natural awakenings magazine articles of 2022

"Living in Harmony with Nature" January/2022

Classical Chinese medicine guides us toward improved health and longevity through living harmoniously with nature. This includes the importance of spending adequate time outdoors whether it be taking a walk in the woods, strolling along the boardwalk or walkway, taking in the flowing energy of the ocean or simply sitting outside and gazing at the trees, mountains or body of water.

Such activities provide the opportunity to take a deep breath and appreciate the beauty and healing power inherent within our natural environment. This explains why it is traditionally recommended for Taiji (Tai Chi) or Qigong (Chi Kung) practitioners to perform outdoors whenever possible.

Living in harmony with nature also includes adjusting one’s lifestyle habits based on the changing cycles of the seasons.

"Nourishing Your Righteous Qi" February/2022

Establishing right living habits is at the core of preventing disease and dysfunction according to the principles of Chinese medicine.

The primary goal of this ancient healing paradigm is not to regulate what is already chaotic, nor treat what is already diseased, but rather to regulate and balance chaos before it begins to develop. It highlights the importance of prevention and staying balanced to ensure a long and healthy life. This means treating disease or imbalance energetically prior to their developing as a physical manifestation or structural change. Chinese medicine, moreover, focuses on supporting the innate healing capacity held within each person described as “enhancing the righteous” and traditionally known as “Fu Zheng”.

Making conscious life choices in the spirit of establishing right living habits is an excellent place to start. Sensible and balanced decisions in daily life builds, cultivates and protects the body’s vital substances, rather than squandering them through over-work and overindulgence.

"Balancing Thyroid Energetics" March/2022

When working toward balancing the energetic system of a person with a thyroid issue, a Chinese medicine practitioner keeps a keen eye on how excessive heat or deficient cold manifests within their body. This is based on hypothyroidism being a deficiency syndrome of kidney energy in the form of coldness and hyperthyroidism being an overabundance of liver energy in the form of heat. Thyroid imbalances may also involve imbalanced energetics of the spleen and heart meridians. Moreover, a practitioner continually looks for additional root causes contributing to a person’s overall health picture particularly in terms of lifestyle patterns. Treatment of the whole person is of primary importance with special attention to how qi (vital energy) flows throughout the body. The goal is to release blockages and to rectify deficiency or excess to re-establish balance and abundant flow of energy.

"Embracing Upright Qi" April/2022

Freely flowing qi – the vital energy that flows through the meridian pathways of the body – is essential to sustaining health with the outcome being a long and vibrant life. Optimal health is achieved through developing the habit of being cognizant of sensations and feelings that are indicative of stagnant or imbalanced qi developing within the body.

Make a concerted effort to eating properly, being around warm loving people and communing with nature whenever possible. Walking by a river, stream or ocean is a wonderful reminder of how nature is governed by the ebb and flow of energy, with the same true for the human body.

Becoming stuck ... click here to read more"

"Maintaining Strong Bones" May/2022

For many, it is difficult to imagine that their bones will ever be anything but super strong, although as the aging process progresses this is not always the case. Several factors contribute to the weakening of bones such as a sedentary lifestyle with improper diet compounded by the depleted mineralization of our soil.

This results in the loss of calcium and other essential minerals thereby weakening bone structure. In the worst-case scenario, this leads to osteoporosis, possibility of debilitating fractures and the rude awakening that one’s bones are hindering ability to continue daily life activities.

Osteoporosis is more common for women and affects approximately 200 million women throughout the world. It is thus prudent to ...
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"The Heart of Summer" June/2022

Summer is a time when our consciousness and spiritual awareness peaks. The primary element of summer is fire which rules the heart. Nourishing and balancing the energetics of our heart during this season can impact regulation of blood circulation, sleep quality, and sharpness of our memory.

Putting our heart into activities and relationships which bring joy into our lives is a must. Seize the opportunity to laugh, run, jump, and play regardless of our age. Seek ways to spread positive energy. Keep oneself cool, calm and collected by “going with the flow” of summer heat.

Eating less and more lightly on hot, bright days is certainly a healthy practice. Chinese food therapy informs us ...click here to read more"

  July/2022

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