A general principle of qigong as it relates to Chinese medicine is that the body must be balanced so that energy can flow around it. Stress and trauma can cause blockages and lead to health problems.
For most of my life, I’ve always eaten healthy, but I got into the bad habit of craving sugary carbs, which led to weight gain. I could go back – when I stopped eating processed food, you tend to stop craving them. A combination of improved diet and exercise improved my mood and helped with menopausal symptoms. I was finally free from the joint pain that was crippling me.
Ironically, I was a fast-paced aerobics instructor for most of my life, and now do very slow, mindful movements. If I had been told I could lose weight, I wouldn’t have believed it, but taking the stress out of my body at this stage in my life now makes sense and is something I really need. Two years later, I feel much younger than the day she turned 50. I have more energy and I feel happier with myself.
my workout week
I teach qigong for 30 minutes to an hour 6 days a week and practice myself for about 20 minutes each day. I also take my dog for walks every day, and I appreciate nature by taking time to walk in nature. I also meditate for about 10-15 minutes during lunch.
what i eat in a day
When it comes to food, I follow the principles of Chinese medicine and try to avoid raw food (I prefer cooked food as it is easier to digest). I used to be a vegetarian, but now I eat meat and fish for the collagen benefits. All to enjoy life.
breakfast: Banana, berry and cinnamon porridge
lunch: Sourdough bread with soup
dinner: Salmon with Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes
snack: Kind of like a healthy kind bar with nuts and dark chocolate
living aid
carbohydrates: Eat sourdough bread with wheat in it, but it’s easy to digest.
caffeine: I love a cup of coffee in the morning and drink herbal tea and plenty of water during the day.
alcohol: I love a glass of wine, especially on weekends.
sleep: I sleep a lot these days. I try to go to bed by 10pm and wake up around 6am.
See below for a free qigong session @katie_brindle Instagram or visit katiebrindle.com
