The Cycles of Life

Evolutionary in nature, jing is passed down from one’s parents during conception. How much essence a person possesses is further determined by their mother’s nutritional, lifestyle, and environmental factors during pregnancy along with their birthing process. It can be thought of as the juice contained within a person’s life-long battery. This vitality juice is said to be a finite resource that needs to be protected, conserved, and preserved.

Making smart lifestyle choices that include high quality food and drink in proper amounts, monitoring levels of stress, and being careful about indulging in too much sex is a good place to start. Otherwise, precious jing resources become squandered. Jing is also depleted by traumatic experiences such as a difficult childbirth, accidents, loss, or abuse. With this knowledge, a person can choose to follow specific practices, seek out holistic treatments, modify their lifestyle, and work toward creating the most balanced, centered, and peaceful way of living possible.

Chinese medicine offers acupuncture, herbal formulations, Tuina massage, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, and Taiji and Qigong exercise. They also help with stress management, balance emotions, reduce anxiety, promote internal awareness, and foster deeper understanding of life’s many circumstances.

This simple jing nourishing exercise can be practiced a few minutes each day:

• Sit on a comfortable chair with feet flat on the floor.
  
• Lift the crown of your head up toward the sky, maintain an upright back, and place palms over your lower belly.
  
• Quietyour mind and focus where your jing resides – three inches below your umbilicus and inside your abdominal cavity.
  
• Then with mouth closed, take three deep breaths into your lower belly – expanding on the inhale and deflating your belly upon the exhale.
  
• Simultaneously, use the intent of your mind to nourish your jing. When three breaths are complete, take a moment to reflect on how you feel.
  
• Then get up, shake yourself off, and get on with the rest of your day.
  

There is no greater time than now to become more introspective about how you have been living your life. This includes seeking greater insight and understanding about how your actions have been impacting your health. The goal is to bring forth a more balanced cycle of behavior filled with greater compassion and love. The approaching time of winter is perfect for such an endeavor, readying you for the new burst of energy in the spring.