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Spring and Liver Health
Spring is a time of rebirth and revitalization. It is the start of the natural cycle of life that includes birth, growth, maturation, decline and death. This is the season when trees enter their active growing phases and the landscape turns from the bland colors of winter to green. Our spirits lighten and we feel a sense of excitement stir within us. In Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the element wood, the environmental condition of wind and the color green. The organ associated with spring is the liver / gallbladder. The liver functions similar to the gardener planning and preparing his garden. Presiding over the garden, he must insure all plans and task are carried out smoothly and efficiently. Spring embodies the spirit of rebirth, clearing away the old and taking on a fresh new start. Like the gardener clearing the soil and sowing new seeds; proper exercise, food and attitudes help clear debris accumulated from the past seasons and make room for new and healthy growth. In spring, we feel a need to air out our closets and clean house. Similarly, we feel the need to lighten up, clear out the sludge, reduce the fat and get moving. It seems natural that many start diets, undergo internal cleansing and detox procedures in spring. A properly planned diet or detox program will leave you feeling more energetic, help shed extra pounds, tone the muscles and strengthen and moisten the tendons and ligaments. It will also help burn away accumulated toxins, strengthen the liver, lift the spirits and brighten the mind.

Keeping the Liver Happy
The liver is the second largest organ and is the biochemical processing powerhouse of the body. It is both hardworking and resilient. Here are a few simple ideas to help keep you liver running smoothly in spring.
·  The liver loves oxygen and the more oxygenated you can keep your body, the happier your liver will be. Take time out during a busy day and try this simple breathing exercise. Breath in deeply though the nose, fully expanding the chest. Then, with a slight but intentional smile, slowly and fully breathe out though the mouth. Repeat two or three times. Enjoy the sensation of calm and clarity that comes over you.
·  Take part in regular gentle activities such as walking, swimming, qigong or yoga. This will increase your capacity to oxygenate without overly taxing your tendons, ligaments and joints. Regular, gentle non-competitive exercise will assist the liver in smoothly moving qi and blood and settle the emotions.
·  Maintain good posture. This will allow your body’s natural mechanics to move more efficiently and allow you to naturally breathe more fully.
·  The liver loves green. Consume plenty of green foods. In spring, this should include all the wonderful green and lightly colored vegetables, fruits and spouts in season.
·  As the weather warms, eat more light fresh foods and less heavy, processed or preserved cooked foods of winter. This will provide needed light spring like energy and a good foundation for elimination and internal cleansing.
·  Get out doors and enjoy nature. Take in the fresh air, smells, sights and sounds of spring.
·  Stay adequately hydrated. Without water all plants eventually dry out. This falls in line with Chinese philosophy which states ‘Water gives birth to wood’. A dried out liver is an unhappy liver.

MORE INFORMATION

Chemical and Emotional Toxins.The liver has the arduous task of making useful what we take into the body and preparing what is not needed for elimination. When the liver becomes overwhelmed and can no longer adequately handle all we take in, what is not processed properly accumulates, becomes toxic and the sources of disease and ill health. These toxins can originate from foods we consume and things we come in contact through our environment. Other sources include stimulus we take in through our sense organs (eyes, ears mouth and nose) and beliefs we keep (ferment and nurture) in our habitual thoughts and habits.   More subtle are emotions. Reoccurring resentments held toward people, or past events. Habitual outburst of emotions (as a reaction to stressors) and behavior that has no definable, measurable benefit to self, others and community.
It goes without saying that we should consume foods in as close to their natural state as possible and foods that under go the least amount of processing. Likewise we should limit our exposure to environmental toxins wherever possible, chemical, electromagnetic, media suggestions, etc.

A helpful exercise can include becoming mentally aware of what we come in contact with and consume daily. To take note of our constant thoughts and feelings. Then actively challenge our self; do I really need this, is this the best choice for me right now, can I afford to do this, why. This is best done not out of a sense of fear (I cannot eat McDonald’s because it will make me fat) or from preconceived beliefs (I will eat tofu because it is good for me). The idea is to not rehearse or reaffirm the thoughts and actions that keep us stuck in yesterday’s patterns but to take part actively in what is appropriate for right now. This exercise can help restore that little connection with self - to affirm the body is intelligent, is self regulating and has knowledge of what is best.

REN DAO Wellness Center Lending Library
Making daily healthy lifestyle choices is the cornerstone for maintaining good health. Education provides the firmware for making these choices and living a vibrant life. The REN DAO Wellness Center is forming a lending library with the intent to make health and wellness related educational material more available to our clients and community.
Topics will include; Complimentary Alternative Medicine, Western medicine, Nutrition, Holistic practices, Martial Arts and Self-help methods. The library will consist of DVDs, Audio CDs, printed books and E-books.
If you wish to assist us in our efforts, you may donate relevant material to the center. The RDWC is a strong supporter of radio station WBAI and their mid-day health and wellness programming. A portion of our lending library comes from books and CDs purchased during their fund drives. Contact us if you would like to help us fund these purchases. We will arrange to have your donation credited to our WBAI account and for you to receive the proper tax credits.   
A listing of the current library can be viewed at ren-dao.com/lendinglibrary.htm mid March.

UPCOMING EVENTS

3/10 Reiki Healing Circle.
The Ren Dao Wellness Center will be holding its next monthly Group Reiki & Energy Healing Session Saturday, March 10th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.
The session will included an opening meditation and exercise followed by Reiki healing treatments for all who wish to take part. All are welcome to come and participate. Please call if you are interested in Reiki and energy attunements.
For more information.

3/18 Second REN DAO Wellness Center Intra-Dojo Martial Arts Workout.
All members of the San Yama Bushi Dojos, KyoRei Bujinkan Dojo, Nisei Goju-Jitsu Dojos Ji Chung Do Kan Hapki Ryu Dojo & affiliates are invited to take part in our second Intra-Dojo group workout.
Contact Michael Kelly for more information.

3/24 Iaido / Swordmanship Class with Sensei Luis Rodriguez.
We have moved our Iaido practice from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon at 1pm. Iaido instructor, Sensei Luis Rodriguez will visit once a month when he is in the New York area. He will instruct the March 24th practice session.

Updates and News
·  The RDWC is very happy with the turnout and response we have had to our Reiki / Energy Healing Circles. We will continue to scheduled this event the second Saturday of each month at 3:00pm. All are invited to attend and take part. Peter Goldbeck, Reiki instructor for many who participated, and his son attended last month. His tireless ability to perform individual and group energy work, attunements and prophesies is amazing and highly insightful. Peter is becoming increasingly popular and in great demand. He holds weekly healing circles at A.R.E in Manhattan. We hope he will find time to regularly attend our future healing circles.


·  Ken Lara, who practices and co-instructs Taijutsu class at the RDWC, will instruct a kids / young teens class Saturdays from 12pm to 1pm. This class will teach the principles and techniques of proper body mechanics and movement as applied to self defense.

·  The RDWC and the entire San Yama Bushi family are happy with the opening of the newest San Yama Bushi Dojo – The Ultimate Budo Academy. It will be located in the South Broadway section of Yonkers. We wish much success to Shihan Colon, Sensei Guerrero and others involved with this endeavor.