CHINESE MEDICINE AND YOGA: COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE LANGUAGE OF NATURE

  I love TCM because it is a medical science based on the observation of nature and respect for its movements, cycles and stages. I couldn’t possibly like it if it weren’t like that. And as nature is the foundation of existence, we can also observe it in yoga. For example, I’m sure you’ve noticed how the weather affects your needs when practising yoga, and how you don’t feel like doing the same session in winter as you do in summer.

In TCM, there are what are known as EXTERNAL OR CLIMATIC FACTORS that can cause the body to become unbalanced. For example, if you are exposed to windy weather and your neck is not protected, you are very likely to catch a cold. The factors that, taken to extremes, can throw our bodies out of balance are Heat, Fire (note that these are not the same thing; Fire is intense Heat), Dryness, Wind, Cold and Dampness.

We need to maintain a balance of these factors in our bodies to prevent illness. For example, if we have too much Fire in our skin – whether due to emotional imbalances or because we have spent too long in the sun – we may suffer from sunburn or even a fever.

Even if you’re not aware of it, the STYLE OF YOGA you practise is enhancing or promoting one or more of these factors. This can be very therapeutic for you if you have a DEFICIENCY in that factor, but be careful – if you have an EXCESS of it, you could throw yourself out of balance if you practise that style every day!