Yoga for our Skin
We know the benefits of Qi for health and wellbeing. Laughter, movement, our own version of meditation - whether it be daily yoga or surfing, good company, enlightening conversation and heartwarming food… These are all natural remedies for lifting the spirit, restoring energy and filling us with Joy. These are inherent to us and for many people, they are the daily staples of a happy, fulfilled life. They all encourage inner peace, restore our sense of equilibrium, and enrich our wellbeing - our qi (pronounced 'Chee'). Qi It is within us all, it is the vital ‘life energy’ that connects us, and is as fluid and forever changing as we are, qi is life.
We must all understand that qi is inseparable to how we think, feel and go about our day. Think of qi as a core energy. Our qi is sometimes sluggish, lethargic or a little low. Meditation is an example of connecting with qi - connecting with self. Though there are many ways to activate, restore and balance qi, meditation is one of the most common practices as it can be done anywhere, anytime.
Qi is a core principle of Oriental Medicine. Healers, acupuncturists, and oriental medicine practitioners are constantly working with qi - Yin-Yang - to restore balance and wellbeing. Imbalances in a persons qi can be revealed in many ways; physically, emotionally, mentally or an expression of our body, or skin.
Something we often overlook is the relationship we are constantly building with ourself. While we allow self-talk throughout the day, we are not always paying attention to the messages. Paying attention to the way we think, feel, the self-talk, and energy we give to different elements of our life - the people, jobs and time, is an important part of our qi. Increasing the awareness of self so we are better able to recognise when we’re a little off, or that we might need to slow down or ask for help.
Yoga, focusing on the breath for meditation and connecting to self, may deliver an experience of peace, calm and clarity - If we’re able to switch off long enough to embrace it! But yoga isn’t for everyone, and personally I prefer a task that allows my mind to wander while my body is doing something repetitive - like swimming, cycling, or beading. Some people find bushwalking, or picking wild-flowers delivers the same calm. The benefits of nature allowing their minds to slow, while they focus on a single task. Balancing the body and restoring our sense of equilibrium creates a calm centre for emotional wellbeing, positive thinking, problem solving, reduces stress and anxiety - and allow us us to see clearly - that is, to interpret the world around us from a healthy perspective.
Just as our body suffers low qi, so does our skin - they are one in the same. It could be viewed as an outward expression of internal state of being. We can treat our skin the same way we treat our body.
The signs and symptoms of low qi or ‘qi deficiencies’ expressed physically are often accepted, albeit grudgingly, as ‘ageing’. The loss of volume, hyper- pigmentation, a dull complexion, loss of elasticity and tone are all signs of low qi. Youthful skin, energetic skin, skin that is full of qi, glows from within. ‘She was radiating’, ‘She was glowing’... The key phrases we all hope to hear used to describe us begin to dwindle as we age. That pregnancy glow - the energy and vitality of two beings, is qi. These descriptions are more than the rewards of a good nights sleep or new illuminating foundation, these are descriptions of the vitality flowing though us and the wellness of our body & soul.
