28 Jun Taking a Pause this Summer
As a health provider, you may assume that I always “walk the talk” or “practice what I preach,” but make no mistake, tuning in to what my body (or a body I’m responsible for) needs most is not always accessible or easy for me to do.
A humbling example of this was a few years ago when I took my son to a birthday party on one of the hottest days in San Francisco. It was a gorgeous day and I thought it would be a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoor warmth, visit with friends, and JUST. KEEP. GOING.
What I didn’t realize was that Ethan was overheating and his body was slowly shutting down. It happened in a very subtle way – until it wasn’t subtle anymore. By early evening we ended up in the ER treating his heat exhaustion. I didn’t see the signs of Ethan’s little body overdoing, overexerting, and overheating.
A rare hot summer day in San Francisco can be so exciting that it’s also easy to overschedule and overextend to the point where joy can turn into burnout (literally!). Last week we had our longest day of the year (summer solstice) which Chinese Medicine would consider the height of “yang” energy. In order to balance this peak of yang, we must pause in between the play and take time to rest by adding back in the “yin” energy so we don’t burn out.
According to Chinese Medicine, the organs that correspond in the body to summer are the heart and the small intestine. These organs also function best when given “yin” time to rest and hydrate. Living in a city that naturally has more frenetic (yang) energy can also make it extra challenging to slow down and just do less. When I took Ethan from a party to the beach, I forgot this basic philosophy of hydration and reset. Even those handy SF Alert texts I considered hyperbole!
Lastly, here are a few tricks from my latest cleanse class which was rooted in accessing more pleasure in your day-to-day life through food and eating. The fact that you must eat everyday will always give you ample opportunities to come back home to your body as a place to reset, be nourished, and rest.
- Reflect on HOW you eat as a doorway into how you do everything.
- Eating without distractions will help you feel more deeply satisfied with less.
- Access more pleasure by slowing down when you eat & really tasting your food.
In good health & summer love,
Jamie
PS: I will be co-hosting a yummy cooking class with Ginny Brown on Sunday July 7th from 4-6 pm. You will learn cooking techniques and the appropriate usage of spices to create a delicious meal that is aligned with Chinese Medicine and the seasons. Contact me if you are interested. 10 people max. Cost: $150 (includes class and dinner). More details coming soon.
PSS: Ethan still loves the beach and has maintained his super-hydrated self ❤️