Living and doing in moderation can be an alien concept to many of us who are part of the no-pain-no-gain philosophy of the modern world. Learning to conserve our energy is essential for optimum wellbeing that is why at the heart of all i teach is the 70 Percent (Two Thirds) Rule. Simple in meaning, it has very deep roots and is an essential principle of learning Qigong for health and longevity and is at the heart of Taoist practices.
Strain can be seen as a result of breaking the 70% rule – it is a physiological condition caused by excessive exercise or too much tension / adrenaline. This shouldn’t be confused with effort, which may left you feeling tired and exercised, but not physically, emotionally or mentally injured.
Quite simply, by completing any technique you do to only 70% of your current capacity you can:
I am a firm believer in optimizing energy before your cycle. Lets try to move away from the no pain no gain mentality and take a closer look at how we can work with our bodies instead of against it.
Below is an outline of what is happening to your body during your cycle, and how to exercise to help avoid injury and maintain good health.
You guessed it, the first phase is when you’re actually bleeding. This phase could be only 3 days, or up to 10 days. This is the most Yin part of your cycle. In this phase, your uterus is getting rid of your uterine lining, and your pituitary begins producing LH and FSH to stimulate the growth of new follicles.
Tips for Phase 1:
In this phase, one of the many follicles produced in phase 1 becomes dominant and starts to grow, producing more oestrogen. As a result, the uterine lining thickens and grows – this phase is also a Yin phase.
TCM Tips for Phase 2:
Ovulation is said to occur on day 14, but this is a myth. In reality there are many factors influencing this, including cycle length and the health of the individual. In general, it occurs 11-16 days prior to the first day of bleeding. During this phase, a surge of the LH hormone triggers the release of the egg from the dominant follicle. This phase marks the peak of the Yin phase, where Yang energy begins to really start rising.
Tips for Phase 3:
The shell of the follicle that released the egg, now called the corpus luteum, begins to break down and secrete progesterone. This is the most Yang part of your cycle, which is reflected in your temperature consistently rising. If pregnancy occurs, the body requires a LOT of energy to get the embryo growing, which is reflected in this very energetic and active part of the cycle.
In the few days before the period begins however, many women begin to feel more withdrawn and introverted.
Tips for Phase 4:
Learn to tune into your senses and listen to your body : If you are experiencing stress or discomfort at a physical, emotional or mental level, you must adjust the percentage rule to suit how you feel.. You should adjust the amount of effort and practice according to how you feel. Some people with chronic pain for example, may find that they need to work right down at a 2% range, that to many would look as though they are barely moving. If you have an injury that is healing and you’ve been told it’s OK to do some gentle exercise, you may choose to use the 20% rule for a while until you feel a release occur, then you may practise using the 30% rule for a while and so on, to gradually return your body to a normal balance at 70%. The same principle applies to mental and emotional stresses, in holistic terms these stresses affect your body and you should be gentle and compassionate with yourself.