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Please note what an erect posture "so greatly tends to promote":
2. Deep breathing and vocal culture: "Next in importance to right position are
respiration and vocal culture. The one who sits and stands erect is more likely than others to
breathe properly. But the teacher should impress upon his pupils the importance of deep
breathing. Show how the healthy action of the respiratory organs, assisting the circulation of
the blood, invigorates the whole system, excites the appetite, promotes digestion, and induces
sound, sweet sleep, thus not only refreshing the body, but soothing and tranquilizing the
mind. And while the importance of deep breathing is shown, the practice should be insisted
upon. Let exercises be given which will promote this, and see that the habit becomes
established." Education, pp. 198-199.
Note what proper breathing accomplishes:
3. Training of the voice: "The training of the voice has an important place in
physical culture, since it tends to expand and strengthen the lungs, and thus to ward off
disease. To ensure correct delivery in reading and speaking, see that the abdominal muscles
have full play in breathing and that the respiratory organs are unrestricted. Let the strain
come on the muscles of the abdomen rather than on those of the throat. Great weariness and
serious disease of the throat and lungs may thus be prevented. Careful attention should be
given to securing distinct articulation, smooth, well-modulated tones, and a not-too-rapid
delivery. This will not only promote health, but will add greatly to the agreeableness and
efficiency of the student's work." Education, p. 199.
Note the benefits of the proper use of the voice:
4. Perfect cleanliness: "The earnest teacher will improve every opportunity to show
the necessity of perfect cleanliness both in personal habits and in all one's surroundings. The
value of the daily bath in promoting health and in stimulating mental action, should be
emphasized." Education, p. 200.
"Scrupulous cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health. Impurities are
constantly thrown off from the body through the skin. Its millions of pores are quickly
clogged unless kept clean by frequent bathing, and the impurities which should pass off
through the skin become an additional burden to the other eliminating organs. Most persons
would receive benefit from a cool or tepid bath every day, morning or evening. Instead of
increasing the liability to take cold, a bath, properly taken, fortifies against cold, because it
improves the circulation; the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular
flow is obtained. The mind and the body are alike invigorated. The muscles become more
flexible, the intellect is made brighter. The bath is a soother of the nerves. Bathing helps the
bowels, the stomach, and the liver, giving health and energy to each, and it promotes
digestion." Ministry of Healing, p. 276.
The benefits of a daily bath:
5. Exercise: "Another precious blessing is proper exercise. Each organ and muscle
has its work to do in the living organism. Every wheel in the machinery must be a living,
active, working wheel. Nature's fine and wonderful works need to be kept in active motion in
order to accomplish the object for which they were designed." My Life Today, p. 130.
"There is an intimate relation between the mind and the body, and in order to reach a
high standard of moral and intellectual attainment, the laws that control our physical being
must be heeded. To secure a strong, well-balanced character, both the mental and the
physical powers must be exercised and developed. . . . Without physical exercise, no one can
have a sound constitution and vigorous health; and the discipline of well-regulated labor is no
less essential to the securing of a strong and active mind and a noble character." Patriarchs
and Prophets, p. 601.
"When the weather will permit, exercise in the open air every day, summer or winter.
Walking is preferable to riding or driving, for it brings more of the muscles into exercise.
The lungs are forced into healthy action, since it is impossible to walk briskly without
inflating them. . . . Take cheerful, healthful exercise." Ministry of Healing, p. 240. "There is
no exercise that can take the place of walking. By it the circulation of the blood is greatly
improved." Counsel on Health, p. 200.
"Action gives power." My Life Today, p. 130.
Benefits of exercise:
6. Healthful diet: "God has furnished man with abundant means for the gratification
of an unperverted appetite. He has spread before him the products of the earth a bountiful
variety of food that is palatable to the taste and nutritious to the system. Of these our
benevolent heavenly Father says we may freely eat. Fruits, grains, and vegetables, prepared
in a simple way, free from spice and grease of all kinds, make, with milk or cream, the most
healthful diet. They impart nourishment to the body and give a power of endurance and a
vigor of intellect that are not produced by a stimulating diet." Counsels on Diet and Foods,
p. 355. (Emphases supplied.)
Benefits of a nourishing diet:
7. Let mealtime be a happy time: "Let the table be made inviting and attractive, as it
is supplied with the good things which God has so bountifully bestowed. Let mealtime be a
cheerful, happy time. As we enjoy the gifts of God, let us respond by grateful praise to the
Giver." Ministry of Healing, p. 385.
8. Fresh air: "Air, air, the precious boon of heaven which all may have, will bless
you with its invigorating influence if you will not refuse it entrance. Welcome it, cultivate a
love for it, and it will prove a precious soother of the nerves. Air must be in constant
circulation to be kept pure. The influence of pure, fresh air is to cause the blood to circulate
healthfully through the system. It refreshes the body and tends to render it strong and
healthy, while at the same time its influence is decidedly felt upon the mind, imparting a
degree of composure and serenity. It excites the appetite, and renders the digestion of food
more perfect, and induces sound and sweet sleep." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 702. "We are
more dependent upon the air we breathe than the food we eat." Education, p. 198.
Benefits of fresh air:
9. Sunlight: "If you would have your homes sweet and inviting, make them bright
with air and sunshine. . . . The precious sunlight may fade your carpets, but it will give a
healthful color to the cheeks of your children. It you have God's presence, and possess
earnest, loving hearts, a humble home, made bright with air and sunlight . . . will be to your
family . . . a heaven below. Exercise and a free abundant use of air and sunlight would give
life and strength." My Life Today, p. 138.
"Life in the open air is good for body and mind. It is God's medicine for the
restoration of health. Pure air, good water, sunshine, the beautiful surroundings of nature
these are His means for restoring the sick to health in natural ways." Testimonies, Vol. 7,
p. 85.
Benefits of sunshine and fresh air:
10. Water: "In health and in sickness, pure water is one of Heaven's choicest
blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench
the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system,
and assists nature to resist disease." Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 419.
"Pure water to drink and fresh air to breathe invigorate the vital organs, purify the
blood, and help nature in her task of overcoming the bad condition of the system. Water is
the best liquid possible to cleanse the tissues." My Life Today, p. 139.
Benefits of water internally:
11. Rest and Recreation: "When Jesus said the harvest was great and the laborers
were few, He did not urge upon His disciples the necessity of ceaseless toil. . . . He tells His
disciples that their strength has been severely tried, that they will be unfitted for future labor
unless they rest awhile. . . . In the name of Jesus, economize your powers, that after being
refreshed with rest, you may do more and better work. . . . The Christian life is not made up
of unceasing activity or of continual meditation. . . . He [Jesus] knew that a season of rest
and recreation, apart from the multitude and the scene of their labors, would invigorate them
[the disciples], and He sought to withdraw them from the busy cities to a quiet resort where
they might have a season of precious fellowship with Him and with each other. . . . The
disciples of Jesus needed to be educated as to how they should labor and how they should
rest. Today there is need that God's chosen workmen should listen to the command of Christ
to go apart and rest awhile." My Life Today, p. 133.
Benefits of rest and recreation:
12. Temperate in labor: "That time is spent to the very best account which is
directed to the establishment and preservation of sound physical and mental health. . . . It is
an easy matter to lose the health, but it is difficult to regain it. . . . We cannot afford to dwarf
or cripple a single function of the mind or body by overwork or abuse of any part of the
living machinery. . . . It is not our duty to place ourselves where we shall be overworked.
Some may at times be placed where this is necessary, but it should be the exception, not the
rule. . . . If we honor the Lord by acting our part, He will on His part preserve our health. . .
. By practicing temperance in eating, in drinking, in dressing, in labor, and in all things, we
can do for ourselves what no physician can do for us. Do not try to crowd into one day the
work of two." My Life Today, p. 142.
13. Sleep: "Sleep, nature's sweet restorer, invigorates the weary body and prepares it
for the next day's duties." Adventist Home, p. 289.
"Since the work of building up the body takes place during the hours of rest, it is
essential, especially in youth, that sleep should be regular and abundant." "Let youth practice
regularity in the hours for going to bed and for rising. . . . Let them purpose in their hearts
that they will bring themselves under discipline, and practice orderly rules." My Life Today,
p. 143.
Benefits of sleep:
14. Relation between the body and the mind: "If the mind is free and happy, from a
consciousness of rightdoing and a sense of satisfaction in causing happiness to others, it
creates a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole system, causing a freer circulation of the
blood and a toning up of the entire body. The blessing of God is a healing power, and those
who are abundant in benefiting others will realize that wondrous blessing in both heart and
life. . . .
"The relation that exists between the mind and body is very intimate. When one is
affected the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater
degree than many realize. Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of
mental depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down
the life forces and to invite decay and death.
"Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented
mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. Gratitude, rejoicing,
benevolence, trust in God's love and care these are health's greatest safeguard. . . . There is
a physiological truth truth that we need to consider in the scripture, 'A merry rejoicing
heart doeth good like a medicine.'" My life Today, p. 150-151.
"A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. . . . an abiding, peaceful trust." Steps to
Christ, p. 70.
Benefits of a cheerful, happy spirit:
15. Freedom from guilt: "This feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the
cross of Calvary. The sense of sinfulness has poisoned the springs of life and true happiness.
Now Jesus says, Lay it all on Me: I will take your sin, I will give you peace. Destroy no
longer your self-respect, for I have bought you with the price of My own blood. You are
Mine; your weakened will I will strengthen; your remorse for sin, I will remove.
"Then turn your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, and lay hold upon the hope
set before you. God accepts your broken, contrite heart. He offers you free pardon. He
offers to adopt you into His family, with His grace to help your weakness, and the dear Jesus
will lead you on step by step if you will only put your head in His and let Him guide you."
Letter 38, 1887 (Guidelines to Mental Health, p. 260.)
"The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every
vital part the brain, the heart, the nerves it touches with healing. By it the highest
energies of the being are roused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the
anxiety and care, that crush the life forces. With it come serenity and composure. It
implants in the soul, joy that nothing earthy can destroy, joy in the Holy Spirit, health-
giving, life-giving joy." Ministry of Healing, p. 115.
Benefits of freedom from guilt:
1. Correct posture, sitting and standing: "Among
the first things to be aimed at should be a correct position, both in sitting and in standing.
God made man upright, and He desires him to possess not only the physical but the mental and moral benefit, the grace and
dignity and self-possession, the courage and self-reliance, which an erect bearing so greatly
tends to promote. Let the teacher give instruction on this point by example and by precept.
Show what a correct position is, and insist that it shall be maintained. Education,
p. 198.
1) Physical, mental and moral benefit
2) Grace, dignity and self-possession
3) Courage and self-reliance
1) Assists in the circulation of the blood
2) Invigorates the whole system
3) Excites the appetite
4) Promotes digestion
5) Induces sound, sweet sleep, not only refreshing the body, but soothing and tranquilizing the mind.
1) Tends to expand and strengthen the lungs
2) Great weariness and serious disease of the throat and lungs may be prevented
3) Greatly promotes health
1) Fortifies against cold
2) Improves circulation
3) Blood is brought to the surface and a more easy and
regular flow is obtained.
4) The mind and the body are invigorated
5) The muscles become more flexible
6) The intellect is made brighter
7) Soothes the nerves
8) Aids the bowels, the stomach, and the liver, giving health
and energy to each
9) Promotes digestion
1) Lungs are forced into healthy action
2) Circulation of the blood is greatly improved
3) Nature's fine and wonderful works can accomplish the
object for which they were designed.
4) Action gives power.
1) Imparts nourishment to the body
2) Gives a power of endurance
3) Gives a vigor of intellect
1) Will bless with its invigorating influence
2) A precious soother of the nerves
3) Causes the blood to circulate healthfully through the system
4) It refreshes the body and makes it strong and healthy
5) Influence of it is decidedly felt upon the mind, imparting a
degree of composure and serenity.
6) Excites the appetite
7) Makes the digestion of food more perfect
8) Induces sound and sweet sleep
1) Give a healthful color to the cheeks
2) Give life and strength
3) God's medicine for the restoration of health
1) Its proper use promotes health
2) Supplies the necessities of the system
3) Assists nature to resist disease
4) Invigorates the vital organs
5) Purifies the blood
6) Cleanses the tissues
1) Refreshed with rest to do more and better work
2) Invigorated as person draws away to quite place
3) Afford precious fellowship with each other
1) Nature's restorer
2) Invigorates the weary body
3) Prepares it for the next day's duties
1) Promotes health
2) Prolongs life
3) A contented mind is health to the body and strength to the soul
4) It is health's greatest safeguard
5) "Doeth good like a medicine"
6) Causes freer circulation of the blood and tones up the entire
body
1) Brings peace
2) Love diffuses through the whole being a vitalizing power
3) Touches brain, heart and nerves with healing
4) Produces serenity and composure
5) Implants joy in the Holy Spirit
EMAIL: Creation Ministries