Yoga and Acupuncture

Modern lifestyle puts extreme strains on our mind and body. To keep our mind and body healthy, we look back to those ancient healing arts and holistic approaches. Yoga, a practice dating back over 2,000 years to ancient India focuses on the integration of the mind, body, and spirit through the practice of physical movements, meditation and breathing exercises. Its relaxation benefits (meditation and breathing exercises) and stretching and strengthening movements (physical poses) are attracted to many people in the modern era. Acupuncture, an ancient healing art has also been practiced for more than 2,000 years in China. Acupuncture, in which thin needles are inserted into the body was considered a primary medical skill in ancient China and has gained popularity in Western countries in the last few decades.

There are 5 main benefits for our mind and body when we use yoga alongside with acupuncture.

1.Maximize brain and body communications from different pathways: The communication pathway between the brain and body is two-way traffic via motor system and sensory systems of nerves. The brain influences and controls the body via motor system, while the body sends signals to the brain via sensory system. Yoga is a movement therapy in which the benefit is through the motor system (physical poses and breathing); acupuncture instead is non-movement therapy in which the needle sensation is sent to the brain via sensory system. Yoga with added acupuncture provides synergy effects of balance and harmony.

2.Integrate balance of the mind, face, and body: When we say the mind-body connection, we forget the face. All of our emotions, anxieties and stresses can be accumulated on the face which ages the face and affects the brain and mind. Yoga’s movements are mainly involved in the body movements; it does nothing to the face. Facial acupuncture can release all the emotions, anxieties, and stresses to rejuvenate the face and restore harmony in the mind and relax the body. Therefore, having yoga combined with facial acupuncture can benefit the most to integrate the balance of the mind, body, and face.

3.Unblock energy before it can be moved: In the modern practice of yoga, we use movement, breathing and meditation to move energy in a direction that nourishes us. However, if there is a blockage on the energy pathway, the energy cannot get through. So, it is easy to understand that we use acupuncture to sort out any blockages to clear up energy pathway. In this way, we can benefit the most from yoga by moving the energy around. For example, if there is pain and inflammation on any part of the body where the energy is blocked, this part of the body cannot move because the body automatically protects itself from moving and causing pain. Acupuncture can release pain and inflammation to remove the blockage and make the energy move freely. Thus, we can do yoga without pain.

4.Acupuncture reduces anxiety and stress to help yoga breathing: Breathing is the core technique of yoga practice which should be rhythmic, deep, and slow to create harmony and balance within the body and mind. If we are anxious and stressed, our breathing patterns tend to be irregular which is tense, shallow, and erratic. Acupuncture releases anxiety and stress effectively to help restore regular breathing patterns and relaxation state to benefit yoga practice.

5.Acupuncture releases tension to help yoga stretching and strengthening: During yoga, our body is going through a full range and variety of motion to get best poses by stretching and strengthening techniques. If some muscles are in tense, stretching and strengthening these muscles can cause injury or simply they are not relaxing and cannot be stretched, let alone strengthening. Acupuncture can release tension from the muscles to make sure all muscles are ready for yoga practice.