Living Valley Health Retreat with Gary Martin

LIVING VALLEY

FOCUS on health

BY GARY MARTIN LIVING VALLEY HEALTH RETREAT

Keeping our systems serviced and our minds positively focused in this ever-demanding world is indeed the ultimate challenge in life.

In 1993, Len and Doris came to my office at Living Valley for a naturopathic consultation. Len was 95 years old, fit and full of personality. Doris was his second wife, as his first wife had died nine years earlier. Len related that he had secured a younger woman the second time. Doris was only 72. The reason for their visit was to address Doris’ health, which had been in steady decline for over twelve months. Len smiled as he said that he was getting too old to find a third wife. After a full examination of Doris’ medical history and blood chemistries, I recommended a live-in program, during which our team of naturopaths would conduct extensive investigations while providing a high level of care. She would receive appropriate treatments, education, emotional support, age-based fitness training and a little reconditioning. I explained how important it was for her to regain an effective level of fitness, especially at 72. Often like cars, our bodies fail to give optimum performance when they are not properly tuned. A two-week program would provide a well-needed tune up for Doris, promoting better energy levels, a feeling of wellbeing and hopefully a longer life. Len and Doris checked in. While Doris was receiving a variety of remedial therapies, attending exercise classes and consultations, enjoying steam saunas and receiving emotional support, Len pursued his own activities, running up the mountain daily and entertaining the other guests. He had a brilliant sense of humour. I followed him with a notebook, as I was eager to learn how a man of his age could be so fit and mentally sharp. Then, one day he shared much of his strategies. At age 16, Len purchased a book which detailed eight basic principles for achieving optimal health and longevity. For nearly 80 years, he had steadfastly applied each one of the tenets found in its pages. “Optimal health and fitness are not achieved merely through the performance of regular exercise,” he says. There are seven other dynamics, he believes, that feature heavily in the determination of one’s strength. He talked about balance between physical, emotional, spiritual and social health as he related story after story about his abundant adventures. Attitude was his central pillar for keeping all the other activities in equilibrium. This was evident every time he entered the common lounge area. Within a minute all the other guests would laugh uncontrollably, while Len stood there with a straight face. He always had something funny to say and he excelled at making people laugh. As much as I could determine, Len had never allowed the issues of life to get on top of him. He enjoyed every moment as he focused mostly on uplifting others. He thrived on promoting happiness. Len exercised every day. He was an avid gardener and he enjoyed daily walks. During his younger years, Len maintained muscle integrity through regular weight training. He believed that strong connective tissue is critical in the maintenance of health. He also emphasised the importance of breathing correctly. Sunlight was also one of Len’s key fitness factors. “Sunlight hardens the bones, modulates cholesterol, lowers triglycerides, kills bacteria, boosts the immune system and increases glycogen, supporting muscle integrity,” he says. Rest was another one of Len’s laws. He retired early every night to maximise repair and maintenance. By getting at least three hours of pre-midnight repair-sleep, Len was able to support his rigorous exercise regime. Hydration was another of Len’s secrets. He drank a lot of pure water at regular intervals throughout each day. He also started each day with a huge drink of water with a dash of lemon and a little salt. “Muscles won’t work properly when they are not adequately hydrated,” he says. Len also talked about temperance. He never smoked nor consumed anything that would potentially compromise his health. Sounds boring? Well, Len had an incredibly enjoyable life. His abstinence from harmful substances gave him the assurance of mental lucidity and fitness in his old age. As far as food goes, Len ate as natural as possible. He avoided refined, processed foods and he ate plenty of good fats. He believed that refined sugar was poison. I felt privileged to sit at the feet of a healthy 95-year-old. He left refreshed with a reconditioned wife. Doris called me two years later. She said that Len had been whistling in the garden. He fell, unable to get up. Doris called the ambulance. Later, as she waited in Emergency, a doctor took her hand to lead her to Len’s side. There he was lying with a big grin. He had gone. Doris asked the doctor why Len was smiling if he was dead. The doctor stated that he had never seen that before. But wouldn’t you smile at the end of a life that you perceived to be perfect? From that day on, I decided to focus on the roses, lilies and pinks in life rather that the thorns, briers, thistles and dirt. a