Laughing Buddha Blog

I put on socks this morning. I hate wearing socks. I could go barefoot for the rest of my life and remain blissfully happy. I feel myself beginning to contract - the way I do every Autumn.

Not a negative contraction though. Just something that feels appropriate and right with this time of year. I am sleeping in longer. Going to bed earlier. Spending more time inside and exercising less (this is questionable). I don’t love it, as I prefer to spend most of my time outside under the warmth of the sun. But I live in Canada and so I roll with it.

I have been thinking alot about preparation lately. Last year I wasn’t the least bit prepared for the winter. I had a new baby and moved into the middle of nowhere with a wood stove and a barn full of wood.
But this year will be different. Not that I am one for too much planning, I like to live by the seat of my pants. But one thing I learned last year is that a little bit of planning and organization can be a good thing. So I am changing my style, just a little.

Having a plan for myself this winter. Gathering my nuts if you may. Taking my fish oils, changing my diet, giving myself projects to complete over the winter months… a plan. Right? We will see how it goes.

For many years I have been using the I Ching (Book of Changes) as a meditation tool and a dependable guide.  Often described as an oracle - this book offers insights into working with the Laws of the Universe and understanding the nature of change in our lives.  I won’t attempt to explain how the Book is used (and quite honestly I am not sure I could) but I wanted to share my most recent interaction with it.

My experience with the I Ching is most often profound, comforting and something I keep to myself - but for some reason I felt compelled to write about my reading this morning.

Today I was directed to meditate on Keeping Still - something I found difficult and extremely irritating (a clear sign for me that I need to pay close attention).  The image that the I Ching puts forth for Keeping Still is a mountain.  This makes me laugh because these days I am definitely not a mountain - a chicken maybe, at best a squirrel - but definitely not a mountain.

According to the I Ching - keeping still is not a lack of movement but appropriate movement. “Man does not permit his thoughts to go beyond his situation” - often my thoughts are everywhere but my situation. This happens to me when I place too many expectations on myself.  When I get caught up in being busy, pushing through, getting it done.  Trying to move forward when it isn’t time to move forward.  I suspect this is where I am right now.

The I Ching suggests I achieve a quiet heart.  To become physically still so that my restless ego disappears, with all of its busyness and inappropriate movement.  And I know this - I have been here before.  It is difficult to make true progress when we are spinning and thinking about a million things.  So what to do?

Chill out. Become a mountain. Stop spinning. Take one task - pay attention. Sit down. Take a deep breath or how about 100 deep breaths. Once we become calm and quiet our heart, we are not affected by the outside world.  And if we are not affected by the outside world, we can be of service.  It is tough to be of assistance to a spinning world when we are spinning ourselves.

So today I am a mountain. I am a mountain so I can write this blog. I am a mountain so when I am with my son, I am with my son.  I am a mountain so I hear what people are saying to me. I am a mountain.

With love…from my quiet heart.

I have begun the process of Morning Pages again, something I was dedicated to before becoming a mom. Now that Felix and I have a little more independence from each other, I am finding the time to commit to them again.

I was introduced to this incredible process by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. It is an integral part of the program which she puts forth to assist her readers in discovering their latent creativity. If you are at all feeling blocked or stuck in any part of your life, I highly suggest this book. It is inspiring and gently allows you to open yourself up to the great creative force that exists within us all.

But, if you are just looking for a daily ritual. One that will help you achieve a little peace of mind - these might be for you.

It is very simplistic in its approach and requires nothing more than a notebook, a pen and your presence. Every morning upon waking you are to write three solid pages - about anything or nothing. It must be done as the first task of your day and must be written by hand (no computers please).

I love the morning pages and find this type of writing does center me before I emerge into my day. It is as though I am dumping the contents of my mind onto paper, an incredibly freeing process. Julia suggests that to be effective, the morning pages be written without a plan - just allowing your pen to move across the page until you are done. They don’t even have to make sense and are not meant to be read by anyone but you (I try not to re-read mine either). The point is just to get it out and clear the clutter.

I like the way Julia describes them in her book, “Morning Pages will center you, steady you, empower you, enlighten you. They will comfort you, console you, stimulate you, intrigue you, challenge, irritate, and activate you. For Westerners, they are a potent form of meditation…Practiced over time, Morning Pages become a reliable bridge to the Universe itself.”

I have been putting them into practice for almost seven years and I have found all the above to be true. Let me know if you decide to give them a try.

It is September and I return. I guess we all kind of return in September. There is this feeling of something ending and something new beginning - a distinct and palpable shift. Maybe it has something to do with childhood memories of a new school year, when we were given the gift of a fresh start.

So in keeping with the theme of “fresh start”, I am back to writing my blog. I decided to take a step away from my computer for the summer. Outside of the occasional email and facebook check-in, I was fairly diligent. My son helped me stick to my commitment with his experiments in transportation. First it was crawling and now walking - there was no time for indulgence in the world of technology. I spent most of my summer keeping up with Felix. And outside…as much as possible.

Next week is the Fall Equinox - traditionally a time for harvesting and gathering for the winter ahead. For celebrating the abundance that comes from our earth and which sustains us year round.
I generally don’t have to worry about gathering food for the winter months - a good grocery store takes care of that for me. In February you will find me at the Zehrs picking up some avocados or mangoes (I am all for eating locally but I have certain culinary needs that must be fulfilled). This year I decided not to let this moment pass, but instead embrace the Equinox in my own way. I have learned lately that a little gratitude goes a long way and giving thanks is never really a bad idea.

So my question to you (and to myself) this Fall Equinox is “What have you harvested this year?” “What good stuff is growing in your garden?”

For me… a beautiful family, a peaceful and calm home, a couple of art projects, my first book, home renovations and maybe some swiss chard and a bunch of beets.

Happy September. It seems like it is time again to wipe the chalkboard clean and sharpen my pencil.
See you back here soon.

Spring is in full force. The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and I am angry. That is right, lately I find I am often feeling angry and frustrated – and about nothing in particular. I have no real “reason” to be angry, I am happy with my life and feel grateful for most things I have the opportunity to experience. So I am left wondering…

It is at times like these that I draw from the wisdom I have gained while studying Oriental Medicine. One of the things I respect about Oriental Medicine is the inclusion of the emotions in the total health of a human being. So what about this anger?

I have never really examined the emotion of anger that closely. It is one that I don’t experience very often, so I haven’t given it much thought. But now that it is having an impact on my life – I figured I better look at it.

What does this “anger” feel like? I guess to me it feels like a great deal of energy coming from within, restrained and with no where to go. When I am angry it feels as though I am confined to a small-box, while at the same time growing and expanding in every direction. It is interesting, because after looking at my experience with anger – it no longer feels so negative. And all the pieces start coming together.

It is spring.
Spring is the season of the liver.
Liver governs the emotion of anger.

And so like a flower trying to break free from the cold, hard soil. Here I am – unraveling after a long, cold winter. And for some reason my energy is getting stuck. It is possible that I didn’t move my physical body enough over the winter months, or I ate some heavy (although yummy) foods. Or maybe it is that I had so much on my plate that there is an unusual accumulation of energy in my system.

Whatever it is, the anger I am feeling is trying to tell me something. Something is off balance, I am stuck. So instead of feeling guilty for being angry – I am just going to go with it. While I unravel I will have to make some adjustments and I guess I am thankful that I got angry enough to do something about it.

My life has changed so much over the past year, that some days I don’t even recognize myself.

On a wood-gathering trip to the barn the other day, I stopped for a moment to observe myself. It was only 9 months ago that I was a pregnant city girl be-bopping around Toronto, listening to my iPod and feeling free and easy.

Now I am a mother, a woman, a country dweller. The closest town is half an hour away and the only place I am bopping to is the barn. It is a bit disorienting – confusing and sometimes I feel as though I have lost my footing.

I find I am often asking myself “Who am I anyway” who is this girl I have become? At first it was overwhelming because all the things I had associated with as “Jen” had dissolved. I live in a different home, new town, new family and my physical body has even changed. My ego was going crazy, trying to grab onto something familiar when there wasn’t anything in sight. But after taking a step back I breathed sigh of relief, because by losing this persona I gained freedom.

I have started to feel as though life is a bit like a record (excuse me from getting a little philosophical for a moment). We create these grooves in our life and we can get stuck playing the same song – over and over again. By getting stuck in these grooves we can also get stuck in illness, unhealthy relationships, silly habits, etc… And while creating new grooves can feel challenging and scary at first – it is surprisingly refreshing after the initial shock.

Creating an entire life shift isn’t the only way to get out of the same old song, a simple thing as taking a new route to work or waking up an hour earlier can be just as effective. This realization has been a huge one for me – I didn’t even realize how stuck I was until I jumped. I always felt as though I was a grounded person – but realized that being “grounded” was keeping me boxed in. Although my feet weren’t on the ground for awhile – I was fine. I was being taken care of and landed back on my feet anyways.

I have recently become obsessed with my son’s hands. His chubby little fingers have only been here for seven months and already they reach out for the world with such precise skill.

With the first light of day he begins inspecting them, excercising them and practicing a hundred different little movements. All day long they are busy and he is a very dedicated practitioner - never taking a break except to momentarily put them in his mouth for a taste. I am continually amazed at how much time goes into this learning process. Over and over again…open, close, open, close…

I think it is the innocent and earnest nature in which my son approaches this task that has me so captivated. He is so open and full of wonder. Having a person so new to life is giving me greater compassion for the human race at large. We all began in the same place, with the same innocence. And we all once approached the world with an open heart and open hands.  Reaching for everything and everyone with love.  Thanks Felix.

We are entering that period of the winter season where the blues creep up on us and create this desire to transport ourselves to a beach with some serious warm sunshine. I know this because I find myself dreaming of barefeet and white sand, especially with these super low temperatures.

The cure? Get outside and enjoy the season for all it has to offer.

When I first began studying Qi Gong my teacher would have me stand outside in one position for over an hour, in the middle of winter, with high winds and blowing snow…,I became angry and frustrated, thinking of all sorts of reasons why it was a danger to my health to be out in the cold. Of course my teacher could not be convinced; he would just smile and tell me to focus on my breath. “The more time you spend outside, the more your body will get used to it” and he was absolutely right. I did get used to it and now love being outside in the winter. For the most part, I love this season.

I think part of our problem is that we sit indoors all winter with our heaters cranked and our windows shut. Our bodies forget how to regulate our internal temperature, so everytime we go outside – we go into shock. And we aren’t receiving any fresh air either – just recycled air all day long.

So my suggestion to beat those winter blues, schedule yourself a half an hour walk everyday. Bundle up, put on your boots and get outside. Breathe in the fresh air, let the sunshine warm your face and move some of that stagnant energy. You will be surprised how much you enjoy it and within a couple of weeks you will start to get used to the cold temperature.

I am not saying you still won’t dream of sitting on a beach, but it will make you appreciate where you are a little bit more.

In my health practice, I tend not to endorse products, cures, supplements, etc… instead I like to focus on the body’s innate ability to heal itself. But every once and awhile I come across something that I feel compelled to share and castor oil happens to be one of those things.

I have been suggesting the use of castor oil for many years…even before I became a health care practitioner. When I began to read books on health and healing – I found a whole chapter dedicated to it in one of Edgar Cayce’s books (I should probably devote a whole blog entry to him, maybe in the near future). But it wasn’t until my Naturopath suggested that I use it myself, that I actually gave it a try. Cayce and my doctor both suggested using the oil in the form of a pack, that is rubbing the oil externally on the body and applying heat to the area (I will provide specific instructions at the end of this entry). I was applying the castor oil pack to my lower abdomen, from my navel and below, every day for about two weeks and I was astonished at the results. My energy level rose drastically and I had pain-free menstruation for the first time ever.

I still continue to use the packs on myself whenever I feel it is necessary (I am currently using them after giving birth to my son). I have also suggested the use of them to many of my patients – and most of them experienced dramatic results as well. I have seen them greatly improve frozen shoulder, irregular menstruation, depression, chronic fatigue, and severe colitis within my own practice and have heard many more stories of healing in the world beyond.

So what is the deal with Castor oil? It has long been used in traditional and folk medicine and dates as far back as ancient Egypt. The oil has been used as an oral laxative and to help induce labour (although I am not suggesting using it for either of those purposes here). Cold-pressed castor oil used in the form of a pack is known to improve circulation, liver function and digestion, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. When used as a pack it heals the skin, tissue and even the organs beneath the surface.

Who would I suggest it to? I believe anyone can experience positive results from implementing the castor oil packs because of the improvement in circulation and increase in energy. Typically the packs are applied to:

• The abdomen (above and below the navel) to improve digestion, circulation and boost energy
• The lower abdomen to regulate menstruation, reproductive organs and improve bowel function
• The right side of the abdomen (where the Liver is located) to assist in detoxing the body
• Swollen and inflamed joints and muscles

Before using the castor oil packs please consult your Doctor or Naturopath, it is rare that you experience an adverse reaction but it is possible. And the use of the use of the packs should be avoided during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstruation.
Instructions for use:

You should be able to find good quality, cold-pressed castor oil at any health food store and often the employees will be knowledgeable using it in a pack. The materials that you will need to do them are:

• 3 layers of unbleached, undyed cotton flannel – large enough to cover the area you will be treating
• Plastic wrap
• Castor Oil
• Hot Water bottle or Magic Bag

Soak the piece of flannel in the oil. Rub oil directly onto the skin of the area. Place the piece of oil soaked flannel onto the skin of the area. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the flannel. Place your heat source (hot water bottle or magic bag) over the plastic and allow to penetrate for 5-15 minutes. I would start off with 5 min and work up to 15 min as you can experience some reactions such as nausea or diarrhea. These are best to do in the morning as well because they can create an increase of energy which you want to avoid before bed.

If you have already used these packs, I would love to hear about your own experience and if you choose to try them and have any questions feel free to send me an email. But as I said before, check with your Doctor or Naturopath before proceeding.

Happy Day.

Until recently I was a city dweller, blissfully living in Toronto surrounded by friends, culture and the not-so-subtle pulse of the urbane. After our son arrived I began to get this itch - an itch to flee the city and run for wide open spaces. I became ultra-sensitive to the amount of people and noise of Toronto and began to daydream of something different.

It is not as though I began to dislike living in Toronto - it just stopped feeling “right”. In fact, this new itch was very uncomfortable because I loved living in Toronto and the idea of leaving made me very sad. I was having a love affair with the city but it became apparent that it was time to end the relationship, at least for awhile. And that is when the opportunity manifested itself…

After one of my 3am feedings with Felix I found a country property online and knew right away that it was our home. It felt as though fate took ahold of my life…as though the property found me. Fast forward a couple of months and here I am sitting at my desk overlooking acres of snow-covered forest in our new home.

We have only been here for a month, but city living already seems like another lifetime ago. I have become immeresed in  the simplicity of just living. With every trip to the barn to gather wood I become quieter and my days have become filled with moving meditation. Here there are very few distractions and I am beginning to hear my inner voice again. I am no longer listening to the millions of other voices, advertisements, city noise, etc… I have missed this quiet and had forgotten the peace that is available in our daily lives.

I am not knocking city living, nor am I endorsing that everyone move to the country. But I am realizing how distracted I was and am grateful to have the opportunity to come back to myself in this way.  We can easily become so out of touch with ourselves and the natural world. Being surrounded by so much busyness and complicated living can create a disconnect from within.

So here I am, slowing down and relishing in this simplicity. It feels a bit strange and a little uncomfortable - but I am curious to see what comes of this country living. I will keep you posted.

As we move into 2009 - I look back over 2008 and realize how far we all have come. I don’t like to spend too much time in the past, but a new year inspires some reflection on my part - so I reflected.

This past year was all about change and breaking free of restrictive patterns for myself and many others as well. I have had the opportunity to share in many conversations regarding 2008 and it seems as though this past year was a difficult and challenging one.
It was a year of life-changing events; marriage, divorce, birth of children, death, loss of jobs, changes in geography, etc…

The foundation of our lives was shaken a little, on an individual and macro level, and there seemed to be an undercurrent of fear. We all knew things were changing but we were afraid of the change because we had become so used to the way things had been. Maybe not all of you felt this, but this change definitely found its way into my life.

I personally feel as though I walked through a fire and it brought me down to my essence. A slash and burn of sorts - all that is left is fertile soil for new things to grow. All the fancy trimmings are gone and it is down to the basic structure. I find this to be exciting and scary at the same time.

My wish for all of you this new year - to have the courage to let go of the old and trust that something new and beautiful will grow in its place. Because I have recently learned that there isn’t room for both. We either hang onto the past or move forward (or in some direction at least).

Happy New Year to you all. May 2009 bring you lots of love, adventure and peace of mind.

Jenny

It has been quite awhile since I have written – I had great intentions and romantic notions of writing a weekly blog once I gave birth…how naïve of me. It has been three months since I have become a mother and only now have I found the adequate time and energy to make an attempt at writing.

And what to write about? I did not realize before having my son, how much life actually changes when you have a child. I thought I knew what surrender was before, but again I find myself experiencing it on a deeper level. I am not engaged in my health practice right now, all my time and energy is going into helping this new person thrive and grow strong. So to write about the change of seasons, health concerns, etc… seems out of context for me right now. My mind and soul are entirely focused on nurturing another human being.

But this is perfect on many levels. I felt as though I was a nurturing person before I became a mother – that is what I do for a living, nurture people to health and help them achieve some peace in their lives. I realize now that I had much to learn. The beautiful thing about motherhood is that I have no choice but to care for this other person in the most complete way. It is physiological. When he cries my heart beats faster and my entire body becomes tense until I can resolve his issue. The love I feel for him is so visceral that caring for him is essential for my own survival. God has provided me with the perfect teacher and has given me no out this time – I can no longer be distracted by something else, I must learn how to listen and be present with another person.

So I guess that is what I want to write about. For I realize in caring for my newborn, that I have never really been fully present before, never really fully listened to someone else. With Felix (my son) I must be totally awake and with him in every moment in order to know what he needs from me. And at first it felt like hard work… I wanted to be distracted by other things… to drift off in a dream…I was frustrated by what was being asked of me. But after three months of “hard work” I am starting to get comfortable being in the moment. And I can now see how rewarding it is, for I have this incredible relationship with this little person and we are in total harmony with each other. I can look at him and know what he needs instantly. By paying attention – I can resolve any conflict or challenge presented. While at first I felt like I was sacrificing something, I can now see that the pay-offs far exceed what I thought I was giving up.

And I am writing this in my blog to share this experience, but also because I know that it applies to all aspects of my life. By being present with my son I am learning to be present in everything and with everyone.

In terms of my practice, I will continue to focus on caring for my son. I will be taking on a few patients part time. I have also started working on an exciting new project that focuses on Work-Life Balance and Health in the workplace and will be writing about my experiences here in my blog, check out

www.safetyframeworks.com for more information.

Thanks for being patient with me and I look forward to connecting with you now that I have found my footing.

Big Love,
Jen

I was recently introduced to a new documentary and asked to review it by Mongrel Media…I don’t usually do endorsements but I was intrigued by the film and decided to watch it and give it a go. I was not disappointed.

The film “How to Cook Your Life” by Doris Dorrie, follows Zen priest, chef, author and teacher Edward Espe Brown as he explores the art of cooking through the principles of Zen Buddhism. As the film focuses on two of my passions, cooking and spirituality, I was excited to experience it.

This documentary is about so much more than food – it is funny and has incredible depth. While on the surface the film appears to be about cooking, the viewer finds themselves exploring awareness, meditation and our current culture. Edward Espe Brown encourages us to examine our humanity and higher self at the same time, using food as a metaphor.

We all have to eat - food is an inescapable part of our lives. How we approach our food says so much about where we are and what is important to us. The film shines a light onto our society and how we mindlessly eat and prepare food. To quote Edward in the film, he says “Nourishing yourself and others doesn’t come out of a package, it comes out of your heart”. And he is absolutely right – we have lost sight of what is important today and have lost respect for ourselves and each other. The greatest issue that I see come through my health practice is a lack of nurturing – people have forgotten how to truly take care of themselves and each other. The film “How to Cook Your Life” allows us to investigate cooking and food as a vehicle to access life and our Spirit, and encourages us to develop attention and awareness in everything that we do.

Really, it is about getting out of our heads, being present with whatever we are doing and not taking ourselves too seriously. This film is about truly embracing life and I found it very inspiring. Watching it reminded me to slow down and examine how I can assist myself, others, my food, my garden, patients, etc… to access their full potential by being present.

I think this is one film worth having on your shelf at home – I have watched mine numerous times and every time I do I get something else out of it.
Check out the website to view the trailer at…

www.cookyourlifemovie.com

And to purchase it you can find it at www.amazon.ca or www.chapters.indigo.ca

Hope you are enjoying the energy of this spring season. Soon we will be into the yummy fire of summer…I can’t wait.

Big Love.
Jen

The whole years work depends on a good start in the spring - Chinese Proverb

Well, we have come through another winter to find ourselves moving into spring. The winter is a time for storage and hibernation and now that spring is upon us our bodies are waking up and expanding into the new energy of the season. 

Spring represents new beginnings, growth and expansion, and during this season our lives are influenced by Yang energy and the sun.  It is time to crawl out of our caves and enter life with new vigor and a chance to begin again.  Our bodies and souls are in cleansing mode right now - shedding any excess accumulated over the winter, be it food or emotions. The energy of the spring supports us as we get rid of anything that is no longer needed and it is a chance to release toxins, belief patterns and any emotions that do not support our path (frustration, depression, impatience, anger, anxiety…).

In order to bring about a change we must take advantage of this energy and pro-actively work with what is being presented.  It is a great time to change our diet, get outside, move our bodies and realign ourselves with our true nature.  If there is anything in your life that is not working or that is weighing you down, now is the time to let it go.

In the spring, the energy of the liver and gallbladder are working in full force and these two organs are naturally cleansing and rebalancing.  It is beneficial to support them and your body as it removes the excess from the winter months.

During the spring season it is best to eat less - it is during this time of year that we should have the lightest diet of the year.  All food contains their own unique energy and during the spring it is best to eat foods that are yang in nature and have an expansive quality.  It is also important to avoid heavy and rich foods during this time to prevent a stagnant liver.

Foods For Spring: Fresh greens, raw vegetables and fruits, sprouts, wheatgrass, raw beets and carrots, green onion and leeks, lemons, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, soup (clear broth with green veggies)

Foods to Avoid: Heavy and salty meats, soy sauce and miso soup, starchy stews and soup, alcohol, excess seeds and nuts, highly processed and refined foods

At this time of year it is helpful to stand back, assess our lives and create a new plan. The external environment is supporting this process and if we connect we can really generate positive change.

Just as it is important to cleanse our physical bodies, it is also essential to cleanse our mental body.  During the winter months we become heavy and cluttered and we are being presented with the opportunity to do some spring cleaning. 

Have fun with it - this is not meant to be a serious endeavour. Get outside, start a garden, go to places that you find inspiring and by all means move your body.  It is exciting to be able to begin again and the skys the limit. If you are not at peace with your life on any level, there is no reason why you can’t change it.  And right now the universe is totally working in your favour.

Happy Spring.

sur.ren.der verb to yield to the power of another or give oneself up to some influence, course or emotion

If you are living in Ontario right now, you are most likely feeling winter full on.  This is probably one of my favorite seasons - my head is clear, my cheeks are rosy and there is a certain beauty and stillness that winter brings.  Stillness seems to be a theme for me this winter.  I have felt a bit like a bear - quiet, reclusive and restfull.  I guess more like a mama bear - I am pregnant and have been thrown into the upside down world of gestation since November.

As I move out of my first trimester, I look back on it with awe and gratitude -for I am learning the art of surrender.  As a healthcare practitioner, I have always held a certain reverence for the human body - but now as I observe my body create another human being, I sit back in amazement.  I know that not all have the opportunity to experience pregnancy, but I am beginning to believe that there is a lesson in it for everyone.

I used to think I was pretty good at listening to my body, but I now realize that I was fooling myself.  The beautiful and extremely frustrating thing about this pregnancy is that I have no choice but to listen to what my body (and spirit) wants and needs.  Yes, it has been bye-bye to my ego along with all of its ambitions, desires and plans.  Instead I fall asleep in the middle of the day, eat buckets of blueberries, become nauseas at the sight of alcohol and stare off into space for hours at a time.  I have lost the “intelligence” that I used to depend on and respect - instead I wander through my days taking what I need, when I need it.  It all feels very animalistic to me and at the risk of sounding cliche, I feel like I am starting to understand the meaning of being present.

As my body adjusts to the drastic changes and my brain begins to function again (although not at its full capacity) I make my way back to the real world with a new perspective.  The thing is, we cannot wander aimlessly around if we are to funtion in this world - there is a balance.  I believe it has alot to do with listening and slowing the hell down.  What is our body telling us, what is our environment telling us…If you feel like going to bed at 6:30pm because it is dark outside, do it…if you want to eat nothing but bananas all day, do that too.  There are so many rules, diets, opinions and expectations floating around out there, I find it very loud sometimes.

It hasn’t been easy, this new “listening and stillness” project - guilt is always there as convincing as ever.  But it is becoming more natural and I don’t believe that we need to get knocked up to give ourselves permission to surrender.  If you decide to take on this project, let me know how it goes.

Big Love. Jen

There seems to be a trend with the people that come to see me - anxious, irritated, lots of superficial energy (but exhausted underneath), insomnia and an erratic diet.  And so I pulled out my detective hat and poured over my books, notes and patient’s charts to see if I could find a connection.  And I have, we are a Yin Deficient society.

 As a practitioner of Oriental medicine, I tend to look at the body in reference to Yin and Yang.  Yin-Yang theory is based on the understanding that there exists a balance of opposities within everything - they are two words used to describe how things operate in relation to each other.  Everything within nature has a Yin quality or Yang quality and the possibility to change.  And so the human system as a whole can have a tendency to exhibit qualities of Yin or a tendency towards Yang.

Yin represents the feminine, tranquility, turning inward, responsiveness, passivity, rest and completion.  In relation to Yin, Yang represents the masculine, movement, looking outwards, stimulation, activity, excitement and beginning.  All of these attributes are essential for moving life forward and equally important, but they must exist in balance with each other.  What we often do as human beings is focus on certain characteristics and ignore others.  I have observed that we tend to place alot of importance on all things Yang - as a society we love movement, over-stimulation and usually look outside of ourselves for happiness.  Because nature needs balance this tendency creates unhealthy people and an unhealthy culture.

It seems that most of us are going through our day to day life utilizing the Yang aspect of ourselves, when this occurs it causes a deficiency of the Yin (very much like an underused muscle).  The symptoms of a Yin Deficiency manifest as certain diseases such as; diabetes, hypoglycemia, anxiety, inflammation and chronic degenerative diseases.  One who has a Yin Deficiency is typically uneasy, irritable, has moving pain, insomnia and a tendency to worry.  For our society as a whole this produces a feeling of instability and unpredictable change.

How do we overcome this challenge?  For years we have been dealing with things from a masculine perspective and the feminine quality has fallen behind, even women in our society tend to exhibit a more masculine personality.  It is difficult to create change at a macro level but we can make changes within our own lives to maintain more of a balance.  By slowing down, becoming more quiet (this means turning off the television sometimes) and turning inwards we are able to increase the Yin within us and offset the overabundant Yang.  We can also bring about balance with a more feminine approach by reducing our need for competition and becoming softer and more nurturing (this includes men)

A great exercise is to go over the qualities of both Yin and Yang as listed above and see what side of the fence you are currently sitting on - often the smallest change can make the biggest difference.

Lately I have had a bit of a crush on Oprah’s man of the moment - Dr. Oz.  I don’t know what it is about this guy - but I find his passion for health inspiring.  As a health care practitioner, I appreciate when people put themselves out there with the intent to educate and expand the knowledge of the general public.

More recently Dr. Oz has been speaking out on his anti-aging program and how Americans can take control of their internal biological clock.  He has alot to say about this, but what interests me the most is his attention to the stress response.  As I have written in a previous article, negative stress comes from our disproportionate fear of life and our reactions to our environment.  As stress is the number one cause of the aging process - I see aging as a sign that we are not at total peace with our lives.

I have come to believe that aging is more of a spiritual process than a physical one.  Of course, we are all moving through time and evolve as time passes - but the physical “signs” of aging are more symptoms of how we live as opposed to unavoidable consequences of becoming older.  If we are able to trust life more and embrace it (instead of living in fear) our body will be able to focus on doing its job - which is continuously producing new cells and tissue.  But as we live in constant stress, our body is too busy dealing with inefficient tasks and ultimately destroying itself.  So how do we stop our bodies from breaking down?

Meditation, prayer and breath are the suggestions that Dr. Oz gives for reducing stress (and this is coming from a M.D). There are many scientific reasons why this makes sense, but for me it means taking time to calm down and get some real perspective.  It is taking an action of surrender, letting go and connecting with a deeper aspect of ourselves.  Our bodies know what to do - we just need to get out of the way.

 It appears that “America’s Doctor” and I have a similar passion for Qi Gong as well.  It seems appropriate that he includes practicing Qi Gong in his 14-day plan to stay young.  I have been studying it for over 10 years and I know that it keeps me young and relatively stress free.   If you don’t have a practice already (such as Yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, etc…) I suggest you consider exploring some options for yourself.

If you are interested in experiencing Qi Gong - I am beginning a new session of classes on Tuesday November 13th at the Living Earth School in Toronto.  Email me at jennifer@laughingbuddha.ca for more information.

Stress is a word that I hear everyday - people are “stressed-out”.  When I ask my patients what their biggest concern is, they all (yes all) say stress.  So I thought it was time for me to write about it.  What does it even mean? And why has it become such a common word?

The funny thing is that stress is our friend, it is necessary for our survival.  Stress is a physiological response that allows us to respond appropriately to dangerous situations.  Imagine this - you are walking down Yonge Street and a lion comes racing towards you (not very probable but work with me for a moment), as soon as you recognize the lion your body gets ready to either fight off the lion or high-tail it in the opposite direction.  Your body begins to circualte adrenaline - your heart and breathing rate increase, your muscles get ready for action, your pupils dilate and you develop the senses of a superhero.  This is the stress response and in this situation it is very welcome.

But why has stress become such a bad word? Because we have become a very confused species.  Our bodies are only meant to utilize the stress response in situations that endanger our life - but we all seem to think that our lives are in danger on a daily basis.  To us everything is a lion, every decision is life or death - my house is a mess, I can’t afford the clothes I want, my boss doesn’t like me, I need to be perfect, etc… As soon as we defeat one lion we are always looking for the next one.

Chronically elevated hormone levels have a very damaging effect on our bodies and we are unable to properly respond when a truly dangerous situation is confronted.  And chronic stress contributes to most health challenges that we face (plus it makes life alot less fun). Obesity, diabetes, IBS, allergies, osteoporosis, arthritis, fatigue, low back pain, infertility, irregular menstruation, insomnia, migraines, depression, anxiety… these are all caused by chronic stress.  I don’t include this list to scare you - but to make you more aware of how much control you have over your own health.

So do yourself a favour and lighten up.  Take off the armour and put down your weapons.  I know that life can feel dangerous (I have fought my share of lions) but pay attention to how you are reacting to your environment.

Breathe, relax and don’t be so afraid of your lions - they are probably not as dangerous as they seem.

I am so often dealing with emotional health in my practice and have learned over the years, that understanding emotions can often be the key to better health. I find that with most people - emotions are overwhelming because we feel as though we have no control.

Emotion is simply energy in motion - life brings us experiences that cause our energy to move in one direction or another. And the whole purpose of our emotions is to let us know if we are experiencing something that we desire, or not - they are our built in barometer. Where we run into problems with our emotions, is when we want to hold onto them for dear life - “I am angry and I am going to be angry all day because that one thing that person did really pissed me off”. Instead of recognizing we are angry and moving on.

One of the things I love about Oriental Medicine - is that unlike Western Science - it actually includes the emotions in the picture of health. Any emotion in excess will bring our entire system out of balance, and if we hold onto that emotion too long, it can lead to actual illness. And each emotion affects our energy (or Qi) in a specific way.

Anger - associated with our Liver - causes our energy to rise

Joy - associated with the Heart - cause our energy to become scattered

Sadness - associated with our Lungs - weakens our energy

Worry - associated with our Spleen - makes our energy sticky and knotted

Fear - associated with our Kidneys - causes our energy to descend

What I always tell my patients is - identify what emotion you are experiencing and if you are holding onto it too long.  And do whatever it takes to let it go. Meditate, exercise, sing, scream, hit a pillow - but move it along because your health depends on it.

One last thing I have to say - Is that I have decided (and this isn’t in any ancient Chinese text) that Gratitude is the one emotion that is healthy to feel all the time. So have a great week and don’t be afraid to let yourself feel lucky and grateful.

Well my friends, we have come to the end of the summer and my hope is that you all found time to relax and expand. Now that we find ourselves in fall, the energy of a new season is upon us. Within Oriental medicine there is the belief that the seasons have a great impact on human evolution and well-being. Each season carries its own energy and if we try and work with that energy, we are more likely to experience a healthy system and syncronicity in our lives.

Fall is the season of gathering and elimination; something gives way and something new moves in. It is literally a time of harvest, when we are rewarded for the hard work we put in over the previous two seasons. This is an important time to prepare for the winter that lies ahead of us - gathering our energy and resources to sustain us for what is to come.

Autumn is characterized by fire and dryness, is considered a Yang season and is associated with the Lungs. The dry nature of the fall can lead to one of the most common health problems, lung-dryness (which manifests as respiratory infections such as the flu and common cold). To defend our health for the fall and winter, it is important to nurture our lungs and conserve our Yang energy through diet and choosing appropriate activity.

So what does this mean for us? A couple of suggestions…

• To stimulate the process of contraction and mental focus, include more sour flavoured foods into your diet such as; rye bread, olives, pickles, apples, grapes, yogurt, rose hip tea and lemons
• Overcome the dryness of the season by moistening your body with foods like; spinach, barley, pears, seaweed, almonds, peanuts, honey, dairy, eggs, salt
• Go to sleep early and get up early
• Don’t allow yourself to get cold (especially your neck and lower back) but stay cool and allow your skin to breathe
• Exercise less than you would in the Spring and Summer to conserve your Yang Qi for the winter ahead
• Stay positive, calm and happy

So there we have it folks, I find that when I adjust my lifestyle to fit the season I feel much better and have alot more energy. Remember to be open to receive and don’t be afraid to let go of anything that isn’t working for you - that is what this season is all about.

If you would like to give your Lungs and Immune System a boost to ward off illness this Fall and Winter, give us a call and book your next treatment.

Think of it as the natural option to the flu shot.