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There is a saying in therapist/healing circles that “the patients know their body the best”. But do they really? Sure they have lived through the experience of their body, mind, and emotions for an extent of a time that we practitioners could never grasp fully. But how much of it are they actually familiar with?
The healing journey requires us to build awareness not just around our conditions but also our health.

Just to put it out there, no I am not saying that your health professional will always know your body or state of health better than you. And consent should never be given up because your practitioner may know “best”.
Rather I am inviting you on this journey of exploration. To really ask yourself these questions:
How well do I know my body? How well do I know my thought patterns? How well do I really know myself?

Although I am not trained in psychology/psychotherapy and I am not a therapist in those terms. I do however often find myself in the place of providing a reflective surface for my clients.
In my humble opinion, empowerment comes from holding space for transformation, recognition, and reflection.

It does not come from giving the “right” answers to people, but rather providing an opportunity for others to build consciousness around their issues, so they can reflect and learn from their own bodies.
Sometimes this can happen by listening and providing feedback. Sometimes it happens non-verbally through touch, different healing modalities, and energy work.

Try to tell someone what they should do and they will never do it.
Hold space for someone to recognize their own true needs and it will change their lives.

Health is based on the quality and amount of consciousness we are willing to build around our life, our bodies, thoughts, and emotions. It is about building awareness around our needs and the actions we take to meet those needs.
Dis-ease, sickness, pain, and trauma are all but lessons. Lessons that require our attention, effort, patience, and compassion to process. Lessons that provide a space for transformation.

As a practitioner -or healer, if that term does not bring negative connations to you – my role is to provide a safe container, a safe space for transformation. To provide the ignition for these processes and to be there to observe, support, and direct the process if necessary.

It is time for transformation in your life?
Feel free to reach out and let’s see if I am the right person to support you on this important journey.

Here is a short clip with a short answer:

What is the longer answer?
Acupuncture is for everyone, who is willing to invest in their own wellbeing.
Change is generated from micro-changes. Dedication and consistency.

It is totally fine to simply arrive to your session to relax and wind down. So you can look forward to your weekly self-care.
However if you wish to make the most of your sessions, you will need to supplement your journey with reflecting on your daily actions and habits. So you can make the neccessary changes that can support you to reach your ideal outcome.

Acupuncture and Tuina are focused on the person, not the disease.

Thus if you come to see me with back pain. I will be able to help and alleviate it. However in order to “fix” it you will have to do your reflective work, identifying actions (e.g. too much screen time) that are aggravating your conditions.

I do offer general lifestyle advice, but usually we do not have the time to go into too much details on that topic in your sessions.
The more involved you are in your own healing process/journey, the quicker and more meaning ful changes we can make. It is a 2 player game 🙂

Do you use protocols?

Two people visit me, complaining about headaches. Chances are, I will treat both of them very differently. Every client goes through a process of diagnoses, which allows us Acupuncturists to understand the pathomechanism involved with your complaints.

As opposed to allopathic/western medicine, most of us do not work with protocols.
You have chronic back pain? Sure I could just use a list of points that tend to work, however I much prefer going through a detailed diagnostic procedure (asking questions, palapting the area, listening to your pulse, looking at your tongue, etc) before I develop a treatment plan.
Thus your treatment will be fully tailored for you!

Does it mean that you can heal/fix everything?
Certainly not. Every practitioner has their limits.
It is just as important to stay within your level of competence, as you trying to provide the best care for everyone coming through your door. Sometimes the best I can do is refer clients to other specialists. And that is okay.
I am only going to work with you if I believe I can offer you some reliefe to your suffering.

Is it actually a good idea to fixate on the outcome of the treatments?
That is the golden question that I have been pondering on for years. Us “healers”/therapist are driven by results. We love to see the change we co-create in our clients lives. We aim to ease suffering in everything we do.
However, I found that chasing outcomes is detrimental for both the practitioner and the client.

What is the focus of Chinese Medicine?
So what should we focus on then?
My role as a practitioner is to focus on You. Your very current representation, needs priorities. When I say you, I do not only mean what you convey through language, but also what your physical and energetical body tells me through my diagnostic skills.

I have a role where I need to observe changes and react to it in a way that serves the best possible outcome in that moment based on my knowledge and understanding.

Your role as a client is to also focus on Yourself. To observe the changes. To notice not only the changes around your complaint but also the changes that needs to happen in your life in order to best support yourself in the moment.

Healing happens in the present, not the future.

So what should I expect?
You can expect to be understood and compassionately cared for.
Throughout your session I will do my best to listen to you and assess your condition.
I will provide you with personalized advice, treatment plan and a safe environment for your healing journey.

Is Acupuncture and Medical massage a quick fix?
It can be, but most often than not: it isn’t.
However I do tend to see around a 50% improvement within the first 2 sessions.

If you think about it.. Usually people develop health issues over many years due to poor lifestyle, emotional abuse, stressful jobs and such.
Healing a bone fracture that happens in a second can take up to 3 months to fully heal.
So is it really a healthy expectation to be “healed” in 3 sessions of Acupuncture?

Whether it is emotional or physical trauma. Healing takes time.
Change requires time and effort.
We are working through many different layers (psychological, emotional, physical, energetic) instead of simply focusing on the symptoms. Which may come back much easier if the root is not addressed.

Acupuncture and Tuina treatments are accumulative. It is not a linear, ‘quick-fix’ path. It can be better imagined as a Spiral of healing journey.

Is healing about fixing problems and symptoms?
That is a slightly deeper subject, so I will leave that question for a later blog post.

Where can I ask further questions and book my personal appointment?
Please feel free to get in touch here.

It is now becoming a mainstream concept that our psyche has a direct effect on our bodies (soma) and vica versa. However, most people still miss the chance to realise the ’cause and effect’ relation between their bodily suffering and their mental state.

Often when we feel vulnerable with slow self-esteem our posture collapses, our shoulders become rounded and our breathing turns shallow.
Likewise, when we feel stressed (threatened) our body naturally prepares for battle and starts using our muscular system as armoring. Unfortunately, our nervous system cannot make a differentiation between psycho-emotional and physical threats.
Whilst it is natural and necessary to experience stress, unfortunately, a lot of us (if not most of us) get trapped in a cycle of constant stress.

Whether that will manifest as a hyperactivated or “frozen” state of our nervous system, it will also directly affect our musculoskeletal system. Which in return leads to misalignment, shortened and inactivated muscles.
Thus prolonged emotions often lead to muscle pain. In worse cases, to chronic debilitating pain.

Our body is a feedback system that is constantly telling us how we feel and where we need adjustment. It is our choice wether to listen or not.
In any case our choices will lead to consequences.

There are at least 71 channels or pathways used in Chinese Medicine.
They all have different purpose and effect when accessed during an Acupuncture session.
However there are 12 sinew channels -encompassing all muscles, tendons, ligaments- that a Tuina Massage therapist works with predominantly.

In terms of Chinese Medicine, people experiencing high amount of stress and anxiety usually leads to the qi (vital energy) to be trapped in the upper part of the body.
You don’t even have to imagine it. Just pay attention to your body when this happens. You will feel as you cannot breath deep into your abdomen, you chest might feel a bit heavy and constricted. Your shoulder (especially your trapezius muscle) will tighten and raise your shoulder. You might even feel tension in your neck as in something is pulling on it -from around a place between your scapula.

This is a basic explanation of when certain Sinew channel pathways become tense and constricted. The real problem is however, when these muscles groups are shortened for a prolonged time, as they will literally start building up armour -especially around the shoulder- that will feel like wood or concrete. Thus ’emotional armouring’.

There are many ways to reverse this process, however it will always require consistency and investment.
Wether you go for massages regularly, be seen by an osteopath or attend yoga classes. Real, long lasting change will only happen if you bild awareness in your body.
You will need to leave behind aggravating habits and pick up new ones that help to release this armour causing you muscle pain.

That is why Qigong and Tai Chi classes are excellent. Because you not only learn exercises to help and relax both your body and mind. But you also build -over time- deep awareness in your body and your life.

Write me a few lines if you feel the need to work on those stressed out muscles.
Or perhaps if you are interested in joining one of these classes.

Movement Medicine is a term currently used for modern practices of dance (5Rythms and such) originating from Shamanic traditions. These are excellent practices to wake up the body and release stagnant energy/qi. I love them for the purpose of self-expression, however they can often be too stimulating and tiring. Hence why I tend to recommend people Qigong and Tai Chi classes.

I love the sound of Movement Medicine as I think it fits perfectly the East Asians traditions that are widely practiced throughout the world today.

Qigong, more than slow movements

Qigong (or Daoyin, the term used before the 1940s) is an umbrella term for a wide range of exercises dating back to as far as 5000 years. These are also from East Asian Shamanic traditions and they have been widely used for healing, wellbeing, and self-nourishing (Yangsheng) as well as serving a foundation to internal martial arts (Neidan).

It is a widely known concept of Chinese Medicine that, Qi must move freely in the body in order to maintain good health (originating from the Huang Di Nei Jing).

Now presuming that you may not be familiar with the term qi, we can substituate the word for blood, air, lymph fluids, bioelectric signals and such. Whatever term we use, it will fit the concept. The body needs to have a continous, smooth flow of movement in order to function to its best.

Qigong practice does exactly this. We move in certain ways that has specific beneficial effects on the body. That is medicine.
There is a reason why Qigong is considered one of the four pillars of Chinese Medicine.

We warm up the surface of the body, so the muscles loosen. We stretch and gently engage muscle gorups (sinew channels) in order to open them and creat space for Qi (or any substitute term) to flow freely.
Of course the topic of Qigong is very deep. Nowadays there are as many schools as there are Qigong sets. The most important thing for you (and me) is to practice. To healthily engage in our body. And do so frequently and consistently.

Tai Chi Chuan, an internal martial art

Tai Chi is an internal martial art (Neidan) that is about 2500 years old. There are many disagreements about its origins, however my teachers are part of the 25th generation of Wudang Long Men lineage.

Tai chi – similar to Qigong- is mostly practiced for its healkth benefits today. However it is a martial art, and it has been taught as part of the Wudang Arts curriculum as such.
The style that I practice and teach is based on sets of forms that encompasses both martial applications, health benefits and breathwork.

It is a beautiful art that has many layers and an ever-increasing depth, the more we learn.
Usually we practice 28 or 108 step empty handed forms (Tai Chi Chuan). Naturally there are many more beautiful forms (including Straigth Sword, Saber, Fan) that are yet to be learned.

It is usually necessary to practice Qigong prior to Tai Chi, in order for our body to be able to truly engage in the practice. To be present instead of fixating different sensations of pain and discomfort. Both practices can be mildly challanging, however in both cases we are aiming to develop a sense of ‘Active Relaxation’ (Song) in the body. Which is the prerequisit of deeper practices (Neigong).

Practicing movement medicine of any sorts is an investment in our health and spiritual development (if that is in our interest). These arts need to practiced and the real pearls or insight can only be gained from our own experiences.

Qigong and Tai Chi classes in Crystal Palace

I will not teach you how to be your best self. All I can give you are exercises that help you reflect. That show you areas that need improvement and areas that need recongition.
Nonethless, your health will benefit from these practices for sure.

In order to see more information about our ongoing classes, click here.
Feel free to email me, or reach out in other ways if you have any questions.

What do you eat for breakfast? and what does Chinese Medicine has to say about it?

I often ask my patients this question. Why is that important -you may ask?

Because according to Chinese medicine our qi/energy derives from the food that we eat and the air we breath.

It is our Spleen, (Pancreas) and Stomach that is responsible to transform the food into qi which is then readily distributed in the body to nourish us from inside out.

Moreover the Stomach is most abundant in qi between 7 and 9 am. Hence why it is so vital to have a generous, healthy breakfast to prepare our energy reserves for the day.
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“So when you say healthy, what do you exactly mean?”
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There are no fast and hard rules in CM. Health is personal, therefore if you have issues with your digestive system you should contact a professional may that be your GP or your acupuncturist (depending on the severity).
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However there are general recommendations which you may take to heart. Here is one for today.

#Eat warm meals. Especially for breakfast.
Let me tell you a short anecdote -which I am sure has been passed down for centuries- from one of my teachers.

During the night our body is in a yin state and our digestive system is resting. When the morning comes we wake up, crawl (or jump – for those morning people) out of bed and just like our body, our digestive system is slowly becoming more active/Yang hence we feel hungry.

Imagine the stomach as a campfire. When you first lit it -in the morning- it has only tiny flames. Now what happens if you throw cold water on it? It goes out. But if you feed it with -nutritious warm food- wood, it will bring warmth and light.

In a more everyday analogy if you try make a soup with icy water it will take much longer than if you used hot water.

The same goes for your stomach. If you start the morning with cold water, smoothies, sandwiches, salads it will have a more difficult job at transforming that food into energy/qi for you.
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“What should I eat then?”
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Warm cooked food if possible.
Such as porridge, soup, or a quick stir fry.

Especially having some ginger/cinnamon in your breakfast or tea will help to warm you up in the winter times.

Even with the best diet, you may be experiencing digestive issues.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions on the matter.

A dear friend of mine gave me this beautiful puerh tea, which was grown and prepeared in China. A real treat for your health!

Did you know that tea is (one of the) healthiest drink most-consumed worldwide?

A Chinese proverb says:
“Better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.”
(Deadman, 2016)

They have been traditionally used to aid concentration, restore energy, help the digestion and benefit the spirit (alleviating depression and anxiety). Modern researches show that it benefits*:
+The heart/blood pressure
+Reduces inflammation (antioxidants)
+Improves mental awareness
+Reduce symptoms of depression
+Protect the brain against Alzheimer’s and dementia
+Reduce risks of developing cancer

Puerh is my special favourite of teas. It is type of tea which is fermented -by placing it in the ground to age for years- hence why it is said to nourish the essence (Jing). In general it benefits the Kidney and Spleen and has a gentle warming effect which is perfect for the cold months of winter and early autumn.

What is your favourite tea?
I always welcome suggestions -big fan of tea preparation.

#tea#puerh#china
#selfcare#nourish#traditionalchinesemedicine
#healthydrink#greentea
#weekendvibes *

(US Department of Agriculture Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health, 2012;
journal of Chinese Medicine, Tea health research, 2015)

Feel free to get in touch if you are also a lover of tea. I would be very happy to set up a community eventy for tea tasting :).

Winter in Chinese Medicine is the season of rest and nourishment.

Although it is well past the holiday season, we shouldn’t forget that it is still winter.
The season of rest, replenishment and preparation for the wakening energies of the spring.

According to the classics we shall not exert ourselves during this time. As most part of nature goes to sleep, our qi -would- also naturally sink deeper in our body to nourish our organs, with special regards to the Kidneys.

I have seen so many of my patients complain about feeling tired or not having enough energy to do everything they desire to.

I believe a lot of people lost -some of- their connection to their bodies. Even though they hear it’s “voice” through aches and complaints, they forgot to truly listen to it.

It is time for preservation. Avoid heinous exercises, working too much -or long hours without adequate breaks. Calm the mind and focus it on the present moment.

Instead of asking: what can I achieve here and now? Try asking yourself, what should I really focus on at this moment?

According to Chinese Medicine, winter is the best time to simply focus on yourself.
Find a way to reconnect to the self. Nourish your body and soul so you too may find Harmony Within.

And if you feel like you need some help, do not hesitate to reach out via email or a free discovery call.
Chinese philosophy and medicine offers wondrous ways of establishing harmony and health in your life.

Beautiful photo by Pinter-Bodi Beata.