Winter Qi Chats | Week 12

winterself-careqigongkidney
Written By Angi McClure

Is age working for you or against you?

This week we go over a general understanding aging with the seasons and how we can improve the outcome of ‘old age’.

Does age matter?

As we age, there are factor at play that can determine the outcome of our health & even death. We don’t like to think about these matters but perhaps we should. A goal that is often muttered under our breath in the solitude of good company is to live a long life and experience a short death.

Many of us will come into a moment in our lives when we begin to see how our age is affecting our health. Not only do we blame our age but our own doctors will excuse pathologies and issues with a wave of the hand stating “Well… for your age this is normal.”

Common, perhaps. But normal? No. We were not meant to deteriorate so quickly and with so many issues.

When it comes to health.. does age matter?

It is currently thought that synaptogenesis and cortical map reorganization are reduced during the aging process. However, from my studies in applied neurology there begs to question that perhaps the actual culprit are metabolic & activation issues. I’ll dive deeper into this in our Qi Chat today.

While age related change in neuroplastic activity in the human brain may be common, it should not necessarily be considered normal.

 

Chinese Medicine Knew This

 

In Chinese culture, medicine is taught through lifestyle. The mindset around actionable health is different from our Western culture.

Culinary medicine was separated.
Movement as medicine is not associated with one another.
Seasonal living is not a priority or an awareness.
Daily routines are not a part of our culture yet alone our lifestyle.

How you live within the seasons in imparitive to your health as you age. Change is the only constant and yet ask yourself, are you allowing and nurturing such change?

Remember in addition to our external seasons, we have internal seasons that need nurturing.

For example, the Kidneys store our Qi reserves. Ideally, we aim not to deplete these reserves especially during winter. We want to preserve our Qi for the long term. Kidney care makes a difference in how we age, in how we live and how we will die.

 

Neuro-Qi Tip o’the day!

Every day can be Kidney Day

  • Consider your habits around the following daily actions- upon waking, morning movement, before meals, daytime movement, before bedtime.

  • Bring an awareness to your thoughts, mood, sleep, stress and digestion.

  • Do Qigong

Angi McClure
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Winter Qi Chats | Week 13

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Winter Qi Chats | Week 11