July/August 2026
Qigong & Mindfulness Newsletter

Harnessing Our Fire Energy

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Summer corresponds to the Fire element, which governs the Heart and is associated with joy, passionate endeavors, circulation, and mental clarity.  As the Yang energy of the sun reaches its highest intensity, it brings us vitality, the fruit of our labor, and opportunity for realizing our fullest potential.

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The goal during this time is to support the body’s natural outward flow and heat release to prevent excessive heat from depleting our internal Yin (cooling) reserves.  Gentle Qigong movements are perfect for accomplishing this, especially when done with the intention of calming and cooling the body and mind.

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It’s a great time to be productive and “Get ‘er Done!”  Personally, I’ve been in the zone, working on designing the details of our upcoming Circle of Life Group Coaching Experience (see details below).  Creating opportunities for people to reflect upon the desires of their heart and share deeply with one another is one of life’s greatest joys for me!

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I've also been balancing this cerebral work with time to play outdoors - biking, kayaking, pickleball and hikiing are my favorites.

 

How about you? What lights you up?  When was the last time you noticed yourself smiling with your whole self? What might you celebrate as a blessing in your life right now?

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May you have the constant awareness of life’s abundant blessings and may you make the time to do the things you love most this summer!

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In Health,

Sandy Salvo

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P.S.  Read on for some Wellness Wisdom from Traditional Chinese Medicine - Yang Sheng

(As shared in the IIQTC Summer Solstice Newsletter)

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To align your body and mind with the energy of this expansive season, consider incorporating some of the simple holistic self-care -- Yang Sheng - practices below to nourish your vitality and uplift emotional well-being.

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Balance Summer's Heat with Your Dietary Choices 

• Embrace Cooling & Hydrating Foods: Focus on water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumber, celery, bitter melon, leafy greens, and tomatoes. These help clear heat and generate fluids. 

• Include Bitter Flavors: In TCM, bitterness (found in foods like dandelion greens, arugula, and chrysanthemum tea) is believed to guide energy toward the Heart, clear excess heat, and promote calm. 

• Favor Light Cooking Methods: Favor steaming, blanching, or eating raw (where appropriate). Avoid heavy, greasy, fried, or overly spicy foods, which can trap dampness and generate internal heat. 

• Herbal Teas & Soups: Chrysanthemum tea, mung bean soup, and barley water are classic summer choices to cool the body and support hydration.

• Moderate Your Food Intake: Eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than large feasts to avoid overwhelming the digestive fire, which can weaken in high heat.

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Harmonize Your Lifestyle 

• Align with Daylight Rhythms: Since days are long, it’s acceptable to stay up slightly later but rise early to match the sun’s rhythm. Prioritize restorative sleep; a short midday nap (20–30 minutes) can replenish heart energy without disrupting nighttime rest. 

• Gentle Movement: Engage in moderate activities like Tai Chi, Qigong, or walking during cooler parts of the day (early morning or evening). Avoid strenuous exercise at peak heat to prevent exhausting Yang Qi. 

• Mindfulness & Emotion: The Heart governs emotion—especially joy—but excess excitement or agitation can disrupt balance. Practice meditation, deep breathing, or quiet reflection to soothe the spirit and maintain equanimity.

 

Cultivate Quiet Joy to Calm the Spirit 

• Meditation and Stillness: Even 5–10 minutes of seated meditation or guided visualization (imagining cool water or moonlight) can soothe "internal fire." Gentle acupressure points like HT7 (Shenmen) on the wrist can help calm the mind and support restful sleep. 

• Avoid Over-Stimulation: Limit intense news cycles, loud environments, doomscrolling, or excessive screen time during peak heat hours. Protecting your senses preserves emotional energy. 

• Journaling: Writing down worries or anxieties helps "process" them through the Small Intestine organ system (paired with the Heart), preventing emotional stagnation.