Nourishing Life Consultations
Yang Sheng Health & Wellbeing Consultations
What is Yang Sheng?
Yang Sheng is based in Chinese culture and can be loosely translated as ‘nourishing life’. In essence it is a set of self- help or lifestyle behaviours which together may benefit our health and wellbeing.
Although it is not as commonplace in the West, these lifestyle behaviours are embedded in everyday life for many East Asian citizens. The basics of how to take care of ourselves and nurture our vitality are passed down from generation to generation. These fundamentals are considered essential for improving our chances of living a long and healthy life.
The foundations of Yang Sheng were laid down in the ancient and influential Chinese text the Nei Jing, or Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. The observations and teachings contained within these texts may have been written many years ago, but they are equally relevant today. In fact, science now backs up many principles of such lifestyle behaviours, as to how they can positively or negatively influence health and wellbeing.
The key concept is that our mind/emotions and physical body cannot be separated. In other words, we need not only to take care of our physical health, but also to nurture our mind and emotions. What we eat, and how we eat is also of vital importance, as is the amount and quality of our sleep. Whilst we often tend to concentrate on perhaps one of these essentials, to achieve balance and harmony all need to be addressed in equal measure. What’s more, although we can all benefit from developing these lifestyle behaviours, it’s not a ‘one size fits all’. We are all at varying life stages, have different constitutions and possible health concerns, which need to be considered.
The one-to-one consultations take all of this into account. They are relevant for all life stages. For maximum benefit, and for individualised information, it is recommended that a full set of six sessions are taken. Each consultation is as follows:
1) Introduction to Yang Sheng, and how we can positively influence our health and wellbeing using its key principles.
2) Client case history and general health information. This session is dedicated to taking a full history in order that the subsequent consultations are tailored to each individual. If you are an existing client this session may not be necessary and may be replaced with additional personalised advice.
3) Nourishing our mind and emotions from a Yang Sheng perspective.
4) Looking after our physical health, including sleep.
5) Chinese dietary therapy, tailored to the individual.
6) Miscellaneous session, covering any aspect of the previous sessions which may require more detail.
Consultations can be booked separately, however to receive tailored information to you as an individual, a client case history session is required.
A health and lifestyle package can be purchased for £240.00 This includes a package of 6 consultations, each an hour in duration. Alternatively, consultations can be booked individually at a cost of £50. For more information please contact Alison or book directly here - visit our bookings page
Midlife and Menopause.
The midlife years, from perimenopause, menopause and beyond, are a time of rapid change. For many women, particularly in the West, this life stage is viewed with apprehension and something to be feared.
Too often it is medicalised as an illness, requiring intervention. Whilst this may be true in some instances, in fact, if it is managed well then it can be a positive experience. How we live through these years, the lifestyle choices we make, can be of vital importance. In the Chinese classics, the middle years are one of the Gateways of life, known as the Second Spring. There are 3 Gateways of life for women. The first, Heavenly Water, is marked by the beginning of menstruation. The second is childbirth, particularly the Golden Month immediately after giving birth. All of these phases bring about an energetic shift in the body and the opportunity for life to be changed for the better. The Second Spring gifts us the potential to improve our health, and increase our chances of living well into old age.
In East Asian countries women are greatly respected as they reach their Second Spring. The transition into this chapter brings about the opportunity for new potential, rejuvenation and fresh possibilities. As life’s purpose moves from the carer and nurturer of others, it marks the arrival of a chance to discover our sense of self. It gifts women the opportunity to live more authentically and view life from a different perspective. Here in the West it can sometimes be hard to find sensible advice during this phase. We can however look to the Chinese tradition of nourishing life, or Yangsheng. Whilst it is not a guarantee of good health as this is not always within our control, it does provide a framework for cultivating a smooth transition into this phase. By following some simple steps we can greatly influence our chances of living a healthy and long life. Midlife and Menopause consultations are available in person or online via videolink.
Midlife and Menopause consultations are based on the Yang Sheng consultations above. At the initial consultation we take a look at all aspects of your life and health, both physical and emotional. We explore which areas may be affecting a smooth progression through this ‘gateway’, and look at the best ways to support you with individualised advice and guidance. Each of the follow ups will have a particular focus, including mind, body, food and sleep. We delve into the concept of ‘nourishing life’ tradition and discover how minor changes can gradually bring about balance.
Together we will look at some of these principles, to optimise your experience of midlife and menopause. Bespoke guidance will be provided to suit your individual needs and requirements. We will look at beneficial ways to help yourself, such as altering any lifestyle choices which may not be serving you well during this time. It will also include providing dietary wisdom using the principles of Chinese nutritional therapy, and self-care practices to help ease this transition.
A midlife and menopause package can be purchased for £240.00. This includes 6 consultations each an hour in duration. Alternatively, consultations can be purchased individually for £50. For more information please contact Alison, or book directly here - book an appointment.