TCM: Valuing the Ancient Art of Observation

TCM: Valuing the Ancient Art of Observation

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. ” ~ Thomas Edison I have been in practice for well over ten years now and have learned so much about health, people, patterns and the human body. When I was a student I was intrigued by so many of the concepts and mysteries of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was fascinated with every facet of it. How could a person be diagnosed by changes in the pulse, tongue and complexion? How could personality traits indicate with great accuracy the type of illness a person would be susceptible to? There were so many questions and mystery. I was in awe of it all. As the years went by and I treated more and more people, I began to really understand TCM. It was not magical or mysterious, it was based on concrete observable patterns. Yes, the tongue does reflect the health with great accuracy. The tongue is an extension of the esophagus which connects to the stomach. Inflammation and acidity that originate in the stomach will show on the tongue. It’s not a mystery just simple observation; like paleness under the eyelid when a person is anemic. If you see hundreds of tongues, after awhile you see patterns. The part reflects the whole. TCM diagnosis and treatment is the culmination of 2000 years of careful observation and recognition of patterns in the body. The tongue is only one method of ‘reading’ the body. The pulse, complexion, voice, body type, hair...
History and Concepts of Qi Gong – Video

History and Concepts of Qi Gong – Video

Here is a little video I made introducing the concepts of Qi Gong. It is 16 minutes long and covers some of the ideas that are important in Qi Gong practice and can really help you understand why the practice makes you feel so...
Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy ‘Year of the Horse’! The Chinese zodiac is based on a twelve year cycle. Each year in the cycle is named after an animal and associated with an element. The elements are earth, water, metal, fire and wood. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there is a form of treatment based on the five elements known as “Five Element” acupuncture. A person’s ‘element’ is identified based on their constitution and health patterns. Each element is associated with different organs in the body and has associated strengths and weaknesses. As for the Chinese zodiac, today marks the beginning of the year of the horse (‘wood’ element). People born in the year of the horse are said to be social, active, energetic and positive! The year of the horse is supposed to be an important one and a time of good health. May your 2014 hold much health and...

Victoria Qi Gong class

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the first class of the winter Qi Gong session. There was a mixture of beginners, some expert practitioners and even a few out-of-towner’s and I think everyone would agree that the room was buzzing with vibrant Qi! While this is a six week class feel free to drop in when you can and don’t worry if you can’t make all of the classes. The main focus of the classes is to practice so just come when you can! I did a 5 minute introduction to the concept of Qi Gong but if you would like to know more I will be uploading a video on YouTube that goes into a little bit more depth in the next little while so stay tuned. If you haven’t already done so please feel free to ‘like’ our Facebook page or subscribe to our newsletter to get updates, info and inspiration. I look forward to seeing you all next week and thank you for helping build a great “Communi-Qi!” -Jeffrey...
Finally, Fall Qi Gong Class!

Finally, Fall Qi Gong Class!

Finally, Fall Qi Gong Class! We are finally offering Qi Gong here in Victoria! It has been a real struggle trying to find the ‘perfect space’ and the ‘perfect time’ that will work for everyone, but we will start with Wednesdays at 6-7pm. Qi Gong is a simple exercise, similar in appearance to Tai Chi, but easier to do and focused on building your health. It really only takes a few hours to learn the basics, and only a lifetime to master them! Qi gong does something, in my opinion, that no other exercise does. It helps to truly relax your body and mind, and gives you a deep sense of well being when practiced correctly. It helps you feel calm and clear minded, but energized and enlivened at the same time. If you would like to give Qi Gong a try or if you know someone who would benefit from it send us an email or give us a call to...