HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

A few weeks ago, my friend said, "Spring is nigh!" Wow, really? Everything is dead, cold, heavy, deep and still. But looking closer, I see signs and stirrings of warmth, light and movement before the full effervescence of spring erupts. On my runs, I've noticed the green shoots of bulbs parting the dirt, the spikes of the wild iris leaves in the ditches and miniscule buds swelling the ends of the otherwise bare branches.

Although spring doesn’t officially begin until mid-March, the ever-changing force of vital energy is visible in nature—and this reminds me of the ever-changing nature of vital energy in our bodies. Every day in my clinic, I watch, listen, feel and evaluate how energy moves in people's bodies, looking for early signs of an upset to the balance of someone's health.

Traditional Chinese Medicine—including acupuncture, herbal treatment, physical

BY BAJDA WELTY PHOTO BAJDA WELTY

modalities and exercises—is built on this framework of vital energy in flux. Health, wellness, equilibrium and homeostasis all depend upon the coexistence, contrast, transformation and relative balance between Yin and Yang energy. Vital, lifeforce energy (that moves through the universe, nature, the human body/mind) is divided into these two parts: Yin, which is cold, still, wet, dark, feminine, heavy, solid, passive, receptive and moves downward and inward, and Yang, which is warm, active, dry, light/bright, masculine, light weight, hollow, aggressive, productive and moves upward and outward. Absolute Yin and absolute Yang are extremes and not sustainable. The interaction and dynamic dance of their relationship is where life and wellness exist.

For example, the winter months are the most Yin time of the year (the winter solstice being the most Yin day of the year) and the summer months are the most Yang (the summer solstice being the most Yang day of the year). Everything in between is a combination (spring equinox being when Yang energy finally surpasses Yin and fall equinox when Yin energy again dominates Yang). We notice the signs of spring because of the contrast with the predominantly winter/Yin season we've been in and are moving away from. We notice this in our bodies as well: the sluggish, slow, heavy winter blues giving way to a little more energy, ambition, action and a brighter mood as we move into spring.

Noticing the natural environment will help you observe similarities in your own body and mind. Connect with the rising Yang energy and take advantage of the uplifting trend by allowing more movement into your daily and weekly life. Gently push against the hibernation pace of winter. Get outside in the ever increasing green of our PNW surroundings. Witness the calm strength of the woods and look at its reflection in the still pool of Yin energy you've gathered over the winter.

One of the most common reasons my patients seek treatment is because of overwhelming stress and/or anxiety and depression. Often, this experi ence is stacked on top of another disease or injury. There are many useful management tools, acupuncture being a great one! But how can we help ourselves to manage this as we emerge into the season of spring?

1. Get moving—physically moving energy in your body and mind.

2. Get in nature—go out in the green; bathe in the renewal of the woods

3. Breathe on purpose, deeply. Facilitate this by running, walking, doing yoga or lifting weights. Breathing deeply draws our aware ness back in to our bodies and allows us to let go of waste. A simple mantra while waiting at a stoplight or walking is "I breathe in the new, I breathe out the old" or "I breathe in light, I breathe out tension." Noticing your breath and doing simple breathing exercises is a powerful way to calm your body and mind

4. Drink water throughout the day—adding fresh-squeezed lemon is ideal in the morning

5. Decrease alcohol, dairy, potatoes, yams, squash, beans, beef, lamb, coffee. Increase peppermint and green tea, fresh greens, fish, sauteed leeks, onions, garlic

Following the trend of rising Yang in our external environment, we can raise our energy, let go of winter lethargy, purify our bodies and calm and soothe our minds.

Bajda Welty MS, EAMP, LMP, practices acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine on Bainbridge Island.