Waking up between 5-6am (before sunrise) is not easy. Even when you have done it for a long time, it’s still challenging. I frequently tell my clients that this one simple act has the greatest positive impact on health & wellbeing. Many do it for a while, and consequently, feel so much better through the day with their life trending positive in all aspects – the daily rhythm in accordance with the nature is a real key – but then, for all sorts of reasons, they fall back into old habits. Then, they are back in the clinic.
My clients tell me that they recognize the benefits, and some even suggest to have a deep-knowing that it is a way to feel good. They are also familiar with people that get up early, and the idea of rising early fits with their experience. However, plainly put, it is not easy. They ask me for advise – what is the key to waking up early consistently?
You do it because you have already made the decision to do it. You may have directly experienced the benefits – the balance – and you choose to continue life that way. Or, on the flip side, if you don’t get up early you feel less in control of your life and things start to fall apart, health declines – imbalance. You make a decision to avoid that – you choose health & balance.
Once it is time to wake up, immediately go into the state of ‘even-mindedness’. This is a state where there is no judgement, you are calm, stable and composed, it is a state of equanimity, there is no good or bad. There is simply what you need to do in front of you. And you do it – without emotion nor judgement.
The more you can practice ‘even-mindedness’, the easier it becomes to switch into this mode. It is like a muscle you exercise. You wake up at the time you chose, you drink your glass of water, go to the bathroom (elimination), you do your bodywork-exercise and then hot breakfast. This is such a key to making your day work for you, and ultimately making your life work for you!
After 3000+ years of observation from the longest continuing civilization on earth, life rhythm is considered the most important key in Chinese Medicine preventative health. In fact, I believe all successful cultures shared similar knowledge and actively cultivated these rhythms. The major benefit of the Chinese medicine approach is that they made it the foundation of their health science.
Is this old-fashioned advise and not relevant to modern society? Quite the contrary, as I feel it is even more important now, in the age of unprecedented choice and responsibility, than it was in the past. Choice is good, but you have to make the right choices!
See below for Chinese medicine ideas for the 5-7am. This is just one of the twelve 2-hour periods that make up the ‘Chinese Clock’ or ‘Qi Cycle’:
5am-7am • Get Up • Let Go Of The Old • Work on Yourself
Key Thought: Transformation
Action: Rising and Defecating
Element: Metal
Body Part: Large Intestine
12 Animal Zodiac: Rabbit
At 5am our Qi moves to our Large Intestine, which is connected with ‘letting go’ both physically and emotionally.
It is the best time in the entire day to work on ourselves. That is why the mnemonic is about the mystic rabbit pounding herbal medicine – it is about healing and transforming ourselves in accordance with our designs.
Between 5am-7am we have the opportunity to cut out what we no longer want, conquer our inner demons and experience a daily victory that will facilitate change in our lives.
As the sun rises in our day we have an opportunity to rise with it and the first activities are to do with ‘letting go of the old and embracing the new’. This means physically letting go by having a bowel movement and emotionally letting go by doing some morning exercise, which can include Qi gong, meditation, yoga, stretching, prayer, playing music or a combination of these activities. Most importantly, it is something you enjoy and is for yourself.
Think of sayings in your own culture about getting up early or at sunrise and enquire what time successful and effective people around you wake up. If you want to be happy, healthy and effective, they’re few things that will help you more than waking up early.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Tan L.AC. is a licensed Acupuncturist. After completing his degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Alex lived and practiced Chinese Medicine for 10-years in Beijing, China. A native-born Australian, the son of his Australian mother and Chinese father, Alex’s bi-cultural heritage helps him skillfully bridge Eastern and Western health perspectives. He believes the true power of Chinese medicine lies in a balanced approach towards prevention and treatment. Rooted in Chinese Medicine observation based theory & methodology over millenniums, Alex’s talent lies in delivering these Eastern healing modalities to his modern Western clients. For more about Alex click here
Alex runs a clinic in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona. Alex welcomes comments and questions to his articles. To schedule an appointment in person or telco-appointment click here
Thank you Alex
I always read and savor your teachings.
Still sheltering in place here in Northern California
Prayers for you and your family.
Be Well
Dee Dee Young