“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
–Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization signed July 22, 1946
- Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
- Qi Gong Classes
- Self-Care Workshops to Improve Your Well-Being and Prevent Illness
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Relaxation and balance are the basics of your good health. The body is not a group of individual parts but a self-regulating system in which all parts are connected. I can help you restore your body’s inner balance and keep your Qi, blood and lymph moving smoothly. In your free consultation, we may decide on one or a combination of the following:
Acupuncture: In an acupuncture treatment, extremely thin (no thicker than 2-3 human hairs) needles are gently inserted at specific points on the body. These acupuncture points allow the body’s systems to communicate with each other in order to self-regulate. Individually packaged, sterilized needles are used safely and without serious side effects.
Acupressure: Using the hands, pressure is applied to acupuncture points in order to move Qi, blood and lymph.
Chinese Therapeutic Massage: Known as Tui Na, this form of Chinese medical massage and acupressure focuses on specific areas of the body in order to relieve pain and increase the beneficial flow of Qi through the meridian system.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Chinese herbs can be taken in the form of teas and pills, or applied externally. A prescription is based on your individual condition and diagnosis.
Dietary, Supplement and Lifestyle Counseling: This is based on your individual condition and lifestyle needs. For example, I may recommend that you add or subtract certain foods from your diet to help you achieve optimal health or if you have a pain condition, I may teach you a set of stretches to do at home.
Cupping: This therapy uses small glass cups to increase the flow of blood and Qi in the superficial muscle layers. A vacuum is created under the cup using heat or suction and then the cup is placed on a specific area of the body according the condition that is being treated.
Moxibustion: This is a treatment that uses an herb called mugwort. It is used to warm acupuncture points or areas in order to accelerate the healing process.
Qi Gong Classes
Qi is the energy that gives human beings life, it makes our hearts pump, our eyes see, and our fingers move. Gong means to cultivate, to work. Qi Gong (pronounced chee gong) is the art and science of cultivating your inner life force. A Qi Gong practice allows you to intentionally bring healing energy into your body.
Thousand Hands Buddha
Class description: The phrase, “Your destiny lies in your own hands,” can be taken literally. Our hands are powerful conductors that allow us to give and receive energy. In the upcoming Qi Gong sessions, you will learn a series of twelve beautiful hand movements that have enormous benefits, including changing physical and mental habits. Through these ancient movements, breath work, and visualizations, you will bring your nervous system to a place of quiet and balance–the basics of good health and the starting place of change.
Health Benefits of Qi Gong
Studies have shown that Qi Gong can improve the immune system, slow the aging process, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue, and relieve chronic pain. For centuries, millions of people in China have used Qi Gong as a form of daily exercise. There are many forms of Qigong; some are performed standing and some sitting, but they all work to balance the body.
The slow, gentle movements and postures release blocks in the body’s energy channels and keep muscles strong and flexible. The rhythmic movements of the muscles, spine and joints are designed to remove tension to allow “Qi” and blood to circulate freely throughout the body.
Self-Care Workshops to Improve Your Well-Being and Prevent Illness
Relaxing Your Eyes and Improving Your Visual Fitness
Perhaps the most neglected muscles in the body are those of our eyes, and yet we use them more and more as we work on computers for longer and longer periods. In this interactive workshop you will learn exercises to relax and increase the flexibility of your eyes, which will result in greater visual fitness. You will also learn a four point self-massage protocol on acupuncture points that will allow your body’s systems to communicate with each other in order to self-regulate. Two of the points focus specifically on relieving the physical stress that causes headaches due to computer use. Relaxation and balance are the basics of your good health and these easy, fast and effective techniques can help you maintain and restore your well-being.
Laugh & Sing Your Way to a Healthier Immune System
Laughter and singing have been clinically shown to rev up the immune system, decrease physical pain and reduce the harmful effects of stress. In this interactive workshop, Cynthia performs a variety of songs. Many of these humorous and well-known songs encourage audience participation, thereby activating the immune system. Between songs, brief easy to understand explanations of what is happening in the body when we sing and laugh are given. Because laughter and singing are aerobic, they provide a workout for the diaphragm, thus increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen.
Shaking Off Stress
We cannot avoid stress in our daily lives, but we can choose how we respond to it. This interactive workshop will teach you ways to relieve the build up of physical, mental and emotional stress by using various Qi Gong exercises and other Asian and Western modalities that combine breath work with meditation and sound. Reducing stress has been clinically proven to reduce high blood pressure, promote better quality sleep, calm anxiety, improve mood, and stimulate the immune system.
Please call 503-233-2549 or contact Cynthia using the contact form to find out more or make an appointment.