There Will Be Blood

Interestingly, if you dissect the latin word for blood, which is sanguis, you get san meaning health and guis meaning to soar, so I think it’s a sign – your blood is meant for high flying health!

My first acupuncture appointment was at age 30. I went to a walk-in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic that was for doctors-in-training. It was only $25, and I scraped together the funds to go. I had debilitating menstrual cramps at the time and a friend said acupuncture would “fix you.”  Well, it did fix me, but it also re-educated me. Our blood is nuanced…how much of it we have, how it flows, and where it flows…it all matters. I left my first TCM treatment empowered and grateful, but also scratching my head wondering, “How come I’m only learning about this now?”

There are two very common TCM terms: 1. blood stagnation, and  2. blood deficiency. Blood stagnation is when blood isn’t moving around the body like it should. Exercise can definitely be a remedy, but not all exercise. You want movement that doesn’t cause nervous system distress or shallow/tight breathing and offers a variety in ranges of motion. I’m happy to report that every single workout on Let’s Move! fits this bill. Qigong and Tai Chi are also A+++. 

Blood deficiency is when there is a lack of blood in the body or in a region of the body. It’s a very common scenerio for women suffering from heavy periods, or in people who sustained severe blood loss in an injury/surgery/accident. Mindful Movement helps here too, but it’s not the cure. I think the cure is found in diet, rest, herbs, and other lifestyle and herbal action steps. However, Mindful Movement helps in easing the symptoms, which include poor circulation, cold hands and feet, low energy level, low motivation level, a puffy appearance, and an overall lack of vitality. Just like in blood stagnation, the movement mustn’t be too intense so as to cause panic in the body or in the breath. I’d say our top three ideal workouts for blood deficiency are: Peace, Love & Cardio, Whole Body Breathing, and today’s recommended workout, Prayer Flow. Workouts should flow, have a breathing-focus, need not be too long (30minutes or less), and I’d say they need to create space in the body (I.e., big ranges of motion, extension, stretching), which is a supertonic for the nervous system. 

In western medicine, the blood carries oxygen. In yoga, the blood moves prana. In TCM, the blood houses the Shen (consciousness). Whichever way you view blood, be sure to help yours out with mindfulness, and mindful movement. 

Let’s Move! 🤗