ENERGY IS MEDICINE
It’s pure magic when we focus on the process, trust inner impulses and accept what emerges without judgement. We can continue to refine our navigator.
The quality of our energy defines the quality of our life. The concept of “energy” (some call it life force, qi or ki) is hard to grasp for many because it’s invisible. In TCM, it’s an indicator of our health, not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. It’s formless like the wind and fluid like the river flowing through natural landscapes. It’s constantly vibrating, speaking a language beyond words.
This concept of energy is ingrained in Eastern cultures but wasn’t talked about much in the West until recently. “Gen-ki?” (元気?), the most basic greeting in Japan, directly translates to “How is your energy?,” for having good qi is synonymous with good health. Another common phrase “Yaruku-ki” (やる気) which means “energy for commitment” or “motivation,” is used to gauge people’s readiness to tackle a task. My grandma often asked me to open the windows to circulate qi in a stuffy room. Feeling into our environment is a big part of it too.
We are always in relationship. Think of a time when a yoga class felt nourishing to the soul. And another time when it felt off, you knew you would never set foot into that studio again. The energetic experience, your research, accumulated through feeling was a learning to inform future decisions. Many factors could have shaped your experience - from the brightness of the lights, style of music, texture of the floorboards against your feet, the vibe the students gave off and your resonance to the teacher’s language. Your energy levels that day would have also affected the way you felt. Life force energy manifests through all dimensions and constantly influences us.
Energy is a living thing. Our energy lets us move our bodies and think with our minds. When we’re full of energy we can move freely, but when we run out of steam we need to fuel ourselves with food and sleep. This fine tuning is what keeps us alive. Our health goes out of whack when our spending exceeds what’s stored in our energy bank. Our base level energy decreases as we age, until we run out completely and end our lives. The absence of energy is death.
We want the energy to keep moving. When our energy flows like a fresh spring river, we’re full of vitality and resilience. We feel like ourselves, strong and capable, ready to take on the world. When our energy is stagnant, we get sick and get stuck in negative emotions. Stagnant energy accumulates through repetitive, restrictive patterns like fear, jealousy, not moving or allowing clutter. This dormant energy causes tension that requires a shake up.
All movement is cathartic. Though some modalities are more effective than others, moving the body in any way can reorganise and shift our energy. Creating a habit of moving the body first thing in the morning can invite a steady flow of positive energy into our bodies to set ourselves up for the day. The kind of energy work I do at Moss after sun salutations can help us become aware of the quality of our energy, tap into our flow state and let our energy travel into the nooks of our bodies. This mind body connection improves circulation, brings serenity and leads to self discovery.
Channelling energies through creative practices can be also be healing. Playing a musical instrument, journaling, painting, baking or engaging in whatever we can get lost in can give us access to our inner worlds. It’s pure magic when we focus on the process, trust inner impulses and accept what emerges without judgement. We can continue to refine our navigator.
But when we’re absolutely spent, all we want to do is curl up in our comfy beds with a warm bowl of curry. Ironically, a lot of the time, restricting ourselves to what we are told is “healthy” and “good for us” can be the exact reason why we’re feeling strained. We need to learn to listen to ourselves, not others. What works for others, won’t necessarily work for us. Forcing anything is the mind‘s attempt to interfere with our personal flow.
We can see the world - and ourselves - in a whole new light when we appreciate our energy. This nourishing force is our essence - what helps us live in truth and with integrity. It speaks to us all day, no matter what, so we can maintain a delicate balance and exist in the best way possible. We want to listen to our inner currents with all our senses to respond and replenish ourselves with intention. We need to make a conscious choice to notice this living force and apply it to our growth. It’s the real medicine that heals our souls.
