Envy

The Green-Eyed Monster

Envy. Also known as jealousy.  Commonly referred to as the green-eyed monster.  We all have, I’m sure, at one point or the other, come face to face with this green-eyed monster–either as recipients of its rage or as its host, unconsciously feeding and fueling it as it grows, its tentacles reaching into every nook and cranny of our being.

We have always been taught that envy is not a good emotion and should not be encouraged. But we cannot always avoid feeling envious. And, I learned recently, envy can actually be useful if you use it to know yourself better.  It is especially useful if you are an introvert.

According to Quiet, the book I’m currently reading (see my previous post), introverts usually find social events overly stimulating and leaves them feeling drained of energy. However, we live in a very social world, and our many interests and career paths often require a lot of socializing.  Some introverts are able to manage having careers that require a lot of socializing and becoming involved in overwhelming activities by acting like extroverts.  However, not all of them become successful at what they do.  It seems that the introverts who put on a new character when walking down their career path and become successful are those that are in a field that they are passionate about.  They deeply care about what they do, and even if it means having to go outside their comfort zone, they do it because it matters deeply to them.  Susan Cain, the author of Quiet, calls this core personal projects.

So, if you’re an introvert, the key is to find out what your core personal projects are.  And here’s where envy comes in.

According to the author, Susan Cain, there are three ways to find out what your core personal projects are.        The first two are something that most of us would already be familiar with:

1.  “First, think back to what you loved to do when you were a child. How did you answer the question of what you wanted to be when you grow up?”

2. “Second, pay attention to the work you gravitate to.”  Try to take note what kind of activities you enjoy doing or you always feel like you’d like to sign up or volunteer for.

3.  And this is what struck me the most:  “Finally, pay attention to what you envy.  Jealousy is an ugly emotion but it tells the truth.You mostly envy those who have what you desire.”  So, think about the people you envy.  What is it you envy about them?  Their work?  Their lifestyles? The values or impact of their work? Their possessions?  Try to pinpoint what it exactly it is.  More often than not, it will be their lifestyle or the work they do. We find ourselves saying, “I wish I were like that,” or “I wish my work was something like that.”

I remember when I first came across Kindermusik, a music and movement program for children 0 to 7 years old that originated in Germany.  It was during a workshop for kindergarten teachers on ideas for circle time.  I was so drawn to the woman who was conducting the workshop and to the whole program.  I remember thinking, “I wish I had learned about this a long time ago.  I would have gone into it.”  At the end of the workshop, I approached the trainer and spoke with her.  A year later, I joined her as a Licensed Kindermusik Educator, happily teaching Kindermusik during my summer breaks and on Saturdays during the school year (while continuing with my full time job as a Montessori teacher).  Now, I am managing the Kindermusik program of our school, and I find a lot of fulfillment in it–in helping train the teachers and giving them much-needed support–even if it means I have to talk and go in front of many people to train them.

So…envy.  Like I said, it’s not all that bad.  Rather than letting it fester inside you, use it to better yourself.

Restorative Niches

Quiet.  The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet. by Susan Cain.  I’m currently reading this book, and it interests me a lot.  It explores the differences between introverts and extroverts and explores deeper into these two personality types and how to best function if you’re an introvert or an extrovert.  It has shed a lot of light on why I behave and feel the way I do.  As you can probably guess, I consider myself an introvert.  This book has helped me understand myself better and accept and appreciate myself even more.

There are a lot of insights that struck me culled from research and scientific tests and studies done over the years on personality psychology.  One I’d like to share with you is the following:

Restorative Niches

I’m sure this is not new to many of you.     We all need time out, from the world, every now and then.  Some time to be alone and to hear ourselves think. To feel ourselves breathe. To feel that we are alive and not just moving from one activity and event after another at a frenetic pace.  This is especially important for introverts who tend to be overwhelmed by stimulation and can feel drained of energy from social events. Some introverts who are successful and seem socially at ease with crowds and public speaking often cope by having restorative niches.

The book talks about a highly popular university professor and lecturer whose classes are always full, with waiting lists, and whose lectures and seminars are jam-packed.  The hallway of his office is always lined with students waiting to consult with him.  This professor is an avowed introvert and he spends the time before his speeches and lectures in a bathroom stall, where he is able to find time alone, reflect and energize for his upcoming talk.  When he was invited to do a series of lectures in a university overseas, he was asked to spend lunches with high-ranking people just before his lectures.  He was dismayed and to get out of the situation and be able to have his restorative niche, he asked if he could be excused from the lunches as he was an avid admirer or ship design and would like to take the opportunity of his visit to “admire the boats passing by on the Richielieu River.”  This allowed him to spend his lunch hour strolling up and down the river pathway and have his much needed time alone to recharge.

According to this professor, “Restorative niche” is a ““term for the places you go when you want to return to your true self.  It can be a physical place, like the path beside the Richelieu river, or a temporal one, like the quiet breaks you plan between sales calls. It can mean canceling your social plans on the weekend before a big meeting at work, practicing yoga or meditation, or choosing email over an in-person meeting.”

 Next time, I’ll share with you a key idea on how introverts are able to cope and become successful in highly social (and for introverts, this can equate to stressful) environments.

What’s New? An Invigorated Life

More interests but still staying in balance

 It has been almost a year since I last posted.  The challenge of being in China is being able to penetrate through the Great Firewall of China.  It was just too ma fan–localese for incovenient and troublesome–to access WordPress as it’s on the list of blocked sites in China.

But I think that’s just an excuse for me to not blog.  I have been quite busy as well, too.  I know, I know…I’m not supposed to get myself stressed.  Bad for the blood pressure and overall health.  I am happy to say that I have not been feeling stressed beginning this weekend.  I’ve finally put all my documents for my Shengen tourista visa application for my upcoming trip to Paris and Barcelona and have gone to the Spanish Consulate–well, that was quite an adventure but that’s a totally different story so I’ll get into that next time if there is an opportunity to do so.

I do have good news!  Even though I have not been able to update this blog for almost a year now, I am happy to say that I have so far lost 16 pounds!  That would have a positive impact on my blood pressure, not to mention my overall health.  I do feel better and lighter now, not to mention happier. All my slacks are now loose on me so I have bought two pairs of jeans–yes, jeans!  For those of you who know me personally, you know that I do not like jeans.  I find them uncomfortable and hot.  Well, I got myself two pairs and, wow! They were not uncomfortable at all!  They were quite comfy.  It must have been all that extra weight I had in the past.

I have not had a chance to take my blood pressure yet — yeah, I have not been keeping track because taking it everyday actually stressed me out! — but I will soon when I finally buy batteries for my blood pressure monitor! LOL

So how did I lose weight?  It was mostly accidental.  I started taking salsa and bachata lessons under a good friend who does it for free.  I found it truly enjoyable, and much to my surprise, I was actually able to dance!  This led me to explore other dance options to kinda scope myself out and see what I can do when it comes to dance.  In my younger years, I had studied ballet for 9 years.  Of course, that was half a millenia ago… Anyway, my younger daughter is an amazingly gifted dancer.  She has been dancing since she was two years old. Taking her lead, I joined her Hip Hop and Jazz classes. Of course she found it weird that her mother was in the same classes as she was. Surprisingly again, I found that I enjoyed it although it was way more difficult and taxing than the Latin dances I was learning. I found it challenging (just imagine a 44-year old woman trying to keep up with twenty-somethings!) but decided to plod on through several classes. By today’s class (the first being some time in April), I was finally totally relaxed and hardly had any trouble following the steps in the dance routine being taught.  In addition, I finally got the body roll down pat! After more than three months of trying to learn it!  Yay me!

All this dancing really inspired me and, with the help of my two girls, I would practice in the house or sometimes even in the park outdoors–well, with my daughters, of course! And before I knew it, I was steadily losing weight– 2 pounds, then 4, then 6, till finally 4 months later–15 pounds!  This was just last week so I decided I really have to buy batteries for my blood pressure monitor to see if my blood pressure has improved.

I’ve also been eating healthier—more home-cooked meals and much less frequent restaurant food, hardly any junk food and pastries AND no fast food at all!  Yay me again!  And another good thing…my older daughter, Krystle Lane of Thinspirational Journey, has decided to go vegetarian!  Which is wonderfully fantastic because Natalia (my younger daughter) and I are avid veggie people — though not vegetarians, but we will eat vegetables over meat almost any time!

I’ve also gone back to doing yoga regularly in the mornings.  In the evenings, Krystle Lane has been motivating me with Pilates abs exercises.  I’d like to strengthen my abdominal muscles to support my back better. And of course, who wouldn’t want a flatter stomach?! Now if only I can find a decently-priced pool nearby.  I sorely miss swimming…

I’ve started another blog about cooking (http://lacocinadecorvina.tumblr.com/), with emphasis mostly on Spanish cooking as I’m trying to learn this.  I am also trying to learn more Spanish with the same good friend who is teaching us Salsa and Bachata.  As you may have noticed, there’s a lot of Spain stuff going on as well.

I also have a new vision for life forming in my head but that will be for later when I finally have it fully formed.

And there you have it.  What’s new?  Dance. Healthy eating. Fitness. Back to blogging. Learning new things.  Basically, an invigorated life and still in balance!

One Life

Who does not know the immense contribution and difference Steve Jobs made to our world? Who has not fallen in love with his designs?  Without Steve Jobs, digital media technology and consumption would probably have a different story today.  Just this one life has impacted the lives of millions–probably billions–of people on this planet for the better.

I lifted the following excerpt from a blog called The Anchoress by Elizabeth Scalia (http://www.patheos.com/community/theanchoress/2011/10/06/steve-jobs-rip/). (The facts are pretty much accurate as they are related by Steve Jobs himself during his 2005 Standford commencement speech http://www.webpronews.com/steve-jobs-stanford-commencement-2011-10)  While it relates the background of Steve Jobs’ birth, it made me think how the course of world events can change because of one life.  Each life is, indeed, truly important and DOES make a difference.

May this one life that has passed on inspire us to make a difference, in our own small way, in this world.

 

Learning of his death, all I can think of is Deacon Greg’s homily from last week, which discussed, oddly enough, the circumstances of Jobs’ birth:

In 1954, [Joanne Schiebel] was a young unmarried college student who discovered that she was pregnant. In the 1950s, her options were limited. She could have had an abortion – but the procedure was both dangerous and illegal. She could have gotten married, but she wasn’t ready and didn’t want to interrupt her education. Joanne opted, instead, to give birth to the baby and put it up for adoption.

And so it was that in 1955, a California couple named Paul and Clara Jobs adopted a baby boy, born out of wedlock, that they named Steven.

We know him today…as Steve Jobs.

It would not be overstating things to say that Steve Jobs is my generation’s Thomas Edison. As one observer put it, he knew what the world wanted before the world knew that it wanted it.

If you have an iPhone or an iPad or an iPod, or anything remotely resembling them, you can thank Steve Jobs.

If your world has been transformed by the ability to hear a symphony, send a letter, pay a bill, deposit a check, read a book and then buy theater tickets on something roughly the size of a credit card…you can thank Steve Jobs.

And: you can thank Joanne Schiebel.

If you want to know how much one life can matter, there is just one example.

But: imagine if that life had never happened.

My Journey: Step 10 — Home Cooking

“Home cooking is a catalyst that brings people together. We are losing the daily ritual of sitting down around the table (without the intrusion of television), of having the opportunity to interact, to share our experiences and concerns, to listen to others… But bringing ready-cooked meals home is not the same as cooking in your own kitchen, where you are in control of the ingredients you use, where you fill the house with good cooking smells, and where you all share in a single dish, taking a helping and passing the platter on to your neighbor. Nothing can replace that.” — Marion Cunningham, from the introduction to Lost Recipes.

My blood pressure readings last night and today have not been so good.  My readings have been improving but after eating that McDonald’s Big Mac Meal, my BP has shot up.  tsk tsk tsk…  Now I know for sure that fast food is a mortal sin for me.  An absolute No No.  Never should I eat fast food again.  In addition, I’ve been eating restaurant food and I just know that the sodium content is sky high in these foods.  I guess when I eat out, I really have to stick to salads.  Home cooked meals is the key to controlling my blood pressure.  This way, I know and can control exactly what goes into my food. And I totally agree with what Marion Cunningham said about home cooking.  As Ralph Guzman (RatedRalph.com) always asserts, “Food brings people together.”  Now if I can just become more efficient with my time at home so that I can plan and cook at least 3 days in advance for our meals that would include lunch as well so that I won’t have to resort to eating out… I have been starting to do that with soup.  I have two more frozen batches of home-cooked soup in my freezer. I need to set aside some time to plan in advance a week’s worth of meals…

Anyway, since it’s Monday, I got to go home early.  I still have some fresh mint that I haven’t had a chance to cook yet so I decided to cook Minty Mushy Peas and Eggplant Mint Salad.  The Minty Mushy Peas actually call for butter but I used unsalted butter so at least it’s not so very very bad (health-wise).  I decided to add tofu to the Eggplant Mint Salad so that we can get more protein.  I got these recipes somewhere online a loooooong time ago when I would buy tons and tons of organic fresh mint.  I’d usually use the fresh mint with my hot chocolate. (I love hot chocolate!)

Anyway, here are the recipes in case you’d like to try them out.  I have photos as well but they don’t look too appetizing. In fact, the peas dish look a bit gross because of the peas’ green color but it actually was quite tasty.  In fact, surprisingly, my daughter (who claims to hate peas) loved it!

Minty Mushy Peas

Ingredients:  1 medium potato (I used two), peeled and diced; 500 grams frozen peas; handful of mint leaves; butter (the recipe calls for 2 large knobs; I used about 2 tablespoons); sea salt (I used lake salt); black pepper (I used freshly ground black pepper) 

Procedure:  Boil potatoes in salted boiling water until really tender.  Add peas to the pan and boil for another 2 minutes.  Add the mint and boil for 1 minute more.  Drain well.  Leave for 1 minute to steam.  Mash with a potato masher. When mashed, add the butterand season to taste.

From:  dreamyork.co.uk/mushypeas/pages/recipe.asp?area=recipes

Eggplant Mint Salad

Ingredients:  Cooked egplant – cubed; chopped mint leaves; plain yogurt; garlic; cayenne (I also used tofu. Since it didn’t say how to cook the eggplant, I boiled the eggplant and the tofu. I think, though, that it would taste better if the eggplant was grilled instead.)

Procedure:  The recipe said to toss all the ingredients together.  What I did was I minced the garlic and mixed that, the yogurt, mint leaves, and cayenne first before I added the eggplant (and tofu) and then I tossed them together.  It was actually quite surprisingly flavorful (well, for me and my daughter anyway)  I think it would taste better if I hadn’t added tofu but  wanted to get in a bit more protein for our meal.

My Daily Health Journal

Breakfast:  Sugar free fiber cookies

Lunch:  Grilled red snapper with pear slices, tomatoes and onion slices, cream of mushroom soup (I think this soup was not a good idea but it’s so comforting to the stomach and I was really hungry already), ginger ale, small coffee latte (soya milk instead of cow’s milk–I’m lactose intolerant)

Snack:  Interestingly, none.  I got home early enough to cook dinner.

 Dinner:   Minty Mushy Peas, Eggplant Mint Salad

Physical Activity:  20 minutes walking

Treatment/Therapy: Lunch at CJW with  Aisling — yes, I consider this therapy because CJW is such a relaxing place with a soothing ambience and has one of the best restaurant service I’ve encountered in Beijing.

Relaxation:  Meditation

Medication:  Yes –Cozaar and the Chinese herbal medicine

Sleep:  6 ½  hours

Positive Thoughts:  “Make for the Center, and the rest need not trouble you.” -Douglas Harding, British Philosopher

Blood Pressure:  AM: 155/100    PM: I’ll update tomorrow because I take my PM BP just before I sleep when I’m in bed already.

My Journey: Step 9 — Reaching Out and Touching Lives

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  -Jesus Christ, Matthew 19:14

Today was my once-a-month volunteer work for Magic Hospital (www.magichospital.org). I’m involved in the Storytelling Program in which my partner (Amy) and I go to Huaxin Hospital’s pediatric cardiac ward and bring some cheer to the patients.  We do this by singing some fun songs (nothing strenuous since many of them are recovering from heart surgery or have some kind of heart condition), tell or read them a story (Amy translates to Chinese so the children will understand), and doing some fun and interesting arts and crafts stuff with them.

My first time there, I was so affected by the children. Many of them were blue–literally.  Their skin color had a bluish tinge and their lips were really dark blue/purple in color.  They were not very strong, yet children being children, they were full of life and their eyes would light up when they listened to the stories and did the activities we prepared for them.  They were so eager!  And I could not believe how appreciative and well-behaved and well-mannered they were.  So vastly different from the children I teach in the international school where I work! (read between the lines…)

Each time I go there, I do not cease to be amazed by these children.  Today was no different.  Many of the children today had incisions in their chests because of heart surgery.  They were still recovering.  They had IV needles stuck in their hands/arms.  As is the usual, they were shy in the beginning but eventually opened up and would smile, crinkle their eyes with laughter, and talk to me even though they knew I could not really understand Chinese much.  I told the story of “The Rainbow Fish”.  Amy translated and we both would point to the pictures to guide the children in the story.  We sang funny fish songs and made paper plate Rainbow Fish.  Even though it was a relatively simple craft, they really enjoyed it and were so into it.  One 6-year old child even made 4 rainbow fish!  It is my regret that I did not bring my camera today but below are a few photos of a previous visit.

As you look at the photos, send some loving thoughts to children like these, whose time on this planet may be limited due to their condition. As you send them loving thoughts, may you be moved to do something, in your own small way, to bring a bit of cheer in these children’s lives… To find out how you can help children as these, go to http://www.magichospital.org

    

     

My Daily Health Journal

Breakfast:  carrot cucumber apple smoothie, muesli with soya milk, hot chocolate with Lifestream’s Ultimate Greens

Lunch:  Tomato Egg and Seaweed Soup

Snack:  Carrot cucumber apple smoothie, hot chocolate with soya milk

 Dinner:   Big Mac Meal (with corn kernels and honey pear tea–yeah, I know…), 1/2 McDonald’s pineapple pie

Physical Activity:  None.  Just cleaned a bit in the house.

Treatment/Therapy: Storytelling at the pediatric cardiac ward of Huaxin Hospital (well, I’d call it soul therapy or maybe karma therapy…something like that)

Relaxation:  Meditation; meeting up with old friends at Beijing Playhouse’s auditions for “Love, Sex, and the IRS.”

Medication:  Yes –Cozaar and the Chinese herbal medicine

Sleep:  6 ½  hours

Positive Thoughts:   After being with the children in the pediatric cardiac ward, seeing how physically weak they are, seeing their surgery incisions healing…yet they smile and appreciate the simple things…it makes me remember how blessed I am and how little I’m able to do for little ones with plights as these…

Blood Pressure:  AM: 138/95    PM: 154/97

My Journey: Step 8 — Acupuncture

There must be something to acupuncture — you never see any sick porcupines. ~ Bob Goddard

Will any sick porcupine out there please stand up? I laughed when I first came across the quote above.  At first glance, it seems to be making fun of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese treatment which I’m sure everybody is familiar with. But really, so many people have turned to acupuncture when nothing else has helped them.  Stories vary among those who have tried this ancient Chinese method of healing.  Some swear by it, others say it doesn’t work at all.  Regardless, I decided to look into it.  Reading several articles on the internet and asking friends who have tried it, I decided that there was a chance that I could benefit from it.  I read in several articles that acupuncture has been proven to be beneficial for conditions that I have: back pain, fatigue, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, asthma, and hypertension.  Hmmm….seems to cover almost all bases so I said to myself, “Why not?  I’ll give it a shot.”

So today, I found myself meeting up with my friend, Lynn, at her acupuncturist’s clinic.  The doctor first took my pulse on both left and right hands, looked at my tongue, and asked several questions.  His diagnosis:  I have too much wet and cold in my body which is causing circulation problems.  As a result, my stomach is not functioning well, I often feel tired, and my neck has become stiff and painful.  He then proceeded to write out a prescription for a concoction of herbs that I am to take twice a day.  Then came the needles.  He placed two needles into the side of my left hand, and I was to let it remain there for 40 minutes.  He asked me to move my neck around and asked if it was painful.  Well, my neck is always painful due to a herniated cervical disc pressing against my spinal cord.  However, when he asked me, my neck did not feel particularly painful at the time.  (But because I was afraid he’d stick needles in my neck, I said there was no pain.  I don’t know if this was such a smart thing to do.) During this 40 minutes, I was advised to keep moving about to get my circulation going.  The needles didn’t really hurt but they DID feel uncomfortable and weird.  As the minutes ticked by, I felt myself getting sleepier and sleepier.  Lynn, with two needles in the back of her left hand, felt the same.  She said that she always ends up feeling so sleepy during and especially after her acupuncture treatment.  After the needles were taken out, I was about ready to just lie down and sleep, if I could.  So, did I feel better?  I can’t really say but I did feel lighter.  And very relaxed.  At Comptoirs de France where we had a light salad afterwards, I could hardly keep my eyes open.  

As for the herbal medicine, I have no idea what’s in them since everything is written in Chinese but from the conversation with the doctor, Dr. Zhang (a nurse with rudimentary English was translating for us), it seemed to be for my circulation problem.  Besides drinking the medicine, I was told to avoid spicy and oily foods as well as cold food and drinks (salads are okay, when I asked).  So tonight, I drank the first pack.  I was expecting it to taste really horrible.  Surprisingly, it was not so bad at all.  It tasted like bitter wood with cinnamon and coconut sugar in it.  Sugar-free Ventolin syrup tastes much, much, much worse!  So, I’m excited to see how it will turn out for me.  I’m not expecting this treatment to cure all that ail me but if it makes me at least feel less pain and gives me more energy, then it would not have been a waste at all.

To get the most benefit, I need to go regularly, like every other day, for acupuncture.  I live and work far from this acupuncture clinic but I will try to come back on Monday.

I will not write or share any article on acupuncture as information on it abounds on the internet. Basically, it works on the principal that qi, or the life-giving force/energy, flows through the body through meridian channels.  When one or more of these meridians are blocked, the qi cannot flow freely and disease ensues.  Needles placed at the right places helps the qi to get going again and eases and heals the ailment.  

Parting Shot:  Why don’t you share any acupuncture experience  you may have had and what the result/s was/were for you.

Gentle Breezes,

Corvina

My Daily Health Journal

Breakfast:  Falafel and hummus, tabouleh salad, 1 spinach patty, ginger ale

Lunch:  Vegetable salad, pineapple orange ginger juice

 Dinner:   3 pcs. shrimp and pork steamed dumpling (siomai), chives omelet, mint tea with pear juice and bits

Snack:  1/2 c. Chicken Caesar salad

Physical Activity:  Just 10 minutes leisurely walking

Treatment/Therapy:  Acupuncture

Relaxation:  Meeting up with old friends–Lynn, Judith, and Ellen

Medication:  Yes –Cozaar and the Chinese herbal medicine

Sleep:  6 ½  hours

Positive Thoughts:  It’s great to have wonderful, supportive friends!

Blood Pressure:  AM: 142/90    PM:  138/97

My Journey: Step 7 — Gua Sha

“To insure good health: Eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.”  -William Londen

June 24, 2011 – Friday

Breakfast:  sugar free fiber cookies, chamomile tea

Lunch:  grilled lemon chicken breast, arugula salad, 1/2 c. french fries, mushrooms

 Dinner:   Vietnamese vegetable rice paper spring rolls, vegan pho

Snack:  1 slice watermelon, 2 pcs. Chips Ahoy

Physical Activity:  40 minutes walking in 2 intervals of 20 minutes each.

Treatment/Therapy:  Back scraping (gua sha) and Chinese Cupping Therapy

Relaxation:  Foot massage

Medication:  Yes

Sleep:  6 ½  hours

Blood Pressure:  AM:   140/89    PM: I forgot to take it.

I’d like to share with you two of my favorite Chinese therapies–Scraping and Cupping.  I usually have these done every two weeks or so, after a whole body massage.  The first time I came across this, I was so not attracted to it because of the marks they left on the body, usually on the back–round purplish/bluish-black marks from cupping and streaks of purple, red, and bluish black from scraping.  It looked like you were some victim of physical abuse!  I could not imagine having it done to me and then having to wear summer clothes.  Everybody would be able to see those marks!  I became a believer, however, in the year 2009.  I was at work and was going down with the flu.  My whole body hurt (especially my back), my head hurt, my eyes were burning, my bones felt like they were being crushed.  Even my ears felt like they were burning.  They told me to go home but I couldn’t even do that because I felt so weak that I felt I could hardly move.  Ellen, one of my Chinese teaching assistants, could see that I was in so much pain so she volunteered to do gua sha or scraping on me.  I didn’t know at first that this was that thing that left bruise-like marks on your back.  But heck, I was feeling so terrible that I was willing to try almost anything.  Ellen did the scraping on me

How my back usually looks like after gua sha.

and when she was done–wonder of wonders!–I immediately felt a hundred times better!  Gone was the intense pain on my back and my head felt lighter.  I wasn’t completely well, of course, but I felt well enough to be able to go home.  From that time on, I became a believer in gua sha and started having it little by little. As my back pain grew worse (when I was once again assigned to head the nursery class), I regularly turned to gua sha and cupping to relieve the pain and to improve the circulation of my body.  For those of you who are curious about gua sha, I’ve compiled some information for you.  Read on…

Gua Sha — Scraping Cures

Otherwise known in the west as “scraping”, Gua Sha is a popular and effective method of curing a number of diseases in China and parts of Southeast Asia. The term “Gua” means, “to scrape.” Like Acupunture, Acupressure and Qigong, Gua Sha works along meridian lines, the pathways in which energy (Qi) and blood circulate.

Gua Sha was used in China as early as two thousand years ago. The therapy is very old. It originated from the ancient times and existed before acupuncture.   It was used especially in the countryside to help a person with fever, pain, and fatigue. Such method helps rid the body of some diseases through repeated scraping of the skin. This ancient therapy is simple and believed to be quite effective. 

Guasha means scraping disease out of body. ‘Gua’ means scraping, ‘Sha’ means the something like stagnated energy in the body that later could manifest itself into complaints or diseases.  Guasha therapy achieves remarkable results. This is because during a treatment guasha works on the skin, tissue, lymph system, meridians, muscles, blood vessels and nerves. This again has its effects on the brain and the immune system. In this way, guasha works on all functions, systems and organs of the body.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, diseases are caused when external coldness or negative energy invade the body and block sweat glands. Thus, people will have some physical discomforts such as dizziness, vomiting and achiness.

The principle of scrape therapy is similar to that of acupuncture. Gua Sha moves, circulates and releases blood trapped in the peripheral capillaries. Gua sha can stimulate blood flow and remove coldness, negative energy, toxic-heat and lymphatic fluid from the body through the skin. Through the process, more blood serum is produced, thus improving the body’s immune system. The skin will feel warm and the presence of redness is often seen after a Gua Sha treatment. This redness or purplish hue to the skin is trapped or congealed blood that is not circulating properly in the body. Left untreated, this can create major problems in not just the muscles but also in the internal organs as well. The muscles deep to the superficial fascia and the organs deep to the muscles are also affected. Any pain, spasm or tightness in the muscles is immediately relieved by this new circulation of blood. The organs are likewise revitalized by the increased circulation of energy, blood, and fluids.

However, western medicine and Chinese medicine have contrasting views on the origin of diseases, hence leading to different treatments. Western medicine emphasizes exterior factors like viruses and microbes that lead to disease where as Chinese medicine places more emphasis on the internal human body. In other words, if the body is strong and healthy the organs will naturally protect themselves from diseases. Chinese physicians have tried to find treatments to improve the function of the six meridians. Western physicians, quite differently, tried to make effective for eliminating bacteria in the body. Chinese medicine physiology is based on the activity of Qi throughout the body, while Western medicine physiology is based on anatomy. Both medical practices can exist side by side.

Marks left behind by gua sha treatment.

Before the actual Gua Sha treatment begins, liquid medicine (usually some kind of oi) is rubbed on the painful area or acupoints to stimulate blood circulation in the body. The therapist then scrapes the skin with a jade or horn blade from top to bottom according to the direction of blood flow. Some blood capillaries break and release the red blood cell, hemoglobin. Such stimulation can promote blood circulation and remove obstruction in the collateral and toxins from the body, which then relieves pain. Though red, purple or black bruises appear after the scraping, during the treatment, the patient rarely feels any pain.

Gua Sha can provide drug-free relief from back, neck, leg and shoulder pain. It can

                        Various scrapers

also relieve headaches, ease sinus pain, some women’s problems such as period pain, lack of periods, insufficient lactation, and climacteric syndrome. Besides curing diseases, scrape therapy may build one’s body, prevent diseases and help lose weight.

Gua Sha, like acupuncture, massage and Qi Gong is also a magical method of improving health.

Sources of information:

http://www.womenofchina.cn/quintessential_china/health/1925.jsp   http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/scraping.html   http://home.wanadoo.nl/guasha/english/referenties1.htm         http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/117Kaleidoscope4162.html

Next time, I’ll share with you about my other favorite Chinese treatment–Cupping.

Parting Shot: What alternative treatments have you tried?

Gentle Breezes,

Corvina

My Journey: Step 6 — Bountiful Blessings

May your days be many and your troubles be few. May all God’s blessings descend upon you. May peace be within you may your heart be strong. May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.   –Irish Blessing

June 23, 2011 – Thursday

Breakfast:  1 c. muesli with soya milk, 1 c. hot chocloate wth Lifestream’s Ultimate Greens; 1 cup apple cucumber smoothie made with plain yogurt and soya milk

Lunch:  Veggie Spaghetti; ½ litre honey grapefruit tea

 Dinner:   Tomato and Basil Linguine, apple cucumber smoothie–by candlelight!

Snack:  1/3 small bar of dark chocolate, 5 oz. Merlot

Physical Activity:  20 minutes walking

Treatment/Therapy:  Meditation

Relaxation:  Watching Season 2 of Cougar Town

Medication:  Yes

Sleep:  6 ½  hours

Positive Thoughts:  I am blessed and will even be more blessed!

Blood Pressure:  AM:   133/87    PM:  135/90

It’s raining cats and dogs right now in Beijing (wish it would rain my cat back to me!).  Highly unusual for Beijing.  It has been raining so hard that I actually had to wade through a mini-flood on my way home from work!  Just like back home in the Philippines!  It’s a bit funny though because the strong rains were deterring my Chinese colleagues from going home at once because the rains were so strong and especially since I just walk home.  They were wondering why I was going home already when it was raining so hard!

“I have an umbrella.  Don’t you have one?” I queried.

“I do,” answered one of my colleagues, “but the rain is so strong!”

“Oh, I’ll live.  This kind of rain is normal back home,” I replied nonchalantly and went out the door.

Rain has always symbolized a downpour of blessings to me.  So this evening’s rain, for me, heralded a future replete with bountiful blessings–especially since I waded in it! =D  So that means I’ll be swimming in blessings in the days to come!  Not that I consider myself or my life devoid of blessings.  Every single day is a blessing to me.  Just waking up every morning makes me smile!  The bountiful blessings I’m talking about here are the extra embellishments and spices that make life even more beautiful and interesting.   And I’m not referring to having an insanely luxurious lifestyle either.  Rather, I’m looking forward to a full, meaningful life filled with positive relationships and in which I feel content and at peace and I am actually doing what I have always dreamed of doing but have not had an opportunity yet to live. I know this kind of life does not happen overnight but comes one step at a time.  I’m in no rush and I want to take it slow but sure.  And I am going to savor each step that I take to get there.

Dinner tonight was a simple dish of Tomato and Basil Linguine.  Just cook garlic and onions in olive oil.  Add tomatoes then tomato sauce or 1 to 2 cans of chopped tomatoes (which is what I used).  Add a dash of red wine vinegar, around a teaspoon of sugar, salt and pepper.  Simmer 10 to 20 minutes (I did 10 minutes but I think you’ll get more flavor if you simmer for 20).  Add the cooked linquine (or some other pasta you fancy like penne) and fresh basil. Really easy to cook especially since I already had my daughter prepare and pre-slice the ingredients so that I only needed to cook when I got home. And voila!  Dinner in 20 minutes. Because Krystle Lane keeps telling me to post photos of what I cook, finally, here’s a photo…

My parting shot:  My blood pressure is getting better!  Did you see the numbers?

Gentle Breezes,

Corvina

My Journey: Step 5 — Touch Therapy

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Leo F. Buscaglia (American guru, tireless advocate of the power of love, 1924-1998)

June 22, 2011 – Wednesday

Breakfast:  1 c. muesli with soya milk, 1 c. hot chocloate wth Lifestream’s Ultimate Greens

Lunch:  Chicken Avocado Salad with arugula and pear; fresh carrot apple ginger juice

Dinner:   veggie spaghetti (grilled zucchini, eggplant and spinach and fresh tomato sauce); 1/2 liter honey grapefruit tea

Snack:  1/2 c. Frozen lychee yogurt with sprinkling of sunflower seeds, granola, ground cashews and almonds, dark chocolate shavings, mango bits, frozen blueberries and a tad of dark chocolate syrup

Alcohol:  5 oz. Merlot

Physical Activity:  20 minutes walking

Treatment/Therapy:  Amazing 2-hour head, neck, shoulder and back massage at Oriental Taipan

Medication:  Yes

Sleep:  5 hours

Positive Thoughts:  It can only get better!

Blood Pressure:  AM:  145/90      PM:   144/97

I had a very easy but PAINFUL morning.  Easy because I had rearranged my classroom to accommodate the children’s new interest in using their gross motor muscles a lot and playing musical instruments.  They seem to want a break from fine motor skills activities.  So my classroom now has a tunnel tent, bins of various percussion instruments (shakers, bells, sand blocks, small hand drums), scarves, large puzzles, wooden toy cars, foam musical balls, small beach balls, and lots of space for them to play and run around in.  Of course, their favorite blocks are still there as well as the popular art activities and Practical Life materials.  My new classroom set up was a huge hit with the children.  We let our unit songs play on the whole morning. Whenever children heard a song they liked, they would immediately do the actions to the song or get the appropriate musical instrument or prop (like a scarf) for it and sing the song.

But I digress… I was in pain because of my neck and upper back.  Since Sunday, it had been hurting even though I have been doing some gentle stretches every morning. This morning, however, the pain was really bad and it felt like it was radiating upwards my head, especially the right side and I could hardly move.  It was so painful, I wanted to cry so badly.   It was scary because of the pain radiating upwards.  It’s supposed to radiate downwards if it’s due to my herniated cervical disc.  So I started having scary thoughts of my blood pressure spiking and me going through a stroke!  I decided to get a massage during my lunch break.  As I walked to the massage place, I kept chanting to myself over and over again, “I am healthy, strong, and well.”  My massage therapist was amazing!  He massaged me in ways I didn’t think was possible and stretched and massaged me at the same time and stretched me in absolutely pain-relieving ways!  At the end of two hours, I could move my neck and upper body easily once again.  The pain was still there but it was greatly diminished and there was no longer any stiffness.  Amazing!  This guy (No. 317) is going to be my massage therapist from now on!  It cost me quite a bit but every fen (centavo) was definitely worth it!

I usually have a massage at least every two weeks and have back scraping and cupping (traditional Chinese treatments) done once a month. (I’ll tell you just what these two treatments are next time.)  They do greatly help relieve my back and neck pain.  Plus you can’t deny the benefits that this kind of touch therapy can give you.  Maybe I can share with you the benefits of massage next time when I have more time to write.  And elaborate more on the power of touch.

So, what are your thoughts on massage therapy?

Gentle Breezes,

Corvina