5 Tao Tips for Summertime Health

David James Lees, Guest
Waking Times

Follow the advice of the ancient Taoists and attune your mind, body and spirit to the exuberant energy and bountiful qualities of the summer season.

Traditional Chinese medicine practices and the philosophical and spiritual wisdom of the Tao provide an abundance of guidance on how to self-nurture and harmonise with nature throughout the year.

Taoists associate the summer season with the forceful Yang Fire element, the energy of the Heart, Pericardium and Small Intestines, and the emotions of joy and passion. If attuned to correctly, summer can be a super-charged and powerfully positive time of year.

Be warned though: if your Yang Fire energy transforms into excess it can leave you feeling totally flat, burned out, restless, tense and irritable. So, like all energy, the Yang Fire of summer needs to be kept in check to ensure you navigate these months in your Wu Weisweet spot of flow, harmony and synchronicity.

Here’s 5 simple tips to help keep you healthy, happy and in yourWu Wei balance this summer:

1. Work with the cycle of the sun

Take advantage of the longer summer days by rising earlier and going to bed later. Find harmony within this change of routine by also taking an extra power-nap or short rest around lunchtime – this creates a great opportunity for a midday mindfulness meditation pick-me-up! Practising the beautiful Taoist Inner Smile Meditation is perfect way to send nurturing love and attention to your Heart and all your other organs at this time of year. [Listen to my guided Taoist Inner Smile Meditation here]

2. Be in nature

Enjoy the finer weather outdoors and breathe in the sights, sounds and smells of nature at its most verdant. But don’t overdo it in the Yang daytime heat as this can also create an internal energy imbalance. Avoid strenuous activity at the hottest time of the day, seek out shade, cover up appropriately and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Your sleep pattern can also easily be disrupted in the hotter weather, which in turn can affect your daytime energy levels and mood, so ensure you sleep well by adjusting your bedroom environment to cope with the warmer summer nights.

3. Eat in harmony with the season

Introduce cooling Yin foods to your diet as a great way to re-balance and clear the excessYang heat of summer, reduce toxins and replenish vital body fluids. Crunchy green salads are perfect, as are fish and seafood in moderation. Avoid meat and greasy foods and try to avoid the temptation of an extra glass of chilled beer or wine as alcohol can be very Yangand heating.

4. Learn, grow + have (more) fun

Just as nature reaches its fullest potential in the summer, take time to reflect on your life and create opportunities for continued personal and spiritual growth this summer. Use your holiday time to start a new hobby or broaden your horizons and face your fears by doing something out of your comfort-zone. You can also nurture your summer Heart Fireenergy by bringing more joy and laughter into your life. Enjoy simple and silly fun by reminiscing with old friends, sharing extra playtime with the children, or watching a comedy for some belly-laughs to stimulate your Heart Qi.

5. Rebalance & harmonise with acupuncture

If you need an extra boost beyond your own self-healing regime, acupuncture can be particularly helpful if you’re sleeping badly, are more emotionally unsettled around the summer months, or have allergies such as hay fever, skin irritations or rashes that have suddenly flared up. All are typical symptoms of a excess Yang Fire energy that can be re-balanced easily and naturally with acupuncture to help restore your inner and outer summertime glow.

[You can listen to my extended Taoist teaching on Summertime Health and harmony here]

About the Author

David James Lees is a spirituality and wellness author, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, counsellor, hypnotherapist, NLP Master, and a Member of the British Acupuncture Council. David has a lifelong interest in Taoism, Taoist philosophy and Qigong, and was first taught meditation by Chinese Tibetan Buddhist monks when he was 16 years old, which helped him tackle a profound stutter. After qualifying as a TCM practitioner in the UK, David trained for a number of years as a Qigong instructor with Doctor Shen in London and Master Wan Su Jain in Beijing, and was later ordained as a Taoist Master in the sacred Wudang Mountains in China. Today, David is a trusted advisor and broadcaster on emotional health issues and alternative therapies in the UK. You can follow David on his blog: www.WuWeiWisdom.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Soundcloud.  For the latest information on David’s therapies, classes, workshops and special events visit Peak House Practice.

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