We cannot treat with our needles. We cannot touch with our hands. We cannot speak in person with our patients. And like all of you we are forced to go within to seek the teachings that this moment is here to provide.

Emotional Resilience in a Time of Global Upheaval

I have heard from some of you since we closed the practice and those conversations are what prompted me to write this. Naturally, a lot of us are feeling very unsettled. Your full range of emotions are natural responses to your external environment and the internal thinking that ensues. Remember that emotions are not bad or good, but are functional. Fear, Anger, Grief, Joy — They all serve a functional purpose. Anger can move you to action. Fear alerts you to danger. Sadness reminds you of what you need to let go. Joy keeps you in the present moment. A resilient emotional body is one that moves you efficiently through adversity.  

The current state of affairs is the external stimuli that currently challenges all of us. We are experiencing a type of communal trauma that I imagine is what any community feels in a time of war. We will all react differently but there are some trends that we are observing. Colossal uncertainty is driving our fear and we naturally seek ways to maintain some type of control. For instance, we cling to the only technologies that can give us a sense of connection. This gives us a fleeting sense of control, hence the rapid acceptance of the “new normal” of tech-mediated “connection.”

A recent Harvard Business Review article recounts an incident at one of their tech-mediated staff meetings when they stopped and asked everyone how they were feeling. One staff member said “grief” and everyone quickly nodded in agreement. We all know things will be different after this pandemic and we don’t know what that future will look like and thus we experience grief over that loss of normalcy. We are afraid to let go of what we know for the unsettling unknown.  

Indeed, I personally, in just the last couple of weeks, have gone through the panoply of emotions. Not being able to step into Harlem Chi and do what I love was the first tremendous loss (grief). Facing the financial uncertainty for my family and staff has me unsettled (fear).   Underlying anger has also been revealed in my turn to social media to express opinions – fully realizing I am just stirring a seething cauldron of communal fear, anger, and grief (punctuated with much needed levity). 

The Importance of “Still Time” to Achieve Emotional Resilience

However, this period could not have illustrated more vividly to me the importance of still time. Now, more than ever, it is important to ask ourselves “what are we truly feeling?”  Your emotional response can be efficient or it can be extreme. Some of you may not even be in touch with what you are feeling. Others might be riddled with emotion. Emotional resilience is not how we avoid our feelings or run into them, but how we efficiently manage and balance the extremes in either expression or non-expression.  

Much of what we do with Chinese medical clinical diagnostics is to assess where someone is currently in their nervous constitution and disposition. We use our needles to signal their autonomic nervous system to reset to help them course through their emotions, not suppress them. Which is why the first question I ask of my patients no matter how they “name” their emotion is to describe where and what they are feeling “in their body.” Where in their body are they experiencing nervous tension? Are racing thoughts at night making it unable to sleep? Do they feel a gurgling of palpations from their naval going up to their throat?  Is there chest tightening? Are they tossing and turning at night or waking up at odd times? All these give us clues as to what the pattern of disruption is and our work is to help them more efficiently move through and channel those emotions. We help them to connect more constructively with their nervous responses. 

Self-Healing Through Inner Connection

But how does one do this on their own? When you no longer have your acupuncturist to turn to?

One of the biggest struggles of the moment is managing the loss of connection that every one is feeling. Now that this state of affairs has been forced on us, this is the time to discover another very important connection – our connection with ourselves.  

In Chinese Five Element theory the element of Fire is associated with the Heart-MInd, joy, and connection. Connection with other people AND with ourselves. Those are two pathways to cultivate joy. Indeed many ancient mystics have shared with us moments of pure ecstasy achieved through their respective inner contemplative practices. (Teresa de Àvila, Rumi – just to name some popular ones that come to mind.)

I am the first to admit that serious contemplative meditative practices have come very difficult for me.  Though I’ve had a steady yoga practice for 20 years, I only recently started a separate contemplative practice – principally to deepen my intuitive presence both with my yoga and my medical practice.  Since I was traveling right before this pandemic I had been lax with both. With the recent turn of events I have felt the urgent need to double down and ramp up.  Every morning I have been waking up before sunrise just to sit and move in meditation.  And this is what I am discovering.  

Your Meditative Practice

A meditative practice is how you self-regulate.  You sit with your “body,” not your thoughts. You listen to how your body is feeling and no matter how uncomfortable you sit, you breathe. No judgement, no analysis. No matter what bubbles up you let it be. You tear, you let them fall. You cry, just breathe. You feel uncomfortable, you adjust.  You’re helping your body do the the job of releasing and coursing.  By sitting or moving gently with purpose your body is telling your nervous system that everything is alright.  Let your body run the show, not your thoughts.  

This path to inner connection is the most compelling to achieve emotional resilience but also the most difficult. The type of meditative practice will look different for everyone who takes on the task. But take this moment to ask what will it be for you, and commit to “practice” it. This is a muscle to train just as any other exercise routine. Just as we exercise to keep our bodies strong we need to train ourselves to properly digest our emotions.

Now is the time to find your deeper connections. Traditional meditative practices are the most direct way to go about this. But for some it might be something as simple as knitting or jewelry making, or playing that instrument that has been on your wall for way too long or walking alone in nature. — Use the things that bring you joy to remain in the present — where your body is most efficient, where it makes the most enlightened decisions.  

Take advantage of this time. Do not waste it on busy work that does not bring you pleasure. And take the media in confined doses, on your terms. On the contrary, actively seek inner connective joy without relying on the outside world (or substances) to feed you. Do this when it seems the most difficult.

Spiraling with Purpose

Your fear and anxiety is justified.  But you have tools to course through it. And so in times when it seems we no longer have much control over what is going on “beyond us” it is extremely important to start where we do have control and start the slow “spiraling” from within – from where we stand.  That quiet contemplative process is how you can tap into the intuition that may reveal to you the rebalancing that is taking place in our world at this time. Despite the whirlwind and uncertainty surrounding you, you remain tethered and can operate from that quiet space. The goal is to rise from this with a new sense of mission and purpose.

We will inevitably emerge from this different than how we were when it all began.  When Mother Nature sends us a strong message we must not only listen but truly hear it. We are being forced to ponder and live in real time what yin yang rebalancing means on a global, community, and personal level. What will we learn during this time of forced introspection? What will we change and adjust once we are given a reprieve and emerge from this? How will we engage with our communities to have more control over our destiny?  

You have the power to determine how this challenge will forge you.

And so in closing I’d like to share the work of an artist, musician, and motivational speaker – Kai Kight – who has chosen to use his very personal experience with his music to bring to life metaphors for what that inner contemplation can look like.

May we all find the time to stop, listen, and just be.

In Community & Health,

Johanne

The past week has been to say the least a rapidly changing landscape when it comes to responses with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been closely following the announcements from NYC public authorities and have had to balance many concerns at each turn when deciding how and whether to remain open to continue to service our patients, even in a limited capacity.

However, it is clear now that guidance from public authorities is asking everyone to strip down to essential services. Thus, in accordance with government mandate we will temporarily close Harlem Chi, effective Tuesday, March 17 until further notice.

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the government recommendations with the hope of reopening as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will remain available for private herbal phone consultations for existing patients and will continue to update this blog as circumstances change.

The COVID-19 health crisis is certainly unprecedented in our lifetime. Please be safe, practice the utmost health affirming practices, and we look forward to servicing and reconnecting with you as quickly as possible.

In Community & Health,

Johanne & Diana

As we are getting more information around responses to the COVID-19 pandemic we are revising our policy in real time.  At this time we are altering how we usually see patients.  

Starting Monday March 16, to minimize traffic in the office, we will be allowing bookings only on the hour. Our scheduler will reflect this. By doing this we assure that the spatial arrangement at any given time in the treatment room accommodates the social distancing mandates. Thus if one books online you will notice that you can only book on the hour.  

In the meantime the same policy is in effect as before: 

If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms – Please stay home.

If you suspect you may have been exposed to the virus and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath please consult your primary care physician and/or urgent care provider immediately.

If you have travelled to Europe or Asia recently we ask that you refrain from making your next appointment until you are 6 weeks asymptomatic.

If you have recently been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for the virus we ask that you refrain from making your appointment as well.

HERBAL CONSULTATIONS

In the meantime we would like to support you as much as we can through this pandemic.   During this time of physical distancing and reduced access to acupuncture treatments at Harlem Chi, herbal therapy would be a great way to continue getting treated.  There are herbal formulas that are effective in treating many of the common problems we address with acupuncture, including  insomnia, PMS and menstrual irregularities, stress and anxiety, digestive discomforts and chronic pain. Thus we encourage you to book your consult with us if you have any chronic condition(s) that we have been helping you manage with acupuncture.  

You can now go to the usual booking page on the Harlem Chi website (Genbook) and book your herbal consultation just as you would book your normal acupuncture session.
  
We look forward to helping you get through this public health challenge.

In Community & Health,

Johanne & Diana

Recent publication in Acupuncture Today of an article I wrote about my participation and impressions of a recent humanitarian trip to Haiti with the Global Balance Foundation.

Labor Day marks the end of summer in the US. It also marks for most of us the “resumption of activities” – back to school, back to getting serious at work, a slew of holidays to stress about starting with Halloween followed by Thanksgiving and then straight into the gift-giving frenzy of the December holidays. After all that activity 70% of us every year will make health related resolutions in January. But by then it might be too late.

The reality is that our fall frenzy coincides with a period that is supposed to be marked by increasing restoration and introspection – a slowing down.   Ancient Chinese medical science evolved from a keen observation of nature and an understanding that we in many ways mirrored the same subtle and not so subtle energetic patterns of nature around us.  We can observe that in opposition to the blooming and exuberance of the spring and summer, fall is marked by a contraction in life energies not only to prepare for the winter but to conserve and build strength for the next spring and summer bloom.

When it comes to our health we reap more if we follow suit. Attuning ourselves to the seasons is a necessary step to find our way and begin the journey towards attaining and maintaining true health. And in Chinese Medicine it is well understood that it is the things you do in the preceding seasons that determine how well you’ll weather the future ones.

Unfortunately, we tend to wait until the early days of spring (early January) to set our health “resolutions” after we’ve taxed our adrenals and spent our reserves and then we wonder why we feel exhausted in the dead of winter and sputter soon after. By then it is essentially too late to rally forces. So it is time that we set those resolutions in late summer early fall and kick the New Year health resolutions to the curb. We won’t be needing them if we pay attention earlier.

Here are 5 things you could be doing to align with the fall energies to not only better prepare for the the winter, but to also be better equipped to enjoy the spring and summer exuberance in 2020:

• Pay Attention to Your Metal Element  In ancient Chinese philosophy the element that resonates most directly with fall is the metal element.  In its natural state metal contracts  and is hard.  When heated, it can be shaped and molded to make shields, swords, and armor.  Thus it evokes a protective function.   With respect to health the metal element needs to be as strong as much as it needs to be flexible.  The organs most directly related to the metal element are your lungs, your skin, your large intestine — all organs that have the most direct contact with the outside and serve the function of mediating between your internal terrain and outside environmental factors.  It is understood that anything you do to injure the interior landscape of the body in autumn — poor diet, digestion, sleep; insufficient or excessive exercise, and stress will easily damage these organs and their physiological functions particularly at this time of year.  In addition these will be more susceptible to the predominant environmental factors of the season.  For instance lung function is easily damaged by external environmental factors especially dryness, wind, and cold – all of which are prominent in the fall.   Protecting the lungs from external wind and dryness is a first line of defense against catching colds.   If you haven’t already it’s time to pull out the scarves!  In addition focus on keeping the lungs moist and warm. When the dry weather of fall affects the mucus membranes of the nasal passages, lungs, and eyes it is much easier for the viruses that cause colds to attach and get into the blood stream.   That is why the most common kitchen medicine in China in fall are pears! Pears are cooling and moistening and they have a viscous quality that helps moisten the lungs.  Especially the Asian pears which are already at your local NY fruit stands!
• Ramp-up your Skincare Regimen —  Skincare is very important in the fall for the same reasons we must pay special attention to the lungs.  Your skin is your largest protective organ.  The dryness in the air and winds that start to turn cold can be very drying to the skin.  Develop a moisturizing skin regimen that works for you and be more deliberate about and consistent with it in the fall.   Again, not only will you protect your skin in the season where it is most vulnerable but it will pay off with more radiant skin in the summer as well!
• Move with Pleasure. Don’t wait until spring/summer to hit the gym in a desperate effort to lose those pounds. Fall is the best time to pick the right exercise regimen that is right for you. Swimsuit season is not until months from now so no stressing here. Any exercise regimen that you can maintain through the winter has a better chance of becoming a minimal stress routine that you can stick to. Your exercise routine should be challenging but not exhausting.  A more meditative regimen like yoga and tai-chi is a great challenge to take on in the fall.  Your exercise regimen can change with the seasons as well. Listen to what your body needs and perhaps most important of all – enjoys.
• Let Go of Toxic Emotions  The metal organs also teach us important lessons on the mental/emotional level, namely the process of letting go.  When we take a breath it nourishes us with needed oxygen that our body immediately utilizes, but hold the breath too long and it will become toxic.  The body utilizes what it needs and lets go (in the form of carbon dioxide) to make room for more.  Similarly the large intestine needs to let go of what it is holding so we can eliminate what we don’t need.   Just as your metal organs moderate what you take in and direct what needs to go out to maintain homeostasis in the body, on a spiritual/emotional level this process is equally as important.  You must clear the mind and learn to let go of toxic emotions that may be holding you back in order to maintain emotional balance.
• Incorporate Mindful Practices – In order to properly turn inward to nurture the self it is helpful to incorporate some type of mindful/meditative practice in your daily routine. Even if you think meditation is not “for you” mindful practices are essential to support the process of introspection necessary to finding balance this time of year.  Begin where you are at and find a practice that resonates with you.  Your mindful practice for the season might be just making sure to sit at the table in the morning to have your breakfast with no distractions. If that is more than what you used to do before then that is your start to a more mindful health maintenance regimen.  In addition, make sure to bring mindfulness particularly with respect to the holiday frenzy.  Perhaps you might think of making your end-of-year holiday gift list now and every week take a bite at it.  Think of creative ways to avoid the last minute stress spikes as much as you can.
• Less Light, More Sleep –Fall contraction is most evident in the lengthening of darkness over sunlight.  That is our cue to sleep more and earlier.  More and more modern research is revealing how failure to follow our internal circadian rhythmic cues has a direct correlation with the chronic illnesses plaguing our society.  The fall is the best time to start paying more attention to your bedtime practices. Sleep is what helps us to restore and harness our healing capabilities. If you have a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep seek the help of your health practitioner to help you develop drug-free steady habits to improve your sleep.
• Eat the Rainbow – In the fall a plant’s energies begin to contract retreating to its core/roots.  The trees let go of their leaves and the earth lets go of its bounty for the harvest.  There is no better time than the fall to enjoy nature’s exuberant harvest at your local farmer’s markets. Nature gives us some of the best variety of foods to nourish our bodies during this season.  Eating all the colors of the rainbow means stocking our bodies with the phyto-nutrients it needs to nourish us for the year ahead.

So what will you do this fall to make your spring and summer more exuberant? What will be YOUR Fall Resolutions?

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#fallresolutions #eattherainbow #movewithpleasure #rootforrealfood #holidayfrenzy #earlytobed #fallfrenzy

Rooting in Self-Love
Valentines Day is a day for honoring those we love.  However, like many holidays which were originally intended to provide a spiritual oasis of reflection and meaning within the hectic grind of the year, Valentines Day has become more about candy, cards and even sadness over being alone.  We are expected to externalize our happiness so often, it becomes a habit that is hard to break.  The habits are enforced in our culture via organizations and social situations in which we forget to love and honor the #1person in our lives — ourselves.

It may sound selfish, but a balanced view of ourselves within the context of love will paint a different picture indeed.  We are responsible for loving ourselves so that we may allow that love to flow out towards others.  In order to achieve this we need to achieve balance.

It is an appropriate time to reflect on the One thing that makes all this possible — The energy of love as expressed in how we take care of our bodies through our day to day behaviors.  The energy of love is expressed in how we nourish ourselves with whole foods and cooked meals as well as with activities that nourish our souls; how we place importance on quality sleep to be able to properly regenerate; the time we devote to proper movement in order to strengthen our bodies and move with ease; how we breathe to align ourselves with the present moment; how we claim proper unstructured downtime to rest and rejuvenate.  All these expressions of self-love are necessary for us to thrive “in Love.”

These are some of the topics we explore more fully in our Spring Reboot coming again this April.  We go way beyond meal plans and diet restrictions and a pure focus on cleansing to fully explore the myriad of connections with everything that nourishes our mind, body, and soul.   Find out more here and consider giving yourself or a loved one an opportunity to commit and reconnect to themselves this Spring.

Happy Valentines!

In Love and Health,
Johanne