March 2006 Newsletter Part One

In the last newsletter I discussed the traditional Chinese associations of the springtime and the relationship between the liver and the spring season. The main article in this newsletter continues that topic with some specific recommendations for supporting the liver and harmonizing with the season. I also have the information on our springtime Foundations of Medical Qigong workshop.


Supporting the Liver and Harmonizing with the Springtime

According to the classics, harmonizing with the season ensures the proper movement of qi within the body, helping to prevent illness and support vitality. There are many traditional recommendations for harmonizing with the springtime and supporting the health of the liver during the season. All of these recommendations are essentially reminders that we should enjoy the rising energy of the season, but we must temper that with knowing when to stop; the natural surge of the season can carry us along, and, if we are not careful, take us too far. This mindful enthusiasm is expressed in the following traditional recommendations.

To begin with, we can look at our sleep cycle as one of the most basic ways to govern the rhythms of the body. During the springtime we should try to get to bed early and wake up early in the morning. This mirrors the greater movement of activity within nature this time of year; the increasing light and energy of the season allows us to get up early in the morning, while getting to bed early in the evening (as in the winter) protects our energy from becoming overextended. Within this same context we can alternate our work activity during the day with periods of rest, making sure that while we are increasing our activities, we don’t reach the limits of our energy.

In terms of exercise, Medical Qigong exercises should be practiced in the morning, facing the eastern direction. Both Quiet and Moving Qigong exercises will help us to harmonize with the season. We can also walk in the morning or throughout the day. Our steps should be big and relaxed in order to loosen the body and support the circulation. Again, we should be careful not to go too far, taking short, refreshing walks and not pushing our limits. Strength building exercises should make use of the body’s own weight rather than taxing the tendons with too much external weight.

In terms of our mental state, we should act in the springtime, as the classics say, “in such a way that the will is oriented towards the generation of life... towards giving not receiving, rewarding not punishing...” In other words, the surging force of the season that rises inside of us should be directed outwards in a positive manner. If we spend too much time focusing internally during this season we may feel more irritated, depressed and overwhelmed. The way that we use our mental faculties can thus help us to follow the movements of our own life as a reflection of the movements of the season.

In the next newsletter I’ll continue this topic with a discussion of the role that foods play in harmonizing with the season.

To see previous newsletters click here.


Foundations of Medical Qigong Workshop

The date is set for our springtime Foundations of Medical Qigong workshop. The workshop will be on April 8th from 10:00 to 4:00. This class covers all of the core exercises that are needed to develop an effective qigong practice at home and fulfills the prerequisite for the ongoing Wednesday evening class. I encourage people to take this class more than once - taking it more than once helps the student to make faster progress and practice with greater ease and skill.

Danny, an ongoing student of mine, is helping me to organize this workshop. You can call Danny at (707) 468-6709 to register for the class, see our classes page for more information (click the link below) or contact me with any questions.

Click here to go to the classes page on our website.


As always, feel free to e-mail or call me with any thoughts or questions on any of this.

Take Care, Sean



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Center for Traditional Health Arts
Sean Fannin, C.H., Dipl.CEM
47 Sixth Street, Suite 205
Petaluma, California 94952

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