Green Child Magazine Back-to-School 2012 | Page 48

The 4R’s of

Green Body Green Birth
Just as you’ll find the 4 R’s of waste management in our outer environment, Green Body
Green Birth teaches the 4 R’s for our body’s
environment.
By supporting and encouraging the healthy
sustainability of our own human body, we have
a much greater opportunity to thrive and contribute to the health and sustainability of our
earth.

1. Reduce
The world’s obesity epidemic is not just physical. We are also experiencing a mental obesity.
Our minds have become full and dependent on
constant stimulus from screens, phones, social media and working long hours. The space
between thoughts, images, and advertisements
has grown smaller.
Like obesity of the body, obesity of the mind
can pose many health issues from depression
to ADHD to sleep disorders.
We can reduce mental noise, stress, waste, and
information overload by inviting space. This
can be done by spending less time accumulating more information and more time in meditation, yoga, hiking, nature… or just by simply
resting.
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Photo by Adria Richards

On a physical level, we can commit to only
consuming that which is needed for our body.
Excess food consumption leads to excess waste
in the body, and it leads to an inefficient human machine. A weak body necessitates an
entire system and economy to care for it.

2. Reuse what is sustainable and nourishing
for the mind, body, and soul.

How often do we catch ourselves reusing or
repeating negative thoughts, negative physical
habits or perhaps re-entering into unhealthy
relationships?