energy work to soothe your winter nervous system
We’re in it. Winter has come. Daylight is scarce and we are very cold. Our Vitamin D stores are depleted. Energy is low - especially in the evening. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be in full swing for some of us. *SAD is more than just the “winter blues.” If you are affected by low moods, social withdrawal, disrupted sleep patterns/oversleeping, low energy and intense sugar cravings - you may be feeling the affects of seasonal affective disorder.
I was reading how winter is the time to channel our ‘yin’ energy. This is, quite literally, the time of year to allow yourself to turn inward and embrace a deep, long season of rest. I write allow because, if you are anything like me, you have a hard time embracing rest without feeling lazy or unproductive. When we keep going and going and going during this season of what should be nourishing rest - we get sick. Colds and flus come easily when we are run down.
Allow your body to rest. Allow your brain to rest. In traditional Chinese medicine, the kidneys are viewed as our life force. And they house our deepest reserves of Qi - our vital energy. The cold weather drives this natural, fiery energy deep inside of us during the wintertime - which also causes feelings of adrenal burnout to surface in new, unfamiliar ways. Ways to build your Qi back up? Heat & movement. Hot exercise classes, infrared heat, blue light therapy, sweating during your favorite movement routines, etc.
Also - acupuncture. If you’re local, I go regularly to The Zen Den in Ocean Twp. Each acupuncturist is incredibly intentional and experienced. Not only do they offer both private and community acupuncture for accessibility, but they allow the body to - guess what? - rest. ~45 minutes is allotted for you to rest during your session, and I have not experienced this anywhere else! I know that this is what has allowed my body to hold on to the treatment and feel the effects for a longer period of time.
Now the reiki energy work comes in. Soothing the nervous system can help restore energy to the kidneys and adrenals, giving you the motivation you are seeking to bring a gentle movement/sweat routine into your winter life. Reiki energy work is a holistic healing modality that uses gentle touch/placement of hands near the body to channel universal energy and promote balance, relaxation, and stress relief. In my practice, I utilize red & blue near infrared (NIR) light as well as a heated infrared biomat with pulsed electronic magnetic frequencies (PEMF).
Interested in investing in an infrared biomat for at home healing? HigherDOSE makes the mat in a mini size & in the traditional table size I use in sessions. Use my affiliate links above to purchase!
Red light therapy involves the use of near-infrared light to stimulate cellular processes. A full body red/ blue light panel is used during energy work sessions. Blue light is especially beneficial for anyone dealing with acne, skin issues or irregular moods. The near infrared (NIR) component of this light panel is invisible to the human eye, and allows for deeper healing than red or blue light would alone. NIR helps to improve the body's production of ATP, which we use as cellular energy.
Coupled with an infrared heated biomat and the grounding frequencies used, these modalities help the cardiovascular & immune systems, the skin, wound healing, pain & inflammation, detoxification, hormone health (thyroid, adrenals, menstrual cycle), acne + skin beautification. When used together, the energetic effects of reiki complement the cellular-level effects of red/blue light therapy & infrared heat - enhancing the body's natural healing mechanisms.
Whose nervous system is ready for energy work? Yours - especially if you want to relax, de-stress and allow energy to flow through your body more freely. You are ready to release emotions and toxic energy blockages that could be contributing to feeling stuck, anxious, unsure or unwell. Sessions are offered for 60 or 90 minutes, depending on what you feel your body needs.
