Friday, February 5, 2010

February 2010 All Ways Well Newsletter

In This Issue:
**Welcome the Year of the Tiger - 3 treatment special!
**Fitness from a Chinese Medicine Perspective
**Welcome new practitioners Summer, Ashley and Noreen!
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Welcome the Year of the Tiger (and Valentines Day!) - 3 treatment special!
Well, not only is 2010 now fully in swing, but February 14th marks the lunar new year, in addition to being Valentines Day. This is the Chinese zodiac year of the Metal Tiger which may be an interesting year for us all. The Tiger is a very lucky, charismatic zodiac sign, characterized by an outgoing personality, bravery, extreme courage and stark honesty. The Metal element gives the Tiger a sharpness in action and speed of thought, and a decisive nature though sometimes it can also be described as rash, and can also bring a cutting focus on attaining any given goal or objective. Metal is also the element of the Lungs and Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine which, combined with the Tiger year, indicates that this is a year to be patient, honest and to pay close attention to important decisions. A year to guard against health issues especially those that could affect the Lungs and Large Intestine and a year to strive to embody the bravery and honesty of the Tiger come what may.

To help you prepare for this important year and plan prudently for your heath in the coming months in particular, I am offering my semi-annual 3 treatment special during the month of February. Purchase a package of 3 Acupuncture, Massage or Foot Reflexology treatments and receive $30! Pricing is as follows:

**3 Acupuncture Treatments $165 (normally $195)
**3 Foot Reflexology or Massage Treatments $195 (normally $225)

These treatments must be purchased during the month of February but can be used anytime. If they are purchased on-line as a gift, the gift certificate will have a one year expiration date, meaning that you have to at least book your first appointment during that time to redeem the package. You can purchase treatment packages in office, over the phone by calling (503)445-8888 ext. 1 or on-line via my website by using the "Gift Certificate" link (even if you're purchasing it for yourself!). Treatment packages also make great Valentines day gifts for someone you love and want to help put their health first during the Year of the Tiger.

Fitness from a Chinese Medicine Perspective
A New Year often brings some common resolutions - eat better, lose weight, exercise more, be healthier - and Chinese medicine has ways to address and assist in all of these goals. Today, however, I wanted to share some bits about fitness from a Chinese Medicine perspective and leave you with some practical tips you can incorporate in to any health regime to help you improve your physical - and energetic - health. The muscles in particular are governed by the Earth element, specifically the Spleen, meaning that from a Chinese perspective, digestive health and abdominal strength are important contributing factors to overall muscular health. A strong core is also essential for supporting the spine and having a strong back, so including core strength exercises into any workout regime is important. Exercise and movement also move Qi in the body, improving energy flow and reducing blockages and stagnation. In this way, physical exercise has a direct effect on overall energetic health, especially when breath and movement are synchronized such as in Taiji, Qigong and Yoga. Lastly, in Chinese Medicine the Mind is also said to focus and direct the Spirit, so adding focused intention to any exercise or movement will also increase the effectiveness of, and energetic benefit from, your effort.

With these principles in mind, here are some Chinese Medicine-rooted ideas to make the most of your fitness regime:
  • Engage the Triumvirate of Breath, Movement and Intention - This is just a reiteration of what's been mentioned above, but it bears repeating because its so important. While Qigong, Yoga and Taiji are classic examples of this combination, you can actually engage breath, movement and intention together in any action - from lifting weights to walking down the street - and it will improve both your energetic and physical well being. Try to time your breathe with your movement, focus solely on whatever activity you are pursuing and even bring the minds eye to the specific muscle groups you are working as you use them if you can. With regular practice, I guarantee you'll feel a difference in the results.
  • Focus on the Core - Strengthening the abdominal muscles can strengthen not only your physical body, but your digestion (Spleen Qi) and your back health (related to Kidney Qi) as well. Instead of the typical crunch, try adding a pilates exercise or two - these are generally low impact and done laying down with a focus on bringing the belly to the spine and feeling a connection between the ribs and the hips thus deeply engaging the abdominals. If you don't know where to go or what to do, Exercisetv.tv has a long list of short abdominal workouts you can try for free in the comfort of your own home. Just picking 1-2 exercises from one of these workouts to add to your regular routine can go a long way to improving your strength and your Spleen and Kidney Qi!
  • Massage the internal organs by scooping the abdominals - A key source of illness in Chinese Medicine is Qi stagnation and nowhere is that more detrimental to your day to day health than in the digestion. By doing this simple exercise several times a week you can engage the abdominal muscles for some physical toning while also massaging the interal organs. In Dr. Maoshing Ni's book "Secrets of Longevity" he calls this exercise "inner housecleaning."
  • The Exercise: At least an hour after eating or any time before eating, start from standing and with your knees slightly bent. Lean forward and place the hands on the thighs just above the knee. Press down with your hands, exhale deeply and draw your stomach in and up as tightly as you can, effectively scooping out the abdomen. Holding your breath after this full exhalation, use your abdominal muscles to push and pull your belly in and out several times. Stand up as you inhale and repeat the whole exercise three times. By massaging the internal organs in this way, you will reduce stagnation and increase the strength of your abs and the health and clarity of your internal organs. You'll enjoy increased nutrient absorption and health over time. If this exercise sounds too obscure, try Wind Relieving Pose, a basic Hatha Yoga posture done lying down while bring the knees deeply to the chest one by one.
  • Body Brushing to increase circulation Body Brushing is an interesting habit found among many centarians, and refers to using a dry brush with natural bristles to sweep the entire surface of the body. Again, this is typically done dry and you want to use circular motions and work from the extremeties up towards the heart. Brushing the skin in this way increases circulation in the skin capillaries which can combine to increase circulation overall while also exfoliating and improving skin health. It is also reputed to increase immunity and decrease instances of colds and flu's during the winter months. Best done in the morning before getting in the shower, its an invigorating way to start the day. If dry brushing isn't your cup of tea, scrubbing using exfoliating gloves or a loofah in the shower or bath can also create a similar effect.
Try adding some of these exercises and ideas into your fitness regime for 3 months and see what you think. I'm pretty sure you'll see a noticeable difference in the effectiveness of your workout routine, not to mention your energy, immunity, stress level and digestive health.

Welcome new practitioners Summer, Ashley and Noreen!
We have a few new practitioners starting up in the Suite 103 office so please welcome them! Summer Knight, LMT and Ashley Mueller, LMT are our new LMT's and between them and Jamaica, we now have Deep Tissue, Swedish Massage, Foot Reflexology, Thai Massage and Integrative Bodywork available Monday-Saturday! Also we have Noreen Drake, LAc., who is excited to get her Acupuncture practice up and running on Mondays upcoming! Check back regularly to see when appointments are availble, or use the contact information below to schedule appointments or ask questions of them directly:Each of our new practitioners will be offering opening specials so call, click and check back often for more information!

Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks again for tuning in and I hope you'll take advantage of my Chinese New Year and Valentines Day 3 treatment special. Remember that you can always book on-line via my website, email me direct or call at (503)445-8888 ext. 1 for appointments, consultations or if you just want to contact me with a question.

Welcome to the Year of the Tiger,

~Rebecca
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