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Master Lu’s Health Center is committed to your health and wellness. To help you feel better and to maintain your physical health, we are offering virtual Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes online via zoom.
Tai Chi will help you improve your balance, reduce stress, improve physical health, coordination, and improve your immune system.
Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art that is perfect for all ages. Kung Fu will help with physical health, coordination, strength, discipline, and self-defense.
Kung Fu and Tai Chi are great exercises for all ages and they are fun!
Tai Chi classes on zoom are on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 9:00 am
Kung Fu classes on zoom are Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 pm
To register for our Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes give us a call at 801-463-1101 and we will register you and send you the zoom info so you can practice at home,
We are now open for face to face acupuncture and Chinese medicine appointments. We do have some policies to follow when you come in for your appointment.
We follow all of the CDC and Utah Health Department COVID-19 recommendations. We sanitize all areas including office desks and counters, restrooms, doors, and treatment tables. All providers wear masks, wash hands, and use hand sanitizer in between each patient.
If you feel uncomfortable coming in for face to face appointments, we do offer virtual sessions.
During the virtual sessions, we will move through an acupuncture treatment together over a live video call utilizing the power of acupressure. We will cater the rest of the session to your needs which could include an herbal prescription, qi gong exercises, deep breathing, meditation, nutritional guidance, or simply connecting in a supportive conversation.
You are welcome to schedule an appointment by calling 801-463-1101. Please call us anytime if you have any questions.
Acupuncture can successfully reduce diabetes symptoms, according to a study published by the Healthcare Medicine Institute. In fact, this study examined two clinical studies and found that both shown improvements for the patients. The first trial mainly examined the use of moxibustion in conjunction with acupuncture. The second experiment was to investigate the use of acupuncture as a treatment for diabetic gastroparesis. Both studies found that acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can significantly reduce the overall symptoms of people with diabetes. Those with yin-deficient diabetes showed an efficacy rate of 84.78 percent in the experiment that combined acupuncture and moxibustion, whereas those with yang-deficient diabetes showed an efficacy rate of 69.75 percent.
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture–Continuing–Education–News/1666-acupuncture–alleviates–diabetes–outperforms–drugs
With around 29 million Americans living with diabetes and another 86 million at risk of developing the condition due to prediabetes, diabetes is currently considered an epidemic in the United States. Diabetes is the primary cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations, and adult-onset blindness, and it ranks as the seventh highest cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Pancreatic dysfunction is the cause of diabetes. Diabetes comes in two varieties: type 1 and type 2. A chronic illness known as type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin. The most prevalent kind of diabetes, type 2, alters how the body uses glucose, or blood sugar. However, Type 2 diabetes may typically be reversed with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Blood sugar monitoring and regular insulin injections are the standard therapies. However, a lot of Americans are continuously fighting and, regrettably, losing the war because of the normal American diet (SAD). TCM could be able to assist in this situation.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that TCM can reduce blood sugar levels, improve microcirculation, increase blood flow to the body’s peripheral parts, and lessen the symptoms of polyphagia (the need to eat continually), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyuria (excessive urine).
One of the numerous TCM methods, acupuncture, employs solid, hair-thin needles to activate the body’s regulatory systems, which in turn release chemicals that promote hormone secretion, lessen pain and inflammation, and aid in the body’s return to equilibrium. Acupuncture’s ability to reduce blood glucose is caused by cortisol down-regulation. It is believed that enhanced insulin sensitivity results from the stress hormone cortisol, which stimulates the liver to produce glucose.
Herbal and dietary formulations are another aspect of TCM that might be quite beneficial for diabetic patients. Numerous foods and plants have demonstrated notable hypoglycemic effects. Mung beans, rehmannia, astragalus, lycium fruit and bark, ginseng, and even asparagus root are among them.
With TCM, people with diabetes can find hope without the negative side effects that are often linked to prescription drugs. If you or a loved one has diabetes, you can schedule an appointment with us by clicking on the link on the website that says, “Schedule an Appointment” or by calling our office.
Acupuncture can successfully reduce diabetes symptoms, according to a study published by the Healthcare Medicine Institute. In fact, this study examined two clinical studies and found that both shown improvements for the patients. The first trial mainly examined the use of moxibustion in conjunction with acupuncture. The second experiment was to investigate the use of acupuncture as a treatment for diabetic gastroparesis. Both studies found that acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can significantly reduce the overall symptoms of people with diabetes. Those with yin-deficient diabetes showed an efficacy rate of 84.78 percent in the experiment that combined acupuncture and moxibustion, whereas those with yang-deficient diabetes showed an efficacy rate of 69.75 percent.
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture–Continuing–Education–News/1666-acupuncture–alleviates–diabetes–outperforms–drugs
With around 29 million Americans living with diabetes and another 86 million at risk of developing the condition due to prediabetes, diabetes is currently considered an epidemic in the United States. Diabetes is the primary cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations, and adult-onset blindness, and it ranks as the seventh highest cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Pancreatic dysfunction is the cause of diabetes. Diabetes comes in two varieties: type 1 and type 2. A chronic illness known as type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin. The most prevalent kind of diabetes, type 2, alters how the body uses glucose, or blood sugar. However, Type 2 diabetes may typically be reversed with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Blood sugar monitoring and regular insulin injections are the standard therapies. However, a lot of Americans are continuously fighting and, regrettably, losing the war because of the normal American diet (SAD). TCM could be able to assist in this situation.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that TCM can reduce blood sugar levels, improve microcirculation, increase blood flow to the body’s peripheral parts, and lessen the symptoms of polyphagia (the need to eat continually), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyuria (excessive urine).
One of the numerous TCM methods, acupuncture, employs solid, hair-thin needles to activate the body’s regulatory systems, which in turn release chemicals that promote hormone secretion, lessen pain and inflammation, and aid in the body’s return to equilibrium. Acupuncture’s ability to reduce blood glucose is caused by cortisol down-regulation. It is believed that enhanced insulin sensitivity results from the stress hormone cortisol, which stimulates the liver to produce glucose.
Herbal and dietary formulations are another aspect of TCM that might be quite beneficial for diabetic patients. Numerous foods and plants have demonstrated notable hypoglycemic effects. Mung beans, rehmannia, astragalus, lycium fruit and bark, ginseng, and even asparagus root are among them.
With TCM, people with diabetes can find hope without the negative side effects that are often linked to prescription drugs. If you or a loved one has diabetes, you can schedule an appointment with us by clicking on the link on the website that says, “Schedule an Appointment” or by calling our office.
Have you been experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your extremities? You may have a condition called peripheral neuropathy. This is caused by damage to your peripheral nerves. While traditional treatments often focus on symptom management, acupuncture has emerged as a promising complementary therapy for alleviating peripheral neuropathy.
Along with discussing the therapeutic potential of acupuncture, we will also examine how acupuncturists diagnose patients and offer some advice on how people can alleviate the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
The Therapeutic Potential of Acupuncture:
An essential component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture has become well-known for its all-encompassing approach to treatment. Acupuncture seeks to improve general health by reestablishing the flow and balance of Qi, or vital energy, by introducing tiny needles into particular acupoints on the body. The effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing peripheral neuropathy symptoms has been shown in studies.
The benefits of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy were examined in a randomized controlled experiment that was published in the journal Neurology. Acupuncture’s promise in treating treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy was highlighted by the study’s finding that it dramatically reduced neuropathic pain in cancer patients when compared to a control group.
Additionally, a study that was published in Diabetes Care looked at how acupuncture affected diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the study showed that acupuncture treatments improved nerve conduction velocity, sensory complaints, and general quality of life.
The Diagnostic Process:
To identify the root causes of peripheral neuropathy, acupuncturists employ a thorough diagnostic procedure. This procedure entails:
Tips for Individuals Seeking Relief:
Here are some useful pointers if you have peripheral neuropathy and are thinking about getting acupuncture:
Consider acupuncture as a possible therapy if you are looking for relief from the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and are willing to investigate natural treatment options. Call us to talk about your symptoms so we can perform a thorough evaluation and offer you individualized care that targets the root causes of your peripheral neuropathy.
Including acupuncture in your treatment plan could offer a comprehensive strategy for controlling the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and enhancing your general health.
A woman lying in bed suffering from insomnia
Chronic insomnia affects over 30% of adult Americans, and the incidence rises with age. Cognitive therapy and sleeping medications are common forms of treatment. While sleeping drugs come with some hazards, they can be beneficial in the short term and cognitive therapy has a lot of potential as an effective cure. But using conventional methods, it is a problem that can be managed but regrettably not healed. Even while many Americans may not fit the definition of “chronic insomnia,” anyone who consistently lacks adequate sleep will eventually experience negative effects on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In addition to the obvious weariness that many types of insomnia cause, these conditions can also cause mood problems, headaches, dizziness, and painful muscles. According to a significant study, those with insomnia were five times more likely to experience depression than people who slept well. In addition, there are other negative consequences on the immune system, weight, cardiovascular system, and brain health.
Acupuncturists typically always ask about quantity and quality of sleep no matter the initial complaint or reason for seeking treatment. This is because as holistic health practitioners, we recognize the enormous impact sleep has on the overall health experience. If there are any deficits when it comes to sleep, this will usually be part of the focus for treatment. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), nighttime is yin time, a time for rest, healing, and recovery. It needs to be in balance with yang time (daytime) activity levels. This harmony of yin and yang is central to the TCM understanding of health.
Since everyone is unique and there are numerous causes of imbalance, acupuncture treats insomnia on an individual basis. A person’s internal environment will be examined in addition to external factors like trauma or stress. A pattern evaluation is performed to assess any organ imbalances, excess hot or cold-type diseases, and the flow and availability of blood and energy (qi) in the body. But does it work?
In a review of random controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia, acupuncture was found superior to medications in its ability to increase sleep duration for >3 hours. Also, acupuncture plus medications showed a better effect than medications alone on total sleep duration. And finally, acupuncture plus herbs was significantly better than herbs alone in increasing sleep rates. Worthwhile to note that there were no serious adverse effects of acupuncture observed in any of the trials.[1]
According to Western physiology, acupuncture has an impact on our ability to sleep by causing the production of the hormone that makes us sleepy, melatonin, as well as several other yet-to-be-determined mechanisms like the activation of specific regions of the brain involved in sensory processing. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to activate the vagus nerve, which aids in bringing about a feeling of relaxation throughout the body. Not only does the quality of sleep increase while the body is in this calm state, but it also activates the immunological and repair systems, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
Given the interrelationship of sleep and overall health, if all acupuncture did was improve sleep, it would still merit recognition as a valuable health system. But Acupuncture is prescribed for so much more! Call today to set up a sleep and overall health-improving series of treatments and start feeling the benefits right away!
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156618/
An investigation into the impact of acupuncture treatments on the stress levels of administrative staff at a nearby hospital was published in the Annals of Yoga and Physical Therapy. 58 participants in the study who had significant levels of work-related stress were included. The subjects received auricular acupuncture for eight weeks. The employees stated that their stress levels had fallen from high to moderate after the eight acupuncture treatments. According to the study, the body’s neurotransmitters are released during regular acupuncture treatments, which is thought to lower stress levels. This study and numerous others show that acupuncture can truly reduce stress levels and enhance general health.
Stress is defined as either pressure or tension exerted on an object or a state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
Here are some facts from the Global Organization for Stress:
One way to deal with stress involves the use of a 3,000-year-old medical system, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. TCM uses many different modalities or tools to treat the human mind and body. The most used modality is acupuncture and while acupuncture is still not widely accepted in the United States, it is gaining ground.
According to studies, consistent usage of acupuncture can lessen stress. A study that was published in the Journal of Endocrinology showed that electroacupuncture-treated rats had decreased levels of stress hormones like cortisol. The rats’ chronic stress hormones were inhibited by electroacupuncture. For people, it has the exact same effect.
Specific acupuncture points on the body are better for relieving stress and are used frequently by licensed practitioners. One of these points is Yin Tang. Yin Tang is located directly between the inner edges of the eyebrows and is a reflex point of the pituitary gland. Yin Tang calms the mind and relaxes the body by helping control hormone secretions.
Due to its location, Kidney 1 is another acupuncture point that can reduce stress but is less frequently employed. The junction of the anterior third and posterior two-thirds of the line connecting the base of the second and third toes and the heel marks the location of kidney 1 on the bottom of the foot. Although extremely sensitive, this point has remarkable qualities. In addition to controlling blood flow to the upper body region known as the brain, kidney 1 can sedate and calm the mind.
There are other tools TCM practitioners can use to relieve stress, such as cupping and herbs, although acupuncture and acupressure tend to work the fastest. Ask me to find out more!
There is a reason Spring is generally regarded as a happy season, spring brings longer days, more sunshine, the rebirth of plants, and more activity. But for many, the months of spring can also bring irritability, anxiety, sinus issues, allergy flare-ups, and even colds.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for about 3,000 years; this is why it’s one of the most trusted medical systems in the world. TCM has connotations with the following five seasons: winter, spring, summer, late summer, and fall. Each season has a special set of characteristics and connections all its own. The wood element is related to spring. In TCM, the liver and gallbladder, as well as their energy channels, are governed by the wood element. Daily interactions between the five seasons and their respective elements result in either total harmony or balance in the body.
The season of spring is a time of expansive movement and growth. Spring is a time of creativity and planning. Since the liver and gallbladder are associated with the tendons and are responsible for the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the body, our daily activities should reflect this. Being more active and spending more time outside can be great ways to strengthen the liver and gallbladder energies during the months of spring. We should imitate the budding trees and flowers and allow ourselves to grow and reach for bigger and better goals during the spring.
Green is the color of spring in TCM. During these months, fresh greens are abundant. It is highly recommended that we incorporate more fresh greens into our daily diets. Greens have been shown to be very beneficial for helping the liver do its job, detoxifying the blood. Dandelion greens are a good source of detoxification, which ultimately strengthens the liver and gallbladder meridians.
It is also recommended to avoid excessive stimulants during the spring months. Things like coffee are considered expansive and energizing, which can be somewhat helpful during the cold winter months. But during the spring, when life is abounding, excess energy can be harmful to the body. It can create headaches, insomnia, anger, and more.
When a person is completely balanced, transitioning from one season to another is not such a big deal. However, knowing what elemental type you are can also be very beneficial in determining how you will react to each passing season. For instance, a person with a wood element constitution may experience anger during the spring. This is because the wood element is already closely associated with the emotion of anger and spring brings added stimuli that can trigger fits of rage.
One way to keep the body balanced is through acupuncture and TCM. The body is designed to maintain proper balance, but we tend not to pay attention to the warning signs until we experience pain or illness. Getting regular acupuncture treatments can work as preventive medicine, providing harmony throughout every season of the year.
If you experience feelings of anxiety, anger, or even self-loathing, acupuncture can help. It can also help with those seasonal allergies that might flare up. Acupuncture is a wonderful way to maintain health and balance all year long. Be sure to find a fully licensed acupuncturist in your area, so you can enjoy spring without any emotional or physical impairment.
According to a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, acupuncture is a viable option for treating chronic renal disease patients who want to improve their kidney function. Over the course of a twelve-week research, 59 patients with chronic renal disease underwent acupuncture treatments using the same acupuncture locations in addition to electrostimulation. To assess the effectiveness, the serum creatinine concentrations and estimated glomerular filtration rates were tracked. The study found that acupuncture shows potential in treating chronic kidney disease and enhancing overall kidney function since serum creatinine levels decreased and estimated glomerular filtration rates rose.
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2016.0119
Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 31 million people suffering from chronic kidney disease. Decreased kidney function can be either acute or chronic. Acute kidney injury can be caused by a sudden drop in blood flow to the kidneys, damage from medications, or infections. Chronic kidney damage can be caused by autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, or even chronic urinary tract infections. Regardless of the cause, decreased kidney function can be deadly if not detected or left untreated.
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers multiple methods to help battle decreased kidney function. The kidneys function to filter and purify blood throughout the body. Inadequate blood flow to the kidneys can lead to a host of problems. The most prevalent form of TCM is acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow into areas that are lacking, thus allowing the transport of vital nutrients that keep the tissues healthy and functioning properly. Acupuncture can help relieve clinical symptoms of kidney disease, such as fatigue, back pain, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
According to TCM, the kidneys are the source of yin and yang. Yang is fire and yin is water. When the fire of yang is weak or the water of yin is not nourishing the body, then the kidney function must be addressed. The kidneys also house essence or jing in TCM. Jing is like our DNA. Since the kidneys are the most deep-seated of the internal organs, they are responsible for providing the tools to fulfill the deepest needs, such as survival and reproduction. While the kidneys house the deep reserves that fuel the body, they are also the organs damaged the most by stress. The body’s bones and marrow are governed by the kidneys in TCM. So even illnesses like osteoporosis can be related to the kidneys and as such, when treating a person with these ailments, the kidney meridian must always be included in the treatments.
Regular acupuncture treatments can greatly improve the health of the kidneys and keep them strong. But it is also important to keep stress levels at a minimum. This is where things like meditation, tai chi, and qi gong can come into play. All these practices help calm the mind and relieve stress. It is also recommended that fear be avoided, as it can deplete the energy of the kidney meridian. Physically, the kidney meridian manifests in the lower back and knees. Therefore, proper stretching and exercises to strengthen the back and leg muscles are extremely helpful in supporting overall kidney health. Certain foods can also help improve kidney health. Dark foods like black beans, black walnuts, as well as seafood are all excellent kidney tonics.
All the aforementioned items can be provided by a properly trained and fully licensed acupuncturist. So, if you or somebody you know is suffering from decreased kidney function or kidney disease of some sort, it would be beneficial to contact a local acupuncturist. TCM coupled with Western medicine can help anybody suffering from these kinds of issues. The two modalities complement one another nicely and allow for the patient to lead a more normal life.
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!
The Lunar New Year celebration is a festival unlike any other. Also known as the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, this celebration does not hold a specific date, rather it is based on the lunar calendar. The 12th lunar month marks the end of the previous year, with the capstone Lantern Festival landing in late January to mid-February.
Like Christmas in the United States, part of the Chinese New Year celebration promotes retail consumption and mass domestic tourism. It is estimated that this vast festival brings in the equivalent of nearly 80 billion US dollars. The travel surrounding the holiday is the largest annual human migration in the whole world, with nearly 3 billion people traveling around the country, most returning to their hometowns.
The Lunar New Year celebrations happen in phases.
The first phase, lasting for 8 days, is called the Little Year. This is the time of preparation – cleaning, sweeping, and an overall fresh start mentality. In traditional and contemporary Chinese culture, red represents happiness and prosperity. Red is a lucky color. The belief is that by surrounding yourself and your home with elaborate red decorations, good luck will follow you into the new year.
Chinese New Year’s Eve is aligned with the new moon. Families come together for a reunion dinner, many traveling long distances to return home. This dinner consists of traditional symbolically lucky meals and of course Chinese dumplings. From 8:00 pm-12:30 am TV sets in family rooms will be set to CCTV’s New Year Gala for a 4.5-hour live presentation of games, songs, dances, martial art exhibitions, sketches, music, acrobatics, drama, and more.
Following the previous night’s Chinese New Year’s Eve celebrations, this marks the beginning of the Spring Festival. Fireworks are loud and often set off on the ground to fend off evil spirits. Respect is paid to ancestors in the form of shrines and offerings. Both kids and unmarried adults receive money in lavish red envelopes from parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The first full moon marks the last day of the Spring Festival. That last day is traditionally China’s most important festival: the Lantern Festival. These celebrations welcome Spring and symbolize the reunification of the family bond. The daytime is filled with folk dancing in the streets, food vendors selling tangyuan (ball-shaped sticky rice dumplings), music, art exhibitions, riddles, and more. As evening falls onlookers enjoy watching extravagantly crafted lanterns float into the night sky under the first full moon of the year.
One of the most phenomenal things about this holiday is the vast number of people and cultures coming together in welcoming the new lunar year. It is estimated that 20% of the world’s population takes part in celebrating this Spring Festival. This group of people is far from only Chinese citizens, large populations in Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet have also traditionally taken part in this holiday. There are many small variations of this celebration, however, the underlying traditions remain the same. It’s easy to imagine that with modern technology, and the advent of social media, this colorful New Year’s celebration will be around for many thousands of years to come.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has so much to offer you AND your family. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.
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.
