Lily Photos

People have been asking for some photos of Lily, so here they are. The top photo is Lily at Mt.Shasta, sampling the local fare. Then Lily with Maracas, Lily playing with Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee and finally, Lily joking around with Dr. Bear (Iwashina Anryu) and Lori.

Harmonizing with the Season

I will be sending out the second newsletter in the current series of newsletters soon. The series looks at the practical, adaptable methods, practices and approaches to health that are detailed in the Chinese medical classics. This current newsletter focuses on harmonizing with the seasons, with an emphasis on autumn (because it is autumn, of course). I discuss this in the office a lot, as the seasons have a tremendous influence on our energy, emotions and overall health.

In the autumn it is easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out. There is a reversal of the qi - from the outward, open movement of the summertime, to the drawing in or harvest of the autumn. This makes it easy for heat to accumulate in the chest, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and reactive. It is important to take the steps to keep yourself in harmony with the season.

The key themes of autumn are discernment, boundaries and letting go of what is not essential. It's ok to work hard (essential even), but that work needs to be on the things that matter. If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself, what would happen if I didn't do (fill in whatever you like here)? If the answer is "not much" then don't do it. Spend the time on what is more essential to you and you will be on your way to more fully participating in the movement of autumn.

In the newsletter article I'll have more on this.

Salt Chicken

From the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, chicken has a warming effect on the body. This recipe is great for this time of year (and even in the summertime) as cooking the chicken in salt "cools" it, making it more appropriate for warmer weather - and very tasty.

All you need is a whole chicken and 1 pound of good quality sea salt (not table salt).

Put the salt in a wok or large cooking pan. Heat the pan on high until the salt starts crackling. Lay the chicken on top of the salt, turn down to medium and cover. Cook for 50 minutes and you're done!

I like to serve this over rice with steamed greens or stir-fried vegetables and mushrooms.

Chinese Medicinal Plant Walk

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens in Glen Ellen, CA

Saturday September 4th from 10 - Noon

Every year Peg Schafer and I lead this medicinal plant walk at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens. Quarryhill is an amazing, world-class woodland garden specializing in Asian plants. We'll see and talk about a variety of rare and commonly used Chinese medicinal plants in terms of cultivation and usage. This is a great opportunity to see, learn about and get a feel for the live herbs in a beautiful setting.

All proceeds benefit Quarryhill Botanical Garden, $15 non-members (of the Gardens) $10 members.

(707) 996-3166

www.quarryhillbg.org

The Way of Tea

I often talk about the health benefits of tea in the office. However, a high quality tea also provides a deep and quiet enjoyment and, traditionally, is even seen as as way to cultivate one's awareness and sensitivity.

The tea itself is fundamental, but we also need pure water (ideally spring water, but most of us don't live by a pure mountain spring, so as fresh and pure as possible), a teapot or gaiwan to brew the tea, a kettle to prepare the water, and of course, a source of heat. These basic elements reflect the Five Elements or Phases of nature: Wood/Greenery (tea), Fire (heat source), Earth (clay or ceramic pot), Water (well, water) and Metal (kettle).

Perhaps the most important element in all of this, however, is you! Sitting quietly with a few friends, slowly sipping your tea, notice the color and aroma and let the flavor roll back along your tongue. Notice the feeling in your mouth and throughout your body as the qi of the tea begins to circulate. This quiet pleasure is part of the Way of Tea - Cha Dao.

Qigong Demo at Dr. Rong Rong Zheng's Banquet Part 2

Here is the second part of the moving qigong demonstration I did at Dr. Zheng's banquet. This shows the advanced moving gong and closing gong (and lots of waiters - there was so much fantastic food!). See below for part 1.

Newsletter Series

Within Chinese medicine, health is not simply the absence of disease, it is a dynamic changing state that embodies efficient living and allows us to fulfill our potential. There are actually a small number of important things that we can do that are necessary for this. Every day in the office I discuss some of these things with people and see how well they work. The nice thing about traditional Chinese medicine is, even though it may sound different or even esoteric at first, it is first and foremost practical and adaptable; it is about what works over the long term.

With this in mind I have decided to write a series of newsletter articles on the methods, practices and approaches to health that are laid out in the classical texts and are applied to our modern lives. The first newsletter in this series will be emailed out soon.

This series will encompass the following topics:

Living with Awareness

Following the Seasons / Natural Rhythms

Food and Nutrition

Restorative Practices

Movement / Physical Training

Health Interventions

The primary themes within all of these interrelated topics are awareness, simplicity and effectiveness.

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter you can sign up on the main page of our website (just scroll down to the form ) at Center for Traditional Health Arts. Once you have joined the mailing list check your email for the confirmation letter (which you'll need to confirm your newsletter subscription).