CONNECT WITH US!
Acupuncturists understand the body as a complex system of energy systems, meridians, and organs. However, when an acupuncturist talks about an organ, like the spleen, heart, or kidneys, they are not referring to the physical organ that sits inside your body, but rather the energetic side of these organs. The energetic system is much bigger than just the physical organ and governs certain functions in the body on many levels.
The kidney system is one of the most important of these energetic organ systems.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys represent the deepest, most fundamental levels of energy in the human body. They are said to be the root of yin and yang in the body – two fundamental forces at play in our physiology. The kidneys also store a substance called “essence” which is our genetic code, our life force, and our reproductive ability.
The kidneys in Chinese Medicine are related to the water element, which is the elemental energy of winter. Whereas many energy systems are all about movement, the kidneys are about rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation – they are the energy of holding, of turning inward, and of protecting that which is most important. Think of still-reflecting pools or a quiet winter night. These are kidney energy. The kidneys are often referred to in Chinese Medicine as our “root” – they are tasked with caring for the most precious parts of us that make us who we are.
On a physical level, the kidneys govern the water passageways within the body (appropriate being the water element!) as well as control growth and reproduction. In a five-element understanding of Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are at the end of the life cycle, before rebirth occurs again (such as winter making way for spring.) This means the kidneys have a vital role to play in end-of-life transitions.
The spiritual aspect of the kidneys is called Zhi, or willpower. Again, the kidneys are our root, our fundamental and core energy. When that system is weakened, a person may not feel drive, or motivation or can push themselves. Their understanding of who they are and what they can do has been diminished.
The emotion associated with the kidneys is fear. When the kidneys are weak, a person may be startled or frightened easily or may experience fear in disproportionate ways. Likewise, shock, trauma, and fearful situations weaken kidney energy, which is why many of the common symptoms of PTSD have a kidney imbalance at their root. The person’s core has been shaken.
The kidney energy, being the deepest level of energy in the body, takes time to replenish and strengthen, which means patience is key. Also, kidney energy naturally declines over the life cycle, which is the normal aging process. So, as we age, protecting the kidneys becomes all the more important!
Being associated with the water element, the kidneys are nourished by foods that come from the water – fish, seaweeds, and shellfish are nourishing to this system. The kidneys are associated with a salty taste, so naturally salty foods such as miso or millet also are good choices. Avoid foods that are damaging to your root energy, such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol, greasy foods, and highly processed foods.
The kidneys are damaged by overwork, too much responsibility, lack of sleep, and a frenetic schedule. In other words, most of us living in modern society are taxing our kidneys! This means it is even more important to carve out time and space to take part in kidney-nourishing habits.
As we mentioned, the kidneys are nourished through rest and rejuvenation. Pay attention to your sleep and be sure you are getting the hours that you need! Take a nap during the day if you need it. Engage in gentle, relaxing forms of exercise, like yoga or tai chi. Try meditation or guided visualizations to calm and center yourself. Find a schedule that works – one that really works – for you.
Bring the water element into your life and your home by getting a small decorative fountain, using essential oils, taking baths, or spending time near rivers or oceans, or other bodies of water.
The kidneys, being the source of our reproductive strength, are also weakened by excessive sexual activity. So go for quality over quantity.
The kidneys represent what makes you, you. So, take the time to give them the support they need!
Every year we set New Year’s resolutions for ourselves we plan to achieve. But many times, we let these resolutions slip away. It turns out it can be harder than you think to turn those new year’s resolutions into reality.
To meet the goals, it will take discipline, hard work, practice, and patience. Here are seven tips on how you can achieve your goals this year.
Don’t set goals that seem impossible. Make sure your goals are realistic. The more realistic they are, the more attainable they will be. We tend to become stressed when we are not achieving the goals set forth for ourselves. Don’t let this potential stress affect you, set realistic new year’s resolutions and reach them.
Budget out your resolutions. Think about it. If you set a goal to lose 5 pounds during the first month of the new year and achieve it, you will be feeling great and confident you can do more. Try setting a goal of losing 10 pounds the following month, and slowly increase increments until you reach your desired goal.
It can be easy to start off the new year with a ton of resolutions. You want to be healthier and more active. So, it is only normal for you to set a lot of goals for yourself. But remember, to reach your goals most effectively, you should focus on one specific goal at a time. Once you have completed that goal you can move on to the next one.
Make sure you have a solid support system around you. Friends, family, colleagues, personal trainers, or workout partners are all great people to make up your support system. Build a support system that will encourage and empower you to reach the goals you have set out for yourself this new year.
This may seem a little obvious but putting faith in yourself goes a long way. When the going gets tough it can be hard to truly believe you will achieve the goals set forth. So, take a deep breath, believe in yourself, you can do this!
Don’t forget about your New Year’s resolutions. Keep your resolutions in your front-of-mind awareness. Hold yourself accountable and remember your goals. Life can be busy, and at times feels as though it is moving too quickly. But if you keep your resolutions in mind, you can make them a reality.
The truth is… you don’t need to start on January 1st. Pick a date on which you want to start, then write down what your goals are going to be. Remember, a goal that is not written down is simply a wish. As soon as you write down that New Year’s resolution, go out and start making the change happen. I know we have all been there. We are all guilty of having set New Year’s resolutions for ourselves that we don’t reach. This is mainly because we write the goal down and don’t do anything about it on Day 1. The best way to achieve your goal is one day at a time, if you miss a day, start again the very next day, never give up and one day you will look back and see that you have reached your goal and beyond.
We wish you the best of luck in setting and achieving your goals.
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 9.
In this video you will learn:
26. Flower Blossom, Sit Crossed Legged
27. Stand Up Step, Half
28. Yin-Yang Turn Over Palm
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 8.
In this video you will learn:
22. Bending to Catch the Tiger
23. Brushing Knee Chopping Palm
24. Chopping Down Kick Right Leg
25. Chop Palm
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 7.
In this video you will learn:
19. Closed Legged Stance Palms Together
20. Left Leg Steps Double Pushing Palm
21. Bring Back Both Hands Motion
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 6.
In this video you will learn:
16. Right Leg Up Folding Arms
17. Turn Body Pushing Palm
18. Hand Holding Bass Violin
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 5.
In this video you will learn:
14. Brush Knee Motion Pushing Palm
15. Cross Hands Motion
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 4.
In this video you will learn:
11. White Cranes Glittering Wings 1
12. White Cranes Glittering Wings 2
13. White Cranes Glittering Wings 3
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 3.
In this video you will learn:
7. Single Whip Motion
8. Right Arm Closes with Left Hand
9. Left Hand Lifted Leg Lifted
10. Right Hand Up Left Leg Kick
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
Join Master Tyehao Lu as he teaches Old Yang Tai Chi. In this video, Master Tyehao Lu goes over Lesson 2.
In this video you will learn:
4. Left Leg Lifted Movement
5. Right Leg Lifted Movement
6. Peacock Fanning His Tail
If you would like to join us for our in-person Tai Chi classes.
Monday and Wednesday at 9 am and 6 pm
Saturday at 9 am
