The Benefits of Reading

As humans we are constantly reading. Whether it be the daily news, social media posts, text messages or emails, the list goes on. We read so much, we often forget it is something that can be extremely beneficial when done with intention. Just like our physical beings, our brains need exercise, and reading is one of the greatest ways to keep our minds healthy. Putting effort towards reading something substantial every single day (long or short!) has really great benefits. 

Mental Stimulation

Reading stimulates the brain and has been shown to slow the progress of potential diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. It is necessary to keep your brain active and engaged to maintain its power. Keeping the brain stimulated is a form of exercising the mind which is crucial for keeping it healthy and sharp.

Stress Reduction

A reduction in stress comes as a result of setting aside time for yourself. Reading is a great addition to our routines as it gives us a moment to spend time with ourselves and enjoy the present moment. Reading allows you to relax as tension releases, whether you're curled up with a good book or an informative article.

Increase in Knowledge

We are constantly filling our minds with information, and the more knowledge we acquire, the better equipped we may be to face life's challenges. Learning is also simply fun, especially when we choose to engage in a topic that we are passionate about.

Increase in Empathy

Reading about the lives of others may take you out of your own reality for a moment and place you into someone else's shoes. Reading is a necessary tool for understanding the lives of those that differ from your own. Reading has the power to change your outlook on certain things as well, handing you the opportunity for new perspectives. 

Vocabulary Expansion

The more you read, the larger your vocabulary can grow. Simply exposing yourself to more words and ways of thinking can expand your vocabulary and assist in your ability to express your thoughts. 

Improved Memory

When we read, there are many aspects we have to retain through the storyline to properly understand what is happening on the pages in front of us. Our brains take these new memories and forge new pathways while strengthening existing ones. This assists in stabilizing moods as well as improving short term memory recall.

Improved Focus and Concentration

Reading requires focus, and while our brains may be pulled in many different directions throughout the day, it is important to set aside time to read something of substance. Our brains require concentration and focus in order to retain what we are reading, and the more we read, the more improvement we see in our ability to focus. It is shown that even just 15-20 minutes of reading a day can result in being more productive due to an increase in focus.

Improved Sleep

Picking up a book to read before falling asleep instead of spending time on your phone can lead to a more restful night's sleep. Reading something of substance is relaxing and sleep-inducing, allowing you to de-stress and release tension which results in better sleep quality. 

All of these benefits are wonderful and inspiring, but you may be thinking “what now?” We have provided a few book recommendations along with some great blogs to assist you in your reading journey. Choose something you're passionate about or something that sparks interest-- dive in, and experience all that reading has to offer. 

Book Recommendations:

—Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment

Book by Tal Ben-Shahar

—The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Book by Brené Brown

—Make Your Bed

Book by Admiral William H. McRaven

This inspiring book shows how little things can have a big impact.

Blog Recommendations:

—Pick the Brain: Grow Yourself

https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/

This blog specifically focuses on self motivation and self improvement.

—Unclutter

https://www.unclutter.com/blog/

This blog is great for assisting you in not only decluttering your space, but your mind as well. 

—Zen Habits

https://zenhabits.net

A zen-themed self improvement blog that also assists in motivation while understanding the world around us. 

References

10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html

15 Incredible Benefits from Reading Every Day. Retrieved from https://ideapod.com/15-incredible-benefits-reading-read-every-day/

RAIN Meditation

Are you finding it challenging to accept the present moment? As we drift deeper into this new normal, it’s quite difficult to not get stuck in judgments about our situation, others, and even ourselves. When we feel frustrated, anxious, uncertain, and disappointed about the realities we face, it can be tempting to turn inward and criticize our emotional responses and reactions. Being hard on ourselves is a common manifestation of experiencing painful emotions, but often gets us stuck in negative feelings. What would it mean to experience a painful reality while giving yourself compassion and acceptance? Loving ourselves, especially when we are truly upset about internal and external factors, is a challenging task. To help us explore ideas of acceptance and self-compassion, we can turn to Tara Brach’s RAIN meditation. 

RAIN stands for:

Recognize what is going on 

Allow the experience to be there, just as it is

Investigate with curiosity

Nurture with loving kindness

What follows is a basic guide for practicing RAIN meditation. This will give you an understanding of what to consider within each letter. Additionally, you may want to watch the video at the end of this blog post, in which Tara Brach leads the listener through the RAIN meditation. 

R: Think about and imagine a situation that brings up painful emotions, thoughts, and sensations. This could be a difficult conversation, an unfair reality you face, or something that’s making you feel stuck. Bring your attention to what’s coming up for you. Try to take a curious stance on your emotions, body sensations, thoughts, urges, etc. Just notice and describe your experience. 

A: Without trying to avoid, suppress, or change your experience, experiment with ways to let it be. This might be possible with a mantra like “It is what it is.”

I: Investigate your experience with the purpose of digging deeper into the meaning that exists. Ask yourself questions like “What about this is most painful?” “Which emotions am I experiencing?” “Does this situation remind me of something from the past/bring up similar experiences?” “What sensations are arising in me?” and “What about this makes me feel most vulnerable?”

N: What message do you need to hear most right now? Amidst this challenging situation, you are doing your best. Visualize giving yourself a hug or comforting yourself with genuine care and compassion. Imagine love encompassing you. 

References

Practice the RAIN Meditation with Tara Brach (2019). Retrieved from https://www.mindful.org/investigate-anxiety-with-tara-brachs-rain-practice/

A Holistic Approach to Respiratory Illness and Recovery

Amanda Gawrysz, L.Ac., MSOM

Concern has grown and interest has peaked over recent months about the health of our immune systems and the health of our lungs in particular. Some of us are experiencing loved ones who may be suffering or in the midst of recovery. 

Chinese Medicine takes a different approach in comparison to Western medicine. Chinese medicine does not analyze the exact type of pathogen which has entered the body. The pathogen itself, whether it is a virus or bacteria that caused the condition is not that important in Chinese Medicine. What is important is analyzing what effect the pathogen has on the body and then treating that problem. In Chinese Medicine, respiratory diseases are named based on what effect the pathogen has inflicted on the body, and pays little attention to the attacker itself. This highlights the underlying uniqueness of Chinese Medicine. It continually analyzes the patient’s responses to the environment and tries to bring the patient back to balance.

Chinese medicine looks at the organs from the perspective of yin and yang. Some organs are considered to have more yang aspects to them and others are more yin in nature. Chinese medicine terms the lungs as the “delicate Zang.” Zang refers to the lungs being a yin organ. They govern or are responsible for dispersion, depuration, and descension. Through our orifices, the lungs have direct exposure to our external environment and are the most susceptible organ to attacks from pathogens along with its yang counterpart, the large intestine or colon. 

Not only do the lungs dominate the qi of respiration, but also the qi of the entire body. Since the main job of the lungs is to descend qi, when illness occurs, a dysfunction of this process also occurs. Dysfunction of the lung in descending may lead to upward perversion of lung qi with symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

So what can we do to help those with weak lung constitutions or in recovery from illness? Stress management, light physical movement, and boosting immunity should be considered in helping us maintain optimal health and speeding up the recovery process. 

It is important to take the health of our bodies and minds into our own hands. Below you will find ways to help in the healing process from the comfort of your own home. Right now is the perfect time for self reflection and putting your focus on self love and self care. 

The most important, but also the most overlooked area to balance and manage is our stress levels. How we are allowing ourselves to respond to all the chaos and mainstream media can trigger our organs into a state of peace or into a state of conflict. Stress puts our adrenal glands into overdrive by producing more cortisol. Stress turns on our sympathetic nervous system and puts our body into a state of fight or flight. If we were actually fleeing from a predator or having to fight, this is an important innate ability we have evolved to have; however, in today’s modern society we deal with more psychological stress that still turns on this response. This in turn causes our immune systems to shut down. We are not sleeping as well or digesting optimally. 

The issue does not lie in stopping this innate response, but more in how we can turn it off. Our minds and bodies are so incredibly powerful and intelligent. With our thoughts and through breathwork, we can change the state of our nervous system and organ responses. 

How can stress be managed and as a result immunity improved?

BREATHWORK. Deep breathing stimulates the vagus nerve. By stimulating this nerve, we are able to switch over or turn on our parasympathetic nervous system also known as rest and digest. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve that travels through our chest and into our abdominal organs so make sure to focus on breathing with your belly. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and exhale slowly for 4 seconds. Repeat this at least 5 times. You should very quickly begin to feel a sense of calmness rush through the body. Whenever you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed check in on your breathing. Does it seem shallow and quick? Are your inhales shorter than your exhales or vice versa? 

MEDITATION. Meditation does not require sitting for hours like a Buddhist Zen monk. Meditation can be 5 minutes of silence and just being with yourself. Whatever thoughts come into your mind, just allow them to flow out. Do not give meaning to your thoughts, but instead bring awareness in releasing them. 

Beginning with guided meditations on YouTube or downloading apps such as Headspace can ease you into the process if you feel hesitant. Replace the Instagram scrolling and Netflix binge watching with meditation. 5 to 10 minutes everyday is all you need.  

QI GONG. Qi Gong is a form of Chinese meditative exercise that has been practiced for thousands of years. The practice focuses on cultivating energy in both the body and the surrounding environment through breathing, focused intention, postural techniques and other movements. Recent studies have evaluated the long-held belief that qi gong improves immune system functioning – a characteristic that can be measured and quantified. One study showed that qi gong practice increased the quantities of monocyte and lymphocytes – two white blood cell types that make up the majority of the lymphatic immune system. 

YouTube is a great resource for qi gong practices. Here are a few you can begin with.

Qi Gong For Respiratory Health

Qi Gong To Strengthen The Lung

STRETCHING. Bob Flaws, practitioner of Chinese Medicine and author of numerous books in the field expresses:

“The Nei Jing states, ‘Prolonged sitting damages the flesh’ and ‘Prolonged lying damages the qi.’ For not less than 2,000 years Chinese doctors have believed that lack of adequate physical exercise leads to disease. As a modern Chinese acupuncture text says, ‘Lack of physical exercise can impair the circulation of qi and blood, weaken the function of the spleen and stomach, and sap body resistance.’ When we exercise, the rhythmic contraction and release of our muscles, the increased pumping of our heart, and the expansion and contraction of our lungs all promote the flow and circulation of qi, blood, and body fluids. This increased circulation of qi results in the upbearing of the clear and downbearing of the turbid. In Chinese medical terms, this implies that digestion is improved. When digestion is improved, qi and blood production also improves. And abundant qi and blood result in increased immunity to disease.”

Check out these simple exercises from a Chinese medicine perspective. Stretching for the Lung Meridian

If you are new to stretching and would like to create a home routine for yourself, here is a great basic guide with images on how to stretch. Basic Stretches.

SOUND HEALING. Sound is such an amazing and powerful healing tool. Music is made up of frequencies and frequency is energy. Certain vibrations can hurt or they can heal us. The frequency of 432 Hz has been studied for centuries and is known for its healing benefits throughout history due to its relationship with Mother Nature. 432 Hz music will make us feel more calm and balanced because it is within our DNA. We are part of Earth after all. 

There are other beneficial frequencies you can listen to:

174 Hz - removes pain

285 Hz - influences energy field

528 Hz - repairs DNA 

YouTube is a great resource to find healing frequency music. Try some of these links below to start.

Immune System Booster

Whole Body Regeneration

Sound and Qi Gong can also be combined to help detox our organs. Check out this video!

Healing Sounds Qi Gong For Health Lungs

HERBS. Adaptogenic herbs like ashwaghanda, rodiola rosea, licorice root, tyrosine, magnesium, holy basil leaf, ginseng, maca root, and eleuthero are some herbs and supplements that help support the adrenal glands and manage how we respond to stress. They bring our bodies back into a state of homeostasis or balance. 

Immune support herbs like echinacea, vitamin C, zinc, omega 3’s, elderberry, cat’s claw, probiotics, japanese knotweed, curcumin, and medicinal mushrooms contain properties that help with boosting white blood cell counts, decreasing inflammation, or eliminating pathogens. 

We are all in this together. Communities are growing stronger and closer the longer we are in this state of isolation. The MKE Mindbody Wellness team is here for you offering telehealth, distant reiki, and supplement consultations. Reach out to us with questions or to schedule at 414-367-7023 or at mindbody@mkewellness.com.