Take time to play.
At least an hour each week do something by yourself that is just plain fun for you. You can take the dog or cat but this is for you, alone. Make something, explore, move, go somewhere. This probably should not include computer games but it might, we are all different! Judge for yourself, try it and see.
Stay Hydrated.
Start your day with 24 oz half boiling / half cool water, squeeze half a lemon into it or steep an ‘appropriate-for-your-nature’ herbal tea in the hot half and then add the cool. Getting this out of the way first thing in the morning ensures you don’t forget. Wait to eat breakfast until at least half an hour after drinking this so your stomach acid has time to replenish.
Avoid Extremes
It is generally accepted advice that after an Acupuncture treatment a patient should avoid extremes of anything like cold or heat or exercise or sitting/standing for long periods of time. Especially soon after a treatment. Avoid wind on the back of the head and neck or low back or abdomen. Wear a scarf, carry one with you for weather changes.
Don’t Overeat.
Stop eating before you are full. Don’t eat after dark if possible. Pay attention to the effect of foods like you would if it were a medication. Do not drink water with or just before meals to avoid diluting the hydrochloric acid in your stomach needed to digest the food. Eat with a happy and relaxed heart. Start the meal with some saturated fat to reduce your hunger. Chew slowly and completely as many times as you can tolerate up to the number of years of your age. Walk gently for twenty minutes after meals.
Walk Daily.
Preferably outdoors in a natural setting. Humans are designed to travel by foot for miles every day and many systems depend on walking for proper function, the venous and lymphatic systems for instance return blood to the heart and remove debris with the muscular contractions of walking.
Sleep.
Prepare for a good night’s sleep by winding down with a bath or self hypnosis. Notice when your sleep is good and congratulate yourself. Do not fret if your sleep is not what you think it should be, sleep patterns change and there is no one right way to sleep. Appreciate what you get, imagine that you have slept well. Nap when you have time.
Belly breathe.
Expand the abdomen when inhaling. Feel your shoulders drop on the exhale. This massages the internal organs, moves Qi and Blood, relaxes the muscles and the mind.
Get Out in Nature.
Hang around trees, plants and water. They clean the air and transmit health promoting vibrations. Breathe in the scents of the natural world, appreciate the colors and textures and sounds.
Take a stand.
Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart. Gently lower your body down bending the knees just until you feel it in the thighs. Don’t overdo it. Point your middle fingers at each other making a circle with your arms and raise this to chest height. Imagine hugging a tree or a ball of energy. Keep your back loose and allow your spine to remain naturally curved. This strengthens the immune system and improves self confidence. Stand like this for several minutes up to an hour.
Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
This is the simplest and most effective way to prevent or treat any emotional or psychic disturbances that are habitual or influential on your health. Gratitude smoothes the flow of blood and qi, harmonizing yin and yang. In the long run this is the number one thing you can be doing for yourself, growing healthy roots to help withstand the winds of change.
Meditate.
Start with two minutes. How to is a big subject but to start just take a deep breath, look at a blank spot or close your eyes and feel the air moving in and out of your nostrils. Just pay attention to the feeling of air moving thru your nostrils. That’s it.
Polish your Aura.
Rub your palms together briskly. Bring your palms to your chest and brush down the front of your body, then up the back of your legs to as high on your back as you can reach, then touch your thumb and middle finger tips together and bring your hands around to the top of the opposite shoulders, brush down the opposite arms then reach the palms to the back of the neck and sweep over the head and begin again, repeat x 3.
Laughter is good medicine.
Watch comedies, read jokes, hang out with funny people. Be kind - but be amused. Seek out funny stuff that is not laughing at but laughing with others.
At least an hour each week do something by yourself that is just plain fun for you. You can take the dog or cat but this is for you, alone. Make something, explore, move, go somewhere. This probably should not include computer games but it might, we are all different! Judge for yourself, try it and see.
Stay Hydrated.
Start your day with 24 oz half boiling / half cool water, squeeze half a lemon into it or steep an ‘appropriate-for-your-nature’ herbal tea in the hot half and then add the cool. Getting this out of the way first thing in the morning ensures you don’t forget. Wait to eat breakfast until at least half an hour after drinking this so your stomach acid has time to replenish.
Avoid Extremes
It is generally accepted advice that after an Acupuncture treatment a patient should avoid extremes of anything like cold or heat or exercise or sitting/standing for long periods of time. Especially soon after a treatment. Avoid wind on the back of the head and neck or low back or abdomen. Wear a scarf, carry one with you for weather changes.
Don’t Overeat.
Stop eating before you are full. Don’t eat after dark if possible. Pay attention to the effect of foods like you would if it were a medication. Do not drink water with or just before meals to avoid diluting the hydrochloric acid in your stomach needed to digest the food. Eat with a happy and relaxed heart. Start the meal with some saturated fat to reduce your hunger. Chew slowly and completely as many times as you can tolerate up to the number of years of your age. Walk gently for twenty minutes after meals.
Walk Daily.
Preferably outdoors in a natural setting. Humans are designed to travel by foot for miles every day and many systems depend on walking for proper function, the venous and lymphatic systems for instance return blood to the heart and remove debris with the muscular contractions of walking.
Sleep.
Prepare for a good night’s sleep by winding down with a bath or self hypnosis. Notice when your sleep is good and congratulate yourself. Do not fret if your sleep is not what you think it should be, sleep patterns change and there is no one right way to sleep. Appreciate what you get, imagine that you have slept well. Nap when you have time.
Belly breathe.
Expand the abdomen when inhaling. Feel your shoulders drop on the exhale. This massages the internal organs, moves Qi and Blood, relaxes the muscles and the mind.
Get Out in Nature.
Hang around trees, plants and water. They clean the air and transmit health promoting vibrations. Breathe in the scents of the natural world, appreciate the colors and textures and sounds.
Take a stand.
Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart. Gently lower your body down bending the knees just until you feel it in the thighs. Don’t overdo it. Point your middle fingers at each other making a circle with your arms and raise this to chest height. Imagine hugging a tree or a ball of energy. Keep your back loose and allow your spine to remain naturally curved. This strengthens the immune system and improves self confidence. Stand like this for several minutes up to an hour.
Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
This is the simplest and most effective way to prevent or treat any emotional or psychic disturbances that are habitual or influential on your health. Gratitude smoothes the flow of blood and qi, harmonizing yin and yang. In the long run this is the number one thing you can be doing for yourself, growing healthy roots to help withstand the winds of change.
Meditate.
Start with two minutes. How to is a big subject but to start just take a deep breath, look at a blank spot or close your eyes and feel the air moving in and out of your nostrils. Just pay attention to the feeling of air moving thru your nostrils. That’s it.
Polish your Aura.
Rub your palms together briskly. Bring your palms to your chest and brush down the front of your body, then up the back of your legs to as high on your back as you can reach, then touch your thumb and middle finger tips together and bring your hands around to the top of the opposite shoulders, brush down the opposite arms then reach the palms to the back of the neck and sweep over the head and begin again, repeat x 3.
Laughter is good medicine.
Watch comedies, read jokes, hang out with funny people. Be kind - but be amused. Seek out funny stuff that is not laughing at but laughing with others.
