continuing practical steps to increase my iron levels.  The third turndown brought gratitude for all the years of yoga practice to meet the reality of the situation with patience.  It took me SIX months of focused effort to get it back to acceptable hemoglobin level to donate blood.  Human bodies are fantastically resilient and incredibly fragile.  We take time to grow, adapt, and heal.