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You are very welcome, Rachel.
Hi Annelie,
As an acupuncturist myself, there is a long list of suggested readings. Chinese medicine principles are learned in stages just like yoga. In other words, we learn basic poses or theories before we learn advanced poses or theories. With that idea in mind, below are some books that are helpful for the basic level of learning and understanding. (While I did not attend the Chinese medicine module, I believe Tiffany also had suggested readings on the module information on the YM website.)* The Web that has no weaver by Ted Kaptchuk
* Between heaven and earth by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold
* Recipes for self healing, and Helping overselves by Davidrick Leggett
* Healing with whole foods by Paul Pitchford
I also include resources on my website (http://www.lotuscenterofhealing.com/Pages/Resources.aspx) such as:
National Institutes of Health – National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/
Acupuncture Today: http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/home.php
Something to consider is to receive acupuncture and or Chinese medicine treatments yourself. Chinese medicine is a living medicine just like yoga. So we may learn more by doing. This may then allow us to teach this type of class / workshop at a deeper level. I would also recommend an acupuncturist or Chinese medicine practitioner that is licensed in your state, country, and board certified. The organization that board certifies these practitioners in the USA is NCCAOM http://www.nccaom.org.
The reason for this is that in certain locations individuals may needle individuals with limited training. This is similar to an exercise teacher taking a weekend course to teach yoga versus a 200 hours or 500 hours yoga teacher.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
JoyHi Emilie,
Yes, acupuncture may be helpful for the shoulder whether it if from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual issues.It is interesting that you have noticed that your client’s daily desk job may be hindering some improvement. For many people, neck and shoulder pain may be shouldering work life. While for many, lower back and hip pain may be personal life stress.
In general, pain that is worse in the morning after waking tends to be due to qi stagnation. While we sleep the qi is less active as we are less active. Therefore, the qi may get stuck in areas. This stuck qi may then manifest as pain. On the other side though, pain that is worse in the evenings / end of the day may tends to be due to deficiency. During the activity of the day we have used our reserves. This emptiness may then manifest as pain in the areas of deficiency. It is common for the body to have a combination of excess / stagnation and deficiency.
As you also mentioned, for many people when we are busy we may be less aware of the sensations in the body. Yet when we are less busy, we may notice the sensations more easily. Some thing to consider is for your client to check in on their body during the busyness of the day. For example, when ever your client drinks water or uses the bathroom, have them check into the pain sensation and level. This may help to determine if the pain is less during the day because the client is not noticing the pain during the days’ busyness.
Some things to consider is whether your client experiences the same pain on the mornings of the work week as on the weekend. In other words are there certain mornings that the pain is worse or better in the mornings? This would be interesting especially considering the daily desk job and what your client perceives related to their desk job. This would also be interesting considering time of days to do yoga. In other words, does yoga during the morning or night when pain is worse help the pain resolve or lessen while doing yoga or do they notice changes the next day?
Keep up the good questions, analysis, and homework assignments for your client.
Best wishes,
JoyHi Emilie,
Another thing to consider is what is the client does the client feels like they are “shouldering” or burdened with. Some principles may associate shoulder pain with work, external life stress or burdens while hip and lower back pain may associate with personal, home life stress or burdens. Yet the body may also mirror or refer lower back or hip pain to the shoulders and vice versa.More items to consider when referring to other practitioners to help.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
JoyHi Emilie,
Here are a few therapies to consider: chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture / Chinese medicine, orthopedic, etc. Additional items to consider are whether the pain was associated with an injury or if it was a slow progression; what was / is the root cause of the pain; does the pain affect range of motion in the assessment test, and or any other activities in life other than sleep; what does the pain feel like, is it constant, does it change with activities during the day, does anything make it feel better or worse.Pain may be all consuming. Pain may come from the body, mind, emotions, and or spirit. Pain that comes from the mind, emotions, and or spirit may create physical pain. Yet for many if the mind, emotions, and or spirit are not addressed then the energetic matrix may not be changed on the physical level. Some pain questions that other health practitioners may ask into are related to whether there may be perceived benefits that the individual feels they receive from the pain or other individuals in their life.
As a gentle reminder, as you have already pointed out sometimes it helps to have the involvement of other practitioners to help.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
JoySeptember 15, 2015 at 5:15 pm in reply to: Article – Influence of Yoga on Anxiety & Depression with Chronic Illness #4864You’re very welcome Lianne. XO
Best wishes,
JoyHi Dezza,
You are very welcome. Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
JoyHi Dezza,
Unfortunately, dryness to the point of burning pain could be excess or deficiency type of heat. Excess would be if stagnant qi was causing the heat. Deficiency would be if reduced blood, yin and or fluids was causing the heat. Therefore the type of heat and sensation is helpful to know. Yet it is also helpful to understand from the client what helps and or exacerbates the client after experiencing the trigger and burning sensation; how they feel after asana, pranayama, and or meditation; and how the client feels before, during, and after their PT. This feedback from the client may help determine which poses would be helpful; the speed to which these poses are moved through (for example, does the client feel better with a slower practice in which the poses are held longer with props similar to a yin practice? Or does the client feel better with a vinyasa style or yang practice?); the intention / focus / theme of classes.As a general reminder, while there maybe poses that appear to work with specific meridians, the theme of a class may guide how the poses are taught and the focus while in those poses. Therefore any poses with a specific intention / focus whether anatomical, energetic, mental, etc. may be able to work with each of the meridians.
Hope this helps.
Hope to see you in person again soon too.
Best wishes,
JoySeptember 10, 2015 at 5:56 am in reply to: Article – Influence of Yoga on Anxiety & Depression with Chronic Illness #4721You’re welcome, Rachel.
In Chinese medicine, in general, we use open ended questions allowing the client provide details instead of yes or no answers. We also ask questions related to what makes the individual / sensations feel better or worse. Most individuals may notice those items that help or hinder and may be able to recognize insights into themselves with some body awareness. By asking questions, we can start to generate those thoughts within the individual. Additionally in Chinese medicine instead of OPQRST, we traditionally use what is referred to as the 10 questions. Traditionally, this list includes asking questions related to:
Temperature
Sweating
Head and body
Bowel movements and urine
Food and drink
Chest and abdomen
Deafness
Thirst
Previous illness
Causes of diseaseThis list has been revised in modern Chinese medicine to include:
Temperature
Sweating
Head and body
Chest and abdomen
Food and taste
Bowel movements and urine
Sleep
Hearing and tinnitus
Thirst and drink
Pain
Emotions
Sexual symptoms
EnergyPersonally, my list of questions for Chinese medicine and or Yoga clients include:
Temperature
Sweating
Skin and hair
Head and body
Chest and abdomen
Food, taste, and appetite
Bowel movements and urine
Sleep
Hearing and tinnitus
Memory
Dizziness
Thirst and drink
Pain and headaches
Emotions and stress
Sexual symptoms, reproduction / fertility, and menstrual cycle
Energy
Exercise
Previous illness, colds, flu, allergies
Medications and supplements
Tobacco, recreational or street drugs
Family health historyHope this helps.
Best wishes,
Joy -
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