Strengthening Yang

Now that we all know about nourishing yin, we should also be mindful of strengthening our yang energy to keep our bodies in balance as much as possible. Yin and yang are interdependent and they both have to be cultivated accordingly. If someone is deficient in yang energy, yin deficiency might soon be to follow and vice versa. Some of the most common general symptoms of yang deficiency would be lack of energy or lethargy, low appetite with poor digestion, and a sense of feeling cold. Don’t forget, yang is related to function in Chinese medicine while yin is related to form.

When there is too much function, or activity, in our lives, our yang energy is the first to get worn out. This is often a main cause of yang deficiency. Another important cause of yang deficiency is an excess of cold foods or drinks. Coldness is related to yin in nature, and an excess of this throws our yang out of balance.

It is important for us to be mindful of our activity levels, diet, and environment throughout the day to make sure we keep our yang energy strengthened. Here are some daily tips we can all adopt to make sure this happens:

• Spend a few minutes every day in the sunlight.
• Eat warm foods and drinks, such as cooked fruits and vegetables as opposed to raw and room temperature water as opposed to iced.
• Partake in daily, light exercise.
• Pay attention to work hours and take breaks when needed.