Don't Hold Your Breath: The Hidden Cost of Breath-Holding on Qi Flow

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Breath

"Don't hold your breath!"—a phrase often used to express doubt that something will happen. Ironically, holding the breath itself limits our chances of success in a far more tangible way. When we unconsciously restrict our breath, we disrupt the flow of oxygen and Qi, the vital energy that sustains us. This simple yet profound act interferes with the natural cycles of the body, parti…

Blood stasis is a central concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and one of the primary issues that gua sha aims to address.

But what exactly is blood stasis, and why is it so important to understand?

In TCM, blood stasis refers to the stagnation of blood in the body. It can result from various factors, including poor circulation, injury, or chronic stress. When blood stasis occurs, it can manifest as pain, swelling, or stiffness. Left unaddressed, it may lead to more significant health…

My Journey from Gua Sha Confusion to Mastery

When I was a student in 1999, our Gua Sha training lasted only three hours. The technique felt confusing and intimidating because it was never properly explained—neither the mechanism behind it nor how it could truly improve the health of our clients. To me, it seemed like an unnecessarily brutal way to stimulate a response, and I felt uncomfortable practicing it.

For years, I only applied Gua Sha therapy in limited cases, mainly for clients struggl…

Evidence-based research has become the gold standard in many healthcare practices—and for good reason. It provides a framework for validating treatments and ensuring safety. However, when it comes to hands-on techniques like Gua Sha therapy, the limitations of this approach become apparent.

The Limitations of Standardized Research in Gua Sha

Scientific studies are often conducted in controlled environments with strict protocols, which can overlook the individualized nature of Gua Sha treatment…

The Right Direction: Why Proper Gua Sha Technique Matters

Are you using Gua Sha correctly? One of the most overlooked aspects of this ancient healing technique is stroke direction—and it can make all the difference in your results. Traditional Gua Sha emphasizes scraping away from the heart to support lymphatic drainage, circulation, and detoxification. However, many modern scraping techniques fail to follow this principle, which can hinder the body's natural healing processes.

In this post, w…

The Ancient Art of Gua Sha: A Timeless Healing Practice

Gua Sha is more than just a skincare trend—it’s a powerful healing technique with deep roots in traditional East Asian medicine. For centuries, this ancient practice has been used to promote circulation, release tension, and restore balance in the body. But did you know that Gua Sha has also influenced modern therapeutic methods?

Gua Sha’s Influence on Modern Techniques

While Gua Sha is often associated with facial massage today, its imp…

Have you ever heard of Shoshin?

This Zen Buddhist concept, translating to “Beginner’s Mind,” is a way of approaching life with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. It means setting aside preconceived notions, even in areas where we feel like experts, and embracing each experience with fresh eyes.

Simple in theory, but in practice? It’s a challenge—especially when emotions run high, or when we strongly believe we already know the answer. Yet, like any worthwhile pursuit, Shoshin tak…

Seeing Beyond Symptoms: The Role of Thermography in Early Detection of Illnesses

In the realm of modern medicine, the emphasis has traditionally been on treating illnesses after they manifest with noticeable symptoms. However, there exists a powerful tool that allows us to peer into the body’s subtle changes long before symptoms appear: thermography. This non-invasive imaging technique offers a window into our health by detecting thermal patterns that can indicate the early stages of various co…

As a practitioner of East Asian Medicine, we tend to look at the body on a scale measure rather than black and white. Sometimes it is challenging for those who come from a binary perspective which our medicine is often based on, to observe a relative scale, or in the context of thermography a colour range.

During a thermographic assessment the thermographer is looking for both a relative scale on the body, and certain patterns and measures. It is commonly known that problems arise when there are …