We tend to be loving and kind with others, but my question today is, are you loving and kind to yourself?
Somehow this week I didn’t sleep very well. I woke up very early with lots of ideas in my head. I was tossing and turning thinking I “should” sleep, sleep is so important.
Did you know that our body’s various organs function and replenish themselves at different times of the day (a principle rooted in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)? Yin and yang Qi play opposite roles. In the day, yang Qi dominates as it fuels the body’s activities and keeps us warm and alert. As the day turns into night, the cooling, quiet and nourishing yin Qi dominates.
During the day, each organ has a two-hour slot, where it is most energetically active. During the night our Qi works inwardly and takes care of fully restoring the body.
It is recommended to sleep before 11pm, mainly because between 11pm and 1am is the time for our bile to be released from the gallbladder which is the system charge of yang Qi. It is when our blood is running full speed to clean itself of the day’s dead cells and repair damage. So if we fall asleep before 11pm, our body will get sufficient yang Qi to support a healthier body.
One of the most important time slots is between 1am and 3am, which belongs to the liver Qi. By that time we should be in a deep sleep phase. It is the optimal time for our liver to cleanse and nourish the blood. Without nourishment of Qi and blood, the organs are believed to fall out of balance and could lead to serious health issues.
Do you ever ask yourself the question; what is it that my body needs right now? And I don’t mean that glass of wine or the chocolate in the cupboard!
Well, I did, at 4.30am. I thought, life is not about what I “should” be doing, but what is it that is going on right now, what is asked of me right now, what do I need at this particular moment? And the answer was, "I had enough sleep, it is ok to get up" So I made myself a hot water, and I sat down at my computer to write to you.
Here are some facts that can cause overpowering yang Qi, leading to yin and yang being out of balance:
Here are a few tips on what you can do to improve your sleep:
Our body is always telling us what it needs; it is on us to listen and take care of the vessel we live in so that it can do its work, healing us moment to moment.
If you would like to find out more how I could support you on your way to better sleep and mental clarity , get in touch, I love to hear from you.
paola@paolaroyal.co.uk