Ashgrove Acupuncture and Massage

About

Hi there! How are you feeling today? Are you feeling well, or are you feeling miserable?

When we stop and reflect upon this question is interesting to notice how our feeling well has less to do with our physical wellbeing (tightness, pain) and more to do with our emotional well being.

If you are feeling well, what is it you are experiencing?... Relaxation? Joy? Satisfaction? Gratitude? Love?

What is it that makes you feel that way? Absence of pain? Feeling connected and in line with our purpose? Feeling good about what we do? Feeling connected with nature, with God or with our loved ones?

If you are feeling unwell what is it you are experiencing?... Tension? Sadness? Dissatisfaction? Resentment? Anxiety? Fear?

What is it that makes you feel that way? Pain? Not knowing what our purpose is or feeling disconnected with our purpose? Uninterested in what we do? Stuck in the past? Afraid of loosing our health, our life, our job, our security?

All of the above feelings and sensations (pain, tension, relaxation) are a manifestation of energies/forces in Chinese Medicine we call Qi.

By using fine, sterilised, single use needles which are inserted at specific points on the body, acupuncture act as a catalyst in the transformation of your Qi.

An obstruction in the flow of Qi (causing Pain along a meridian in the neck) might need clearing. A cold pathogen might need to be warmed and dislodged. Energy rising from anger might need grounding. The digesting (transforming) energy of our digesting system might be weakened by too much sweets or too much thinking (churning over and digesting challenging issues) and might need strengthening. That's what acupuncture and herbs do.

Applying pressure to specific trigger points releases the Qi (energy) of a tight muscle. Rubbing over a sore muscle improves the flow of Qi and blood to the area. Pressing points on the feet draw the energy away from the top (head) and help grounding. Massaging the diaphragm will ease our breath as well as releasing the shoulders/neck. That's what massage does.

Bringing our attention to our breath with a sincere intention to listen, connect, and learn about our internal energies, our inner world also act as catalyst in the transformation of our energies.

In the clinic, when appropriate, I guide clients in connecting with and exploring their breath. Bringing qualities (another way to describe how we can activate our energy/Qi) like curiosity and gentleness to our breathing, noticing how our breath, body, thoughts and feelings are all interconnected (in fact they are all different manifestations of our Qi).

Observing how, the kind of intent we set out when we explore our breath, act as catalyst in the constant transformation, not only of our breath, but of anything that becomes the object of our attention. Connecting with the "letting go" quality of our outbreath, for instance, can ease so much of our body tensions and mind struggles.

These breathing explorations, help us to connect with what's happening within our self and helps us to understand our Qi by noticing "it" in action right there and than with “that” breath.

This provides an opportunity to notice the ever-changing nature of our breath, body, thoughts and feelings, how they come about and how they transform.

You can read more about these concepts in the Blog section of my website or you can make an appointment and experience it.

Have a great day.