Happy New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Water Rabbit! Chinese predictions sound hopeful and encouraging, so I’m going to spread the news.
Here are a few excerpts from the article and I’ll leave the link below.
“But what does the Year of the Water Rabbit really mean for us? According to Chinese astrology, the Rabbit represents peaceful and patient energy. The Rabbit is a gentle creature known for thinking things through before acting. This energy will encourage us to approach challenges and opportunities calmly and rationally.”
“In addition to the Rabbit’s peaceful energy, the Water element brings intuition and inner peace.
Water is all about tapping into our inner wisdom and trusting our instincts. It encourages us to be more in tune with our emotions and sensitive to those around us.”
This is right up my alley. I hope you enjoy the read.
Christmas and New Years was full of fun and adventure for me. By some miracle, my family and I were able to visit family in Ontario and experience a winter wonderland. It was our first Christmas away. We managed to fly in between storms and arrive safely,( with our luggage!)… a little late, but we did it!
I’m in the clinic Mon, Wed, Fri
I’m looking forward to a New Year of reflection, discovery, possibility and adventure! I’m looking forward to our connection/adventure together!
Good day! I’ve got some of my creative juices flowing today so here I am writing to you:) The sun and the garden are helping with that.
I thought I would share with you part of my health equation and ask for you to share parts of yours. My next newsletter will highlight some of your feedback. (anonymously)
I keep it pretty easy. 1/2 teaspoon of salt (sea salt or Himalayan) mixed with a 1/2 cup warm water from my tap. My goal is to make it as warm as my body and as salty as my tears would be, so that my body stays calm with no reactions. I started this practice about 5 years ago as a means to cleanse my body before meditation. It also has a myriad of effects on my immune system. My nasal passages being my first line of protection and wisdom to the outside world. I practice this every morning and it has helped keep me strong and healthy.
#2 Breath work is something I do more formally before meditation but I also do it throughout the day, especially in times of discomfort or pain. Nadi Shodhana or alternate nostril breathing is done by breathing in and out through your nose while blocking the opposite nostril. Here’s a video I found to help. Easy Nadi Shodhana | Pranayama Practice – Bing video
Nadi Shodhana is used to calm the mind and body and it helps to centre myself. There are so many breathing techniques (pranayama). This is one of the first ones I learned in yoga class and later learned with meditation. You can do 5-10 rounds. One round starting your in breath on the left and ending on an outbreath on the left. Another simple one I use is breathing in for the count of 4, and breathing out for the count of 6. When my outbreath is longer than my inbreath my body’s nervous system starts to relax.
#3 Meditation is something I do everyday, consistently to find out how I’m doing. It’s a time I take to look at myself without judgement. Can you imagine? I say that bc it’s so easy for me to judge, defend, and protect myself. So I take a break:)
So now, how about you? I’m sure you have lots of tricks up your sleeves. Looking forward to your answers.
I’m in clinic 3 days a week: Mon, Wed, Fri.
Thursdays, I’m teaching at Pacific Rim College, and Tuesdays I work off site. Would love to see you. Hope all of you are feeling supported and finding time for joy.
Last week, as I was saying goodbye to a patient of mine (who was going through something challenging) was super relaxed, so I said to her. ” Wow you’re really good at this! ” and she responded ” Well I’ve been coming to you for over 10 years.” and then I thought, yes she has lots of practice, practice! That’s it!
Have you ever heard a friend or relative say “Oh I tried acupuncture once and it didn’t work.” Now I know what to say. Yes, acupuncture is a practice. It’s not black or white. It’s not it works, or it doesn’t work.
It’s a practice of breathing, letting go, softening, forgiveness, kindness, compassionate awareness, going inwards, curiosity, connecting to your own healing power, being you’re own best friend…love.
There are a million ways to heal. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is one way, there are so many. Hooray for you! Any healing you do is projected out into the world 10 fold…or 100 fold or more! I love walking along side you as we heal together.
What is Acupuncture (or Tuina Massage) for you? Post it on my Facebook page or email me gigivincentine@hotmail.com
Hope you are feeling well and supported…and having some fun!!!
Here’s a song by Sinead O’connor called the Healing Room. It made sense to me 20 yrs ago and still does. This is where we go!
We’ve entered into Spring, the Liver/Gallbladder Wood Element.
Liver holds a spectrum of emotions and virtues. The trick for me during Spring time is to hold my wood emotions (irritability, anger, rage, aggression, which may naturally arise) with the virtues of wood (benevolence, kindness, creativity). What are my emotions trying to tell me? How can I help? What do I need? Basically allow myself to feel these emotions, sit with them and learn. Cross your fingers, wisdom may come forth!
Allergies are a common springtime occurrence. There are lots of options to help manage and reduce your symptoms to help your body welcome Spring. Give me a shout if you’re wanting some relief.
P.S. I’ve added a Waitlist function to make things easier for you to book if the day/time you’re looking for is booked. Please remember you can text or call if you’d like to get in but the schedule if full. People do cancel/reschedule sometimes, so I can schedule you in. It’s win win for both of us.
It’s the year of the Ox. When I think of the Ox, it brings me back to Asia and the rice fields. I think of the Ox as being very patient, slow and steady. I think it’s going to be more of a Yin year. More peace, more respect, more equanimity. Lilian Bridges is a well known author and teacher of Facial Diagnosis and Five Element Feng Shui. Here are her predictions for the year.
About a year ago, Eckhart Tolle reminded me of a famous asian saying: “The Teacher and the Taught Together Create the Teachings.” I love that quote and that idea. I really believe this to be true. As I pondered this idea, I had hoped this was what we were creating in the clinic. This idea of reciprocity, sharing, learning and healing together. From our work together, it gave me the courage to apply for a teaching position at Pacific Rim College. I’m now teaching one day a week in the student clinic as a Clinic Supervisor. I super duper love it! I’m learning a whole bunch of new teachings. I get to share our energy and excitement for this healing modality with them. They are super grateful. How nice💗.
I’m thinking of you as we transition into a new year, a new beginning. I’m working on letting go of ideas or thoughts that don’t serve me anymore, and making room for abundance and grace. Sound good? What are your thoughts for the new year?
Looking forward to seeing you and hearing from you.
It’s the end of August…how are you? How am I? How are we?
I read this on my friend’s Facebook newsfeed yesterday;
” Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of COVID, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this new normal is real life. Then I meet an 87 year old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet is still enchanted with life. He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. ” No” he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. ” I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines. Husband loves wife today. Family drops everything to come to Grandma’s bedside. He patted my hand. Old man makes new friend.
What would your headlines read?
I have so many sweet ones. Neighbor asks for help. Sisters connect. Family finds solace in the mountains. Mother sees her child as she is. Brother says I’m sorry. Beans taste good. Mom and Dad love me.
I have noticed I do this a lot. I make up my world from the people around me, and I make up my world from my inner world. I find solace in my body. I connect. Gabor Mate says ” Safety is not the absence of threat, it’s the presence of connection.” Connection to self, connection to others, connection to nature, connection to something greater than myself, connection to…? How do you feel safe?
Elaine Alec writes from her new book Calling My Spirit Back “In order to create a safe space, you need to be a safe space.”
When I let that sink in…what does it mean to be a safe space? Wow for me it means I need to practice and cultivate a lot of self compassion. Being there for myself in conflict, being there for myself when things feel awful or hopeless, or simply being there when I feel jealous, disappointed, sad… or asking for help. Easier said than done, right! I do think and feel that these times require it. There is a lot to digest on the inside as well as on the outside.
Here are a few reminders for the upcoming months to keep strong and vibrant.
There is no end to what we can do to feel confident and healthy in 2020!
Deep Immune is a powerful combination of herbs that increase our immune cell activity, increase our digestive function, down-regulates our nervous system and calms the mind. Hey I want some of that! Marseille’s Thieves Oil is a combination of essential oils famous for warding off the plague in France in 1413. Available in 100% essential oil blend, bees wax salve, and now a hand sanitizer spray.
If you’re needing some guidance with your health and well-being, give me a shout. I’d love to help.
Happy Year of the Rat! The rat is the clever one who won the race by tricking the bull into carrying him until the finish line. At that point the rat jumped off and crossed the line before all the other animals. I know this story because I’m a rat. When I lived in Taiwan and found out I was a rat, all the children made sure I knew I wasn’t a lowly rodent, but that I was a clever rodent!
Lillian Bridges has written up the forecast for 2020. “Rats favor their young, so this is a year of youth empowerment and reclaiming one’s youthful self. People will feel younger and livelier.” That sounds good. To read more of her predictions, click the link below, than click the purple title that says The Year of The Rat Forecast. https://lotusinstitute.com/
There’s a new free 21 day meditation coming up by Oprah and Deepak. It’s about living our healthiest life. Here’s the link: https://chopracentermeditation.com/login?utm_source=21-Day%20Meditation%20Experience%20-%20News&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=PHR-Recruitment+%231F.&utm_campaign=21-Day%20Meditation%20Experience%20-%20News2020113
Meditation for me grows my compassion muscle. It shines a light on my mental stories and games that I play. If I can grow to like myself more, this helps me understand others on a deeper level. The road can feel bumpy…and it’s worth it.
Winter is upon us. We got treated to some snow and sliding! My daughter Alia Blue, who is eight years old, couldn’t get enough of the snow. One night after her bath, she decided to get her snow pants on for one more go! Yes, good thing! It melted fast.
Winter is Kidney/ Urinary Bladder time of year. Our energies are deep in the body. It’s important for me to check in to see what I am needing. If I try to do too much…argh it doesn’t feel good. At the same time, it’s important for me to keep my light shining bright and my Qi moving with some treatments, yoga, meditation, slow time with family, singing, walking, creativity…What are your tricks?
In Chinese Medicine, it’s time to keep the body warm and preserve our Qi, for Spring and Summer are around the corner. Change change change. Everything comes and goes.
My hours at the clinic are Mon, Wed, Fri…with some overflow Thursdays.
Remember you can text, call, email, or book online.
Looking forward to our visits.
Gigi Vincentine Dr. TCM
250.882.0659
gigivincentine@hotmail.com
Last Friday, I was given the honor of speaking to and working with over 60 Montessorians from the Vancouver Island Montessori Association(VIMA). https://www.facebook.com/VancouverIslandMontessoriAssociation/ I was invited to be the key-note speaker for their Professional Development Day. I was very excited to set up my “clinic setting” in the beautiful Omega High School classroom at Maria Montessori Academy. (https://mariamontessoriacademy.net/)
“Preparing the environment” in the classroom is a key component to the Montessori philosophy. We explored the idea of “preparing the environment” within oneself. For the past 20 years, I have been exploring within myself this idea of Living / Healing Through The Seasons, the emotions and the physical patterns that evolve with Mother Nature. Just like a teacher that lives and breathes through the seasons with their students. We discovered together that we are doing the same thing! How beautiful!
Wow!
How do you feel in the fall, winter, spring, summer?
What motivates you?
What is your stress response?
Group Work: What is your Dominant Element?
60 Lovely Montessorians!
It’s Monday today and I’m still feeling the awe and the honor that was bestowed upon me and upon us all. Thank you
Gigi Vincentine
I recently came upon this wonderful documentary on the Life of Maria Montessori. Please enjoy!
Hello everyone, welcome to Fall, bye bye crazy summer fun months. It’s back to school for my family and back to routine…with a little more self-care. What about you? What does your self-care look like? What do you do in your life to spark joy? Who do you surround yourself with? Fall is Lungs & Large Intestine season- the Metal Element (Metal is more linear and routinized). So it makes sense that we are adding more routine and more discipline into our lives. The sun makes it easier to be happy, so with less sun we could insert some more joyful activities to keep balanced. The emotion of the Fall is sadness and/or loneliness. I sometimes feel homesick this time of year. Keeping my lungs open and my digestion smooth will be one of my goals for the next few months. I go for more walks and stretch out my arms while breathing and doing circles; movement with breath. This slows me down and brings me in the moment. I have started taking some probiotics and some immune teas and formulas, getting some acupuncture and massage, and going to bed earlier. I am sure all of you have some tricks that you do this time of year too.
This Fall I have some exciting events and courses lined up. I just finished taking an acupuncture course on Luo-Collateral channels in the body. These are channels in the body that connect the yin and yang paired organs. When we get overwhelmed these Luo-Collaterals have the potential to hold things at bay for later, creating a latency in the body until we are more capable to deal with certain stresses. Our bodies and channels have a super wisdom to deal with life. At some point we want to be able to slow down and take stock of how we are doing and make sense of things in our lives. If this doesn’t happen, our bodies are constantly overwhelmed, and life feels stressful. Acupuncture can help the body offload some of this stored emotion/tension. In the course I was taking, we even saw how the body creates extra blood vessels to store this stress or latency. Wow!
Over the summer, I was co-teaching Yoga at the Salt Spring Centre. This sparked a fire in me to start teaching here in Victoria. I’m going to start teaching a group of Montessori teachers weekly classes, and then we’ll see ( I know some of you have been wondering… I’ll keep you posted when I start to branch out). I’ve also been asked to be the key note speaker at a Montessori Conference on The Tao of Montessori. Two things very close to my heart. There are so many opportunities in life, we just need to grab them, even though we are terrified!
I’m flying to Portland next month for a two day workshop with Kiiko Matsumoto. Her specialities lie in teaching the Classics, and combining their wisdom with Modern Medicine. She will be focusing on systemic detoxification of our most common pharmaceuticals, and how they affect our kidney function. We’ll be discussing other topics such as bone strength and long term health goals (longevity). Chinese Medicine is all about longevity and happy life!
Looking forward to hearing what you have been up to. Some of you I haven’t seen in a while. Drop me a note via email or make an appointment. I’m in the clinic Mon, Wed, Fri, Thursday is my overflow day. Please remember you can text/email me to make a booking, especially if you don’t find a spot that’s convenient for you. I can put you on a waitlist for that day.
Here’s my email gigivincentine@hotmail.com
cell# 250.882.0659
Blessings
Gigi Vincentine Dr. TCM
Maria Montessori Academy and VIMA-Vancouver Island Montessori Association hosted an International Montessori Conference over the weekend. What a beautiful school and a beautiful group of people.
There were over 250 Montessorians there to share their enthusiasm and love for what they do.
I presented a topic that has been percolating in me for many years: The Tao of Montessori. I was given the opportunity to share and explore this topic with a group of passionate Montessori teachers. I was very touched by how open and generous they were with me. Wow! Lucky me!
Oh my I just realized that 2019 Year of the Pig started off like Lillian Bridges’s predictions: “So plan on being more of a homebody or staying closer to home this year, as that will bring more fortune than traveling around.” We did stay at home didn’t we, buried under 2 feet of snow! Ha! What a magical time for us here in Victoria.
Our first family igloo! Candles and all!
I picked out some of my favorite parts of Lillian’s predictions. If you want to read more click the link below.
“Pigs are peaceful animals, except when angered, which is rare. To the Chinese, Pigs symbolize the values of family, friends, home and good food. In fact, the pictogram for home is a roof with a pig under it.”
“Internationally, most relationships should be harmonious and amicable. If heads of government or politicians choose to fight with others, they will find that they will be more evenly matched this year and will not be able to dominate as they have in the past. Resistance will meet an equal resistance. This can lead to impasses where both sides need to lower their expectations considerably in order to compromise and find solutions. Incremental gains and small wins will be much easier to achieve this year.”
Winter, for me and maybe all of us to some extend is a time for introspection. It is the Kidney/ Urinary Bladder time of year, where our energy lies deep inside our bodies, like a hibernation. As my meditation practice unfolds, I often seek help from the beautiful words and meditations by Tara Brach. On her website you can find meditations on so many topics. This one on forgiveness has helped me soften the armor around my heart. I send this to you with blessings.
Ok, back to business! I have just signed a long term lease on my clinic space, yeah! I like to feel rooted and know where I’m going to be, so this feels good to me. Looking forward to sharing time and healing with you in our slice of heaven.
As of April 1st/2019, my treatments will be increasing in price by $5.
Acupuncture will be $90
Tuina Massage 45 mins $85
Tuina Massage 60 mins $100
I’m on my way to the Victoria Yoga Conference at Uvic in the student union building. I’ll be at The Salt Spring Yoga Centre booth sharing the potential of their Yoga Teacher Training program. Come by and say hello if you’re attending.
Blessings and Love
Gigi
All replies to this newsletter go straight to my inbox (if you have something to share) http://www.gigivincentine.ca
gigivincentine@hotmail.com
250.882.0659
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