Here is an easy qi gong routine for anxiety, stress, and depression. For more info on qi gong come visit us at: http://qigongforvitality.com Qi gong practice is great for stimulating the healing of several different problems; anxiety, stress, and depression being one of the many. While you should always make sure that you are under the care of a primary healthcare provider, qi gong practice can greatly help calm your mind and body down. This is a traditional qi gong routine that helps “push” stagnant qi out of the body. When we have ‘stress’ of any sort, it causes the qi to become stagnant. When you get an acupuncture treatment, exercise, and practice meditation, qi gong, tai chi, or yoga you can move your qi. This routine specifically helps move stagnant qi from stress when it is causing: -chest tightness -anxiety -depression -palpitations, irregular heart beat -insomnia -repetitive looping thoughts -throat tightness -excessive or no appetite -digestion problems -sweating -weakened immune system -nightmares Practice this routine every day. After you have done it 10 times or so, you will probably remember it, so you can practice even twice a day. Let me know what you experience!...
It’s not just for pain. When most people think of acupuncture they think of pain relief…but did you know it’s used to treat a wide array of other conditions? It can also help with issues such as digestive problems, tinnitus, premenstrual symptoms and anxiety. It’s very relaxing. Once the points are in your parasympathetic nervous system kicks into gear which relaxes muscles, calms the mind and promotes a restful, tranquil state. Regular treatment helps you to feel more relaxed and calm and to better handle life’s stressors. Registered Acupuncturists go to school for a long time. BC requires licensing of all Registered Acupuncturists. It is regulated under the Health Professions Act and all Registered Acupuncturists must be licensed with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC (CTCMA). In BC a Registered Acupuncturist undergoes a minimum of three years of full-time accredited acupuncture education in addition to two years of prerequisite university sciences. After completing five years of education they must pass a National Board Exam in order to be licensed to practice in BC. The continuing education requirements for Registered Acupuncturists are amongst the highest of all the regulated health professions in BC. Until next time…Think Vitality!...
Menopause-related hot flashes can make life difficult. It’s hard to know when they will hit but when they do it can be uncomfortable and upsetting. Now that summer is creeping up and the weather is getting warmer, hot flashes can really become a bother. Try to keep track of when you get them so you can identify the trigger, for example where you were, what you were doing and what you ate. Stress is one of the top triggers for hot flashes. When you feel one coming on, try to stop what you’re doing, slow down and take a break. Prepare in advance and give yourself more time to get places so you don’t have the added stress of rushing. Other common triggers include alcohol, caffeine, spicy and/or sugary foods, large servings of meat, smoking and over-eating. One of the best things you can do is to find ways to reduce your stress level. Acupuncture is another way to reduce menopause-related hot flashes. Acupuncture can help to balance your hormones and reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms. Many people also notice an improvement in sleep and mood after only a few treatments. Drinking more water and eating lots of leafy greens can also help your symptoms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine foods are used as medicine and classified based on the effect they have on the body. There are certain foods which are known to have a cooling effect. Below is a list of some cooling foods you may want to eat more of during the summer months! cucumber cantaloupe watermelon celery spinach broccoli...
I hope you have been enjoying the summer weather as much as I have! We were planning on starting the Fall Qi Gong session in September but unfortunately we will be postponing it until the new year. As you may know, I have relocated my clinical practice and I don’t have the Wednesday evening time available right now. Currently, we are hard at work creating new “products” including a new Qi Gong DVD. We are considering a digital version that can be played on your computer, iPad, and smartphones as well as a physical DVD. In the meantime, if you have learned a little bit of Qi Gong already be sure to practice regularly. Short, regular sessions of practice will yield better results than longer infrequent sessions. Even the “Opening Exercise” is enough to relax the body, and energize the mind. If you haven’t already you can sign up for our newsletter here to receive short articles, recipes, videos and to keep in touch with us. If you are looking for a quick 5 minute meditation to do while you are at your desk, or before going to bed you can try this one out. The guy speaking kinda has a funny voice though (okay…it’s me!) ~Think...
1. You Have Pain Whether the pain is from a recent injury, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or general stiffness, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture can reduce pain and stimulate the body’s own healing response. It does this by interrupting the pain signals along nerve fibres, increasing circulation to the area, releasing endorphins and stimulating the central nervous system to regulate neurotransmitters and hormones. The release of these chemicals reduce pain, stimulate the immune system and regulate various functions and systems in the body. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, acupuncture promotes the smooth flow of Qi (energy) and blood throughout the body. 2. You’re Always Tired If you feel tired even after a long uninterrupted sleep, then you may want to explore the benefits of acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes into account all systems and organs in the body and can determine where there is an imbalance. Even if all your blood tests have come back normal and your doctor can’t find anything wrong, TCM can identify the ‘root’ cause or imbalance that is causing your fatigue. Treatment is aimed at identifying and strengthening your constitutional weakness, immune system, and digestion to bring your energy back. 3. You’re Stressed One of the things acupuncture does best is calm the mind and produce a relaxation response in the body. Acupuncture stimulates a release of endorphins (the feel-good chemicals) which help calm the body and mind. Many people feel so relaxed they even fall asleep during treatment and leave with a sense of deep calm. Allowing your body the time to relax at such a deep level, gives the brain a rest and...
