The flow (or lack thereof) of the seasons

[Asmo]

Hey Guys,

I guess this is one for the members who also life in a moderate climate, i.e., a climate with distinct 4 seasons. Warm summers, wet autums, cold winters and a spring where everything comes to life again.

Maybe it has to do with age as well (I'm 36 now) but especially the past 5 years or so I start to notice a pattern that repeats itself over the separate seasons.

Now that spring returns my body is full of fresh energy again. Last Friday I even did 3 training sessions. Saturday I went doing drills with a fellow student and went for running later in the day, Sunday I went for 1 hour running. Monday 2 sessions, etc.

Over the winter I simply can't hold that kind of continuous training up. I need days off more often, and 3 sessions a day is simply a no-no.

Also, in the spring I seem to pickup new things more easily, and discover things more easily as well.

Not so long ago I read Wong Kiew Kit Sifu's The Complete Book of Chinese Medicine, which had a section about the flow of the seasons and the human body as well. Will have to re-read

Anyone else noticed this pattern as well?

[HungFamilyFist]

absolutely.

Humans tend to forget how animalistic we really are. Just like other mammals, season/tempurature/cycles affect our body. Spring comes and pulls out of our lazy winter hibernation. Our bodies get more energy(im sure there is some biological chemicals that come out, but i don't know what they are). the sun is out more affecting vitamin D levels which helps bone strength and strengthens the immune system. You feel better, you feel productive(spring cleaning).

[PM]

go for Huang Di Nei Jing, it explains everything. plus there is another book on Chinese longevity and good health methods, which explains a lot of useful things (i have to find it to tell oyu the full name). anyway, i also have learned a lot from the discussions with my Chinese medicine doctor.

[JE]

Asmo,

In English there are a couple of reasonable introductory books on Chinese medicine. The Web that Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk and Between Heaven and Earth by Harriet Beinfield. Both provide solid introductions to theory on a basic level and are often used as the initial books at schools for Chinese medicine in the US. Giovanni Macciocia also has a much more indepth book The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (although much more pricey).

There is tremendous depth to Chinese medicine. Like gung fu it can go as deep as you wish it to...

Regards,
Justin

[Asmo]

The Web that Has No Weaver is not yet in my library, will have to get it. Heard a lot of good things about it over the years, but simply never got it myself...

For those who are more into TCM/Dit Dar then me, what do you think about Tom Bisio's book A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth? Over the years it has been really helpful for me for fixing the day to day minor injuries caused by training.

[JE]

[PM]

here we go:

Liu Zhaggcai, The Mystery of Longevity: Traditional Chinese Therapeutic Exercises and Techniques

one of the greatest books i have ever read on the subject - simple and practical

[waltor]

I'm glad this happens to other people, well not "glad" but you know what i mean. I always "hibernate" in winter. No energy at all. It's very hard to work out/practice. But soon as spring comes I train a lot more and a lot harder. Much more energy. Sifu just thinks I'm lazy, but I guess there really is something about the weather itself. I really like working out in the heat of summer too (where I am it gets very hot and very, very humid). I know it's potentially dangerous (I make sure to stay hydrated), but those are typically my best workouts.

[Tholf]

One of the benefits of training in Hong Kong is that it's good training weather for most of the season. Our "winter" is pretty mild by most standards.

Downside is sweltering humidity, especially as we train outdoors. At the height of summer I go through about 3-4 litres of liquids in a 4 hour training session.

[Asmo]

[Tholf]