Summer Reading : Pilates & Chinese Medicine Edition

This book was one of the initial books my teacher recommended to me on movement. Eric Franklin teaches a lot of great visual imagery that is helpful when unwinding patterns and working on proper mechanics.

Pilates & Diastasis Recti

When beginning to exercise and do Pilates with diastasis recti, we want to be working in a neutral pelvis and spinal position - taking out flexion, extension, and rotation. We want to be focusing on transverse abdominis - the deepest layer of the abdominals, which helps in stabilization of the whole lumbo-pelvic area

Tending the Landscape : Pilates and East Asian Medicine

With Earth Day last month, I have been reflecting on how the way we care for and interact with our bodies is intimately connected to the way we care for and interact with our earth.

In Chinese medicine, our bodies are understood as their own unique landscape, ecosystem, terrain.

New Lafayette Location: Pilates, Acupuncture, Cupping, Holistic Medicine

We have two beautiful STOTT Pilates machines, and a cozy acupuncture and cupping area for treatments. Our biomat is available for use during the sessions, which a lot of people have been feeling a lot of added therapeutic benefit. Serving the East Bay, Lamorinda : Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga and Walnut creek

6 Weeks Dedicated to your Health

A few weeks back I was in a continuing education class where we were talking about the difference between restorative healing vs. alchemical / transformative healing.

Supporting the Lymphatic System in a Holistic Way: "The Toxin Points" in Eastern Medicine

Since this region coincides with areas of concentrated lymph nodes, the cupping has both a cleansing effect, while simultaneously strengthening the immune system. Cupping in this location can remove toxins build up from pharmaceuticals / drugs, chemicals, food, gas, poison oak, snake bites, etc.

The Earth Element

Like Mother Earth, the earth element supplies the nourishment that sustains life. It is the digestive power that transforms raw food material into the fuel for body and mind; the constant provider and the hearth around which the body gathers.

The Fire Element

The fire element is associated with the season of summer, and represents the warmth and joy that this time of year provides. Just like fire itself, the fire element holds the energy of rapid and upward movement, and provides a sense of warmth and light. It symbolizes the energy of inspiration, spirituality, love, excitement, and joy.

The Wood Element

The wood element is associated with the season of spring, the bursting forth energy of new life - the starting phase of nature’s cycle. Just like new plants grow towards the light in the spring months, the wood element holds the energy of that directed movement - the energy of beginnings, birth, sprouting forth. It symbolizes the energy of innovation, freshness, initiative, flexibility and determination.

The Water Element

The water element in Chinese Medicine is associated with the season of winter, and represents trust, surrender and the mysteries of life .

The Metal Element

The metal element is associated with the season of fall, and represents clarity, refinement and maturity.

Holistic ways to support your hormone health.

Natural ways to support Hormone Health

Common dietary therapy approaches used to support abnormal uterine bleeding are an anti-estrogenic diet, prostaglandin diet, iron rich foods, and a general whole foods diet.

Holistic Allergy Support

As allergy season is here I wanted to share my two favorite go-tos I use in clinic:

GI Support with Acupuncture and Herbs - Getting to the root issues. Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Orinda, CA

GI Support with Acupuncture & Herbs - Getting to the Root Issues

One of the many things acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist with is the various complex causes behind many GI issues.

Video Thumbnail of Dr. Zach Bush explaining Gut Health.

Immune Health: A Good Place to Start

It works on strengthening the tight junctions in the gut lining, where 70% of the immune system actually resides.

Red bird in a winter storm, tending to out immunity.

Tending to Our Immunity

There is so much healing that this field offers, simply in its paradigm of understanding our bodies and how to cultivate health.

A mom and her child sitting on the shore. Supporting the female cycle, hormones, and fertility with Chinese medicine.

Supporting the Female Cycle, Hormones, & Fertility with Chinese Medicine

It is becoming more and more common for women to look to East Asian and holistic medicine practices for support on women’s health and fertility issues, so I wanted to share a bit on this topic.

Soft Opening

I will be opening for in-person acupuncture appointments beginning this coming Sunday. This will be a soft opening, as I will begin by seeing patients only on Sundays, but hope to expand from there.

Self-Release / Massage Props and Movement / Pilates Props for the Home

Here is a list of some of my favorite props for self-release / massage work and movement / Pilates for the home.

What does Chinese Medicine have to offer right now?

Part of the gift of Chinese Medicine is its ecology based paradigm of viewing the body.

Coronavirus from a Chinese Medicine Perspective

From a Chinese medicine perspective the coronavirus is being considered a damp type of epidemic - its main etiology appearing to be damp toxicity.

Holistic / Herbal Immune Support

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite immune supporting formulas right now. All are formulated by one of my favorite professors up in Portland, Heiner Fruehauf.

What the Cup Marks Mean

People love cupping, and often there will be remnant marks on the area that last a couple days to a week. Everyone is always curious what that means, and what the different color marks indicate.

Thermal Energetics of Tea

In Chinese Medicine all food (and herbs) have a thermal energetic. Substances can be cold, cool, neutral, warm, or hot - all producing different effects in the body.

Pilates and Joint Health

Many of you have heard me talk about how Pilates is strengthening you in your most bio-mechanically sound posture, where the shock of gravity and exerted force is carried through your joints and spine in the most optimal way.

Acupuncture and regulating the nervous system

Acupuncture & Regulating the Nervous System

One of the things Chinese Medicine and acupuncture has to offer modern society is its ability to help regulate the nervous system. Whether from day to day stress, a traumatic event, pain, lack of sleep, etc., the nervous system can get stuck in the sympathetic state. When this happens, the body is unable to drop down into its parasympathetic mode, where most deeper healing and restoration happens.

My Favorite Supplement

It is the top supplement I recommend. It's the first place I start when someone is dealing with digestive issues, autoimmunity, inflammation, autism, or just wanting to feel better.

Staying Well

In Chinese medicine, thyme is considered a warming herb, and can help clear common colds and flus, as well as help promote circulation and clear phlegm.

Sleep

In Oriental medicine, insomnia and sleep issues can come from a variety of different patterns: digestive issues and inflammation, a deficiency (where the yin substance of the body is not substantiated enough to hold and house the spirit at night), inflammation and agitation of the nervous system, and so on.

The Science of Grounding

As we head into warmer weather, and more opportunities to be outside, I wanted to share this short (15 minutes) documentary called Down to Earth. It looks at how powerful having our bare feet on the earth can be for our health and reducing inflammation. Worth a watch!

Serving Lamorinda : Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda & Walnut Creek