I hope you are all having a beautiful summer so far! It goes quickly but the more present I am the less it rushes by. I’ll be staying extra present these last few weeks, going outside and to the beach as much as possible.
If you’re struggling living in the moment, you’re far from alone. Many of us live our lives in the past or the future and often bounce back and forth between the two. There are very specific acupuncture channels that help us be in the moment so we would love to help you with this! Since our body and brain are inseparable, when our thoughts are constantly in the future, our body is creating tiny micro flexions because it thinks we should be moving forward. That makes it very hard to physically rest, which then feeds the cycle again because when our body is tense, then our mind is searching for what we need to accomplish.
Many other countries take the month of August off and go on holiday. Even if that's likely impractical for most of us, we should try to emulate that sense of rest when we can. Lord knows we will be running again come September! Make it simple. You don't need to go away on vacation. Just lie in the grass or the sand. We are lucky enough to have the beach nearby so walk in the surf as much as you can. The earth carries a mild negative charge and a steady supply of free electrons, and skin-to-earth contact lets your body absorb them. The wet sand right at the shoreline is considered the most potent grounding location, because saltwater and wet sand conduct electricity powerfully. Science is proving it helps reduce inflammation, lower cortisol, improve sleep and circulation, regulate your nervous system, relieve pain and muscle soreness, and help with mental clarity and emotional release. Don’t you love when studies prove what we’ve felt for thousands of years?
Mental Qi Gong & the Three Treasures
You can take this a step further (no pun intended) and do some mental qi gong. As you walk think about the point at the arch of your foot. Connect it to the sand and imagine it anchoring into the earth with each step. That is an acupuncture point, Kidney 1, named gushing spring. It descends excess energy from the head (thought, heat, chaos) and calms the spirit. It is also how we can absorb the essence from the earth.
Spend a few minutes there then feel the point at the top of your head. This is Governing Vessel 20 aka 100 meetings. Connect it up to the sky and absorb the qi from heaven. Next, become aware of the center of your chest, Conception Vessel 17, which is a sea of qi point. You can tap these points to give them more input.
Finally, imagine the energy from the head point and the feet points meeting at the center of the chest. That’s an acupuncture treatment called the three treasures. It tonifies qi, blood, and jing (essence). It builds you up and calms you down. Spend a few minutes focusing on each point and walk for about 23 minutes, which creates a cycle of qi similar to your acupuncture sessions.
See, now you don’t even need us ;) But we’re here for you when we do! Some of us are taking a few days off these last few weeks of August, but we always have available practitioners to care for you!
Find Your Grounding This Summer
When you need more support settling your body and mind, our practitioners are here to help you reconnect with the present moment.