Happy Spring!
Finally, the Spring Equinox arrives on March 20, marking time for growth and rebirth. Many of us spent the winter months going within – and what an unusually dry and mild winter it was, at least for us folks in the Bay Area! Finally, we are starting to feel a sense of truly going outward begin and as we feel these new energies come to life, we may feel inspired to make changes in our lives.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spring Equinox means renewal. It’s good to remember that we all process this seasonal change differently. Some immediately look forward to the new beginnings, but some feel intense irritability and anxiety associated with what feels like an abrupt change. We all have different internal clocks and rhythms, and while this process happens quickly for some, it happens more slowly for others. Some feel awakened by the energy build-up of the equinox while some bodies become anxious from the pressure rising inside them. Both processes are absolutely normal. So remember to breathe!
I would like to encourage us to honor all the feelings that the equinox brings, be it happiness or anger. Surely, we’re happy that springis here, but sometimes, we also get angry because anger is a natural reaction to uncertainties that come with change. In its balanced state, anger is healthy because it helps dispel tension and restore balance. An unbalanced state often comes out in outbursts or in the tendency to judge others (and ourselves!) too quickly and rashly. So when you start feeling angry, just let it all out! It’s much better to release than to hold onto it internally – we eventually explode and feel the worse for it (and our loved ones too ;).
So as winter turns to spring, let’s consider bringing more balance into our lives through self-care, such as breathing and exercising, cleaning up our diets and maybe even doing a cleanse to detox the liver. The liver ensures that qi flows smoothly and keeps the blood, energy and emotions moving through our system to align the body, mind and spirit. TCM believes that tonifying and cleansing the liver organ can help prepare us for these seasonal changes.
Here are some helpful tips on how to tonify and cleanse the liver organ this spring:
*Keep moving – get outside and take walks in nature. This gets your blood and qi moving.
*Spring cleaning – create space for new things to come in, both physically and energetically. Recycle things that you’re no longer using. This frees up our internal energy, releasing blockages and welcoming increased vitality.
*Start afresh – let go of old resentments and practice forgiveness. Open the heart to new emotions and energies. This ensures that qi and blood move through the the whole body freely, especially opening up the chest and belly, relieving blood pressure and increasing digestion.
*Try something new – take a risk and try a new class, activity or restaurant. Go on an
adventure, no matter how small, and welcome new experiences into your life. This practice may catapult you to new levels of well-being – challenging old patterns and habits.
*Get sun and drink plenty of water to help nourish the liver. Perhaps start your day with a juice. Yes – sun is still the one of the best ways to boost your energy and increase your natural vitamin D stores. And add lemon to your water for extra cleansing!
*Get an acupuncture treatment – Acupuncture is one of the best ways to help move and smoothe our internal energies, helping us to adjust to internal and external changes and tonifying our organs.
Here’s a simple Spring receipe to tonify and cleanse your body:
GREEN JUICE RECIPE:
5 Handfuls of Spinach
3 Kale Leaves
3 Celery Stalks
½ Cucumber
½ Lemon
2 Granny Smith Apples
Add some filtered water and process ingredients in your Vitamix (ok ok, a regular blender would work too ;)) and enjoy!
I look forward to helping you bring balance into your lives so feel free to contact me anytime to set up an appointment.
Best wishes!
Sascha