“Ait a happle avore gwain to bed, an’ you’ll make the doctor beg his bread.” — A Pembrokeshire proverb
Translated from Elizabeth Mary Wright’s 1863 Rustic Speech and Folk-lore, today we say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
And while apples—especially organic—enhance good health, there are a number of things we can do to promote wellbeing.
A mainstay in my whole health regimen—body, mind, and spirit—is restorative yoga, a slow and gentle style where each asana (posture) is supported by props such as bolsters, straps, blankets, blocks, chair, or wall. This support enables the practitioner to comfortably sink into a pose and hold it for up to five minutes, allowing them to let go, be present, and completely relax in the moment.
What is your “apple a day?”
© Laurie Buchanan
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Tuesdays with Laurie 
My apple a day is likely the stairs to my loft studio Laurie. I do not count but know that I go up and down them quickly many times everyday, sometimes two or three times in a row when I forget things or when I am moving paintings around or setting up for studio visits. It feels so good to zip up and down them knowing that when I go for a hike I can laugh and say “all hills are flat” even if this is not always so.
Terrill — I love it! I’ve seen photographs of your loft and the stairs. That’s quite a workout! 🙂
Laurie great post. Mine is daily meditation and yoga and I love restorative yoga as well. I cant remember when I was sick last? I am very grateful to know these practices.
Karen
Healing Grief — It’s a wonderful thing to have any type of sickness so far in the rearview mirror that it’s not even remembered. I’m right with you there! 🙂
My apple a day is a Reiki session on self. 20 mins, half hour. Of course walking in nature with Muffin and camera usually are restorative is some manner!
Jeff — Like you, I’m a HUGE proponent of Reiki, Companion Animals, and Nature 🙂
I’m also trying to meditate every day, Laurie. Although I’ll have to investigate your yoga tip
Olga – Cheers to meditation (and I know you’ll just love restorative yoga)…
Reading a good book.
Fatimasaysell — yes, Yes, YES! 🙂
I’ll second that.
Hi Laurie
Yoga has never really been my thing, despite many years of practice, I never really attained flexibility, though I was certainly much more flexible than when I started.
I do quite literally have an apple a day (at least one, often 2 or three), and something between it and the heaped teaspoon of vitamin C means that my only trip to the doctors in the last 4 years, for other than checkup, has been for a broken collar bone.
Positive attitude, rest, exercise (golf is my preferred form), and walking or cycling are enjoyable.
Belief in self is probably right up there, as is doing something in service of others.
Ted — Other than your recent broken collar bone, I’m so thankful that your doctor visits are of the checkup variety, nothing more. And you’re right about having a positive attitude — it goes a LONG way toward enhancing wellbeing. On top of all that, you live in one of the most beautiful spots on this planet, so being outside and enjoying what nature has to offer (be it on the golf course, bicycle, hiking) is a huge benefit. Belief in self, community service (and Ailsa), are icing on the cake 🙂
Lovely Laura! Me too 😉
HHmmm … I do need to eat more apples though … or apple cider vinegar!
Val x
Val – You bring up an excellent point — Apple Cider Vinegar. Super healthy, and with a teaspoon of locally grown honey, even more palatable 🙂
My apple a day is Pilates today, which my instructor says connects mind & body through breathing. Like Terrill, I go up and down two flights of stairs multiple times daily for a good calf workout. Tomorrow I hope to find some real apples at Fresh Fields Farms. Great question, Laurie.
Marian — I’m definitely in agreement with your Pilates instructor as it relates to breathing. And TWO flights of stairs would definitely keep those calves in shape. I hope you find delicious apples tomorrow. We’re currently enjoying a basket of apples from Mt. Rainier.
One of my favorite kinds of yoga, Laurie. So soothing – and sometimes deceptively challenging!
Cynthia — “Deceptively Challenging” is oh-so-accurate. Staff Pose — which looks so passive and unassuming — is a killer for me! 🙂
I just bought the most beautiful apple at the farmer’s market this morning. It is called a Wolf River apple and has a radius of about 4 inches! That one should keep two doctors away!
The daily practices I try to maintains are drinking coffee while gazing at the mountains in the morning and then watching the sunset at night, reading inspirational poetry, spiritual writings, or memoirs, and doing either yoga, or walking. These are Power Boosters.
Shirley – Not only do I love what you do to enhance your wellbeing, but I love your term: POWER BOOSTERS! 🙂
I’ve never tried yoga, but being the stress-bucket I am, I know I SHOULD. You make it sound so … relaxing! My apple a day is hiding in a book :-).
Melissa – Hiding in a book is incredibly therapeutic. And I can promise you that you would absolutely love(!) restorative yoga 🙂
Laurie, I just love the way the quote from “Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore” roles off the tongue. . .not mention the stimulation this post inspires to rejuvenate my enthusiasm for daily practice. Thank you!
Alison — I’m glad this post resonated with you to the point of enthusiasm for rejuvenating your daily practice. Thank you for letting me know 🙂
My apple a day has to be exercise in general whether it be of the body or the mind . I walk early in the morning , I swim , do yoga ( not heard of restorative yoga will look into it ) , meditate and exercise my fingers writing with a pen . I do a second draft on the computer but I adore pens , I may have disclosed my fetish for pens in an earlier post . If there is anything I would be put in prison for it would be the theft of a pen , I am not to be trusted if a pen is just lying around waiting to be stolen …I am joking of course … I think lol
Cherryx
Cherry — The description of your pen fetish has me laughing. If ever I have the privilege of meeting you in person, I’ll bring you one of my all-time favorite pens: It’s a “Jetstream” made by Uni. I love the way it feels in my hand, and I love the way it writes 🙂
Beautifully written!
WritersDream9 — Thank you 🙂
My apple a day is my morning walk. It starts the day out on the right foot!
Joan – And if I’m not mistaken, it actually starts you off on the WRITE foot 🙂
Hi, Laurie! Smiling at that old-fashioned saying. I’ve got quite a few “apples a day”. Walking, slow yoga (a variation of the sunrise salutation but doing it with awareness to breathing), good healthy eating, what some might call meditation. I just call it “sitting with what’s happening” and that feels like being with a whole bushel of apples!
Kathy – And I just betcha that your “whole bushel of apples” are DELICIOUS! 🙂
Why settle for one when you can have two? : )
Emotional health apple: reading, writing and employing stress management techniques such as…
Physical health apple: long walks, tai chi and yoga–and as Kathy mentioned, eating well (for me this means gluten free, due to an intolerance)
And here, Laurie, I’ll serve you a bowl full of my freshly baked apple crumble. The apples are Mayne Island grown, as are the blackberries I added. Would you like some frozen yogurt, as well?
Leanne — Your recipe for wellbeing sounds delectable; brimming with the goodness of a life well lived 🙂
A walk each morning, best just at sunrise, along Lake Michigan in the state park with my companion, Copper, filled with gratitude for nature and what the day may bring!
Bonnie — I can just SEE you and Copper jump-start your days this way 🙂
Laurie, so many great answers to this question! I am going to take it literally instead of figuratively, and hold up coconut water as my apple a day. When I began suffering from a potassium deficiency it turned my life around. And I am in no way a food faddist jumping on every new thing that hits the markets or the media. In 2 days I had no more leg and foot cramps and my hair quit falling out. I was and am sold on this product for a lifetime.
Sandi — I”m so glad that adding COCONUT WATER to your daily regimen made an immediate and enormous positive difference in your wellbeing. In your case both CURATIVE (fixed what ailed you), and PREVENTIVE (keeping it from happening again). Whoohoo! 🙂
Great prompt, Laurie. A photograph each day … I find it contemplative, a way of being in the present moment.
Kathleen
Kathleen – Ohhhhh, I love it! 🙂
I keep my contemplative photography site separate from my usual blog: http://kathleenfriesen.com …
Kathleen – Thank you so much for the link to your photographic contemplative website. It’s breathtaking.
Thank you, Laurie. I am glad it speaks to you.
Right now it is healing sleep and Liangong. Not much energy as I visualize this bacterial infection releasing and letting go.
Can’t wait to see what you think of the newest review. Quite the book !
Feeling more relaxed already, how’s your day going?☼
Hoi (Hallo) Laurie, ich esse seit einem halben Jahr am Morgen nur noch 1 Banane, 1 Apfel, 1 Birne und andere Früchte. Dazu eine Scheibe Schwarzbrot. Ich verlor so einige Kilos und fühle mich viel besser als vorher. Viele Grüsse Ernst
Ernst — 1 Banane, 1 Apfel, 1 Birne, und andere Früchte, mit einem Hauch braun Brot ist nicht viel! Wenn Sie aber keine Lust viel besser als vorher, das war eine gute Wahl zu treffen! Ich bin froh, dass sie das Wohlbefinden hat sich verbessert 🙂
🙂
Every day I have a nourishing breakfast, the most important meal of the day for my bodymind’s metabolism. And of course, the warmth of my husband’s companionship and cuddling with my cat are daily musts for my well-being. Focusing on simple pleasures…
Barbara – To simple pleasures. Cheers! 🙂
My apple a day is talking with my kids about their school day, and where applicable the extra-curricular activities that follow. In a busy life one sometimes takes for granted the human framing that in the end means so much more than what we at the time think are matters of urgency. In any case I have always loved and heeded that “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” proverb, with the granny smith my exclusive indulgence, even if William Tell might disdain it. Never read that terrible original Penbrokeshire proverb. 🙂
Sam – I’d love to be a fly on the when Melanie, Sammy, Danny, Jillian, and Jeremy arrive home from their respective school day. I imagine the various experiences cover a pretty wide brushstroke!
I love Granny Smith with cheddar cheese. There’s something about that taste combination that puts a smile on my face 🙂
A daily dose of meditation and nature visits makes up my apple. In addition to enjoying an organic apple too.
I really enjoy yoga also, Laurie. My yoga is fairly gentle and I’ve had a few restorative yoga classes. It is absolutely essential to my well-being. Sometimes I think it’s just the quiet that it brings…I repeat–essential. 🙂
Three Well Beings — I’m right with you on yoga being ESSENTIAL 🙂
I run (more of a jog these days!) four times a week. If the weather is bad, I ride a stationary bike. Apples and fruit are good too!
CoastalCrone — Jog/run sounds like a great recipe for wellbeing 🙂
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
An Apple a Day — we all have that special something that makes us feel good physically, mentally and emotionally.. Mine is sitting in the sunshine with my music on my head looking at the mountains.. What is yours? Pop over to Tuesdays with Laurie and perhaps share.
the early morning smiles i get from my family when i wake them up is enough to keep the doctor away
;D
Marilyn – EARLY MORNING SMILES. I love it! 🙂
I am now doing a class 3 times a week, a combination of Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi. The right side of my body has been really affected from my back injury and since I have been doing this class, those muscles have begun to shift and snap back into place. OUCH! But a good ouch! Life coming back into legs as well. Another ouch! But I am feeling strength again and BALANCE. Plus I do eat one apple a day as well in my fruit and yogurt smoothie every morning. Yep. That is my apple a day!!! Love, Amy
Amy – I’m so glad it’s a GOOD ouch and that things are shifting back into place. Whoohoo! 🙂
dog therapy … as in, conversations with the dogs
Ntexas99 — yes, Yes, YES! 🙂
To take your question literally (though I know that isn’t what you really asked)–
I actually eat an apple most days. I generally take my lunch to work, and often include an apple.
Sheryl – I eat an apple (or two) a day as well. I like to slice mine and dip them in freshly ground peanut butter 🙂
it’s complicated … many apples I need. Silence, nature, people, some work, a dog on the lap, some routine in the morning … and a golden delicious
Bert — They are lovely ingredients for a delicious wellness recipe! 🙂
we have more tha one dream …..