Restorative Yoga and Acupuncture

Winter's Gift

The Quiet Gift of Winter

The Winter has seemed a bit hesitant to settle in this year.  Some unseasonably warm days, while a respite from last year’s snow-filled Winter, is a bit confusing in nature.  Is it feeling that way for you too?  The recent snowfall delivered the gift that Winter offers – “permission” to relax into your own version of hibernation.  Regardless of the changeable temperatures, it is still Winter.  The trees are bare and grey against the sky.  If you listen carefully to nature, you will hear…silence.  There are no birds chirping, very little wildlife is active right now and often the only sound you hear is the wind blowing through the open spaces around us.  Plant life is huddled down, although I have noticed a few buds that wonder what to do on a warm winter day.  How is the Winter within you?  Are you finding some ease in the warmer temperatures and minimal snowfall to date?  Notice how you feel with each swing of the weather as we continue on through what’s left of this season.
 

Elemental wisdom

Winter is the seasonal expression of the Water element.  In the acupuncture tradition, the Water element is literally about the water in us.  Anatomically, our kidneys and bladder function as reservoirs and filters, managing the flow of fluids in our bodies and supporting the delicate balance of chemistry in so many functions.  But the kidneys also guide birth, development and growth, particularly in our bones.  The kidneys are the seeds that are the foundation of our skeletal structure, as well as our vitality. 

The spirit these organs have in this tradition is of power and potential in our lives and bodies.  Are you feeling energized or do you feel like your “tank” is empty?  The ability to power through the challenges of life comes from the Water element.  Physically, by keeping our bones strong and supporting our upright posture.  Emotionally, by helping us move through trying times, conquering fears and determining appropriate boundaries in how we live.
 

Karen Giles Acupuncture is proud to offer the Winter’s Gift Seasonal Workshop: Saturday, 2/4, 3pm-5pm.  A brief overview of acupuncture and the Five Elements will be followed by an in-depth discussion of Winter's Water element, it's gifts and challenges, and how it relates to your well being.  The workshop will conclude with a gentle acupuncture treatment. Registration: $25.