Category: Balance

What is the Best Time of Day to Exercise?

3/31/2016

By: Karen Bostock, L.Ac.

This series is based on my current reading of They Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine translated by one of my teachers, Dr. Maoshing Ni. Though this book is one of the oldest in Chinese medicine, it is also one of the most important. It is still very relevant today and has lots to share with us about how to live a long and happy life.

Exercise is a hot topic in our society today. Many people have many different ideas about the best ways to exercise.

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Developing Health and Well-Being this Spring

3/20/2016

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By: Karen Bostock, L.Ac.

I am currently re-reading the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine translated by one of my teachers, Dr. Maoshing Ni. In the preface he describes what he thinks is the essence of this, one of the oldest and most important classics of Chinese Medicine:

“Health and well-being can be achieved only by remaining centered in spirit, guarding against the squandering of energy, promoting the constant flow of qi and blood, maintaining harmonious balance of yin and yang, adapting to the changing seasonal and yearly macrocosmic influences, and nourishing one’s self preventively. This is the way to a long and happy life.”

With the beginning of Spring, I’d like to share with you some of the ways that this classic suggests you can better adapt to the new season.

Go to bed early

Spring is all about revitalization and new energy. Though it is not as apparent in Southern California, you can see this occur in nature as flowers that have rested through the winter begin to bloom. The best way for a person to gain new vitality is to sleep.

Wake up early and go for a walk

Now that you’ve been revitalized by a little extra sleep, waking up early and going for a walk will refresh you in a new way. The morning air will invigorate you, helping you connect with the energy of Spring, and the walk will move your energy as you move your body.

Exercise and stretch

The energy of Spring corresponds to the muscles, the tendons, and the movement of energy through the body. The best way to do this is to exercise frequently and regularly and to stretch often. (See my blog to find out the best time of day to exercise.)

Wear loose fitting clothing

Staying with the theme of movement, the best way to keep things flowing is to make sure your body is not too confined by wearing loose, comfortable clothing.

Develop mental calm

The energy of Spring corresponds to the emotion of anger. Too much indulgence of anger, frustration, depression, or sadness can lead to disease and dysfunction in the body. (Think of the man with hypertension whose blood pressure rises every time he gets mad. He is at greater risk for heart attack and stroke. This is an example of how emotions and physical disease are related.) Thus, it is very important to develop mental calm and composure, even in times of stress, especially in the Spring.

Be yourself

Spring is all about rebirth and beginning anew. Let go of some of the ways in which you suppress yourself and begin to express yourself in new ways. This may be through art, communication, emotions, or new forms of exercise.

Spring Affirmation

As an acupuncturist, I always strive be more in alignment with a natural way of living. However some of these ideas, as easy as they may sound, do not come naturally to me. Therefore, I plan to do an affirmation every morning to keep these ideas in the forefront of my mind so I can begin working toward an even healthier life:

“This Spring I retire early to revitalize my body, mind, and spirit.

This Spring I arise early and go for a walk to absorb the invigorating energy of the morning.

This Spring I exercise frequently and stretch my body so my energy flows freely.

This Spring I wear loose fitting clothing so I am no longer constricted.

This Spring I develop mental calm and maintain mental evenness, even in times of stress.

This Spring I am more myself and I express myself in new and refreshing ways.

This Spring I am living a happier and healthier life.”

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Is your child draining you? It might be Hyperactive Deficiency.

2/22/2016

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Hyperactive Deficiency

Does your kid never eat or sleep but seems to live off your energy instead? Is your kid out of control, but you don’t have the energy to do anything about it? It may be that your child has Hyperactive Deficiency. In Chinese Medicine this disorder can lead to behavior problems, frequent illnesses, and challenges in maintaining boundaries with a child but, also the necessity to do so - for the sake of healing. The good news is, acupuncture can help your child heal from this disorder and help you get your energy and control back!

What does Hyperactive Deficiency look like?

A child expressing Hyperactive Deficiency usually has lots of energy, frequent illnesses, poor digestion, and doesn’t eat much. He may also resist going to sleep. He is clever and can usually figure out how to get what he wants, even if he has already been told “no”. To him “no” means “maybe”. He may be hypersensitive or nervous but he may also be coy. He may have been a very sick baby that needed lots of attention and may still crave that level of attention, acting out to ensure he gets it.
Meanwhile, his drained parents cave to the child’s demands because they have no energy left to enforce clear boundaries. This could also lead to relationship problems between the parents. If one parent is a primary caregiver and the other is away from the family for several hours during the day, the one who is away more often may not understand why the exhausted primary caregiver submits to the "unreasonable” or “silly” demands of the child.

What to do about it

If you relate to the picture I just drew, you may not like what I’m going to say next, but if you gather your strength and courage, and do your very best as a parent, you will be helping your child, and your family, to heal. The most important thing you can do for your child is to set clear boundaries and enforce them.
You also need to make sure you’re setting boundaries with your own energy. When you lose your temper or bend to the will of the child, you give your energy away. You need to remain calm and grounded. Have you noticed your child gets more energy when you get worked up and meanwhile you’re left depleted and drained? Remaining relaxed will help you save energy and demonstrate to your child what you expect of him.

Boundaries

According to Stephanie K. Glassman, Psy.D., boundaries “begin to form in infancy through family and environmental interactions…We learn about our boundaries by the way we are treated as children, and then we teach others where our boundaries are by the way we let them treat us.” Children with unclear boundaries are more likely to give in to peer pressure or be treated inappropriately by another person. Conversely, children with unclear boundaries are also at risk of becoming the type of adult who lacks respect or takes advantage of others.

How to create boundaries

I cannot tell you how to create boundaries for your kid. First, no one knows your kid better than you. Second, I have never had the opportunity to create boundaries as a parent. My best suggestion: Let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no". I am very interested in the work of Marcy Axness. Her book, Parenting for Peace: Raising the Next Generation of Peacemakers, might be a good resource. I also loved the book Bringing Up Bebe in which an American mother, Pamela Druckerman, learns first-hand the French approach to the raising of children. I appreciated the French concept of giving children extreme freedom within well-defined boundaries.

What will happen next?

The next thing that will happen is that your child will freak out. I don’t want to scare you, but I think you already know this will be the case. Your child is used to thriving on your energy and getting his way. He may be shocked to find he is being asked to create his own energy (from food and sleep) and is no longer in control.

Your child will be more calm and relaxed

Soon, however, he will feel more calm and secure when he knows you are in control, where the boundaries are, and that food does provide the energy he needs. Boundaries set by parents and caregivers are vital to helping a child with Hyperactive Deficiency. Once caregivers are committed to enforcing boundaries, a pediatric acupuncturist can help the child heal from Hyperactive Deficiency. This includes regulating digestion, balancing emotions, and improving sleep.

Caregivers need treatment too

“Treat the mother to treat the child…” is a concept in Chinese Medicine. You can support your child by building your energy as well. If you, or another of your child’s caregivers, feel emotionally or physically depleted (which may show up as exhaustion, irritability, or impatience), acupuncture can help you recover from the exhaustion and overwhelm and find the balance and strength needed to provide boundaries for your child and healing for your family.

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A Hummingbird and Fighting Spirit?

10/15/2013

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When I was in practice in Rancho Bernardo, I put a picture of a “family tree” on my business cards. Very simply, I wanted to work with families and I felt that my tree advertised that pretty clearly.

I still love my tree, but I don’t resonate with it like I did before. So, for my new practice I have a new symbol, a hummingbird. After we lost Kalis, my husband and I kept seeing hummingbirds and we began to associate them with her. So when I was deciding how to represent my practice, a hummingbird came to mind. I don’t know much about animal symbolism so I looked it up and this is what I found:

Hummingbirds are about love and joy. They symbolize a celebration of life and an attribute of the hummingbird is being able to roll with the punches. Hummingbirds are creatures that open the heart and allow the heart to heal. I found that a hummingbird is the perfect symbol for www.FightingSpiritAcu.com. This is what my practice is all about. I strive to strengthen these qualities in myself and to support others as they do the same!

When your energy is out of balance, you may find it difficult to live with love and joy, to celebrate life, or to roll with the punches. When your energy is balanced, you have the mental and physical ability to embody the attributes associated with the hummingbird. Energy can become unbalanced due to physical, mental/emotional, and chemical stresses. Acupuncture and herbal formulas regulate energy to help restore that balance. If you’ve been under stress and feel that you could use support in regaining your energetic balance, call (619) 630-0802 to make an appointment.

by Karen Bostock, L.Ac.

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What is the Best Time of Day to Exercise?

Developing Health and Well-Being this Spring

Is your child draining you? It might be Hyperactive Deficiency.

A Hummingbird and Fighting Spirit?

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