Happy New Year!
January 2008
Hello 2008! It's
exciting to have a fresh start at a whole new year. A
chance to do some things maybe a little diffrently or
keep doing the good things you've been doing. If you
are one for making resolutions, I wish you success. I
recently read that a good predictor of success with
resolutions is if you envision yourself completing
it. Imagine yourself getting to the top of that
mountain or finally fitting into those jeans. And if
you get side tracked from your goals, start fresh
again the next day. Backslides are part of the
process and getting through them make achieving the
goal that much more rewarding.
Also, Winter is certainly upon us. Many of you are having trouble with your energy level. That is a natural part of winter; in Chinese Medicine winter is Yin in nature- it is cold, damp and inactive. Having a desire to sleep more and conserve your energy is a good instinct, that's what you should be doing. If you are more inactive and sleeping more try to eat less to prevent weight gain (post holidays this advice may be a little late.) Conserving your energy now can help it go towards preventing illness, combating stress, healing or maybe reducing grey hairs when the time comes.
It is also a good time of year to eat warming foods like garlic and ginger, root vegetables, soups and stews and beans. Try to avoid raw foods as they will cool you down and require a lot of energy to process this time of year. (According to Chinese Medicine large amounts of raw foods are never good as they cool stomach fire needed for healthy digestion.)
"The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and be witness to a long life."
Huangdi Neijing Suwen
Also, Winter is certainly upon us. Many of you are having trouble with your energy level. That is a natural part of winter; in Chinese Medicine winter is Yin in nature- it is cold, damp and inactive. Having a desire to sleep more and conserve your energy is a good instinct, that's what you should be doing. If you are more inactive and sleeping more try to eat less to prevent weight gain (post holidays this advice may be a little late.) Conserving your energy now can help it go towards preventing illness, combating stress, healing or maybe reducing grey hairs when the time comes.
It is also a good time of year to eat warming foods like garlic and ginger, root vegetables, soups and stews and beans. Try to avoid raw foods as they will cool you down and require a lot of energy to process this time of year. (According to Chinese Medicine large amounts of raw foods are never good as they cool stomach fire needed for healthy digestion.)
"The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and be witness to a long life."
Huangdi Neijing Suwen
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