Happy Lunar New Year

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” ~ Socrates

In the last few years, I have been on a journey to simplify my life. It’s been a continual work in progress.  With the Lunar New Year approaching, I want to focus this coming year on the concept of less.  

I hear from many of my patients, especially the ones I’m treating for stress or anxiety, that they want to simplify their life. YET, at the same time, they tell me about the new things they are addingto their schedules.  Of course, we all want to take the “chores” out of our lives and only do the fun and leisurely things. While that is a nice thought, it’s not realistic. 

There will always be chores, tasks, and responsibilities that are not fun or pleasant, but we have to do them. Most of us, including myself, keep adding more to our hectic schedules to convince ourselves we can have and do it “all.” In fact, the only thing we seem to be removing from our schedules is time for rest and sleep.

As a society, we glorify busy.  We have a knack of making even enjoyable events seem stressful because we are so overwhelmed.The following are some goals I’m setting for myself in 2015 to help me enjoy life with “less.”  

• I want to take an event off my schedule and NOT replace it with something else.  

• I want to have more moderation in my life, especially in terms of food. I’d like to have a more balanced intake of food, especially sugar.

• I want to stop practicing “retail therapy” when I’m stressed.

What are your “less” goals for the year? I hope this year of less will lead to a lifetime of more happiness.

Points of Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! Let’s welcome in the year of the Green Sheep. The sheep is seen as a symbol of peace, balance, harmony and calmness. Come and visit us if you are looking for balance and calmness in the New Year!

Year of the Green Horse

The Lunar New Year begins on January 31, 2014. With this new year, we welcome in the Year of the Green Horse, and say good bye to the Year of the Snake. Green symbolizes Spring, which is full of new life and energy. This Year of the Horse promises productive energies. I advise taking advantage of the positive energy this year brings by putting your goals into action, such as your health goals.

How can you improve your health this year? I hope that each and every one of you makes prevention a key part of your goals. Prevention is the key to staying well. Why wait until you have a heart attack to make changes in your life? Why not make those changes now and prevent the heart attack from happening? Think about and put into motion how you can become healthier and stay healthier this year.

Here are some tips to help you:

1.

First, evaluate your eating habits and food intake. As many of you know, I am a big advocate of food as medicine. For example, chicken soup can help treat a cold. Natural foods have healing properties. For instance, fresh ginger tea is a great anti-bacterial for stomach issues, from nausea to stomach pains. Learn the basics of food nutrition and it will truly enhance your journey to better health.

2.

Next, evaluate your lifestyle. From how you live to what you eat, live according to the seasons. It's winter so don't be too hard on your body if it desires more rest. Your body needs to rest and get ready for Spring. Keep up with your vitamins, especially if you are not keeping up with your food nutrition. Also, if you feel a cold coming on, stop by the clinic and checkout some of our herbals to help you stay healthy. Bug Beater is a great herbal for helping to keep colds at bay. The winter is also a good time to eat warmer foods. If you must have a salad, couple it with a cup of soup. Try lightly sauteeing or steaming your vegetables to warm them up.  

3.

Finally, live mindfully. Do everything with a purpose and live in the moment: enjoy what you eat and do. When exercising, listen to your body. Work your body hard, but do not over do it. Show your body appreciation by eating good, nutritious foods that not only nourishes it, but feeds your soul. Show your body and mind how to destress and enjoy what life has to offer. Choose to live.

If you are having trouble starting the Year of the Green Horse on the right track, come by theclinic and we can put you on the right track. Regular acupuncture treatments will help you maintain all your hardwork. This year, remember, prevention is key: do not let your pain or ailments get bad before you come in to see me. Let’s treat that stress before it tears down your immune system.

Use the energy of the Green Horse wisely; don’t waste it by taking on so much that you end up doing nothing. Set a goal each month, or small goals each week. Do what it takes to make this year different and better!

Points of Wellness would like to you wish you and your family a healthy and productive Year of the Green Horse!

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

Feeling less energetic? Getting tired earlier in the evening? It might be just the energy of the season. Many animals hibernate this time of year. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this time of year is governed by Yin energy, which is dark, cold, slow, and composed of inward energy.

Yin energy in the winter months give life to the Yang energy of summer, which is light, hot, quick, and has more outward qualities. Hence, Yang energy encourages people to go out and be active.

Winter’s energy encourages us to look inward; it is a great time for meditation, yoga and T’ai Chi practices. In order to live according to the season, TCM teaches us that the foods in winter enrich yin and subdue yang. Look for foods that naturally grow in this season, such as squashes, potatoes, root vegetables, winter greens, mushrooms, apples, pears, and citrus fruits.

Most importantly, in the winter, our bodies need warming foods like soups made with hearty vegetables. Rich stocks cooked with animal bones are best. Use your leftover turkey bones to make a nutritious and warming soup, such as a turkey noodle soup. Other foods that are especially good for the winter months are black beans, kidney beans, lamb, chicken, walnuts, chestnuts, black sesame seeds, and dark leafy greens.

If you are feeling run down, take the time to rest and replenish. Nature tells us that this is the time of year to take good care of our entire body: physically, mentally and spiritually.

So, enjoy your bowl of turkey noodle soup!

Points of Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Remember: give the gift of health, gift certificates are available.

 

 

Happy New Year

It’s already February; where did those 31 days of January go? I haven’t even made my 2013 resolutions yet! Luckily, being of Asian/Chinese decent, I get a second chance to celebrate a New Year. Chinese (Lunar) New Year is on Feb 10th this year. Now, I really have to buckle down and get started on 2013! I invite each of you to think and act on your 2013 goals and dreams.

The snake is the 6th animal sign of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. People born in the year of the Snake are seen as wise, logical, intuitive, introspective, and dedicated. 2013 is the year of the black water Snake; it is going to be an exciting year for many. Hence, most of you will not want to be rushed or stressed this year. Peace, tranquility, and rest will provide strength in the Year of the Snake. This is a good year to explore adding a relaxing activity to your wellness program, such as mediation, Tai Chi, or a stress-relieving acupuncture session. 

In Chinese culture, the Snake is often seen as the healer of the physical body, and represents a shift to a more spiritual path. The Chinese zodiac repeats every 12 years; however, the specific combination of animal and element occurs only every 60 years. So, I invite each of you to take advantage of this energy and go within yourselves and think about shedding the bad of years past and start anew in 2013.

Happy New Year!

Start with yourself...

We all want to see change in the world; however, not all of us know where to start. My advice to you for this New Year is to start with changing yourself. As Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.” Living is a choice. Your life is a reflection of the choices you have made. Chinese medicine teaches us that we are each given a certain amount of Jing (life energies) from our parents. That means that genetically you are pre-dispose to certain illnesses or complications in terms of your health. However, what you do with the Jing you are given is entirely up to you. Remember, you are not your genes. 
 
Here are some thoughts to ponder as we move into 2012:
 
• Healthy living is a choice. For example, exercise is absolutely essential for healthy living, but we have a choice everyday to be active or not. Most of us do not have physically demanding jobs; thus, it is necessary to schedule exercise time and make it a priority. Start living today by going for that walk! Join a sports team! Go to the pool! Do that one thing that has been on your list for years. Choose to live life actively and not passively.
 
• NOT dieting should be a goal. Instead of getting on and off diets, make a commitment to eat mindfully. Weight loss is the outcome of healthier and mindful living choices. Eat balanced meals with more vegetables and less meats. Eat lean proteins. Most of all, eat according to the seasons. However, do not deny your cravings, life is meant to be enjoyed. Just remember moderation is the key to a balanced life. Enjoy your food, even the things that are not so good for your body. If you decide to put it in your mouth, then savor each bite.
 
• De-stress! Stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and other illnesses. Stress also affects the immune system, which protects us from many serious diseases. Do what it takes to relax your mind and body. For some, it may be meditation. For others, it’s a good punching bag, a long walk, an acupuncture treatment, reading a book, or watching a movie. Declare a chore-less weekend, and do all the things you enjoy that weekend. Take a mental health day from work and do nothing. Try a day without your cell phone (ok that might be taking it too far). How about a day of not checking emails or text messages on your phone, only taking calls?
 
• Visit an acupuncturist or a Chinese Medicine practitioner and see if you are balanced or if your body is deficient or has excess in any way. The acupuncturist or practitioner will ask you lots of questions, take a look at the quality of your pulses, and ask to see your tongue. S/he is trying to see what your body is saying. A traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis helps you learn more about your body and what it needs to be balanced.
 
So, I wish you a very Happy New Year. And, hope that in 2012, you can make a change towards a healthier and happier world. Starting with you!

Happy 2011!

Happy 2011! Whether you make New Year resolutions or simple goals for the New Year, we all think of the year to come and all the possibilities it may bring.

My wish for all of you in 2011 is to simply live in the present. With the hectic lives we lead, we never truly live in the moment. We are always trying to plan our next move, and do not take note of what we are experiencing right now.

So, humor me for a second and step away from your computer to go get that orange that is sitting on your counter. You know you’ve wanted to eat it; so just go get it. Oranges in Chinese tradition are seen as good luck so they are given out during the New Year. Before you cut into it or peel it, hold that orange in your hands, feel the weight and texture. Really look at that orange. Breathe in the fragrance. Then, dig your fingers in and peel back the skin. Is it juicy? Is it dry? Does the orange scent fill the room?

Now take a slice of the orange and put it in your mouth, just let it sit on your tongue for a second and slowly chew it. Is it sweet? Is it sour? Does it consume all your taste buds? Did it make you wrinkle your face? Chew it slowly and enjoy the seconds; empty your mind and truly savor it.

Remember this method of eating and enjoying food the next time you have a craving for a piece of cake or something that is not on your eating plan Enjoy food; don’t feel guilty about loving food. Mindful eating is the start to mindful living and leads you down the path to a healthier life, which is essential to surviving in our high-stress world.