Regain & Maintain Your Health
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Reflecting on a Winter Solstice Retreat
A personal retreat opens a window that let’s you see how wonderful and beneficial it is to make some time to experience quiet and stillness, and to understand the importance of simply ‘being.’
Retreating
Retreating is essential because the world is so helter-skelter.
To have the urge to return to our basic nature is such a gift. A personal retreat is an opportunity to become aware of and feel that quiet place inside ourselves, that place of stillness where everything feels in order.
Trust & Patience. Retreating takes trust and patience. Once you begin a retreat it may feel a bit uncomfortable at first. The momentum of today’s lifestyle takes a while to slow down and unwind.
Getting Centered. So you have to have patience at first and know that the stream of non-retreat-oriented thoughts will gradually slow down, and that you will feel centered — just follow your retreat plan and wait. It happens when you’re not looking.
Feel The Urge
Retreating is something you have to want to do. The need to go inside has to be real and pressing. Real in the sense of “I really need to take a step back from (fill in the blank),” and pressing in that you know that something has to change, now!
When you get to that point retreating is what brings balance back into your life.
The Inner Vacation Home
Needless to say, (though I think it needs to be said anyway), Life is such a profound experience, and because we are so busy, most, if not all of the time, it’s easy to miss the the central experience we’re all capable of having: feeling peace and joy.
But it’s too easy to miss it because we get absorbed so easily with the rough and tumble of making a living and taking care of all of our responsibilities.
Feel The Gratitude. There’s a feeling of gratitude that arises when a retreat has begun. It’s like you thanking you for taking care of that part of yourself that always gets short-changed.
To retreat is like going to the ‘inner’ vacation home that you haven’t visited for a long time; a place you want to become reacquainted with. And when you do, you can go there to relax and rejuvenate as often as you like.
So decide to retreat and begin the process: plan, schedule, and retreat — then reflect. You’ll be surprised at how many options appear when you get back into your regular routine.
Do you need help planning your personal retreat? Retreat consultations are available at BIOM. Call — (206) 842-6936 — or email to make an appointment.
Related Posts
Winter Retreat at BIOM
Seasonal Retreats at BIOM
Autumn Beach Retreat
Winter Chi Kung
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At the beginning of each season I offer a special session of Chi Kung focusing on that season’s 5 Element energy.
Our objective is to improve the health of the organs most responsible for your overall health at that time of year.
In Winter our 5 Element focus is the Water Energy. The organs that get the primary attention are the Kidneys and Bladder. We also give some attention to the Liver and Gallbladder to prepare them for their upcoming role in Spring.
What You’ll Experience
Staying Healthy In Winter
Seasons change, and your body and mental outlook change with them in predictable ways. Oriental medicine combines knowledge of seasonal characteristics with your unique health situation, to balance your energy (chi) and help you adapt and thrive during the cold months of Winter.
In this episode of Seasonal Health Tips, Kitty talks about how the Water element of Winter affects your health, and how to stay healthy and thrive during the cold months of Winter.
(To get the most out of what Kitty has to say, open the 5 Element Theory chart in a new window while listening.)
Length 07:32, Size 8.7 MB
The Water Element
Every season is associated with one of the Five Elements, and for Winter, the element is Water—the energetic force that governs the health and functionality of your Kidneys and Urinary Bladder.
According to Taoist 5 Element Theory, the Kidneys play a key role in the health of the entire lower part of your body. This includes balancing and processing fluids, as well as, strong joints, healthy sexual function, and more.
Protect Yourself Against Cold
To avoid getting sick, keep your wrists, ankles, and especially the back of your neck from being exposed to the cold. When you’re outside, be sensitive to how you feel and make sure your extremities don’t get too cold—especially your fingers and toes.
When your Kidneys are working well, the proper amount of heat is generated in your body, and normal precautions like “bundling up” in the winter will prevent cold from entering and getting trapped in your body. When your Kidneys are out of balance, you’ll notice a persistent feeling of cold in your lower back and extremities. If this is the case, you need to strengthen them. Otherwise you’ll be more vulnerable to pathogens and illness.
Did You Know ...
Women living in cold mountainous climates wrap woolen sashes around their waists—with older women wearing more layers, and younger women fewer. Padding around the waist maintains the warmth your Kidneys and internal organs need to function healthily and supports your back when lifting heavy objects.
Taking Care of Your Kidneys
There are several ways to build and maintain the health of your kidneys.
Chi Kung. Take 30 seconds to a minute—a few times during the day—and briskly rub your hands together to generate warmth in your palms. Then place your warm palms on your lower back, and feel the warmth from your palms penetrate into your kidneys. Then, gently massage your back. This simple exercise is an enjoyable way to invigorate your kidneys.
Chinese Herbs. Traditional Chinese herbal combinations provide an excellent way to strengthen your kidneys.
Acupuncture & Acupressure. These time-tested methods for improving the flow of chi (health-maintaining energy) in your body works to nurture your kidneys.
Diet and Nutrition. This basic approach to health is a simple way to nourish your kidneys.
Did You Know ...
Vegetables are smart! While the air is cold or freezing, Winter vegetables send their chi (life force) down into their roots where it’s protected underground. Our ancestors were smart too, because they understood the life-sustaining value of these roots ... and we should too.
Winter Food Tips
Ancient wisdom tells us that “for everything there is a season ...”. With this in mind, here are some diet and nutrition tips for the Winter season:
- Eat root vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes, beets, and (unsweetened) Winter squash. Miso soup is a nourishing Winter soup that provides a healthy way to get the moderate amount of salt you need.
- Eat foods that are high in calcium to strengthen your kidneys. aduki beans would be a particularly good addition to your Winter diet. Black beans, black “woodear” mushrooms, and black “cloudear” mushrooms will also add robustness to your Kidney energy.
Winter Health Tips
Here are some things to be aware of as you become more conscious about how to stay healthy in Winter:
- Moderate the amount of salty food you eat.
- Stay away from diuretic foods, like celery.
- Remember that caffeine is particularly hard on the kidneys. (Consider drinking tea or decaffeinated coffee.)
An In-Sight ...
Notice if you find yourself craving salty foods during the Winter. If you do, your kidneys are probably weak and need some strengthening.
Winter Remedies
During those time when your immunity is low, and you feel cold- or flu-like symptoms, it’s time to take preventive action by enjoying one of these nourishing, natural home brews.
Scallion Broth
This simple broth will help you sweat lightly, and is an excellent remedy for preventing and getting rid of colds:
- Take one scallion, and chop it up.
- Boil in water for 5 to 10 minutes. (Keep the lid on the pot to prevent vapor from escaping.)
- Flavor with tamari.
- Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Ginger Tea
If scallion broth doesn’t suit your culinary fancy, try ginger tea:
- Put a couple of slices of fresh ginger in one and one-half cups of water.
- Boil for 5 to 10 minutes. (Time it based on how strong you like your ginger tea.)
- Keep the lid on the pot to prevent vapor from escaping.
- Add a little honey and lemon.
- Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Scallion broth is the more effective of the two remedies, but if for some reason it doesn’t appeal to you, ginger tea is a good alternative
Get Help If You Need It
If you experience any kidney-related symptoms—lower back pain, earaches, knee problems—or other symptoms that don’t clear up quickly, call BIOM for an appointment. It’s best to alleviate your symptoms while addressing the root problem—before it becomes more advanced.
Related Links
Seasonal Retreats at BIOM
Winter Photo Gallery
Seasonal Health Tips - The 5 Element Way