July 2004 | Vol. 5, No. 7
© 2004 American Massage Therapy Association®
All rights reserved.
Hello, e-touch reader!
The theory of Feng Shui involves understanding how people are connected to their environments; balance is key. In this month’s article, “Feng Shui For Your Health And Vitality,” Feng Shui consultant Rodika Tchi explores how structuring your environment to suit your specific Feng Shui principles can improve your overall well-being. Whether redecorating your home or office, this article offers some practical tips to help you create a warmer, more comfortable space.
Enjoy the issue!
The
Editors
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FENG SHUI FOR YOUR HEALTH AND VITALITY
How many of us wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, happy and full of energy? How many of us, after a few hours in the office, still feel full of energy? Why do certain environments uplift our spirits and make us breathe deeper, while others drain our energy? We seem to have forgotten how deeply connected we are with the space we live in, and how important is for our well-being to live in a balanced environment.
As our lives are certainly not getting
easier, the need to create a healthy, vibrant
Getty
Images
Understanding the connection between you and your environment is
key to Feng Shui. Details like shape and color are important foundations
for this ancient art and science.
home environment cannot be
over estimated. We have to have a safe, peaceful and energetically balanced
space where our bodies can let down the daylong protective shield and focus
on regenerating and self-healing. This is where Feng Shui (pronounced fung-shway) can help. It
is an ancient art and science that has been used for more than 5,000 years
to heal, balance and enrich people's lives. It is a very complex body of
knowledge that reveals how humans are connected to their environment, and
shows many ways to change specific aspects of one's life by changing the
living or working space.
Being aware of the body’s deep connection with space, and its influence on all aspects of your life, it would be wise to employ Feng Shui knowledge in your home (and business!) to improve your health, vitality and general well-being.
One of the main theories of Feng Shui is the
theory of Five Elements, which are fire, earth, metal, water and wood. The
elements are the five manifestations of chi, or universal energy, and are
represented in our environment by colors, shapes, textures, smells, taste,
etc.
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Images
An indoor fountain is a simple way to represent the element of water in
your home or office.
They interact with each other in certain ways, the basic cycles being
constructive (where each element supports the other), or destructive (where
one element destroys the other). Understanding this theory and its
applications in your life can be a very powerful tool indeed. In order to
experience high vitality levels and an increased level of well-being, Feng
Shui masters recommend living in a place that supports and nourishes an
individual’s birth element.
Each of us has a predominant element, which is calculated by the year of birth. (You can find out your own element from specific tables in many Feng Shui books or by clicking here.) Once you know your own element, look around your place and see which element is predominant in it. Any specific environment also has its own predominant element. For example, if your living room has purple curtains, art with predominant red-orange colors, lots of candles, a fireplace and objects shaped in triangular or pointed shapes, the energy in the room is predominantly fire. If your birth element is wood, and you live in a fire environment, you will tend to experience headaches, an inability to relax, have regular arguments with your family and often feel "burnt out." Since fire burns the wood, you need to focus on reducing the element of fire in your environment. This will improve your well-being. To remedy this situation, you may want to bring some of your own element (wood) and/or the element of water, which puts down the fire.
The wood element can be brought into your
environment by adding brown and green hues, plants (green bamboo is
especially powerful!), objects in rectangular shapes or actual wooden
objects. Water can be represented by actual water (a fountain) or images of
water. Mirrors, wavy and curved shapes and black or deep blue colors also
can bring in the water element. The scenario described above will also be
true for a person whose birth element is metal, as fire melts the metal.
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Images
Adding green
plants to a room is a good way to bring in the element of wood into your
environment. Bamboo is a good choice. However, an earth or water person will feel very good in that environment.
You can easily guess why—both of these elements are not overpowered by the
fire energy.
An old Chinese proverb states that Feng Shui consultants double as doctors. And for a good reason. The art and science of Feng Shui has a wealth of recommendations, cures, solutions for every person and virtually every space, be it home, business or garden. Just like your body has a specific anatomy, the space you inhabit also has its own anatomy, with its own "do's" and "don'ts." Specific areas of your life, as well as specific body organs, relate to specific areas of your home. For example, East is the area "responsible" for family and health. The element of East is wood; therefore, it is wise to avoid the placement of objects representing either fire or metal in this area of your home or business. If you suffer from certain body ailments, you can choose to place a picture or any other representation of a medicinal plant particularly healing for you (for example dandelion for liver problems), in the East area.
Here are some other Feng Shui remedies to improve your health and increase vitality:
- Keep the center of your house clean, clutter-free and open. This is considered the heart of the house, and is a sacred area in many old cultures. No heavy objects should be placed here. The center of your space is a very good place for a fountain, some crystals, bells or chimes with a harmonious sound, happy pictures of your loved ones, or any other items that speak to your heart.
- Reduce or eliminate metal objects from your bedroom, as metal conducts electricity. Work on reducing the electromagnetic fields in your bedroom. Provide an ideal space for your body to regenerate, replenish and heal itself during sleep. Do not sleep under beams or a sloped ceiling, and do not sleep with your feet in line with the door. Have a good, supportive headboard and choose a natural mattress.
- Become aware of the quality of air in your space. Aerate your home often, and use essential oils like lavender, chamomile, sage, frankincense, bergamot, etc., to purify the space, uplift the spirits and improve your overall sense of well-being. If necessary, consider using an air ionizer. Have specific plants that purify the air, such as peace lilies, Boston ferns or spider plants. The color green is very healing.
- Have a pleasing, welcoming entrance. It should be well lit, spacious and have uplifting energy. If you face a wall or stairs, apply specific Feng Shui cures, or it is said your life could be stuck in unnecessary struggles.
- Surround yourself with objects you love and people that uplift your spirits. Try to spend some time in nature at least once a day. Make your home a healing refuge from the stress you encounter during the day by applying various Feng Shui cures and reducing the internal pollutants present in most homes.
By following these simple, basic Feng Shui recommendations you can greatly improve your sense of well-being. You can bring healing beauty and harmony into your life, and create an environment that is fully supportive of you and your loved ones.
~ Rodika Tchi, MSc, is the principal of Tchi Consulting, an international Feng Shui consulting company. She has consulted on numerous commercial and residential projects, was interviewed for the Miami Herald, Style at Home, Business 2.0, and others. She can be contacted at 604-685-0529 or rodika@tchiconsulting.com. For more information, visit her Web site at: www.tchiconsulting.com.
This article originally appeared in the May 2003 issue of the Health'N Vitality magazine..
Feng means "wind" and Shui means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In Chinese culture, gentle wind and clear water have always been associated with good harvest and good health. Thus "good Feng Shui" came to mean good livelihood and fortune, while "bad Feng Shui" came to mean hardship and misfortune.
Source: www.tchiconsulting.com
MASSAGE THERAPY: KEY QUESTION AND ANSWER
Q: How frequently should I schedule massage appointments to feel the greatest benefit?
A: Massage has its greatest benefits over time. The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative, so the more often a person gets a massage, the better he or she will feel and the more quickly one’s body will respond. From one session to the next, relaxation deepens as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are affected and released. These changes are readily felt in day-to-day life as well, which adds another dimension of reinforcement. If you are getting massage to address chronic muscular tension or recovery from a soft tissue injury, more than one session is usually needed, so be prepared to schedule several sessions. Ask your massage therapist what he or she recommends.
FIND A PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST
Use AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service to locate a qualified AMTA Professional Member anywhere in the United States. This service will direct you to professionals who are well-trained, adhere to a professionally recognized code of ethics and standards of practice, and are committed to continuing their professional education and development. Visit the locator service online today, or call toll-free at 888-THE-AMTA [843-2682].
If you have a friend, coworker or relative who could benefit from using the online locator service to find a professional massage therapist, send them a personal E-mail message from AMTA. Spread the benefits of massage!
Do you have tight and tense muscles in your upper back and shoulders?
If you suffer from tight and tense muscles in the upper back and shoulders, start your day off right with this tip: Instead of endlessly standing in the shower with the water beating on your back, get that stream of water to soak into your muscles. Place a hand towel on the problem area while you stand there. This will help the moisture and heat penetrate into the muscles, rather than just trickling down to the drain.
Christina Rider
AMTA Professional Member
Iowa City, Iowa
For a different massage tip each week, visit AMTA’s Massage Room.
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