Love Yourself: February Self-Healing Tips, Jewelry Sale & more

2 for 1 Tai Chi Special

In celebration of Valentine's Day, during the week of February 14th-21st, Two can take a Beginner's Tai Chi class for the price of one ($15).

Valentine's Body Indulgence Package

Buy a friend or loved one a body work session, and get 25% off one for yourself! Choose from
Acupuncture, Acupressure and Swedish or Thai massage. You and your guest will each enjoy a
complimentary tea during your visit. (Offer expires February 28th)

Valentine's Jewelry Sale

We will be having a sale Feb 4th-14th, 25% off on all jewelry designs. Take advantage and celebrate a loved one. We have rose quartz bracelets for love and compassion, beautiful, ornate designs with Ganesh, Om symbols and carved hearts. So much more to choose from... (Offer expires February 14th)

Valentine's Day Jewelry Workshop

Use your spiritual gifts. Sign up for a FREE jewelry-making workshop, employ your creativity to make and give gifts from your heart. Absolute beginners welcome.Surprise your friends, family, romantic prospects or yourself. Sunday February 12th, 12:30-2:30pm.

February Self-Healing Tips

It’s February, the middle of winter, and though the Los Angeles skies may be filled with sunshine more days than rain, it is still a good idea to be mindful of the ways of nature. Winter is a time to slow down, be quiet, go inside, and reflect. It is a time to consolidate and nourish yin, to protect the body and to preserve one’s warmth. In Chinese medicine, the season of winter is ruled by the element Water. The organ systems associated with the Water element are the Kidney and the Urinary Bladder. In the winter it is important to support the Kidney as it is the root of all energies in the body.

Acupressure

There is an acupuncture point on the Kidney meridian called Zhao Hai, or Illuminating Sea. The name of this point, also known as Kidney 6, describes the brightness of fire shining on water. In Chinese medicine, the Heart is represented by Fire. Within the Heart resides the shen, or spirit. Water in Chinese medicine represents the Kidney, which is the source of a person’s essence. By focusing the light of the Heart inward, the glow of consciousness allows us to see who we really are. We experience our true selves most deeply in the winter, when we use our minds to focus the luminosity of the Heart onto the sea of essence within the Kidney.

To find the acupuncture point, sit down and first locate the medial malleolus, the big knobby bone that sticks out on the inside of the ankle. Now trace a line with your fingertip from the place where the bone sticks out the farthest directly towards the heel of the foot. Kidney 6 is found in a depression about one finger-breadth (measure across the knuckle) below the outer-most tip of the medial malleolus along that line. Use your thumb, knuckle or fingertip to massage the point several times a day. Benefits of acupressure on this point include: calming anxiety and stress, soothing fatigue, benefiting bones, muscles, tendons, and sinews, alleviating tightness and soreness, especially on the inner aspect of the legs, benefiting the ankles, alleviating menstrual cramps, and regulating sleep patterns.

Suggestion: Massage Kidney 6 just before going to sleep to help fight insomnia and ensure a good night’s sleep; when you wake, massage Kidney 6 again to feel refreshed and clear, ready to go about the day.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Eating black sesame tahini is a wonderful way to strengthen the Kidney in the winter time. In Chinese medicine black sesame seed is called Hei Zhi Ma. Hei Zhi Ma nourishes Kidney Yin and tonifies blood. Because of this it may be said that this herb is wonderful for many benefits including lubricating the intestines, moistening dryness, keeping the hair from graying, strengthening tendons, ligaments, and bones, and treating dizziness.

This yummy spread can be found at Whole Foods or online at www.livingtreecommunity.com or www.naturesfirstlaw.com.

Suggestion: Try spreading black sesame tahini on whole grain or sprouted bread. Toast the bread, then add a thin layer of black sesame tahini, finish it off with a light layer of raw organic honey, and sprinkle with shredded raw organic coconut flakes -- for breakfast, dessert, or an amazing afternoon snack.

Practitioner Spotlight

This month we are spotlighting Julie Festa, who wrote this month's Chinese Medicine self- healing tips for us.

Julie Festa, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who currently treats clients at Shakti’s Elements. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master’s of Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor’s College in Santa Monica. Julie has studied Classical Chinese Medicine with Celia Dermont and Jeffrey Yuen. She has practiced dance, yoga and tai qi for over thirteen years. Julie holds a red belt in Tai Qi, and she is honored to study with Master Zi, which she has been doing for the past year and a half.

To book an acupuncture or acupressure appointment with julie, please call us at 310-576-2008

Words of Wisdom this month:

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And he said: When love beckons to you follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.... All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

-Kahlil Gibran
(The Prophet)

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