Wonderful insights on breathing from my teacher, Master Chunyi Lin:
Not only does breathing give us life, but also the quality of our
breathing affects the quality of our lives. It is the major source of
the energy that allows our body to function.
The better we breathe the better the energy is that we
take in and process to help our body function. And obviously, breathing
is what keeps us alive. After three days of going without food we may
feel hungry, but we are not dying; however, if we go without breathing
for twenty minutes, we will die.
This is how Chinese medicine understands breathing: When
you inhale, the lungs get energy that is divided into three parts. The
first part goes directly to the kidneys to help strengthen the life
force. The second part goes to help digest the food we take in. The
third part goes to help purify the blood. If the lungs get good energy,
it means every part of the body gets good energy too.
Western medicine understands that the oxygen that is
taken in through the lungs goes into the blood stream and then is
dispersed throughout the body to help the entire body function. The
organs need a certain amount of oxygen to function well; the brain needs
its own oxygen to think best. The more oxygen in the body the better it
functions.
Both East and West know that healthy breathing helps
prevent stress or helps you to stop feeling stressed. All ancient
traditions of the East have known that healthy breathing is the
foundation of a healthy person, and the West now understands that also.
Any way you look at it, healthy breathing leads to a healthy body and
that affects your whole life and that is why it’s so important.
Love Qi to all,
Tom
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
The Five Flavors and your Health
Hello, my friends,
Today's post has information from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as it relates to foods, more specifically, flavors.
The five flavors of food include sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and salty.
Sweet foods, such as sugar and honey, will neutralize the toxic effects of other foods; however, they also affect the stomach and spleen, and they can cause digestive disturbances and lead to weight gain.
Sour foods, such as pears and plums, can prevent diarrhea or excessive perspiration within the body, and they affect the gallbladder and liver.
Pungent foods, such as parsley and chives, affect the large intestine and lungs and promote the circulation of energy within the body.
Bitter foods, such as lettuce and hops are important for the small intestine and heart and are recommended to reduce body heat.
Salty foods, such as kelp and seaweed are know to affect the bladder and kidneys, and they can prevent hardening of glands and muscles and are used to treat conditions such as tuberculosis.
There are also 4 directions related to the energy of food as it affects the body.
Inward moving foods are typically good in the Winter and include kelp, hops, and lettuce.
Outward moving foods are great for the Summer and include dried ginger and cinnamon bark.
Downward moving foods are good for the Fall which include barley, eggplant, and cucumber.
Upward moving foods are usually eaten in the Spring and include cabbage, celery, sunflower seeds and sweet potato.
All of this information is not exclusive, that is, don't feel that these are the only foods that you can eat during the seasons. What you can do, however, is include some of them in your diet to facilitate how your body uses its energy to improve your immune system and to help it run with less effort.
Happy Qi to all of you!
Tom
Today's post has information from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as it relates to foods, more specifically, flavors.
The five flavors of food include sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and salty.
Sweet foods, such as sugar and honey, will neutralize the toxic effects of other foods; however, they also affect the stomach and spleen, and they can cause digestive disturbances and lead to weight gain.
Sour foods, such as pears and plums, can prevent diarrhea or excessive perspiration within the body, and they affect the gallbladder and liver.
Pungent foods, such as parsley and chives, affect the large intestine and lungs and promote the circulation of energy within the body.
Bitter foods, such as lettuce and hops are important for the small intestine and heart and are recommended to reduce body heat.
Salty foods, such as kelp and seaweed are know to affect the bladder and kidneys, and they can prevent hardening of glands and muscles and are used to treat conditions such as tuberculosis.
There are also 4 directions related to the energy of food as it affects the body.
Inward moving foods are typically good in the Winter and include kelp, hops, and lettuce.
Outward moving foods are great for the Summer and include dried ginger and cinnamon bark.
Downward moving foods are good for the Fall which include barley, eggplant, and cucumber.
Upward moving foods are usually eaten in the Spring and include cabbage, celery, sunflower seeds and sweet potato.
All of this information is not exclusive, that is, don't feel that these are the only foods that you can eat during the seasons. What you can do, however, is include some of them in your diet to facilitate how your body uses its energy to improve your immune system and to help it run with less effort.
Happy Qi to all of you!
Tom
Happy Chinese New Year!
Hello, my friends,
This is a little late, but Happy Chinese New Year! Here is my annual letter which contains advice and predictions from my Chinese Masters. Enjoy!
Happy New Year of the Goat (or Ram or Sheep)!
2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the “Year of the Sheep” or ‘Ram” too. The confusion stems from the Chinese character “yang”, which means ‘horned animal’.
The Chinese zodiac calendar is based on the lunar calendar, and in 2015 the New Year officially began on February 19th. When we look in the rear view mirror, most will breathe a sigh of relief to leave behind the hectic pace and confrontations characterized by the horse year.
Based on the ancient wisdom of the I-Ching, the Year of Ram, in 2015, represents Wood and Earth Elements. Each Element possesses unique characteristics. Wood and Earth elements are oppositional energetically, leading to continued conflicts, earthshaking disasters and dry weather. Additionally, the year of the Ram symbolizes the authoritative nature and determination of the ram; therefore expect this year to be filled with disagreements, oppositions and even wars. Witness the rise of nationalism and anti-immigration sentiments across Europe and the evolving Middle East conflicts.
However, these sentiments may be tempered by a desire for peace due to the wisdom and adaptability of the goat and the peaceful and easygoing nature of the sheep. Overall, the cautious optimism of the Ram year will positively affect the business and economic climates.
Industries related to the Wood Element such as forestry, wood and paper products, textiles, fashion, media, furnishing and housing development will benefit, while Earth Element associated industries like agriculture, fertilizer, cement and infrastructure projects will begin to stabilize and rebound. Industries that express the Earth Element attribute of "caring" such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotech will continue to thrive. This also includes the "internet of health" as the convergence of health, wearable technology, and connected data and analysis create a whole new paradigm and industry.
Physical Health
On the health front, the Wood Element relates to the nervous system, and the Earth Element relates to the digestive system. Therefore, you should be on the lookout for conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches, heart disease, stroke, liver and gallbladder inflammation, and sleep problems. Other ailments include low energy, muscle injuries, weight gain, anorexia, diabetes, gastro-esophageal reflux disorder (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colitis.
"Prevention", as the Yellow Emperor wrote in the classic on medicine bearing his name, "is worth a hundred ounces of gold!" It is always the preferred way, rather than treating an illness after it has started. My advice is to lower the toxic burden to your liver by cleansing and detoxifying with fresh leafy green vegetables, hot water with lemon, and herbal teas.
Take care of your digestive system by eating small and more frequent meals. Eat gratefully, joyfully and peacefully and chew your food properly. Avoid fatty, rich, and hard to digest foods such as deep fried food, red meat, and cheeses. Cut back on your sugar and alcohol intake to stop feeding the bad bacteria and yeast in your gut that is often the root of your abdominal bloating and gas.
Emotional Health
As anger is the prevailing emotion of the Wood Element, it is important that you manage your emotions carefully and keep your nervous system from becoming hyperactive. When under stress, your "survival" mechanism is activated and your body releases large quantities of cortisol (the same corticosteroid drug prescribed by doctors). If sustained at high levels, cortisol can damage your heart, weaken your immune system and lead to diabetes. Lower your tension and uplift your spirit with daily meditation practice.
This is a little late, but Happy Chinese New Year! Here is my annual letter which contains advice and predictions from my Chinese Masters. Enjoy!
Happy New Year of the Goat (or Ram or Sheep)!
2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the “Year of the Sheep” or ‘Ram” too. The confusion stems from the Chinese character “yang”, which means ‘horned animal’.
The Chinese zodiac calendar is based on the lunar calendar, and in 2015 the New Year officially began on February 19th. When we look in the rear view mirror, most will breathe a sigh of relief to leave behind the hectic pace and confrontations characterized by the horse year.
Based on the ancient wisdom of the I-Ching, the Year of Ram, in 2015, represents Wood and Earth Elements. Each Element possesses unique characteristics. Wood and Earth elements are oppositional energetically, leading to continued conflicts, earthshaking disasters and dry weather. Additionally, the year of the Ram symbolizes the authoritative nature and determination of the ram; therefore expect this year to be filled with disagreements, oppositions and even wars. Witness the rise of nationalism and anti-immigration sentiments across Europe and the evolving Middle East conflicts.
However, these sentiments may be tempered by a desire for peace due to the wisdom and adaptability of the goat and the peaceful and easygoing nature of the sheep. Overall, the cautious optimism of the Ram year will positively affect the business and economic climates.
Industries related to the Wood Element such as forestry, wood and paper products, textiles, fashion, media, furnishing and housing development will benefit, while Earth Element associated industries like agriculture, fertilizer, cement and infrastructure projects will begin to stabilize and rebound. Industries that express the Earth Element attribute of "caring" such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotech will continue to thrive. This also includes the "internet of health" as the convergence of health, wearable technology, and connected data and analysis create a whole new paradigm and industry.
Physical Health
On the health front, the Wood Element relates to the nervous system, and the Earth Element relates to the digestive system. Therefore, you should be on the lookout for conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches, heart disease, stroke, liver and gallbladder inflammation, and sleep problems. Other ailments include low energy, muscle injuries, weight gain, anorexia, diabetes, gastro-esophageal reflux disorder (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colitis.
"Prevention", as the Yellow Emperor wrote in the classic on medicine bearing his name, "is worth a hundred ounces of gold!" It is always the preferred way, rather than treating an illness after it has started. My advice is to lower the toxic burden to your liver by cleansing and detoxifying with fresh leafy green vegetables, hot water with lemon, and herbal teas.
Take care of your digestive system by eating small and more frequent meals. Eat gratefully, joyfully and peacefully and chew your food properly. Avoid fatty, rich, and hard to digest foods such as deep fried food, red meat, and cheeses. Cut back on your sugar and alcohol intake to stop feeding the bad bacteria and yeast in your gut that is often the root of your abdominal bloating and gas.
Emotional Health
As anger is the prevailing emotion of the Wood Element, it is important that you manage your emotions carefully and keep your nervous system from becoming hyperactive. When under stress, your "survival" mechanism is activated and your body releases large quantities of cortisol (the same corticosteroid drug prescribed by doctors). If sustained at high levels, cortisol can damage your heart, weaken your immune system and lead to diabetes. Lower your tension and uplift your spirit with daily meditation practice.
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