Living Life Well Issue 3 | Page 18

Winter is the best time

WINTER IS
THE BEST

Quiet, contemplation time,

away from the rushing world,
cold time, dark time, holed-up
pulled-in time and space

to see that inner landscape,

Andrea Johansen

time

to find out who you are.

AACMA, ATMS, ACUPUNCTURE,
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDECINE

LOTUS WELLBEING CENTRE

that place hidden and within.

Do you suffer
from aches
and pains?

"Winter Is the Best Time" by David Budbill, from While We've Still Got
Feet. © Copper Canyon Press, 2005.

Spring is not far off, but we still
have a few weeks of cold, dark
evenings that we can use to
our advantage. Making mindful
adjustments to the season is
easy and can give our health
a big boost. By making even
slight changes to harmonize
our energy to the natural world
around us in winter, East Asian
medicine theory tells us that
we will strengthen our kidneys,
adrenal glands, and bladder. This
in turn will help our bones, low
back, and knees be strong and
support us through life. Having
strong Kidneys is very important
because the Kidneys store Jing,
or life essence. I think of Jing as
a type of personal bank account
gifted at birth. Your Jing is yours
to use and skillfully drawing

on it through life means good
health and a long life. However,
silly, mindless use of Jing means
health difficulties. The more
skillfully we preserve our Jing,
the longer and healthier our lives
will be.
Here are some simple seasonal
adjustments that help to
preserve Jing.
1 Stay warm, wear season
appropriate clothing
2 Go to bed a little earlier and/
or wake up a bit later
3 Eat more warming foods
like soups, stews, and roasted
veggies
4 Decrease cold foods like raw
salads and cold deserts
5 Spend more time in
contemplation or meditation

Also, wintertime is the perfect
opportunity for germinating
personal growth and change.
Because the natural world
quietens and readies itself for
renewed spring growth, winter
is a great time to personally take

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quiet time and ready ourselves
for change. If you've noticed
a change you want to make,
anything from "eating more
vegetables" to "increasing your
compassion or patience," take
advantage of the winter energy
and germinate the change over
the next few weeks. Sit quietly
with your idea and explore it in
whatever way suits you: thinking,
writing, drawing, or assembling a
collage. Contemplate what it will
look, feel, sound, smell, and taste
like in your life, whichever of the
senses fit you and your desired
transformation. While these
steps are great to take any time
of the year, doing them in winter
is very healthy for you, and for
your ideas.
I think you will find that a
transformation properly
germinated in wintertime
feels really good and will show
amazing benefits in the spring,
the season of new growth.

Do you suffer
from addictions?
Do you suffer
from general
health issues?

Do you suffer
from stress,
headaches,
migraines?

Do you suffer
from sciatica or
arthritis?

Acupuncture can help.
Andrea enjoys treating individuals and helping them restore
and refresh.
Acupuncture is a way of jump-starting the body’s own
natural healing mechanisms into action. It works well with
other therapies, including western medicine.
During a session Andrea listens to the rhythms of the
body for any imbalances or blockages. Then she uses the
acupuncture treatment to remind the body of its normal
balance and flow. Often this feels deeply soothing and
relaxing and it is not unusual for people to drift into a restful
sleep. Acupuncture naps are quite special and five minutes
can feel like an hour.

CALL THE
CENTRE TODAY
to find out how
Acupuncture can assist
you on your path to
health and wellbeing

02 4226 4740
www.lotuswellbeing.com.au
Health fund rebates available

Andrea Johansen
Acupuncturist at Lotus Wellbein p