March 2016 | What does it mean to be healthy?

Last month I talked about what it means to love ourselves, our bodies and our hearts. Now I'll ask you a similar question:

What does it mean to be healthy?

A popular answer might be getting enough exercise, proper nutrition and sleep; however, if it stops there, then it's like having a really nice, shiny car with new paint and all new parts, but...there is no gas in it. You can't really go anywhere, and you'll be stuck.

Life Force or Chi (Qi) isn't always recognized in the west because we can't see it. It is an invisible force that feeds and connects all parts of us, establishing the harmony that helps us feel like balanced people. Ancient cultures all knew about this Life Force. The yogis call it Prana, the Chinese call it Qi, the Mayans call it Sastun, and the ancient Greeks called Pnuma.

 

Many western doctors or someone with a purely western mindset or materialistic mindset may not understand certain health conditions holistically, in their entirety, because our illnesses have much more than a physical cause. Our physical issues are directly connected to our Life Force, which is directly connected to our mental and emotional states, which are connected to our soul or spirit. For example, how often are you in a state of anxiety, worry, fear, anger or sadness? It's quite mystical when you think about how many fluctuations we feel in one day. Have you ever thought about where these emotions come from? Where are they produced and what drives them? What makes us shift our emotional state one way or the other? It's also curious that with all this internal shifting, we are constantly given a choice.  And this choice, (depending on whether it's a positive, optimistic, life enhancing choice, or whether it is negative and life-negating), can greatly effect both the quality and quantity of Life Force we have. And this Life Force is the very thing that heals us, that brings cohesion between body and soul. Have you ever heard someone say "Oh yeah, I took this pill this one time and all my illnesses just disappeared"?  It is not, and will never be, that simple. The path and foundation for strong immunity is strong life force. No pill or medicine can ever generate a healthy immune system, no matter how many times you take it.

In my experience, when my emotions are in check and I'm able to shift negative thoughts patterns, I am able to accumulate more Life force from Qi Gong practice and, in turn, I am more likely to have the energy I need to shift my attitude and perspective to a more positive place in the future. And this positive Life Force then directly affects my physical body, giving it fuel and strength. Life force, and our attitudes towards life, though often overlooked or disregarded completely, are often the missing pieces as to why people aren't able to achieve true and lasting health.

Namaste,
Anisha

February 2016 | Love is a two way street

Valentines Day month is always a reminder to me that loving ourselves and knowing what that actually means is such an important step towards being able to love others.

For starters, do we truly know how to love our bodies? For instance, how do you eat your meals? Or do you even eat when your body needs nourishment? Are you rushing, having a phone conversation and generally attempting to multi-task as you feed yourself? Is this really conducive to absorbing the most nutrition and energy from food? If our minds are not calm and peaceful when we eat then how can our organs be calm and peaceful to absorb life force and goodness from the food?

When we feel discomfort or pain in our body, it means our body is complaining to us, asking us to make some kind of change. And it is certainly not loving us back. Love is a two way street. Our body is complaining to us and if we don't respond with love, then where does that leave us?

Perhaps some of us can care for our bodies in the right way, however, we also need to love our hearts. My dear respected teacher Master Ou Wen Wei told us once that losing our temper one time could reduce our life by one month..ONE MONTH!!! Why? Because a state of anger and frustration depletes our positive energy reserves and then we have less to keep our bodily organ functions running smoothly, which ultimately leads to aging much faster and feeling weak and unhealthy in general. This is true for many negative emotions but anger might be the worst. So next time you feel provoked and that fiery surge rises, think twice, and ask yourself, "is this really worth it?" Take a breath, or two, bite your tongue and make the choice to love yourself instead. Your body and heart will thank you!

Namaste,
Anisha

January 2016 | A life practice, not just a profession

Time on airplanes and holiday festivities that include people I have never met inevitably leads to an array of clishmaclaver, and the dreaded question "So, what do you do?"  It's a deceptively simple question that I hesitantly answer with "I'm an acupuncturist ....and a yoga teacher," with a resigned assent to my own statement, because it falls incredibly short of explaining what I actually do. This is usually followed with the person I'm conversing with telling me how he/she is also a reiki "master" or how a friend or relative is also a yoga teacher and maybe we could meet some time, and then all the possible health concerns they can vomit out, and how their body is so stiff they can't do yoga, and then some reference to an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" or "Sex and the City" when the acupuncturist told the client to relax and think peaceful thoughts and then left the room for 20 minutes. This couldn't be a more flagrant misrepresentation of my profession or how I fill my time, but the task of redefining what it means to practice Chinese Medicine and teach yoga seems insurmountable and momentarily overwhelming.

The common ideas about acupuncture and yoga aren't totally inaccurate in the health industry so I can't really fault anyone for these perceptions. I've seen and heard of acupuncturists who are inattentive with time, words and energy and I've certainly been to yoga classes from time to time that are simply physical fitness classes no matter how they are disguised. But that is not all that's out there. Some Acupuncturists do much more than throwing a few needles in and telling their clients to relax, and some yoga teachers guide students to do more than open their hips or engage their core. Some health practitioners (and I would put myself in this category) are using these different modalities to help others truly understand and get to know their deepest, kindest nature. The body is just one part of this whole system of who we are, and this intricate web of humanity includes habitual thoughts, emotions, life force/Qi and our spirit. So I think for many of us these professional labels do not represent the truth of what I and many others like me actually do for a living. Not only that, but for me this is a life PRACTICE, not just what I do or who I'm being for the office or studio. It's not just my profession. When we get to know this benevolent side of ourselves, it naturally ripples out to every part of our life and to all those we connect with.
 

I would love to share what I do and how I live but not cringe at the thought of having to say it. And though it often feels like a difficult task, I think it's time, more than ever, to re-frame what it means to be an acupuncturist/healer/yoga teacher in the world today and try my best to offer the full scope of what I do. It may take time and patience but I'm willing to try harder, to change the conversation, to revive understanding and acceptance, and I'm starting right here with you.

Happy New Year!!!!

Namaste,
Anisha