A Boost of
Qi.
Everybody
wants it, few truly have it. Having adequate energy or qi to
perform our daily required
activities is at times elusive. How is it then that many people
seem to have endless abounding energy, enough to seemingly
spare and share with the world? Like the energizer bunny
we have be
stimulated to be stimulated. From Starbucks to Red Bull our
lives are one big fabrication when it comes to having enough
energy
(qi) to work, raise a family, have a partner, take care of
a house, business, yard, and still give your self enough
free time
to maybe have some fun. We are constantly on the go and living
with this kind of daily stress wreaks havoc upon our nervous
system. Eventually we can exhaust our essential energy (qi)
and that’s when the curtain comes down for the last time.
The fountain of youth, that sweet elixir of life is what
it has always been …….a legend.
In my experience I have found one way to rebuild and harness
this essential energy, through healthy balanced living.
What is Qi?
In Oriental Medicine, Qi is the energy that makes our body function.
It is the sparkle in your eye and the glisten of your skin.
With too much we appear hyperactive and with too little we
are fatigued and lethargic, unable to even complete our daily
activities without great distress. In western terms Qi can
be associated with the adrenal glands. Once the adrenals are
exhausted even the smallest activity can feel like climbing
Mt. Everest, without adequate training or gear.
How do I know
if I have exhausted Adrenals (qi)?
Here are some questions to ask; Are you tired all of the time?
Do you avoid activity even though you may really want to get
outside and do something? Do you use stimulants like caffeine
or drugs? Are you still tired even after sleeping? Do you have
racing thoughts when you stop working? Do you have decreased
libido, hair loss or digestive disturbances? Do you sweat spontaneously
or with little activity? If you have answered yes to even a few
of these questions chances are your adrenals need some perking
up. Your qi can be enhanced by living a healthy balanced lifestyle.What
is a healthy balanced lifestyle?
A healthy balanced lifestyle is when the body, mind
and spirit are in harmony. There are no pains and
aches, the body is strong
and free from physical restriction in movement, the mind is
clear of clutter and the spirit is unrestricted
and able to soar. How
do I get to this planet you ask???The Recipe Exercise, Nutrition,
and Meditation are the keys to the kingdom. In order for the
body to be strong, free of pain and unrestricted in movement
you must actually move. Exercise is an absolute necessity for
healthy balanced living. From walking to roller blading regardless
of skill level you need to perform some exercise everyday for
a minimum of 30 minutes. You should seek professional help
if you are a beginner and you should always get
clearance from your
physician if you are medically fragile. Licensed athletic trainers
are a good resource because they understand the mechanism of
injury and can help assist you in a program that will be sure
not to exacerbate any preexisting physical problems you may
have.
Nutrition, another required factor is so controversial
now with all the fad diets and best selling books
on the market.
A good
rule of thumb is to drink clean water, eat clean whole foods
and if you want to lose weight, eat fewer calories and exercise
more. Processed food is anything that no longer looks like
the food it claims to be ie: powdered orange drink. Whole
foods do
two things: one, they look like food and two, they spoil.
If you can store something for longer than a week
chances are
it is not a whole food.
Meditation, the last key is needed to clear the clutter
from you mind and allow your spirit to be what
it is truly meant
to be. I am not suggesting you need to be a Guru or join
an Ashram.
I am however suggesting that everyone requires quiet calm
time to process and rejuvenate your mind. Since more theories
arrive
everyday regarding the body healing itself the mind needs
to be clear and calm to enable such a healing. A good resource
is your local new age store that houses guided meditation
tapes.
These are easily followed and great to start with. Other
activities like Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Kung are blends of
physical exercise
with a meditative aspect all are equally fantastic in the
rejuvenation of the body, mind and spirit.
Finally, there are times when the body, mind and spirit
continuum are so out of alignment that guidance is required.
Natural
healing modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, supplementation
and
Chinese herbs can be used to help guide the body back
into harmony. A good resource is an Acupuncture
Physician who
is trained in
many natural modalities as well as nutritional counseling.
You’ve got the recipe now the only ingredient to add is
you.
To borrow a phrase…..just do it!!!
Christina Captain, DOM, AP, is a doctor of oriental medicine
and the owner of the Family Healing Center. Her clinic
is located in
Sarasota
at 1219
East Avenue South, Suite 104. Please call 941-951-1119 or visit
www.familyhealingcntr.com.
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