If you are anything like us, you value feeling good because it means you get to do all the fun things you want to do. While that could be scaling mountains, a morning surf, or simply hiking with your dog, you don’t want anything to get in the way of your way of living. That means that taking care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health is non-negotiable. Jennifer Seine — co-founder of Leucadia, California’s Indigo Dragon Wellness Center — knows better than most just how important this is. As a renowned acupuncturist, herbologist and cleanse expert she dedicates her life to promoting a healthy lifestyle and helping her patients achieve it.
We checked in with Jennifer to see what she believes are the most important things you can do for your health from a TCM perspective. Some just might surprise you…
1 ) START YOUR DAY RIGHT
- Having a morning routine that promotes the smooth flow of your day is essential. Waking up a little early to meditate and stretch lays the path for an excellent day ahead. About a year ago I began starting my morning off with 20-30 minutes of meditation everyday. Now it has become an essential morning ritual that puts my mind in a calm yet alert space. It’s about changing the mindset from “I need my coffee or the rest of life doesn’t happen” to “what can I do to nourish my body?” Focusing on fueling your body with the right nutrients and foods to give you steady energy throughout the day is so important. If you start your day with an alkalizing beverage such as a large glass of warm lemon water, it will get your digestion fired up, alkalize your system, and so much more. The key is to just start experimenting with a morning routine that works for you and you can realistically stick to. Some people take 5-10 minutes for their morning ritual and others take several hours. Try it for a week and see how your feel.
2 ) ACUPUNCTURE
Your body gives early warning signs of disease long before the disease process starts. The beauty of Chinese Medicine is in the way a highly trained acupuncturist can identify these early warning signs. A licensed acupuncturist takes these into account and can help you address them before any health crisis has the opportunity to hit. Having an acupuncturist that you see on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for yourself. They can help with stress management, hormonal balancing, weight loss, digestive problems, body pain and so much more.
3) KNOW YOUR JING
In Chinese Medicine, Jing is your essence. But you’ve only got so much Jing… It is what is passed onto you at the time of conception. The health, the age and the Jing of your parents mixes at the moment of conception and plays a vital role in how much Jing you will have throughout life. Jing determines aspects like strong teeth and bones, hair quality, and vitality. Bone broth is one of the few “superfoods” that deeply nourishes your Jing. Steeped from the marrow of animal bones, it’s packed with minerals and vitamins. If you take every opportunity to regenerate throughout your day, your week, and your year, you will be working towards a long life with plenty of Jing.
4 ) LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE
At Indigo Dragon Academy we are all about teaching that balanced food is medicine. In my 17 years of practice I have seen many people with serious health problems. The people that I have seen truly cure themselves of things like high blood pressure, migraines, allergies, and digestive problems are the ones that use food as medicine. One example of how the right approach to eating can improve your health is that eating warm foods versus cold foods keeps your digestive fire burning. Soups are such a powerful way to deliver the medicinal aspects of food. Using bone broth as a base and then adding organic vegetables and meats creates food that is full of medicine.
5 ) WIND YOUR DAY DOWN WITH INTENTION
We are often so tired in the evenings that we just crash into bed at the end of the day. But by simply taking a few minutes to reflect on your day, you can learn a lot about yourself and set intentions for the next day. Ask yourself, “What were the highlights and lowlights of my day?” Be thankful and reflect on the highlights of the day. If you look at the lowlights with compassion and understanding you will set your brain up for a night of restful sleep. And remember, tomorrow is always a fresh opportunity to embrace an even healthier version of you!
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You can find Jennifer and her team at www.indigodragoncenter.com or explore her virtual “Cleanse Academy” at www.indigodragonacademy.com
