Remedies after the Festive Season

By Paul Cavel, Posted 30 January 2010

The festive season is now safely behind us. We’re getting back to or re-establishing our routines and possibly reducing our consumption of food and drink delights. Family visits and traveling is slowing down (at least airline prices seem to suggest so) and you can now begin thinking about how daily practice fits into your day.

Be Creative

It’s a good time to be a little creative in looking for opportunities to practise and neutralize the negative effects of overindulgence.

For a start Longevity Breathing is at the top of the list because you can squeeze in a bit of practice in almost any situation—while watching a bad movie, a break at work and if all else fails there’s always the bathroom when nature calls.

Seriously though, Longevity Breathing is great for keeping your organs healthy, ensuring your digestion is efficient and it helps to clean your liver, which is essential (as I wrote in my last tip) if you’ve had an increase in rich food and alcohol consumption. Some of the students from my recent seminar in Brighton definitely suggested that these activities might have taken place more than a couple times in recent months!

Qigong for Detoxification

I particularly like Heaven and Earth qigong for its support of the liver, its efficiency in generating chi and the fact that it requires such a small amount of space. I can practise a couple sets almost anywhere. Even only 10 minutes a day of this qigong set can make a huge difference to how well you cope with bodily changes as the detoxification continues.

Other Remedies

I also find that antioxidants, minerals and herbs help me mitigate the negative side effects of any excesses—be it work, food/drink intake, emotional spikes and more. (There are tons of resources on the internet and elsewhere about which ones to take and doses.) Seeing an acupuncturist, herbalist or otherwise qualified healthcare professional to look at your specific circumstances is always a good idea.

Whatever you do, do something now to keep your practice alive, your energy up and your body healthy. Nothing beats prevention!

Any physical and/or energetic exercise can carry risks. Do not attempt these exercises if you have any physical, emotional or mental conditions that may make you susceptible to injury.

2010 Schedule