Moving Mindfully With TCM Practices

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month to all who celebrate! 

With our AANHPI friends in mind, I’d like to write a bit about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese longevity practices, both of which have been viralized on TikTok. 

The former is rooted in Taoism and suggests that, in living in harmony with nature, we can restore balance to our Qi, our bodies’ life source, which is easily disrupted by disease, illness, and stress. The latter encompasses a series of practices that preserve our health and is, in fact, a facet of TCM. 

To that end, TCM is prominent within the field of integrative medicine and has gained quite a bit of traction in our wellness climate as of late, given its prioritization of whole body and preventive health.

If you’d like to implement TCM into your day-to-day, here are a few practices you may consider:

• Qigong – an uplifting an energy practice that is often thought of as active meditation wherein your breath and movements are in sync.

• Acupuncture – though it cannot be done at home, acupuncture is a therapeutic practice that can reduce chronic pain and inflammation.

• Gua Sha – a lymphatic drainage massage that can be done with a smooth-edged tool, or your knuckles, to alleviate tension in the body.

• Warm Water – my roommate has been doing her very best to put me on this for years, but you can begin your mornings with a glass of warm water to improve comfort, digestion, and hydration.

Let me know if you happen to give any of the practices a go and, again, a very happy AANHPI month!

Photo Source: Hitomi Okushima via Unsplash.