This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Katie Brindle, the author of this new book, Yang Sheng: the art of Chinese self-healing, is my 21st century super-hero.
I have been practising the Hayo’u method using her facial, scalp and body massage tools that have for a few months now. It is my only skin care product that I do not ever ditch. Whatever oils or creams I am trialing this month I always have a quick one minute sweep of my face with Katie’s polished jade stone every evening. More recently I have been using the scalp and body massage tools as well.
I gave one of the beauty restorers to Grace for her birthday and she loves it so much that she sits at her desk ‘restoring her face’ with gentle sweeps using her stone.
Read our review of the Beauty Restorers HERE.
So when I heard about this new book that Katie had written I was eager to read it.
Yang-sheng is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that puts paramount emphasis on prevention of illnesses. The Chinese words yang refers to nourishing, nurturing, nursing, taking care of, fostering, or promoting and sheng means life, birth, growth, vitality, and health.
Katie Brindle is a UK born Chinese medicine practitioner and founder of the Hayo’u Method. She used yang sheng to solve her own health issues after a a car accident which ended her career as an opera singer. Katie has been working in Chinese medicine since 2002. She practises massage and reflexology, she studied TCM and qualified as a Five Elements Chinese medical practitioner, graduating from the UK’s Integrated College of Chinese medicine. She strongly believes that Western and Chinese medicine can work together to create a healthier, happy society.
This book takes the myth out of Chinese medicine and shows you how it can be implemented into your daily life with little or no cost. Katie has brought these ancient traditions up to date giving clear, concise explanations and instructions.
I have recently been practising meditation on a daily basis. I love it so much that if I don’t do it I feel as if my day is incomplete. Meditation is doing me good generally. I feel calmer, fresher and am more tolerant of the world. However this book takes that philosophy and digs deep into our health issues.
Let’s be honest as we get older there are increasing and inevitable aches and pains that we put up with. Getting sick is also accepted in our western society.
If you fell sick in ancient China, it was regarded as a failure of preventative medicine.
Katie Brindle
This book is all about being proactive rather than reactive. Health maintenance is your number one priority, it is the core of our wellbeing. Think of the things that you do on a daily basis and that you would not dream of not doing. Bathing or showering, cleaning your teeth, brushing your hair. All of these are simple acts. Once you have learned some simple yang sheng methods they too will slot into your daily routine.
There is a whole chapter on sleep. I know so many friends who suffer long term sleep issues. There are others who, like myself, will occasionally have a bad night’s sleep as they are worrying about something. A cup of Chrysanthemum tea, an acupressure point called Anmian and breathing to your feet. These will all aid a peaceful night’s sleep. The breathing is to take you out of your head and racing thoughts.
Grace loves her Yoga and the benefits are countless for both mind and body. However Katie introduces us to Qigong which is apparently the grandmother of Chinese exercise, kung fu is the parent and Tai chi is the child. Most Qigong motions exist solely for the purpose of meditation, health and healing. Katie lays out 7 daily exercises which you do not have to do all at once but can incorporate them into your day. They are easy to do and honestly must be worthwhile as Qigong has been around for at least 5,000 years!
Everything in this book is achievable and will undoubtedly transform your health. I could write so much about this book but I think the best thing is to buy and read it for yourself as there will be some practical advice that you can relate to.
Lots more fascinating wellbeing articles to read here