For over 30 years, I was trapped in the relentless cycle of dieting, struggling with the toxic influences of diet culture, negative body image, and the pressures of exercise culture. This trifecta led me into a whirlpool of disordered eating, which disrupted my natural ability to listen to my body’s needs and damaged my relationship with food and movement.

In this post, we'll explore the fascinating connection between the Wood Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, our body’s organs, and the transformative practice of Tai Chi 18, also known as Shibashi Qigong.

In a world where dieting fads come and go, many are discovering the lasting benefits of mindful eating. Rather than adhering to rigid rules, mindful eating is about fostering a positive relationship with food through awareness and appreciation.

Nature offers beautiful examples of the balance between strength and flexibility. Consider bamboo, which grows tall and strong yet remains flexible due to its hollow structure. In Qigong, physical postures like the Wuji stance, horse stance, and Hugging the Tree not only build strength and flexibility in the body but also in the mind.

In the realm of Chinese Five Element Theory, the Wood Element symbolizes the essence of spring, embodying growth, renewal, and upward momentum. It's about finding stability and root amidst the ever-changing seasons of life, and for many, a consistent mindfulness practice serves as the anchor.

Ever found yourself knee-deep in a bag of chips or drowning in a sea of peanut butter cups without even realizing how you got there? Yeah, been there, done that.

Let’s delve into the concept of "fat talk," a prevalent yet often overlooked phenomenon that permeates our culture and many others.

Hey there! Let's talk about something close to my heart: the magic of moving slowly, just like in Qigong.

In the realm of yoga and qigong, where every breath and movement holds the potential for transformation, I find myself truly humbled by the strength and resilience of those I have had the privilege to guide on their journey towards recovery from eating disorders.

I want to address something that many on the path to healing from eating disorders face – the intersection of disordered eating with conditions like IBS, OCD, and trauma.

It's often said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In your journey toward healing and self-discovery, that single step is curiosity.

One of the most profound challenges on the journey to healing from an eating disorder is the process of truly embodying our physical selves.