Five Easy Ways to Avoid the Flu This Winter

Many people wonder how they can stay well this winter, considering the onset of the flu season and the fear of a possible influenza epidemic. Fortunately, acupuncture and Oriental medicine provide proven steps toward preventing illness and maintaining good health in cold weather.

We hear about so many people catching the flu - but in reality it is only a portion of those exposed to a virus that get sick. Why? According to Oriental medicine's teachings, our bodies get sick when we are in a weakened state. It is only when our immune systems are weakened and our bodies are out of balance that we are vulnerable to sickness.

Acupuncture originated in China between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago. It corrects imbalances in the body's energy systems that cause illness. Practitioners of Oriental medicine identify Qi (pronounced "chee") as the life giving energy that needs to flow freely through the body for good health. Integrated with a wise lifestyle, Oriental medicine can help prevent illness.

Here are Five Tips for Avoiding Illness This Flu season:

1. Exercise a little bit everyday. Exercise moves the lymphatic system, thereby helping to detoxify the poisons in your body.

2. Keep warm. Make sure your neck and chest are protected from wind, drafts and cold. Use a scarf around your neck when going outside and wear turtle neck shirts or sweaters. The neck is an area where wind can invade the body and cause sickness. The Oriental medical perspective is that wind invasions make people more vulnerable to developing colds and flu. Always keep your feet warm and dry.

3. Get adequate sleep and relaxation. Your body is vulnerable to stress without enough rest. Think about doing some deep breathing exercises to help relax and unwind at the end of the day. Use stress-reduction methods like Qi Gong meditation or yoga.

4. Eat smart. Avoid refined sugars (processed food and baked goods, alcohol, etc.). A diet of refined or simple carbohydrates (white sugar, white bread) raises the body's Ph and allows bacteria, mold, yeast and fungi to thrive. Simple carbohydrates suck up the nutrition your body needs to detoxify, nourish and build new cells and antibodies. This makes you MORE susceptible to illness. Vitalize your nutrition by eating more fresh, organic foods and less processed food. This food has more "Qi" in it.

5. Get Acupuncture. When you get regular acupuncture treatments (as little as once per month) it actually boosts your immune system. Acupuncture strengthen the "Wei Qi" or the protective energy that safeguards us against colds and flu.

Use these Five Tips for Avoiding Illness to keep your body strong and healthy this winter. You can resist illness, the flu or the common cold.

For more than 19 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform their health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, Oriental bodywork therapist and herbalist. He offers complete health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutritional counseling, Oriental massage, and facial rejuvenation. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. For more information visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com or write to info@orientalmedcare.com or call 612-866-4000. Copyright 2005 by Steven Sonmore. All rights reserved.

Tian Power Yoga Dvd

Second Limb of Yoga - The Second Niyama - Santosha

Santosha, the second observance, is contentment or happiness. What is the largest obstacle to contentment? Why is happiness so illusive for so many people? Lets look closely at this very important Niyama.

To some people, happiness is a fantasy. This type of thinking is what makes contentment so hard for some of us to find. You must first see the illusion of life: Everything that brings true contentment is right in front of us. Our family, friends, spouse, health, skills, and knowledge, are all close at hand.

Yet, we want glitz, material, shallow relationships, power, riches, and fame. In life, true contentment or gratification, must have a purpose. When we find our true, and noble, purpose (Dharma) in life, we are filled with gratification.

Our true purpose, in life, can be felt from within our heart. Natural or God given skills will often open doors to our true destiny. Skills and practical application are a powerful combination.

All the riches, in the world, have no purpose, if we do not put them to good use by helping others. If we constantly spend money on toys, we will still be unhappy, until the next new toy is invented. The temporary feeling of contentment evaporates again, because this is just superficial happiness.

This is the continuing cycle of unhappiness we can easily observe in some of the rich and famous. The more material a person acquires, the more frustrated he or she becomes with life. Complete contentment is free for anyone to choose, but you cannot buy it.

Money and power are not evil. Both can be used to fuel worthy causes, feed the hungry, cure disease, stop violence, and save the planet. Worthy causes breed true contentment.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.
http://www.riyoga.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book:
"Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit:
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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