Category Archives: Seasons
Breakfast and why you should be eating it
It is a cliché that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I’m not going to argue against it. Breakfast fuels our bodies after hours of fasting while we sleep and is essential to maintaining energy levels … Continue reading
Changing your diet for autumn
As the weather turns colder, it’s time to adjust our diets for autumn. We need to eat foods that warm the body in preparation for the cold of winter. Our focus should be on changing the type of food and … Continue reading
Chick Pea, Pumpkin and Carrots with Brown Rice
This recipe is one I often make when I have a sweet craving. I’m always advising my Zen Shiatsu clients to try to focus on and appreciate the naturally sweet taste of grains and vegetables and this one really hits … Continue reading
Late Summer Blues
As the weather becomes hot and humid and the weather alternates between storms and sunshine all accompanied with heat and humidity, many of us feel sluggish and tired and have a difficult time coping with the weather. In addition, many … Continue reading
Summer and the Fire Element
Summer represents the height of the annual cycle. From the stillness of winter, where we rest and replenish our energy, we emerge in spring and come to full fruition in our fire energy in summer. We celebrate the warmer temperatures, … Continue reading
Fasting in Spring
Fasting in spring is a good way to shift from the richer diet of winter that is generally higher in salts and fats. Fasting detoxifies the liver, makes the body feel lighter and can give us greater mental clarity. However, … Continue reading
Spring and the Wood Element
Spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings. After the dormancy of winter, green plants start to push upwards through the ground as roots spread into the earth. The foundation of the upward-moving energy is laid upon the foundations … Continue reading
Adjusting Diet in Autumn
As the weather turns colder, our bodies require warming foods to counteract the cold. Pungent foods warm the body and help to eliminate the excess cooling foods we have consumed over the summer. The energetically centred diet can be adjusted … Continue reading
Autumn and the Metal Element
In autumn, the maturity and ripeness of late summer finds its perfection and completion. The abundance is harvested and put stored away for winter, plants turn to seed and contract inwards to protect themselves. As we witness the completion of … Continue reading
Late Summer and Earth energy
Late Summer is the time of year when nature gives us her abundance. Crops ripen and sweeten and it is a time of plenty and fertility. According to the Five Element theory that underlies both acupuncture and shiatsu, the energies … Continue reading