out a teacher or group through which to properly learn the practice. The motions of qi gong exercises detoxify and balance the entire body. A simple breathing exercise (like the one described below) stimulates the natural elimination of toxins and oxygenates the body. This helps to increase mental clarity and focus, relieve pain and calm the mind.
Bodywork helps to detoxify the lymphatic system and relax the body. To stimulate these responses, include acupressure on local facial points along the sinus areas of the face and immune points on the forearms.
mends alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Look for plant-based sanitizers that have recently launched on the market. Many of them include essential oils that also have antibiotic properties. You can make your own by filling a travel spray bottle with 50 percent grain alcohol, 40 percent distilled water and a 10 percent blend of lavender and thyme essential oils. If you are alcohol sensitive, you can make a 10 percent essential oil solution in distilled water, but make sure you wash your hands more frequently. You can also use the water and essential oil sprays to clear the treatment rooms and tables between clients. Stress can dehydrate the body. Avoiding dehydration aids proper immune function. Make sure you hydrate well throughout the day by having distilled water in pitchers or warm teas. You may want to set up a glass teapot with warm vegetable broth soup in it during cold winter months. Your self-care can extend into your clinic space. Having these in the waiting areas makes it easy for you and your patients to have access to hydrating fluids throughout your day.
Build your wei qi and calm the shen Qi gong literally means “life energy cultivation.” It is a healing practice believed to have formally appeared in China between 400 and 200 BC as a form of cultivating the balance of qi through a series of moving and non-moving exercises. Sometimes called “moving meditation,” qi gong practices belong to specific branches or lineages, and are taught with the utmost respect by a master. Qi gong is a particularly beneficial and restorative practice for therapists and healers. I encourage you to seek
1. Stretch in place for a minute, turn your head from side to side. Rotate your shoulders, bend over and shake your arms, allowing them to feel gravity. While leaning slightly forward, use your palms to rub up and down along your lower back and kidneys to activate them. Shake each leg out and get some blood flowing. 2. Stand with your feet pointing forward, shoulder width apart, arms relaxed at your sides and knees slightly bent. Close your eyes and take deep breaths from the belly. Rest the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your two front teeth (this improves the flow of qi in the body). 3. Take a moment to inhale slowly and deeply though the nose, expanding your ribcage and belly. Imagine a golden light showering over you like rain, creating pools of qi all around you. Draw your attention to the top of your head and imagine you are pulling this golden light into your body with your breath. Exhale through the mouth slowly. Do this for three breaths. You may feel tingling through your lower extremities. 4. On the next inhale, bend your knees as you squat down to scoop the golden light into your arms from the pools of qi that rained down. Slowly rise and lift your arms to pour the golden light over your head, as if it were a bucket of water. Imagine it cascading down, bathing your head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, upper back, chest, lower back, abdomen, hips, front of legs and behind the knees, until it runs down your ankles, over your feet and around your toes. Imagine the light recharging you. Repeat this three times. 5. Return to the starting position. Place your hands, one over the other, on the lower abdomen. Imagine the golden light warming under your hands. Feel the light still pouring down from your crown, through your body, down your legs and out from your fingertips and toes. Hold this position for three breaths. continues
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Modified qi bathing