Diet and Lifestyle Counselling
Diet and lifestyle consulting are in fact large parts of Chinese Medicine theory, and are incorporated with every treatment. The recommendations are intended for maintaining health beyond treatment in the clinic, and to be able to stay in balance without constant interventions by external therapy.
There are five main types of lifestyle advice: meditation, diet, exercise, geomancy, and astrology.
Meditation
By meditation, we mean any and all spiritual endevours based on mental concentration and insight. Meditation is the act of letting go, of not doing something for once, and giving the person an opportunity for pause. It can be formal, including sitting meditations in various styles such as zen or yoga. However, most people just beginning in meditation are more comfortable starting with informal sitting, such as breathing exercises or listening to music for 15 minutes. The key here is to step away from the constant go-go-go of our daily lives, and just be.
Diet
We are all taught the benefits of good diet and exercise. The key, according to Chinese Medicine, is that we recognize that not all bodies are created equal, and that the things different people need to stay healthy will vary. Chinese Medicine nutrition incorporates a deeper understanding of food, using temperature and flavours inherent in food to use food medicinally for specific conditions. While the micro-nutrient components of foods are popular reasons certain foods become healthy, it is not the only factor we look at. Some foods have specific actions within the body, and, depending on what body systems or actions need to be rebalanced, some “healthy” foods may actually be not recommended for the condition. A good example is bananas. In Chinese Medicine, bananas have a very cold nature and are not suitable for people with poor digestion. It doesn’t matter that they are a good source of potassium if the body is unable to process them!
Exercise
Another key avenue of healthy living is in good exercise. It is well known that keeping active is a fundamental part of health and wellbeing, but again, it may need to be tweaked and altered to be best suited for the individual. Often people who exercise take on a cardio- or weightlifting-heavy exercise programs. If there isn’t a good balance of low-key or stretching exercise, the body can be overtaxed easily. Balancing heavy exercise with yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong or “low impact” exercises will ensure the best of both worlds.
Geomancy
Also known as Feng Shui, geomancy is the science of placement. Feng Shui literally means “wind and water”. An ancient Chinese practice, geomancy is a blend of science and art – assessing the energies of places and specific arrangements. While it can be a complicated system, the idea of correct arrangement and placement can be easily incorporated in modern living and be a valuable way to maintain health. We can impact the “feng shui” of our lives with small things like the layout of an office space (eg. ergonomics), the flow of furniture in the house (so it’s easy to move through a space without bumping into something), the correct kind of mattress to sleep on, and many other things we may not be aware of that cause stress or strain on our heath.
Astrology
Astrology is the science of timing. The notion of time in oriental astrology is based on various cycles and their effects on the world and the beings that inhabit it. While astrology does consider things like one's "sign" and timing of birth, it can also be helpful as understanding natural cycles of Qi or energy flow. For example, Qi flow can change depending on the time of year, and can explain many seasonal symptoms a person may experience. For this reason, it is normal for a person to have more energy in the summer and less in the winter – as this is a reflection of the available Qi.
Other cycles are part of diagnosis and treatment, such as life cycles – what is typical for specific ages? As well, we can use things like sleep patterns, menstrual cycles, and more. Utilizing cycles and correct timing can be very benefiting to health.
There are five main types of lifestyle advice: meditation, diet, exercise, geomancy, and astrology.
Meditation
By meditation, we mean any and all spiritual endevours based on mental concentration and insight. Meditation is the act of letting go, of not doing something for once, and giving the person an opportunity for pause. It can be formal, including sitting meditations in various styles such as zen or yoga. However, most people just beginning in meditation are more comfortable starting with informal sitting, such as breathing exercises or listening to music for 15 minutes. The key here is to step away from the constant go-go-go of our daily lives, and just be.
Diet
We are all taught the benefits of good diet and exercise. The key, according to Chinese Medicine, is that we recognize that not all bodies are created equal, and that the things different people need to stay healthy will vary. Chinese Medicine nutrition incorporates a deeper understanding of food, using temperature and flavours inherent in food to use food medicinally for specific conditions. While the micro-nutrient components of foods are popular reasons certain foods become healthy, it is not the only factor we look at. Some foods have specific actions within the body, and, depending on what body systems or actions need to be rebalanced, some “healthy” foods may actually be not recommended for the condition. A good example is bananas. In Chinese Medicine, bananas have a very cold nature and are not suitable for people with poor digestion. It doesn’t matter that they are a good source of potassium if the body is unable to process them!
Exercise
Another key avenue of healthy living is in good exercise. It is well known that keeping active is a fundamental part of health and wellbeing, but again, it may need to be tweaked and altered to be best suited for the individual. Often people who exercise take on a cardio- or weightlifting-heavy exercise programs. If there isn’t a good balance of low-key or stretching exercise, the body can be overtaxed easily. Balancing heavy exercise with yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong or “low impact” exercises will ensure the best of both worlds.
Geomancy
Also known as Feng Shui, geomancy is the science of placement. Feng Shui literally means “wind and water”. An ancient Chinese practice, geomancy is a blend of science and art – assessing the energies of places and specific arrangements. While it can be a complicated system, the idea of correct arrangement and placement can be easily incorporated in modern living and be a valuable way to maintain health. We can impact the “feng shui” of our lives with small things like the layout of an office space (eg. ergonomics), the flow of furniture in the house (so it’s easy to move through a space without bumping into something), the correct kind of mattress to sleep on, and many other things we may not be aware of that cause stress or strain on our heath.
Astrology
Astrology is the science of timing. The notion of time in oriental astrology is based on various cycles and their effects on the world and the beings that inhabit it. While astrology does consider things like one's "sign" and timing of birth, it can also be helpful as understanding natural cycles of Qi or energy flow. For example, Qi flow can change depending on the time of year, and can explain many seasonal symptoms a person may experience. For this reason, it is normal for a person to have more energy in the summer and less in the winter – as this is a reflection of the available Qi.
Other cycles are part of diagnosis and treatment, such as life cycles – what is typical for specific ages? As well, we can use things like sleep patterns, menstrual cycles, and more. Utilizing cycles and correct timing can be very benefiting to health.
