When we have so little energy it’s really important that we learn how to use it carefully. One particularly difficult challenge is when others place demands on our energy. We need to be able to say ‘no’ when others are demanding something from us that will push us into that ‘too much’ zone. I’ve recently … Read more
There is nothing new in this statement. There is even specific ME/CFS terminology for it: staying within our ‘energy envelope’! But the fact is that it’s extraordinarily difficult to achieve. However I believe that if we were only to focus on one illness management goal, this would have to be the one. The more we can … Read more
The idea of resting before you get tired may seem odd to a non-ME/CFS sufferer but it is a really important concept in energy management. In general we have to get our heads around the fact that rest isn’t just about recovery for what we’ve just done, it’s as much about saving energy for what … Read more
Every morning when I wake up I feel sluggish and poisoned. Sometimes it can be like a terrible hangover, even though I don’t touch alcohol at the moment. After I’ve done my T’ai chi and drank a couple of mugs of hot water I usually feel much better. It makes sense to me that the … Read more
For those of us who are lucky enough to be well enough to take a holiday, air travel can bring its own challenges. For some of us flying may be the only way to getaway to the sun during winter for some much needed vitamin D therapy. However I have found that I regularly pick … Read more
This may seem a strange idea; chronic illness sufferers don’t very regularly have cause for excitement. But on the other hand, as exciting events can be rare, they can be even more exciting when they do happen! I’m going on holiday next week, back to the idyllic Spanish village that I lived in for 8 … Read more
Finding a baseline of sustainable activity is an important strategy for learning how to live within your ‘energy envelope’. Making sure that we only use the energy that is easily available to us is the most reliable way of stabilising our condition. Saving some of that energy for the body to work on healing can … Read more
Unfortunately this illness is very vulnerable to environmental influences. There are a great many things that are a part of everyday life that can worsen our symptoms. The more we can take control of these factors, the more energy we will have for ourselves. Many of us become so sensitive we have to deal with … Read more
Since I wasn’t very well a few weeks ago my recovery has been very slow. It’s been very disheartening that I’m still not back to the levels of activity I could maintain before that virus hit me. I’m used to regular ups and downs but usually it only takes me a few days to get … Read more
The complete breath is a more advanced technique based on deep breathing and should not be attempted until you are comfortable with the deep breathing practise. I first learned this practise at T’ai Chi classes where it was called 3 compartment breathing and later discovered the overlap with yogic breathing. The complete breath is … Read more
