It's June, the third month of Spring; the time where the energy (Chi) - inside and outside of you - begins its shift from the Wood element to the Fire Element. The temperatures are rising, the air is getting dryer - the conditions that support fire.

From an Oriental Medicine point of view, this metaphorical thinking points out that to stay healthy over the next few months, your organs need to be balanced so that they're able to deal with conditions caused by heat: primarily your Heart and Kidneys. Heart is the organ associated with Fire energy, and Kidneys with Water.

The Heart is most affected during summer, and consequently the Kidneys have to work hard to keep things cooled down, because Water regulates Fire.

Back to the Center
The first few weeks of June are also a good time to pay attention to your digestion. As one season is close to becoming the next, a re-centering takes place. During this transition time - about three weeks prior to the equinox or solstice - the energy (Chi) grounds itself before moving into the seasonal phase. This coming back to center, or rooting, is an attribute of the Earth element, which affects the Stomach and overall digestive processes. Then, after the equinox, you'll find that your body and mind are more affected by the Fire energy.

Catching Fire
So what are some health issues to be conscious of during the summer Fire season?

• Spikes in blood pressure or heart irregularity.
  (Remember: Heart is the Fire organ).
• Insomnia. This may be an indicator of Heart imbalance.
• Feelings of anxiety and fear stemming from weakness in the Kidneys.
• Headache, heartburn, and upper body heat associated with "heat rising" in the body.

Containing Fire
Clearly fire is a good thing. It is a foundational element of life. And, we all know the damaging effects that out of control fire causes.

Oriental Medicine is a very effective way to enhance the Fire power in your body while simultaneously strengthening the organs that regulate it. The result: a healthy, balanced body and mind, "firing on all pistons."

Read our article Staying Healthy in Summer to find out some simple things that promote summer health and happiness.

Back to the top

How many times have you let the momentum of your familiar habits, attitudes, and routines carry you past the road leading toward new possibilities and opportunities?

BalancePoint Coaching is a safe and supportive way to confidentially explore and discuss what you want to accomplish, and map-out practical ways for getting there.

Good Times For Coaching
Take advantage of coaching when you're:

• Envisioning new goals and need to plan the next steps on the upcoming leg of your journey.


• Pausing at the "fork-in-the-road" you're traveling on to consider and reassess where you've been, and consider which direction to head in.


• Continuing along the road you're on, and need a more effective way to get to your destination.

Some situations where coaching can help:

• Setting and achieving performance objectives at work.
• Figuring out the steps leading to the work you really want to do, rather than just doing a job.
• Finding the 'voice' to express who you are now and what you need to do.
• Dealing with conflict in healthy and powerful ways - with others - and with yourself.

The Poetic Moment
As the poet said: "... Two roads diverged in a wood, and I; I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Coaching at BIOM helps you make sure that "the road less traveled," doesn't turn out to be "the road not traveled.

Back to the top

We live in challenging times. And how you respond to these challenges affects the kind of time you have. With a warrior spirit, tempered with a meditative perspective, Meditative Martial Arts at BIOM shows you effective ways to meet the challenges that meet you - in ways that fit your particular disposition, needs, and interests.

A Blended Experience
Meditative Martial Arts at BIOM is a blended experience of:

• Tai Chi Chuan
• Chi Kung
• Aikido
• Pa Kua Chuan

Some situations where the meditative martial arts can help:

• Defuse conflict with another person, or within yourself.


• Skillfully redirect negativity in yourself, and others, until it's dissipated, setting up a positive atmosphere for problem-solving.
• Position yourself to deal with angry, emotionally out-of-control people.

Special Classes for Special People
(206) 842-6936

We were having tea with a new friend the other day, and she was asking Kitty questions about Oriental Medicine, and how Kitty works with people. What follows are some interesting points about one of life's ubiquitous events - the "office visit."

Friend My approach to heath care includes both Oriental and Western Medicine, and I find that most practitioners - of both types - only spend around 15 minutes or so with me. I find that it's difficult to communicate what's going on with me in such a short period of time. How much time do you spend with people?

Kitty I know what you mean; I feel the same way. That's why a typical treatment experience - or "office visit" - at BIOM ranges from one-and-a-half to two hours. Experience proves that, by taking the time to listen, you learn so many things that just wouldn't have time to percolate up during a standard- type office visit.

Of course, if for some reason, the client is in a hurry, I can streamline the time we spend, and focus directly on what's essential, using questioning and diagnostics; but what's important for you to know, is that the time is there for you.

There's something that always amazes me: it's how a person changes as they experience the process of 'getting in touch' with what's going with their health - as they begin to see the connections that affect it. This 'conscious awareness' of what's going on in your body, and your life, has a direct effect on your health.

Friend I can see where it would take more than the standard 15-minute office visit to "get in touch" with what's going on with one's health.

Kitty It really does. Of course, all health care practitioners have their diagnostic tools for getting a sense of what's ailing you; but for good health care to happen, "diagnostics" have to be in addition to a good "chair side" manner, not a substitute.

Friend In some ways it feels like you need an 'advocate' when you go to the doctor: someone who's objective and knows enough about you to make sure the doctor finds out what you need to tell her or him.

Kitty That's an interesting perspective. As the saying goes: "Two heads are better than one." And when you come to BIOM, we are essentially inviting your "inner" advocate to sit down, and tell what she/he knows about your situation. That's what's meant by "getting in touch" with what's going on with you; and it's also a source of information that's not readily in memory. There are things you remember easily, and others, a little deeper inside, that fill-in the puzzle, but get missed when the office visit is too short.

Friend So what can I expect if I come to you for a medical treatment?

Kitty Generally when you come to BIOM for Oriental Medicine, the first 30 to 45 minutes are used to talk about what's going on with you. Then, I spend about 30 minutes diagnosing your condition. And finally, you get to rest with your treatment for 30 to 45 minutes.

Friend Do you take insurance?

Kitty I provide a statement for you to present to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Friend Why don't you just accept whatever the insurance company offers to pay?

Kitty Insurance companies' profits are directly related to how little they have to pay health care providers for the services you receive. This is why people have to accept the "standard" 15 minute office visit. If I accepted what insurance companies offered, I would have to maximize the number of people I see per day - that's the "15-minute office visit" trap.

Insurance coverage has a bit of 'illusion' built into it. You pay less for an office visit, but you receive much less. That's the trade off; there's no "free lunch."

You can go on a diet, eat less food, and exercise more, and you won't necessarily lose weight if your digestive system is not working properly. In fact, you may find yourself becoming more unhealthy because you're getting less nourishment. As a result, a "healthy" weight loss program needs to take into account your unique physicality.

5 Element Weightloss at BIOM is a unique and healthy opportunity to develop a weight loss program based on your special situation - designed and aimed at the outcome you're looking for - a healthy body and self image.

The Focus
BIOM's "5 Element" approach to loosing weight focuses first on addressing any imbalances you may have in your internal organs. Often, the simple process of balancing the energy (Chi) of the internal organs improves digestion, which enables better metabolism and peristalsis, so food doesn't get trapped in your body.

The Five Element Weightloss Method
The Five Element method includes:

• Principles of a healthy diet.
• Chi Kung exercises.
• Acupressure/acupuncture and Chinese medical herbs (optional).

In May, the BIOM Commun-i-TEA got together to sip Yushan High Mountain Oolong. This high mountain tea delivers a great floral flavor. It's grown near Tungpu and Meishan, in the broadleaf forest zone. This mixture of trees, shrubs, and climbing vines, combines with the warm, wet climate to provide perfect conditions for growing tea.

By the end of June we'll be half-way through the Year of the Monkey. As we continue to look at the antics of the Monkey, and how it's 'celestial' energy might be affecting our 'terrestrial' tendencies, we see Monkey is still 'fired up' from Spring, but less so, as we start to transition into Summer.

Like the season - moving from Spring to Summer - the Monkey in June is starting to calm down a little. Its energy is shifting from the bursting-out frenzy of Spring into a more moderate mood. And while you still need to be alert to periods of volatility, for the most part, the Monkey is more reasonable, and somewhat predictable.

Remember: This year there's a little bit of the Monkey in each of us. So to paraphrase, Socrates: "Know thy Monkey."

Facial Rejuvenessence is an exquisite combination of aromatherapy and acupressure massage.

This wonderfully relaxing facial includes a wide variety of pure, natural, skin care products from Jurlique that revitalize, nourish, and strengthen your skin.