I'm Skipping My Run for Qi-Gong

Today I awoke feeling especially tired. I've been extremely stressed lately and have not been handling it well. I was talking with my aunt yesterday about my current situation, and she said something like, "Oh, you haven't learned yet to let it roll off your back like water."  And she's right - I carry stress like a stack of bricks on my head and it weighs me down. This is not the way I want to live my life!

Usually running is a big stress reliever for me, but when I'm exhausted I think it actually stresses me more to push myself. That's why today I decided to skip my run and do Qi-Gong instead. Qi-Gong is a form of energetic exercise involving the breath, slow movement, focused intention, visualization, and meditation that originated in Chinese medicine and is a large part of Chinese martial arts.

The word Qi (also "chi") is pronounced "chee" and refers to the vital life energy that flows through the body and all living things. Gong means a skill that is developed through practice. In Qi-Gong one is collecting and cultivating Qi in and around the body, increasing health, well-being, and spiritual awareness while reducing stress, fatigue, and negative emotions. Qi is moved around the body as a way of either cleansing the body's energy or to be stored in different areas to increase health and vitality there.

As a Polarity Therapist, it's important for me to keep my energies cleared and functioning at a high level so that I can be at my best for helping others. There are many different forms of energetic exercise, and in Polarity Therapy we have our own repertoire. Qi-Gong is working with the same life-force that is accessed in Polarity Therapy. In India they call is Prana, in ancient Egypt is was called Ka, and in Hawaiian culture it is known as Mana.

So off I go to breathe deeply and collect Yin Qi (Yin refers to the shadow or feminine principle) from the earth and Yang Qi (Yang is the light or masculine principle) from the sky, moving in a coordinated dance of breath, visualized light, and pulsating energy. 

Sprouts: A Simple Superfood Grown at Home

According to Dr. Stone, the founder of Polarity Therapy, sprouting grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds was a way to access their "latent life-elements" and proteins, which are necessary for proper health.

Sprouts are a living, vibrant food that is alkalizing and packed with nutrients. Sprouts contain a greater amount of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, and anti-oxidants than the beans or seeds themselves do.

When a seed is sprouted, it multiplies its nutrient content in preparation to grow into a full-grown plant. In addition, starches are converted into simpler carbohydrates, proteins are broken down into separate amino acids, fats break down into essential fatty acids, and minerals increase their function by chelating or merging with protein. What this means is that sprouts are like a predigested food. Their nutrient content is greatly increased and they are easily digestible because of their high enzyme content.

Beans that are sprouted before cooking do not produce as much gas, and sprouts that are exposed to sunlight will be higher in chlorophyll, a powerful blood cleanser and blood builder. Sprouts are also low in calories and high in fiber, making them an excellent part of any diet or weight loss plan.

In addition to being extremely nutritious, sprouts are fresh, tasty, and incredibly easy to make at home. They can be added to salads, sandwiches, stir-fries, soups, eaten on their own, or juiced along with other greens. Basically any seed or legume may be sprouted, but here are some of the more popular and tasty types of sprouts:

Seeds: Alfalfa, Clover, Broccoli, Radish, Fenugreek, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Mustard, and Onion seeds

Beans: Mung beans, Lentils, and Chickpeas

Grains: Millet, Wheat, Barley, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Buckwheat, Rye, Corn, and Oats

All you need to begin sprouting at home is a quart-size wide mouth mason with a screened lid, or a ready-made sprouting kit, both of which are usually available at health-food stores. Here is a simple explanation of how to sprout:

1. Put about a tablespoon or two of seeds/beans/grains into your sprouting jar.

2. Fill the jar about half-way with water (preferably filtered water) to cover the seeds/beans/grains.

3. Place the jar in a dark and warm environment (a cupboard works well) for 8 hours or overnight.

4. Using your screened lid, drain the water from the jar. Let the jar sit upside down where it can continue to drain for a few minutes. Then return the drained jar to the cupboard.

5. Rinse and drain the seeds 2-3x a day until the sprouts begin to grow. When they get to the size you want them to be for eating (usually about an inch long for alfalfa sprouts), leave them in a bright spot for a day or two. They will turn green from the chlorophyll.

6. Rinse and drain the finished sprouts one more time, and store in the refrigerator. Then you've got sprouts to eat and you can load your sprouting jar up again for another round. By the time you've eaten the first batch of sprouts you'll have more ready to harvest! 

Tired, Stressed, Fatigued? Try some Polarity Tea!

I was recently made painfully aware of the cumulative effects of a consistent lack of sleep, chronic stress, regular coffee drinking, partying, and poor eating habits throughout the craziness of this summer. I was downtown running errands with my boyfriend, feeling great about life and all of my plans for the weekend. Things seemed fine, but then for no apparent reason, my mood shifted and I suddenly felt anxious, depressed, irritated, overwhelmed by all of my social obligations, unable to make decisions, and my self-confidence plummeted.

My boyfriend lovingly reminded me that this happens quite often, and with a predictable pattern - when I neglect to eat regularly. I was told by my nutritionist several years ago that I have hypoglycemia, but I've become a little slack about eating 6 smaller meals a day and making sure to get adequate protein as she recommended. I'm also over-caffeinated and not taking the time to meditate and do stress-relieving activities. Then I go 3,  4, 5, sometimes up to 7 hours between meals because of my hectic lifestyle. That's when the anxiety comes in, and shakiness, headaches, impatience, nausea, and confusion. Sometimes I'm so out of it that I stand in front of my cupboards unable to eat to anything because I can't think clearly enough to know what to eat!  That's when it's really bad.

So, with this reminder of my hypoglycemic tendencies, and in general feeling like I need to improve my ability to handle stress, I decided it's time to get back on the hypoglycemic meal plan and to improve my adrenal gland function. The first thing I thought of was Polarity Tea, an adaptogenic (helps the body respond to stress) Ayurvedic tea made of equal parts licorice root, fennel seed, fenugreek seed, and two parts flax seed. It helps reduce fatigue, stress, liver or gallbladder problems, and allergies. It's also soothing to the digestive and respiratory tracts and is useful for improving digestion and aiding in detoxification. The tea is stimulating and also has a mild laxative effect. The original recipe comes from the work of Dr. Randolph Stone, the founder of Polarity Therapy. 

Licorice root

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, provides most of the Polarity Tea's adaptogenic properties and helps to stabilize blood sugar. Licorice root contains glycyrrhizic acid, which has been shown to regulate the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, increasing cortisol production and inhibiting the breakdown of cortisol. In addition, licorice root is a demulcent (soothes irritation of mucus membranes) and expectorant (helps clear mucus from the lungs), making it beneficial for treating coughs and sore throats. One cautionary note about licorice is that it may increase blood pressure and water retention, so its use should be avoided by those with hypertension and/or edema.

Fennel seeds

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds are often chewed after meals in India to prevent gas, cramps, and bloating and to stimulate digestion. Fennel is also a mild expectorant.

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a demulcent and is soothing to the digestive system, improving digestion and acting as a mild laxative. The seeds release mucilage when eaten, which forms a protective coating and reduces inflammation and heartburn. It has been used traditionally in the treatment of coughs and bronchitis. Fenugreek has also been used to control cholesterol levels and to support sugar metabolism, which helps with hypoglycemia.

Flax seeds

Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum) helps to regulate blood sugar and is soothing to the digestive system, acting as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Polarity Tea can be used on its own or as part of a detoxification routine (see future posts for the Polarity Purification Diet!), and the recommended dose is 2 cups per day. Because licorice can increase blood pressure and may lead to water retention and low potassium levels, it is best to not use this tea over the long term and to limit use to a few weeks at a time.

Recipe
1 oz. Licorice root (pieces)
1 oz. Fennel seed
1 oz. Fenugreek seed
2 oz. Flax seed

Preparation
Mix the dry ingredients together and bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Take 1 tsp. of the mixture and add it to the water, reducing it to a simmer for 15 minutes. The liquid will reduce by about half. Strain and drink. The recommended dosage is 2 cups per day.

Variations

• Peppermint may be added to the tea to increase the beneficial effects on digestion. When the other herbs are done simmering, turn off the heat and add 1 oz. of dried peppermint leaves.  Just let the tea steep for several minutes before straining and serving.
• Try adding fresh ginger to increase circulation and improve digestion. Take 1-2 inches fresh ginger root and add it to the water with the other herbs and simmer.
• Fresh lemon juice, ginger juice, and honey can be added when serving the tea to enhance the flavor, but never use sugar.
• For constipation use extra licorice and add fresh garlic. For diarrhea remove the licorice and add cinnamon bark instead.