Included at the end of the article is a lists of practical steps you can take to strengthen your cardiovascular health.
This article discusses the psycho-spiritual aspect of the coronavirus and self-care. The virus is also a physical being. These recommendations do not replace indicated medical treatment for physical disease caused by the virus. Please follow current CDC public health guidelines.
Your inbox is probably being flooded with loving kindness meditations for overcoming Coronavirus. You may be skeptical of these message “in such times”. This post is dedicated to why loving practices are important by explaining the spiritual dimensions of the pandemic.
Coronavirus (SARS-Cov-II) attaches to the ACE-II receptor found in cells that regulate the cardiovascular system. Patients with pre-existing conditions of heart and lung disease are the groups most seriously affected by the virus. We are living in a post-antibiotics age where medical thinking is shifting away from killing microbes and moving towards co-existence. Thus the question bears on a global level – how may we evolve with this virus?
As the virus targets the cardiovascular system, the pandemic can be considered a crisis of the heart. The heart is much more than a pumper of blood. A holistic naturopathic understanding also includes energetic, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. For the purposes of this article, the Heart refers to the entire cardiovascular system. I will now go over practices that support the Heart in all of its dimensions.
The Heart is rhythmic. It follows prescribed breathing and beating patterns connecting the upper and lower poles of our body. You can support rhythm in your life by keeping a regular schedule. Even though you are probably not going into the office, set regular office hours. Set alarms to wake in the morning and keep a regular wake sleep cycle.
Chinese medicine associates the Heart with the emotion of love. Love can be interpreted as connection. Connection with self and with others. It can also be understood as the opposite of fear, which creates separation. Social isolation increases susceptibility to infection, so reach out to friends and family via videoconferencing tech. Try to also spend some time not directly talking about coronavirus or finances. If you are by yourself, make sure to talk (not just text) with someone every day.
Support practices that engender the feeling of connection. We can’t get that close to each other, but we can commune with animals and nature. Creative practices such as music are another great way to create connection.
Exercise is essential for heart health. Exercising in nature includes both emotional and physical therapy for the Heart. At least three times per week, get outside, don’t use headphones or other distractors, and exercise in nature. Feel the connection between yourself and natural world around you (with safe social distancing of course).
Overall, move away from fighting the circumstances the virus has imposed and do your best to adapt to these difficult times. This will lead to growth in yourself that can project into a more global heart centered world.
Home Heart practices
- Maintain rhythm in your life
- Keep a regular work and sleep schedule
- Adopt practices to maintain connection during social isolation
- Call, not text, friends and family
- Spend at least sometime not talking about Coronavirus or finances
- Cuddle with your pets
- Engage in creative hobbies such as music or cooking
- Exercise
- Preferably, in nature without headphones at least 3x / week
- Cultivate feelings of connection to your surroundings while maintain social distancing