You may be asking what does Yin/Yang have to do with my life and well-being?

Everything in your life consists of both Yin/Yang energy. When these two energies are in harmony, health and well-being results. An imbalance causes dis-ease.

In essence, Yin/Yang are relative terms used to describe everything in your life. Everything around you and in you, has these energies. Nothing is purely Yin or Yang but contains both energies in varying amounts. You cannot have one without the other. Neither one is better, with both being needed for balance and well-being.

The basic idea of Yin/Yang is that the only constant in your world is continual change. In other words, nothing remains the same; no disease, no condition, no emotion, absolutely everything is continually changing. In the same way, Yin/Yang are in a constant state of change, complementing and opposing each other.

Yin literally means the ‘dark side of the mountain’ representing: darkness, night, coldness, stillness, winter, autumn, earth, moisture, passivity, femaleness, black, blue, silver, moon, water etc. Yin energy maintains and endures, it is nourishing and supports growth and development. Reflection and stillness create Yin energy.

Yang on the other-hand is translated as the ‘bright side of the mountain’ representing light, maleness, day, warmth, heaven, activity, sun, dominance, spring, red, orange, yellow, summer etc. Yang energy is creative and generating, it develops and expands; it is aggressive, dynamic and full of movement. The power of Yang energy is what drives creativity. Passion and fire fuel Yang energy.

The Yin/Yang energies within your body and within each organ need to be in balance for your body to function in harmony. If there is an imbalance with your body’s systems, with either too much Yin or too much Yang, you will experience disharmony or dis-ease. To achieve wellness, you need to balance work (yang) and play (yin) and indulgence (yin) and discipline (yang).

Chinese Medicine, ChiYo, shiatsu, feng shui, acupressure and acupuncture all apply these principles of Yin/Yang in restoring well-being.

Now that you under the concept of Yin/Yang, we will look at how this affects you in your every day life.

Everything in your life, whether it be the food you eat, your personality, your job, your activities, the music you listen to, your moods, your emotions, the colors around you, the climate where you live etc can all be defined as either having either mainly Yin or Yang energy. So it’s about balancing these two energies. In a state of good health, Yin/Yang harmoniously support and depend on each.

You can apply the principles of Yin/Yang to your every day life. For example, if you are constantly on the go, have a fast-paced career, participate in competitive sports, have a tendency to want everything yesterday and love to push yourself, all Yang qualities, to achieve internal balance and well-being, you need to include Yin energy i.e. meditation, yoga, ChiYo etc in your life.

If this balance is not achieved, then another factor comes into play and that is that if something is extremely Yin or Yang, then it will become its opposite. For example, excess Yang as the example given above, will eventually become a Yin condition leading to fatigue and exhaustion, forcing your body to achieve stillness and rest through illness.

Below are a few examples of Yin/Yang qualities in your life. These are intended to give an idea of how Yin/Yang features in your life. You will be able to determine which energy (Yin or Yang) is the most prevalent and which energy (the opposite) you need to include to achieve balance and well-being.

Are You Predominantly Yin or Yang?

Yin Personal Characteristics:

Yang Personal Characteristics:

Yin & Yang Actvities

Yin & Yang Careers

Yin & Yang Foods

In summer (Yang) increase your intake of Yin foods and vice versa.

Balance should be your goal if you want to achieve well-being. So listen to your body as it will always tell you what it needs to achieve this balance.

Article by Rosanna Commisso
Rosanna Commisso is the Founder of ChiYo Life. ChiYo is feng shui for your body. It is a gentle holistic practice developed by Rosanna Commisso that combines the healing and regenerative techniques of specific yogic breathing, standing meditation, flowing Chi energy movements with acu-massage to increase internal Chi, balance the yin and yang energies in the body and activate the chakra systems, healing body, mind and spirit. www.chiyolife.com.au

Are you finding it hard to get motivated, inspired or excited?

Then perhaps you need to increase your Chi.

Chi is your life force, your spark or the ‘fire in the belly’. It exists not only inside you but around you in your home and the world you live in. Your own personal Chi is always mixing with the Chi around you.

If you want to increase your Chi you need to look at the food you eat, the way you move your body, the thoughts you have and also at your environment.

The Chi you take in from your environment, including clothes, sounds, light, color and people, influences your moods, emotions, physical energy and over time, your health. That’s why it’s so important that the Chi around you is not only plentiful and free flowing but that it’s harmonious and it supports you. This is the basis of Feng Shui.

Creating harmony in your environment will promote inner balance, reduce stress, slow down early aging and allow vitality to flow through your body.

Below are some easy tips on ways to help you get some more zing in your life.

Natural Clothing
Wear clothing made from natural materials such as cotton and wool, as synthetic fabrics can prevent the natural flow of Chi to and from your energy field.

Remove Clutter
The space around you is one key indicator to what is going on in your mind, and therefore your life. To enhance your Chi, discard items that no longer hold value for you with the intention of releasing the old thoughts, beliefs, and emotions attached to them. By clearing out items, you open the path for new energy to enter your life.

No Chemicals
Chemicals can block the flow of Chi. Start using natural cleaning products, pesticides and cosmetics.

Natural Light
Whenever possible live and work in natural light as it provides healthy, harmonious Chi, while artificial lighting can drain your Chi.

Avoid Chi Drainers
These are activities, people or places that drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted.

Colors
Colors have a major impact on your emotions and energy levels. Some colors such as red are very stimulating and can be great when you need an energy pick-me-up, while other colors such as blue are very calming and are perfect in the bedroom or after a hard day at work. So surround yourself and wear colors that make you feel good. Just remember that as your personal energy changes, the colors that you need around you also need to change to complement what’s happening internally.

Music
Music has a major impact on your emotional state and energy levels, so make sure you listen to music that makes you feel good – this will increase your Chi.

Have Fun
Be spontaneous – laugh. Do something silly! Do what you love. If you don’t enjoy your day then your Chi will naturally become suppressed. Sometimes you need to ‘fake it till you make it’. By making yourself laugh you will be increasing your Chi which will in turn will naturally increase your feeling of well-being.

Nature
Spend time in nature or bring the outdoors in with flowers and plants as these all impart positive healing Chi.

Balance Yin & Yang
Yin and yang are polar opposites of each other, complementing each other. They are found in all things in life and both are needed for a healthy balanced life. The ideal is to balance these two opposing energies for harmony and health. – balance darkness with light, warmth with cold etc.

By following these simple, yet powerful tips, you can increase your energy and improve your health by facilitating your Chi.

Article Submitted by: Rosanna Commisso