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Our Contributors How to get the best from your Acupuncture treatment Bob Wong On Acupuncture And It’s Benefits An Interview with Bob Wong and the benefits of Acupuncture Bob Wong Shares Six Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Oxygen and Acupuncture and match made in Chinese Acupuncture Treatment Medicine Heaven
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22 13 13 16 16
Meet Peter Peter Deadman Deadman Meet
20 20
How to choose an Acupuncturist Tips For Choosing An Acupuncturist For a moment in time, such was the
13 22 22
Meet Peter Cupping Deadmanhelped Michael Phelps Read Whathow Is Cupping And Why Does Michael Phelps Swear By It?
16
22
Overall Overall Health Health from Fromthe TheInside Insideout Out intrigue in the bizarre purple circles on swimmer Michael Phelps’ back and shoulders during the 2016 Rio Olympics that Google Trends reported a 2100% spike in the number of people searching “circles on Michael Phelps”.
Overall Health from the Inside out
duration of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Phelps’ first gold medal win at Rio and his 19th Olympic gold medal win at that stage.
But those in the know were quick to highlight those perfectly round bruises were the result of cupping therapy – a fact, that phrase was being ancient Chinese medicine that For aInmoment in time, such was the searched durationform of theofmen’s 4x100m freestyle more thanbizarre “Olympic medals” also has in Egypt. intrigue in the purple circles for the relay, Phelps’ first origins gold medal win at Rio
24 24
Do you know That theseSwear Celebrities use Acupuncture 4 Celebrities By Acupuncture
26 22
Oxygen And Acupuncture A Match Made on swimmer Michael Phelps’ back andIn and his 19 Olympic gold medal win at Read how Cupping helped Michael Phelps shoulders during the 2016 Rio Olympics that stage. Chinese Medicine Heaventhat Google Trends reported a 2100% But those in the know were quick to
20
24
How to choose an Acupuncturist
th
spike in the number of people searching
highlight those perfectly round bruises Do you know these Celebrities Acupuncture “circles use on Michael Phelps”. In fact, that phrase was being searched more than “Olympic medals” for the
8
8
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were the result of cupping therapy – a form of ancient Chinese medicine that also has origins in Egypt.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS Bob Wong is an AHPRA licensed, sixth generation acupuncturist from the USA. He currently works from his acupuncture Brisbane clinic. He has experience working in China, USA, and Australia with a special focus in chronic pain, Women’s Health, Fertility and IVF support, Pregnancy Care, Neurological Disorders, Back Pain, Sciatica, Frozen Shoulder, Arthritis, Bell’s palsy, and other musculoskeletal ailments.
Bob Wong
Bob has a great interest in emphasizing the importance of preventative medicine. His goal is to help people realize some of the unhealthy patterns and habits they may have in their lives thereby allowing them to take an active part in their own healing process.
www.artofacupuncture.com.au/#home @artofacupuncture/
Peter Deadman
Peter Deadman has worked in the field of health education and complementary Peter Deadman workedasina the field of health andentrepreneur. complementary medicine for overhas 45 years practitioner, teacher,education author and He medicine forInfinity over 45 years as a and practitioner, teacher, and entrepreneur. He co-founded Foods natural organic food shopauthor in Brighton, England in 1971 co-founded Infinityco-founded Foods natural organic food shop in Centre. Brighton,HeEngland 1971 and subsequently the and Brighton Natural Health qualified as and subsequently co-founded the Brighton Natural Health Centre. He qualified as an acupuncture practitioner in 1978 and as a herbalist some years later. He has an acupuncture practitioner in 1978 and as aand herbalist years later. He has taught Chinese medicine, health maintenance Qigongsome internationally for over 40 taught He Chinese medicine, health maintenance and qigong internationally over 40 years. is founder and publisher of The Journal of Chinese Medicine,forco-author years. He is offounder and publisher of The Journal Chinese of A Manual Acupuncture and author of Live WellofLive Long: Medicine, Teachingsco-author from the of A Manual of Acupuncture and author of Live Well Live Long: Teachings from Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition. Some of Peter’s lectures can be seen on the his Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition. Some of Peter’s lectures can be seen on his YouTube channel. YouTube channel.
www.peterdeadman.co.uk/ @peter.deadman
Bob Wong O N A C U P U N C T U R E A N D I T ’ S B E N E F I T S
There are many ways to define exactly what
practitioner for a chat to gain more insight into the
Acupuncture is, how it works, and what it fixes.
holistic healing method.
However, it’s quotes like this from Acupuncturist Bob Wong, that sum up the practice and help even the biggest cynic understand the benefits;
“I think Acupuncture is one of the most efficient forms of medicine out there because no other form of medicine uses your own body to heal itself.” We sat down with the successful
How did you first become interested in Chinese Medicine? I grew up around Chinese medicine ever since I was a child. Whenever my brother and I would get sick, our father would always give us a herbal formula, sometimes it would be tree
barks, leaves, or dried insects! I was always
at the same time it sparked my interest in
around it, growing up I was always helping my
Chinese Medicine. I figured, “WOW if i can
do this with such little training, imagine what come in and get better. I guess I did it - not out I could do if I developed even more and of obligation - but because my father would dedicated my time to doing it full time.” So, I always give me this speech, he’d say; “I’m a ended up staying in China and enrolling in the Chinese Doctor, your Grandfather’s a Chinese Gwanda University of Chinese Medicine and Doctor, your Great Grandfather’s a Chinese I’ve been practicing ever since. Doctor, and you’re going to be a Chinese Doctor,” so I agreed but I wasn’t really sure if it How Does Acupuncture work? dad out at our home and I’d see sick people
was something I wanted to do.
So basically, the needles themselves don’t have medicine in them, it’s your body that’s
So you took the career path that your father chose for you?
healing itself. Acupuncture’s been scientifically
Well no, I finished university and I decided to
body so it has a pain numbing effect and it
move to China - not to do Chinese medicine
helps the body recover quickly and increases
- but I had this martial arts dream - I’d always
blood circulation, so there’s many uses for it.
proven to release endorphins throughout the
wanted to train in China and do Kung Fu all
What kind of ailments do people use three times a day and one day my coach threw Chinese Medicine for? day! When I was there I would train two to
out her back. One of the students suggested
People use it for muscle pain, hormonal
that I try Chinese Medicine to help her. So, I
imbalances, digestive issues, there’s a range
worked on her a little bit but I didn’t know what
of things that acupuncture can be used for.
I was doing at the time though - I just put the
There’s a huge amount of health problems it
needles in and prayed!
can correct. So, I think, for those people out there that are struggling with some sort of
Did it work?
pain or something that they just can’t get over
So, the next day I saw her and nervously
physically, it’s definitely an option worth trying.
asked, “How did it go?” She was actually so happy to see me and replied with, “Oh I feel
great. If only your Kung Fu was as good as your Chinese medicine!” My ego was kind of shattered that day but
To get in touch with Bob: www.artofacupuncture.com.au/#home @artofacupuncture/
6
Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Acupuncture Treatment
By Bob Wong
Your First Acupuncture Treatment &How to Prepare
I
’ve been blessed to be able to help many people through acupuncture in the past few years & I am constantly looking for a way to do things better and more efficiently so that your care can go as smoothly as possible. In order to help you prepare better, we have put together a list of things you can to get the most out our your session:
1). Bring in any scans and a list of any medications In order to get a clear picture of how to design the best effective treatment plan for you, it is best to tell your acupuncturist what medications you are on, such as any blood thinners or medications that could affect the treatment. Any
scans, preferably within the last six months is best and allows your practitioner to get the most accurate assessment of your situation. 2. Wear loose comfortable clothing Acupuncture points are mostly located on the arms and legs, so it is best to wear loose comfortable clothing in order to perform acupuncture. 3. Have a light meal It is always a good idea to have a light meal before treatment. Sometimes, but not very often, it may lead to dizziness or nausea. In order to prevent this it is best to have a light snack beforehand. 4. Ask Questions!
5. Schedule accordingly Acupuncture can be very relaxing and many patients like to come in at the end of a work day and have a quiet evening afterward. After your first session, most people feel very relaxed and calm. It is not advisable to do any high intensity work out or activity afterward as this may get the heart rate pumping too much. Trying to squeeze in too many events before and after your treatment may end up being counter intuitive and end up stressing you out even more. 6. Turn the Phone Off! It is best to turn your phone and other mobile devices off during treatment in order to get the most benefits. The whole point of acupuncture is to calm your mind so that the body can heal. It is
If you are uncertain about anything regarding
a time for you! You have the rest of the 23 hours
your treatment please be sure to ask questions!
to be connected to the phone.
We want you to be as comfortable, relaxed, and informed as much as possible during treatment. Â The best way to avoid any confusion is to ask as many questions and clarify any concerns you may have.
Well, there you have it. The 6 ways to get the most out of your acupuncture treatment. We hope you found this useful and look forward to seeing you soon!
PETER DEADMAN
Peter Deadman has been at the forefront of many acupuncture advances in the past 30 years and now that he is no longer treating patients, the renowned practitioner, author and speaker is more focused than ever on educating people how the Chinese tradition of nourishing life, yangsheng. It holds many of the keys needed to unlock the future of medicine in the Western world. Mr Deadman, who founded The Journal of Chinese Medicine in 1979 and co-wrote the premier acupuncture points book A Manual of Acupuncture
in 1988 looks specifically at teachings from the Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition in his latest book Live Well Live Long, which was released in 2016. “I’ve come full circle with my interests,” he told Daan Dirkson at the Rothenberg TCM Congress in May 2018. “The first thing I did was open an organic and natural food shop inspired by an idea that was popular at the time and still has modern wisdom to it. It was all about how can we lead healthier lives and how we can improve our eating.”
“I started a business selling food, looking at how we can help the community and help people to take more responsibility for their own health. I don’t practice or treat patients any more, my interest now is that wealth of wisdom within broad Chinese medical tradition which goes into nourishment in life, which can be very obscure, but how we can live to increase our chances of being healthy, happy and living longer.” Mr Deadman says you only have to look at statistics from worldwide healthcare studies to see that the Western world is fast-tracking towards a future filled with chronic non-infectious diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardio vascular disease, stroke and dementia. “Everywhere in the world, it’s increasing because of our modern lifestyle. We are now seeing that the rate of these diseases is increasing in developing countries as they are exposed to Western culture,” he said. “The statistics are terrifying, it’s a tsunami and the health services cannot support it, no matter how well-funded they are. The future of medicine has to evolve and because Chinese medicine has been built upon for 25 centuries, I believe they are the best people to be teaching lifestyle.”
In Live Long Live Well, Mr Deadman looks at how Chinese medicine serves as a workshop manual for the care of the human body, mind and spirit. Its teachings can help us improve our health and lengthen our lives through cultivating our mind, emotions, diet, exercise, sleep, sexual behaviour and much more. And as this book reveals, these teachings are comprehensively backed up by the findings of modern lifestyle research and the core principles can even offer solutions to many of the worldwide challenges we face today, like climate change, sustainability and social injustice. Mr Deadman says while the book took two years to write, it is the product of 45 years of his own research and interest in Chinese medicine, which he first discovered when he was struck with hepatitis in 1971. “Most people are familiar that we have to eat and exercise well to be healthy, but Chinese medicine places the mind first and foremost,” he said. “Chaotic and unrestrained emotions harm the body and mind, acute and chronic anger in the form of frustration, addiction to excitement, anxiety, worry, fear, shock stress, all of these eat away at our happiness, eat away at our vitality and affect the body.”
“Unless we can work on ourselves and apply some level of integration there will be no change. We all know about resolutions and then find we are doing the exact opposite, the rash of gym memberships in January is a great example. We often undermine our own best interests because we are split internally, and we need some level of integration to help us through that.” “When we can foster in ourselves positive mental emotional states, all of these benefit our physical and emotional wellbeing and the Chinese explanation of this is they promote ‘free flow’.” Mr Deadman says there are three main factors that determine how long we live and our quality of life. The first is the constitution we inherit from our parents, with some strong and resilient and others weaker and more prone to illness.
nurture and sheng meaning life, and it discusses every aspect of life,” he said. “When a chair has four sound legs, it is stable. But if it loses one leg, its stability is compromised and if it loses two, it is no longer functional.” “Yangsheng has four pillars. The first is cultivating the mind and emotions, the second is regulating diet, the third is cultivating the body and balancing rest with activity and the fourth is sleeping well.” “We find people are good at one or two of them, like eating and exercising well, but they then experience a lot of stress.” Mr Deadman says even in its early days, Chinese medicine always emphasised prevention rather than cure and this holistic way of life needs to be embraced by all humans if we are to begin to divert the course of the world’s health away from its current trajectory.
The second is luck. The country we are born in, the financial stability of our parents and the emotional stability of our family. To hear more from Peter or check out his book go to: But the third and most important factor is lifestyle and behaviour, Book: www.peterdeadman.co.uk/livewhich Mr Deadman says has the well-live-long/ power to modify any negative impacts www.peterdeadman.co.uk/ presented by the former two. @peter.deadman “Yangsheng is the nourishment of life, with yang meaning to nourish or
Overall Health from the Inside out Through
Chinese Medicine
No doubt you’ve heard the saying; You are what you eat! While it may not be quite as straight forward as that, we believe that overall wellness and health must be achieved from the inside out. After all, it’s what we put into our bodies that will make them healthy, so why flood them with synthetic and man-made ingredients when we can go back to basics and consume natural ingredients which will benefit our health in countless ways?
With more than 80% of the body’s immunity located in the gut, it’s pretty obvious that delivering the right produce here will benefit our overall health. The gut is where we process nutrients, metabolise hormones and create detoxifying enzymes so when it’s balance is off, it’s reflected through all the different parts of your body; be it a lack lustre of skin and hair, feeling lethargic and/or a general heaviness. Chinese medicine reflects the notion that health should be naturally achieved from the inside out and uses specially picked herbs for the holistic healing treatments. Chinese medicine believes that we come from the earth, so all ailments can be cured by the earth. Chinese Medicine Doctors use over 300 different herbs, including Ginseng, Cinnamon, Peppermint and Lavender. Though we may not realise it, the obvious healing powers of the earth are all around us, we feel it in the oxygen we breathe, the sun’s rays that touch our bodies and the water hanging in the air that hydrates our skin.
Chinese medicine believes that we can identify what areas of our body need to be fixed internally, through external signs. It is believed that our internal body gives out signs through our skin, so if there is any ailment in the below spots - be it a pimple, dry skin or discolouration - your body is asking for specific areas inside your body to be fixed. Forehead: This indicates a heated heart, which may mean you are having sleep problems that need to be rectified. Area around nose: This indicates poor digestive function. Left cheek: This indicates that you have a liver imbalance, as a result you may suffer from mood swings. Right Cheek: This indicates that you have a disorder in the large intestine and may suffer from constipation or diarrhoea. Chin: This indicates that there are problems with your reproductive organs. Once your problem areas are identified, a practitioner can diagnose you properly and prescribe the appropriate herbs to cure the problem area, which are often given as herbal teas.
Tips for choosing an
Acupuncturist F
inding someone who can do the actual
Australia practitioners must be registered
practice of acupuncture may be easy these
with AHPRA (Australia Health Practitioners
days, but finding an acupuncturist that works
Regulation Agency) and have met minimum
perfectly for you - taking your concerns and
qualifications at the time of registration in order
questions seriously - not so easy. Because your
to practice acupuncture and call themselves an
health is one of the most important things in our
acupuncturist.
lives, it’s important to put some serious thought into who you trust with it. No two acupuncturist are the same, so it’s vital to go to one who will be perfect for your needs. That’s why we’ve put together some tricks and tips which will help you find a practitioner who’s right for you. Check their credentials
Observe their medical rooms This one is a no-brainer, but unfortunately it’s often missed! In this day and age people are in such a rush that they tend to go online and book something, rather than taking the time to actually inspect the place first. Do your due-diligence and head over to the clinic to make sure their rooms
You wouldn’t visit a doctor who wasn’t properly
look clean and presentable, before handing over
qualified, would you? An acupuncturist
any money.
shouldn’t be any different. For example in
Have a pre-treatment consultation If a therapist isn’t willing to sit down with you for a pre-treatment consultation then this should raise major red flags. You’re going to want to build a relationship with your practitioner and you’ll want to feel like you can trust them, after all they are going to be placing needles in your body and you’re placing your health in their hands. Better yet, why not call around and make a consultation appointment with three different acupuncturists? That way you can really get a feel for who you trust and think will be best for you. Read reviews Thanks to this handy thing called the internet, other peoples opinions are at our disposal for
almost anywhere that’s an established business. This kind of feedback is invaluable and definitely something you should spend time researching when looking for the right acupuncturist. Although testimonials about an acupuncturist as such are not permitted in some countries, e.g. Australia, reviews and information from clients about their acupuncturist’s clinic rooms or other features of the practice and its nature can be made. Most often reviews can be found on Yelp, Google Business and Facebook. Because these aren’t monetary reviews (the sites enforce that no money should be exchanged for a positive review) you can usually trust them.
For a moment in time, such was the intrigue in the bizarre purple circles on swimmer Michael Phelps’ back and shoulders during the 2016 Rio Olympics that Google Trends reported a 2100% spike in the number of people searching “circles on Michael Phelps”. In fact, that phrase was being searched more than “Olympic medals” for the duration of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Phelps’ first gold medal win at Rio and his 19th Olympic gold medal win at
that stage. But those in the know were quick to highlight those perfectly round bruises were the result of cupping therapy – a form of ancient Chinese medicine that also has origins in Egypt. Phelps has come to swear by the treatment, which is said to treat athletic aches and pains and can also have benefits for other types of common pain. So how does it work?
Traditionally, an acupuncturist soaks a cotton ball in alcohol and lights it on fire while it is located inside a small glass cup. While it is still hot, the flame is removed and the cup is placed on the patient’s skin. This creates a vacuum, which draws the skin tissue up into the cup and as the air begins to cool, the skin contracts again, releasing the suction from the cup. The stretch and contraction action increases blood flow by drawing blood from your vessels into your tissue and because the body has the sense that it has been injured, the inflammatory response kickstarts, sending antibodies to the area to begin the healing process. Cupping also sucks the skin away from the underlying muscles, assisting the release of lactic acid. Phelps and other members of the US Olympic swimming team were treated with a more modern method, where acupuncturists use a hand-held pump that sucks the skin away and is said to have the same results. For Phelps, the effect of cupping a couple of times a week during highlevel training meant a quicker muscle recovery time and therefore the ability to continue to perform in peak condition. Cupping was first introduced to Phelps by his longtime strength and conditioning coach Keenan Robinson in 2014, just before the pan-Pacific championships.
The following year, Phelps’ training regime was kicked into high gear to prepare for the Rio Olympics. Robinson told Time Magazine that when Phelps “realised it would take five minutes and that this could get him from Tuesday to Thursday [workouts] and from Thursday to Saturday [workouts], he was on board.” Robinson said Phelps uses the technique to allow his muscles to move more freely and easily by keeping the fascia, which are on and in between the surface of the muscle, lubricated. While various scientific researchers have debated the effectiveness of cupping for healing purposes, they have yet to find a way to replicate the treatment in a way that can allow them to carry out a convincing placebo study. But because the procedure is noninvasive and has very little side-effects (the most obvious being bruising), it has become a favourite alternative to massage therapy that has been embraced by prominent athletes as well as A-list celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Justin Bieber. So if it is on-trend with the hip crowd and also has benefits for elite athletes, there is no reason why you can’t give it a try the next time you visit the acupuncturist.
*Image Source Bigstock Photos
Who: Mariah Carey Acupuncture used for: Fertility She’s known for her show stopping voice and her pregnancy made headlines world wide when it was announced that she was expecting twins at 41, and Mariah Carey believes that it was acupuncture that helped her conceive at a mature age. ‘Mariah had acupuncture, all over her body,’ her husband and baby-daddy Nick Cannon told The Daily Mail, ‘I think it helped her quite a bit, because it was a good de-stressor. She had it done once a day.’ Mariah reveals it was one of her very famous friends who pointed her in that direction. “Céline [Dion]was talking about acupuncture. I used to get acupuncture, and I had never thought [of it] with regards to the trying to conceive situation,” Mariah said. “I was [getting it], like, once a day at least!” Who: Kim Kardashian Acupuncture used for: Complexion The queen of reality TV (and perhaps the celebrity world!) Kim Kardashian uses acupuncture to help achieve her flawless complexion. Having previously openly admitting that she’s happy ‘trying anything that makes you look and feel youthful’ it looks like Kim’s found solace in acupuncture! Basically, when the needles from acupuncture are inserted in the face they create micro-traumas to the skin which activates new collagen production in the area. Collagen is naturally formed in the body but depletes as we age and helps skin look plump, young, even and youthful. Who: J.Lo Acupuncture used for: Weight-loss It’s no secret that J.Lo has an absolute bombshell of a body, and she believes that
she has acupuncture to thank for it! After using a combination of regular acupuncture treatments and Chinese Herbs, the superstar shed 15 pounds. One of her friends told OK magazine!, “She’s been gushing about how obsessed she is with acupuncture and herbs”. It’s a well known fact that stress is linked to weight gain. In fact, a study* published in The Scientific World Journal, found that of 196 obese subjects who received acupuncture, the majority lost weight over a six-week trial period. Who: Lucy Lui Acupuncture used for: General Health Lucy Lui’s the first to admit that acupuncture is an absolute must for her overall wellness. “I splurge on acupuncture. It’s preventative medicine. You go in once a month, and you get a little checkup so you’re regulated. It keeps you healthy. My parents used to get acupuncture. It has been a part of my culture and my life for a long time, and it really, really works. It can help you lose weight, it can help your skin stay young — and I’ve found it helps with jet lag,” she told Instyle Magazine.
* Image Source Bigstock Photos Source https://celebritybabyscoop.com/2010/11/01/mariah-carey-celion-dionsuggested-acupuncture-to-get-pregnant/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1326404/Mariah-Careyssecret-getting-pregnant-Acupuncture-eating-popcorn-bed.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2298605/Kim-Kardashiancalls-acupuncture-session-relaxing--face-STUDDED-needles.html http://tcm007.com/jennifer-lopez-used-acupuncture-for-weight-loss/ http://edition.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/homestyle/10/01/lucy.liu.beauty/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/6823468/gwyneth-paltrowstripes-down-and-has-needles-in-her-face-during-an-acupuncturesession/
Oxygen &
Acupuncture a Match Made in Chinese Medicine Heaven
Take a moment to think about the last time you focussed on the way you breathe. Can’t remember? Then you’re probably not alone. With our busy lifestyles it can be easy to throw less pressing things to the wayside. However, the importance of deep breathing, using proper technique, has been proven time and time again; it can decrease stress, aid digestion and improve cardiovascular health amongst many other benefits. Plus, when proper breathing techniques are teamed with the use of acupuncture, positive results can be astounding.
Acupuncturists believe that illness and ailments can be cured when your body has a balanced energy force called Qi. Qi is created through a combination of the air we take in and the nutrients that we absorb through our stomach and intestines which, in turn, are used for activities like digestion and elimination, immunity, physical activity, reproduction and emotions. Therefore, it makes sense that proper breathing techniques and acupuncture are closely linked and can be highly beneficial to one another when used correctly. The following breathing practices can be very useful to those undertaking acupuncture.
Beginning Treatment Breathing When undergoing Acupuncture treatment, small needles are inserted into acupoints. While, the needles aren’t inserted deeply, any small puncture of the skin is going to generate some degree of discomfort (though please don’t worry about the pain, it is like a small prick!). To limit the in-treatment jumpiness when the needles are inserted, try this breathing exercise.
Take deep slow breaths through the nose as each needle is inserted. Nothing too pronounced, just natural breaths that are a little deeper than normal. If you’re feeling pain from the needles you can try a small cough as the needle is inserted (though please don’t jump around too much!). Coughing is a disrupter of peripheral pain signals, so will help ease discomfort.
During Treatment Breathing Once the needles have all been entered into their intended acupoints, there will be a specified time where the needles are left in your face/body to give your body’s Qi enough time to finish one complete circuit of all the acupuncture channels in the human body. This can take any amount of time depending on the individual and body type, but generally lasts about thirty minutes. In this time while you’re laying, try these two relaxing breathing exercises.
Start with your mouth closed and focus your awareness of the breath when it enters your nostrils. Take a deep, long inhale while counting to four. Next, hold that breath for another count of four before exhaling for a count of four. Hold for another count of four before repeating. Any thoughts that pop in to your head you should visually imagine letting go of them and watch them leave your body. This works as a very effective stress management strategy. Begin with your mouth closed and take a long steady breath in, visualise and feel your lower abdomen expanding in size. Next, take a long steady breath out and, again, visualise and feel your lower abdomen shrink in size. Try and focus on a spot located about 3 inches below your navel and deep inside. Imagine pure, good white light entering as you breath in and evil, dark light exiting your body as you breath out. This exercise acts as a battery charge for humans and aims to invigorate and restore energy.