THE FIRE ELEMENT is most active in summer.  The climate is hot and dry and the Earth is abundant in this season of maturity, when plants flower and bear fruit.  Fire is associated with four Meridians: Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and Triple Heater.  It rules the circulation of blood and lymph. 

 

Fire is very active by nature.  Likewise, summer is naturally a season of peak outdoor activity.  Hiking and swimming are great cardiovascular exercises.  Asian medicine considers exercise as good for the anxious or depressed spirit as it is for the circulation.  Fire represents a joyful and content spirit able to regulate and balance our emotions.  When the Fire Element is balanced in us, we feel content in the activity, warmth and abundance of summer.  Even when our joy escalates to exuberance, we act with decency and appropriate behavior, honoring and respecting our Mother Earth and fellow human beings.  This is the power of Fire.

 

 

 

 

THE FIRE-TYPE PERSON

In balance, the Fire Element creates a person with a pretty good sense of who he is, and a personality that is generally compassionate and friendly.  Out of balance, you find someone who is self-involved, tossed to and fro by the emotional ups and downs of life’s dramas (big or small, real or imagined), unable to find a moment’s peace of mind. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON FIRE ELEMENT COMPLAINTS
Typical complaints are: insomnia, easily overwhelmed, lack of concentration, obsessive thinking, anxiety, palpitations, tight solar plexus, poor digestion, poor circulation, neck and shoulder pain, tingling in the fingers, certain kinds of headaches and morning stiffness in the neck or low back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON FIRE ELEMENT TREATMENT
Shiatsu techniques for neck, shoulder and back pain are amazingly effective.  They will also increase the benefits of your chiropractic treatment.  For those of you who suffer bouts of insomnia, there is a special technique developed especially for calming the mind and spirit that really helps with sleep.  Several clients have reported being able to decrease the dosage of medicines taken for high blood pressure, anxiety and heartburn with regular Shiatsu treatments.  Others have needed the combination of Shiatsu and herbs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FIRE ELEMENT SEASON OF SUMMER
Millet is the grain associated with Fire.  It is light, very quick and easy to fix, and kids like it!  Eat fruits with red flesh, like berries plums and especially watermelon.  Summer is a great time to soak in the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D.  The latest studies show that 70% of American children and adults seriously lack Vitamin D.  Low Vitamin D levels leave us at risk for skin cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even rickets.  Milk and dairy products are not enough to fill in the gap, so consider vitamin supplementation and/or get your 10-15 minutes of sunshine a day – without sunscreen.  That is all you need.  After that, rub on the sunscreen for the rest of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINDY FERRIGNO

 

 Lindy Ferrigno has practiced Shiatsu in the United States and Europe since 1975.  She studied with Japanese masters both here and abroad. Her certifications include a Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy from the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and licenses to practice on both coasts.  She trained with osteopaths, acupuncturists and chiropractors from Europe, Asia and America.  She is nationally recognized for her skills as a teacher, having established programs at acupuncture colleges, community colleges and post-secondary educational institutions in five states, including Virginia.

 

Lindy also brings to bear a broad perspective in the therapeutic arts gained from apprenticeships in the indigenous medicines of the Celtic, Cherokee and Shinto traditions.  Her teachers authorized her to lead individuals and groups on inner journeys that foster the honoring of Mother Earth, a greater appreciation of Self, and a deep connection with Creation Source.

 

Ms. Ferrigno lives and practices in Charlottesville, and teaches across the United States.

“I chose the Labyrinth as the symbol for my practice because, even though it looks like many different pathways going every which way, it is actually one winding road that leads you straight to the center – your center.  My desire to understand what makes us truly healthy and happy has led me around the globe to people of many rich traditions, philosophies and medicines.  Their unique wisdom has come together in my mind and given me a personal picture of humanity.  My teachers instilled in me an understanding that is now at the center of my being.  It includes body, mind and spirit, and it is continually unfolding.  It has opened my eyes to the beauty that we are.  It has developed a sense of self-worth that somehow fosters compassion and humility.  I honor my teachers whenever I can pass along what they gave me.  It is their recipe for a quiet, deep abiding joy. 
It is a recipe I like to share.” - Lindy Ferrigno