Welcome to my page on Life as Medicine

Exploring the essence of Yang Sheng, combining lifestyle, creativity, and practice to enhance well-being

This website offers a space for me to collect ideas and practices which can be life enhancing and affirming, based mainly in Chinese Medicine though not exclusively.  Having spent 9 years in clinical practice I stopped on compassionate grounds to recover my own health, and had to apply a lot of what I'd learnt to my condition. These are things I've discovered a long the way that may help other people too.  The Yang Sheng tradition is more about living well rather than recovering from; which both have their place and can be undertaken alongside each other as we learn how to progress from healing into living.

 Wishing you blessings and light along the path to vibrant health.

Lifestyle

Yang Sheng principles for health and lifestyle arose in ancient China in the Middle Ages; a culture based on health and meditation, that still holds valuable insights for us today.  We navigate our affluent lifestyle which brings many blessings, and yet the mind and emotions and physical health can still be neglected, negated or out of balance.  We can easily become disconnected from the natural world and loose touch with the nourishing and healing roots of our life, our direction and purpose

Art

In my experience having a creative practice is a healthy and enjoyable part of my life. I'm not the most creative or developed artist, but I very much appreciate making and offering small aspects of creativity.  Perhaps if things get too much i'll go for a walk and make an earth mandala, which feels like a prayer.  Or see a simple fun thing on instagram and recreate it with my neighbours children; it brings connection and beauty to the day.  I've found if you add beauty into life, you can begin to inhabit creativity.

Quiet

A lot of restoration, rejuvenation and insight, with a small I, comes from times of quiet.  From little revelations which offer liberation; to an enlightened view, which feels like a stepping stone into spiritual health.  There are many beautiful teachers who offer their practices for our enjoyment and development.  Walking, standing, sitting, even lying down if needed.  From health, and heart, and light; quiet reflection allows us space to breathe and centre.