One of the most exciting parts of my 35 years of hands-on teaching work is watching people’s lives change for the better, physically, mentally, and emotionally, as they take action to improve their health. Our daily well-being determines how our day begins and ends. If you wake up with pain or not feeling your best in your body, it immediately affects your energy and focus, and takes away from your plans for the day.
I remember when I was sick for all those years with Crohn’s disease and autoimmune disease, Takayasu arteritis. My day was decided by the level of symptoms I was experiencing. The pattern I discovered for myself was that my symptoms got worse in the late summer and fall. After learning and experiencing a macrobiotic lifestyle, I learned that there are not only nutritional patterns that influence your body, but also seasonal patterns.
Learning to feed myself correctly, according to my cellular health code, was a breakthrough from pain and symptom suffering, which happened very quickly, within a week’s time. I felt different symptoms diminishing, and I could feel my body healing at a rapid pace. However, it wasn’t until I learned about the seasonal influences on the body’s organ systems that it all made sense and connected the dots for me.
In Chinese medicine, we learn that there is a circadian rhythm for each season, which affects our organ function. Our inner bodies are a reflection of our outer environment. This affects both our physical and mental health, because each season is linked to specific organ functions. When we respect this change, we learn to make the required adjustments to diet, activity, and lifestyle to maintain health and balance.
We can flow from one season to another, avoiding triggers that set off symptoms. Creating a day or two of conscious adjustment will do a lot to prevent spring colds, allergies, and or flu.
I created a Seasonal Intelligence Day Retreat to support your body’s transition. The focus of the April 4th retreat was the liver and gallbladder, which reboot this time of year. We spent the day fasting on green juice, a light digestive-friendly meal, breathing, sound, and movement, all focused on the liver. If interested in more information for the next SI retreat on June 28th click HERE
What participants reported back:
– My hip opened, and the pain subsided by the end of the day. I will definitely keep down the movement and breathing that was taught.
– I felt lighter than when I arrived
– Breathing helped relax me and clear my head
– I felt congestion move from head to lungs
– I felt relaxed and calm
– I love having a game plan for the season
– Virginia Harper‘s spring retreat was amazing! I learned so much about my liver and my gallbladder. I had no idea the intricacy of them both. Being able to be fed for those particular organs that day was amazing, the movement aspect and the camaraderie was icing on the cake. I highly recommend if you have an opportunity to be a part of one of these retreats you will not be sorry! I will definitely be at the next one. It’s one of the best things I can do from my health and my spirit. – M.P.
Whether you can make a big change during this season, by adjusting your eating, or simply taking time to walk in the grass and breathe … do something. The liver needs change and movement. Gallbladder sludge becomes sludge due to immobility.
In this month’s cooking class, on Saturday, April 18, I will be focusing on the gallbladder, its function, its influence on our digestive system, and its support for the liver. Gallbladder symptoms are subtle, showing up both physically and emotionally. I will discuss each and teach food and lifestyle therapy. Sign up HERE
We have a lot of good information bombarding us about health and how it works, what to do, and what the next food fad is. Learning what your body needs at the cellular level of healing is the focus of my cooking classes. I will be preparing a delicious, supportive gallbladder-cleansing meal.
Join us this Saturday and bring a friend who might benefit from experiencing change.
Let spring be the season to catapult your body into well-being!
My best,
Virginia
