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September/October 2011 Alternative Health
Beauty Beyond Botox: Comfortable in Your Own Skin

by Candia Sanders

The constant technological bombardment into personal space has barraged our lives with perpetual images regarding our health — or rather illnesses, aging, body image and weight loss, clothing, exercise programs, medications, and the list goes on.

Our eyes might not focus but the brain registers billboards, magazines, TV and Internet advertisements pinpointing our flaws and other people's perfection. We are in constant comparison with Hollywood glamour, airbrushed models and movie stars who do not age. As we become older, it can be a challenge balancing self-image with feelings of adjustment, acceptance and feeling attractive.

Paradoxically, this is not reserved for the baby boomers and beyond but is felt among our youth, especially young girls who wrestle with the image reflected in the mirror.

Very few people can honestly say they love their body. How sad is this really? Our bodies are amazing creations that operate in a multiverse of superhighways and electrical lines, high speed communication and power supplies. We are simply a work of art and engineering, but on the human level, we fail to recognize the grandeur.

Ultimate Living Machines

If we remembered we were a creative designer in the final product, perhaps we'd take more personal responsibility in maintaining the ultimate living machine. We orchestrated the lines, the look and the genetic package to better serve our lifetime adventure. Our experience is part of our body — they are not separate but so intertwined in spirit and form, function and expression that one without the other could not fulfill the spiritual commitment made on a soul level.

The recognition of the creative role down to the cellular level literally shifts our perception to take responsibility for every aspect, including:

• Fuel/power supply (food intake).
• Exercise and body maintenance.
• Super-charged power packs of energy (vitamins, minerals, herbs and ionized water).
• Mental clarity and acumen (continual learning and expansion of the mind and purpose).
• Emotional balance (understanding and dissecting emotional distractions and interplays).
• Blessing the ability to lovingly communicate sexually with another human being.

Take a Closer Look

Your body is the true home in this lifetime expression. It is you in every aspect. The more love given in every way, the better it will respond and serve you. In taking full responsibility physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually, your self-esteem and sense of value increases. Nurturing the spiritual self is easy — nourishing the physical body is more difficult. The belief is the body will comply with every detour. Disappointment ensues when the results are not in alignment with the vision.

Doing simple things will enhance how you feel about the various pieces of your being. Physically, create an exercise program that stimulates the artistic part of your soul — it is easier to commit to something you enjoy. Rethink the foods in your world and establish which ones nurture and nourish your body in the healthiest way. Add vitamins and minerals into your diet. Allowing beauty to enhance, dress and represent your being is extremely important. This is not vain, rather a projection of the love felt for the self and body.

Mentally, keeping the mind challenged with new information keeps the brain happy, alive and alert. Expand your mental horizons and learn new subjects. In doing so, your ability to step fully into your purpose amplifies as you combine your mental acuity with emotional passions — a win-win on every angle. Confidence expands tenfold with the ability to express and share knowledge. Deeper wisdom emerges as the dots are engaged between the elements of emotion, experience and information.

Being mindful of stress is one of the key factors in self-image. When we deflect stress through practice, we gift ourselves additional love. This in turn reflects back on the image in the mirror and feeling happy with the overall package.

Where we become challenged is the emotional sum of adventurous lifetimes and mishaps, combined with this lifetime's baggage — what a cauldron of chaos. Emotions become trapped in our bodies, adding weight, disease and low self-esteem.

Realizing the interconnection between body and emotion helps us to pinpoint events lodged in our systems. This assists in the ability to face what is, so we can move to what is possible. The better able we are to sort out the issues — deal with them, bless them, integrate them and laugh at them — the easier it is to live in the present. Our self-image changes as we take responsibility for our part of the story.

Through social and religious conditioning, we have become disconnected from our sexual essence. The act of making love unites us with the creative spark of the universe, unifying our connection with the magnificence of “all that is.” Nature reflects this simple act to us repeatedly, reminding us of our true identity and spark. Nurturing a loving sexual relationship adds a strong foundation supporting self- esteem and confidence.

Lightening up literally and not taking everything and everyone so seriously moves judgment aside and opens new portals of inspiration. Laugh and laugh often at the complicated intricacy created. Humor restores vitality, and renews and refreshes the senses as it erases the wrinkles. When we feel good about who we are, we feel great about the world.

Candia Sanders, an international intuitive and energetic healer, is a lively, post-menopausal athlete who actively resists aging while embracing vitality, fitness and health. Visit www.candiasanders.com. Sanders presents a Beauty Beyond Botox workshop on Oct. 1 at the Red Lion in Vancouver. For tickets and details, visit www.beyondzproductions.com.