The Shen: Resiliency During Times of Transition
If you live in New England, you've certainly felt that summer is slowly coming to an end. Cooler temperatures are already upon us and sunlight hours are fewer. If you have children, you are in the throws of back-to-school shopping and a complete change of schedules! Transitions such as seasons changing and beach days to school days can bring up a great deal for many of us. How we handle transitions need not be white-knuckling through them, but supporting ourselves so that we can support those around us as well.
There is a great buzz in today's world around self care. Perhaps you've heard it in the media as "treat yourself" and you may associate the term with this photo - a person basking in the warmth of a sunrise on a tropical island, sitting peacefully on a pillow near a beach because she/he has the time for an hour or so of meditation. Part of my own work in my practice is to support my clients in realizing that fulfilling the care for themselves need not be this at all in fact. It starts with taking an hour for yourself out of your busy week for a treatment.
What does Chinese medicine have to do with transitions?
In Chinese medicine, overall health and vitality is achieved through attention to Qi, Jing, and the Shen that are collectively referred to as The Three Treasures. You've probably heard of Qi (pronounced Chee), which is often defined as "energy flow" or "vital force" that we ensure stays strong and unblocked with regular sessions. Jing refers to your 'essence', and some describe as your DNA and inheritance. The Shen is defined as our 'spirit' or 'mind', and in Chinese Medicine is stored in the blood vessels. Keeping all three of these components strong through acupuncture sessions keeps you strong in mind, body, and spirit. Specifically, keeping the Shen strong helps us navigate transitions and, as such, build resiliency for whatever we face in the future.
Resiliency is the body, mind, and spirit's ability to bounce back quickly after facing adversity or a difficult situation. Do you handle stress such as that brought on by transitions by clenching your teeth and bearing through it until it's all over? Sure, we've all done that. But bringing our awareness to cultivating a strong Shen means that we give ourselves the time, energy, and space we need to learn new practices for nourishing ourselves so that next time we face challenges with new and more effective approaches
My mission is to help you achieve a greater sense of overall physical well-being, with attention to strength and resiliency of the mind and spirit. Acupuncture treatments bring better sleep, decreased pain, and improved well-being. Cultivating a self-care practice sets yourself up for increased resiliency during shaky or high-stress times like transition. I fully understand - as a mother and small business owner - that the last thing we think of during these times is ourselves. There is just too much to get done, and yet it is the time we need a treatment the most. Like learning to play the piano or practicing yoga, self care takes practice.
