Welcome to 2012! I was watching people mope around in the rainy Victoria sidewalks today and noticed that there is a definite “holiday-worn” look that many people are wearing. We ate our plum pudding, buried our mashed potatoes in gravy, and drank bubbly grape juice at the stroke of midnight, so it must mean the holidays are over. The beginning of the year is a great time to reflect on the previous year, take note of what we have learned, and plan the year ahead. While I don’t like the term “New Years Resolution” I think there is tremendous value in goal setting. We should be goal setting at least once a year. Highly productive people goal set and make a plan of action at least once a month. Studies show that by simply writing down your “intentions” for the year make you 70% more likely to achieve them, even if you put them in a drawer and never think about it until this time next year. So, if you could fast forward to December 31, 2012 and you could look back and say, “That was a great year!” what would have needed to happen? Do you need to stop smoking? Lose weight? Improve your diet? Start exercising? Manage stress? Sleep more? Do you need to change careers? Change your outlook? Change the people you surround yourself with? Do you need to travel? Take a vacation? Build that invention that you had stored in your mind? Learn French? I would encourage you to ask yourself that simple question. If nothing comes to mind, it’s OK, just wait. Often people...
I came across this list of 100 benefits of meditation that applies to qi gong and yoga as well. I remember when I first heard of meditation it seemed very ‘esoteric’ or ‘new age.’ But now meditation is becoming widely accepted as a valid treatment for many disorders. People wonder”what is the best meditation to do?” I heard it answered best once; “the one that you ACTUALLY do!” Enjoy! Physiological benefits: 1. It lowers oxygen consumption. 2. It decreases respiratory rate. 3. It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate. 4. Increases exercise tolerance. 5. Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation. 6. Good for people with high blood pressure. 7. Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate. 8. Decreases muscle tension 9. Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc. 10. Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms. 11. Helps in post-operative healing. 12. Enhances the immune system. 13. Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress 14. Enhances energy, strength and vigour. 15. Helps with weight loss 16. Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage 17. Higher skin resistance 18. Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease. 19. Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing. 20. Decreases the ageing process. 21. Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone) 22. Prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases 23. Makes you sweat less 24. Cure headaches & migraines 25. Greater orderliness of brain functioning 26. Reduced need for medical care 27. Less energy wasted 28. More inclined to sports, activities 29. Significant relief from asthma 30. Improved performance in athletic events 31. Normalizes...
When I see patients for the first time we go through an ‘Initial Intake’ and ‘Evaluation’ which includes family history, and about 45 minutes of interrogation and grilling in order to determine the best treatment plan. During this time I am largely dependent on a persons memory and recollection of their own health history. Fortunately Traditional Chinese Medicine has tools (such as tongue diagnosis, observation, pulse diagnosis etc.) that are objective that do not rely on memory. Pretty much everyone forgets dates, medications, symptoms, and details of their own health. This is why I highly recommend you keep all of your lab reports, symptoms, treatments, and anything health related for you and every family member (including the 4 legged furry ones!) in a simple binder. Most doctors will give you copies of your lab results, x-rays, scans, and so forth and even if it just seems like a lot of gibberish it will be really useful down the road. Along with keeping your records write down in point form symptoms that you are experiencing and the date. June 1, 2004 – Fell of high horse, hurt right ankle Feb 3, 2010- Food poisoning in at Aunt Marsha’s Church potluck Dec 11, 2006- Flu after office Christmas party, missed 3 days of work August 14, 2009- Hives on arms and face during outdoor Lawn bowling tournament So, grab any old binder and begin your Health File today! ~Think Vitality!~...
Thanks to Mr. R.A.B. “Qi Gong for Vitality, Health, and Longevity” is now going to be practiced in Mexico! This is very exciting to me to know that there are people all over Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, Europe, and now Mexico practicing Qi Gong. I get emails and people telling me weekly about how the simple 18 minute practice helps lower stress, increase energy, and calm the mind. I attended a seminar last year where the instructor was asked, “What’s the best exercise to do?” The answer was, “The one that you ACTUALLY do!” I thought that was brilliant and a good reminder that we don’t need to over think our exercise and stress reducing activites, we just need to do them regularly! We are working on a downloadable version of the Qi Gong routine that can be put on to your mp3 players, ipods, iphones, and smartphones so that it can be available to practice anytime you desire. And, we are working on an audio version that can be used in the same way. But until then, keep practicing with what you have available! ~Think...
