June backpacking poem

travel far

feet bare

heart open

reach out

arms wide

reach in

smiling

breathing

simply

walking

north or south?

listen

observe

the wind

moves me

in the right direction

i notice

and

respond

blistering heels

peeling skin

dry lips

water far,

but coming.

internal map,

I've been here before

shady Oaks

Sagebrush

sand.

Sycamores and Cottonwoods ahead

river sounds follow

leaping heart

running feet

gratitude

simple ways

beautiful life

i gather

gifts

to take home

for my

clinic, patients, friends, family, community,

self

Outdoor Adventures

Reaching for a right crimp while shaking and sweating, I slip on the cold smooth wall, and whip out over the triangular crag. Unseen and unheard, my climbing partner belays from above. Fingers scrabbling on uncompromising rock, I dangle under the overhang, swinging back and forth over the ocean. As the sun rapidly sets, I focus, clamber back onto the crux, zone in and, one deliberate move at a time, send it home.

Surfing the next day, the swell fills the horizon. I paddle into position, anticipating the surging wave. As I power through the pinkening pre-dawn water, I feel it push. I pop up, merging with the wave. I gaze down the line with single-focused present moment intent, body graceful, actions aligned, brilliantly alive.

I share this crystalline clarity and vibrant aliveness with the athletes, artists, and healthcare practitioners who I support through pain, trauma, and complex chronic conditions in my Earth-centered acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice. They know that my adventures hiking, backpacking, surfing, climbing, and traveling inspire my dedicated clinical focus, and their positive treatment results. The joys and challenges of wilderness adventures creates internal resilience in both me and my patients, inspiring love and understanding for our Earth, while empowering personal and environmental stewardship.

JilingLin.com

Health Resources

Here's a list of FREE online health resources that I often recommend:

Movement

Online Yoga

• Balanced Rock

• Ventura Fitness Collective

For Spinal Health

• Foundation Training (free videos here and here)

• Foam rolling

Fun

• Interplay

• Dance

• Facial guasha

Meditation

Podcasts

• Joseph Goldstein

• Tara Brach

Apps

• 10% Happier (free for essential workers)

• Headspace (free for unemployed workers)

Herbs

Learn more about Western Herbs

• my mentor 7song

• Mountain Rose Herbs

• Herb Rally

Purchase

• Organic seeds from Strictly Medicinals

• Herbal products from Mountain Rose Herbs

Music

• Relaxing Cafe Music

• Nature sounds with Lang Elliot's app

• Customize your listening experience with the noise- cancelling myNoise app

Celestial

• Sync your calendar with the solar system with Canton Becker or the New York Times

• Moon Calendar app

Happy summer!

Jiling

Jiling Lin, L.Ac. 林基玲

acupuncture . herbs . yoga

​JilingLin.com | 575.342.1050

Instagram| Facebook

Yoga for Grounded Stability

Here's some of my favorite grounding yoga asanas... on the ground!

Legs up the Wall

- feel supported

- relax

- legs straight up, feet flexed or relaxed

- legs extended wide to the side, to open hips

- feet together, for wall- Butterfly: open hips

- surrender spine to the Earth

- arms to the sides, on belly, or overhead

- close eyes. Find ease.

Standing Forward Fold

- inhaling, lengthen your spine to actively draw yourself deeper into the stretch

- exhaling, release efforting, and welcome what arises: organic movement, a deepening

- feet together, or hip width distance apart

- release head, neck, and spine

- knees slightly bent, or bending and straightening one at a time

- hands to elbow creases (rag doll), shins, or under feet

- cascade forward, shifting weight between all edges of feet

- close eyes. Welcome.

Seated Forward Fold

- inhaling, lengthen forward

- exhaling, cascade down

- closing eyes, observe your inner landscape, and each full gift of breath and body

- feet flexed or pointed

- arms reaching forward, placed onto ground, or anywhere on legs, perhaps using a strap around the feet

- long spine, deep breath, surrender

Mountain

- root down through under the feet to the belly of the Earth

- root up through the crown of the head to the umbilicus of the Sky

- feel your humanity lengthening yet stable, holding yet free, sacred and special yet tiny and insignificant, suspended and supported, supporting and integral, between (and part of) Earth and Sky

- solid as a Mountain

- feet together or hip- width distance apart

- hands at heart center, or to the sides, palms facing forward

- eyes closed, or gently open, expansive panoramic vision

- rooted yet relaxed

Child’s Pose

- arms forward, or folded by your sides

- knees together, or apart

- surrender everything to the Earth

- inhaling, thank you

- exhaling, release

Tree

- one leg the trunk, the other leg the branch

- root your supporting foot down through three points of contact: heel, ball of pinky toe and big toe

- hips and shoulders square

- aligned integrity: root up, relax elsewhere: relax toes, face, breath, mind

- root down, to rise up

- center

Warrior 2

- directed energy, rooted, centered

- intentional breath, aligned actions, powerful

- front foot points forward, back foot parallels back of mat

- heel to heel, or heel to arch feet alignment

- stack front knee over ankle

- arms parallel Earth, shoulders externally rotating, palms down

- eyes gaze powerfully over front fingertips

JilingLin.com

4 Calming Acupuncture Points

穴 Acupuncture Points

穴 (xue), or the Acupuncture Point, means a “cave.” Acu- Points are often located in cave-like indentations and intersections on the body, such as between bone and muscle, a bony foramen (crevice) or notch, or where two muscles meet.

Acupuncture is very precise and elegant. We insert fine needles right into the Point. Acupuncturists in the USA spend 3-6 years in a Master’s level program for licensure, studying both Chinese and Western medicine.

Acupressure is more broad, using either hands or other tools to apply pressure to Acu- Points. This can be a helpful adjunct therapy, when you can’t come in for acupuncture treatment, or to continue treatment at home.

Moxibustion heats moxa (Artemisia spp.) at Acu-Points. Varying moxa techniques range from highly specific to more broad. Using a moxa stick or moxa box at home is easy and can help increase circulation, and further activate your self-care acupressure protocols.

Holograms

In Chinese medicine, the ear, foot, abdomen, hands, and face are all holographic representations of the entire body. The body’s health and areas of imbalance are reflected onto these holographic areas.

Auricular acupuncture places ear seeds onto the hologram of the ear, to address a wide range of conditions. The “NADA” protocol is commonly used for stress reduction in community clinics, natural disasters, and emergency outreach. This can be done with needles, or ear seeds composed of either a mustard seed or metal seed. In current times, we teach patients how to apply ear seeds onto themselves, via ZOOM.

陰堂 Yin Palace (yin tang)

- Press just above the central point between your eyebrows.

- Remind yourself, “Calm. Center. I am here. I am home.”

- Close your eyes. Listen to your breath. Find spacious rootedness within yourself, then open your eyes, and release the Point.

- Return, as needed.

内觀 Inner Pass (nei guan, Pc6)

- Slide your thumb 2-3 inches from your inner wrist crease toward your body

- Regulate your internal response to external circumstances:

- Rest: sleep well. Calm mind.

- Digest: eat well. Calm belly.

- Calm your thoughts and gentle your actions.

合谷 Joining Valley (he gu, LI4)

- Press your thumb into the tiger’s mouth between your opposite thumb and forefinger, that meaty area between the worlds of primate manual dexterity and human agile opposable thumbs. Find a tender area, and linger. Press down, zone in, observe.

- Release racing thoughts, agitated heart, and anxious frettings. Let go. Open up. Welcome spacious beauty. Breathe in the fresh air of clear mind, and simple yet profound gratitude.

足三里 Leg Three Mile (zu san li, ST36)

- Follow the outer indentation under your knee cap down 2-3 inches, resting at a tender spot between your tibia and calf muscle.

- Moxa here, for internal resilience to external stimuli

- A strong Earth, or a smooth digestive system, supports the healthy kingdom of your body, mind, and Spirit.

JilingLin.com

Basic Plant Family ID

look at the FLOWER & note:

- # of sepals, petals, stamen, pistils (K/ calyx, C/ corolla, A/ androecium, G/ gynoecium)

- COMPLETE (all KCAG present) or INCOMPLETE (missing KCAG)

- PERFECT (bisexual), or IMPERFECT (unisexual- monoecious/ dioecious)

- REGULAR (actinomorphic, w/ radial symmetry) or IRREGULAR (zygomorphic, w/ bilateral symmetry)

- OVARY: INFERIOR (epigynous) or SUPERIOR (hypogynous/ perigynous)

- INFLORESCENCE (solitary, head, spike, raceme, panicle, umbel, corymb, cyme)

look at the LEAVES & note:

- leaf ARRANGMENT (opposite, alternate, whorled, basal)

- leaf TYPE (simple/ compound pinnate/ palmate/ ternate)

- leaf VEINATION (arcuate, palmate, parallel, pinnate, reticulate)

- leaf MARGIN (entire, toothed, incised, lobed)

- leaf tip, base, stem, surface

Aster family (Asteraceae)

.

many individual florets packed together tightly makes a COMPOSITE FLOWERHEAD:

- DISC FLOWERS forms a pitted central disc

- RAY FLOWERS ring the edge, usually with showy petals

.

2^nd most common flowering plant family in the world

(1rst place goes to the Orchid family, due to their prevalance in the tropics)

.

IE. Dandelion, Artemisias, Yarrow, Lettuce

Mint family (Lamiaceae)

.

- square stalks

- alternating opposite leaves

- aromatic

- irregular flowers

- common useful kitchen herbs!

.

IE. Sages, Rosemary, Basil

Mustard family (Brassicaceae)

.

- 4 petals

- 4 sepals

- 6 stamen (4 tall, 2 short)

- pungent

- seedpod staircase (fat silicles, or long siliques)

.

IE. Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli

Rose family (Rosaceae)

.

- 5 separate petals

- 5 sepals

- numerous stamen

- numerous pistils (creates a fuzzy-looking center)

- serrated compound leaves

.

IE. Strawberries, Apples, Almonds

Nightshade family (Solanaceae)

.

- 5 united petals

- 5 united sepals

- 5 stamen

- superior ovary with 2 chambers

- alternating leaves (often sticky, Earthy-smelling)

- alkaloid- rich

.

IE. Peppers, Datura, Eggplant, Tomato

Mallow family (Malvaceae)

.

- alternate, palmately lobed leaves

- numerous fused stamen form a column around the pistil

- 5 separate petals

- 3-5 partially united sepals

- mucilaginous (slimy)

- funnel- shaped regular flowers

- superior ovary with united carpels that creates “cheeses”

.

IE. Okra, Cotton, Hollyhocks, Cacao, Linden

JilingLin.com

Support Spring Immunity with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Visit Mountain Rose Herbs for my new blog post on Supporting Spring Immunity with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

See JilingLin.com for more info! 

😊TeleMedicine, 🧘‍Yoga Thursdays, 🎁gift cards

I hope that you are peaceful and healthy, finding joy and stability amidst change. Maintaining your physical and emotional health is essential right now. I'm dedicated to helping you calm your nervous system, boost your immune system, and support thriving health during this time of uncertainty.

Please enjoy my donation-based online offerings:

• 😊 TeleMedicine
• 🧘‍ Yoga Thursdays (starts TONIGHT)
• 🎁 gift cards

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😊 TeleMedicine 😊 

TeleMedicine plays a vital role in decreasing pressures on hospitals and urgent care clinics during the pandemic.

TeleMedicine appointments include an herbal consultation, nutritional support, physical and mindfulness exercises, and supportive listening.

Most insurances accept TeleMedicine right now. If you're currently experiencing financial hardship or don't have acupuncture benefits via insurance, then I offer these sessions by donation. $0 is really an option. $50 is the suggested price. 

▼ BOOK NOW 

===============================================

🧘‍ Yoga Thursdays (starts TONIGHT) 🧘‍ 

Develop mobility, stability, flexibility, and strength in an all- levels dynamic vinyasa flow EVERY THURSDAY on Zoom!

Thursdays, 7:30 PM 

$1- $15, pay as you can

Please un-check "paying for goods" on Paypal and write "yoga."

Class details will be emailed after registration 

▼ JOIN NOW 

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🎁 Gift Cards 🎁 

Want to bring a smile to someone you love, or someone in need, with the gift of health? Give a TeleMedicine session, yoga class, future acupuncture treatment, or any of our other services!

▼ GIVE A GIFT 

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Please let me know how I can further support your health. We've moved online, but in-person treatments are provided on an as-needed basis (please inquire).

Check my blog for frequent updates, Facebook for COVID19 articles, and Instagram for live piano & more. I'm excited to see you online, and later back in the clinic! Be well.

With gratitude,
Jiling

Jiling Lin, L.Ac. 林基玲

acupuncture . herbs . yoga

JilingLin.com