Most people have either seen the symbol or heard about the concept of yin and yang. No surprise there—the concept dates back millenniums. It originates from Chinese philosophy and is the underlying theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine. What if I told you, it holds the secret of having more energy? Read on to learn about what it is, how it does that and how you can integrate it in your life.

Yin and Yang

The concept is simple yet profound. Yin and yang are opposing yet complementary forces that create perpetuating cycles in nature. Yin has a nature more associated to the night, the darkness, the material and stillness. Yang has a nature more associated to the day, the light, the immaterial and movement. Here are some more examples to sink in the concept.

The circle shape of the symbol represents well the idea of one whole and/or a cycle. The central delineation is not a straight one, but rather a sinusoidal line. It transmits the idea of how one transforms into the other and back to the previous, always in a dynamic pattern. Just like how the day gradually transforms into night and once it reaches its peak, the night gradually transforms into the day, and the cycle continues, forever.

... But how does all this relate to having more energy?

Energy Seen as Yin and Yang

Energy, like many other material or immaterial entities, can be examined through the lenses of yin and yang. A type of yin energy is sleep. A type of yang energy is exercise, or movement. Both offer us energy in different ways. If you don’t sleep enough or sleep too much, your energy can be lacking. If you don’t move at all or are always moving, your energy can also be lacking. Each moment of life is about finding a dynamic balance.

Our modern, productive, screen-filled world is very yang. This constant yang stimulation is so present that many of us bring it into the yin part of our day. Artificial lighting illuminates our houses after the sun has set. Mentally, thinking of stress, anxieties and deadlines is a clash of yang energy when entering the yin evening. For some, drinking too much coffee or too late in the day can lead to having a hard time winding down at night.

... So what can we do to balance our individual energy needs?

Yin and Yang, Practically

Because of our very yang world, many solutions are straightforward, such as cutting coffee, reducing screen time and using dimed lights in the evening. But it is not only about taking away yang excess; there will always be an empty half of the circle if it is not filled with yin.

Most practices that restore yin are social, mental, emotional or spiritual. We have all heard of the importance of self-care, stress management, and taking time to eat a meal. Usually, yin activities take more time, thus making them hard to implement in our busy schedules.

Yin activities nourish you in a nonphysical way. When yin and yang are balanced, the cycle flows and energy is full. Get to know yourself and find your energy.

The yin and yang concept beautifully highlights how band-aid solutions are not everlasting. Truly getting to the root cause of imbalance is the unmistakable way to restore balance. This perhaps explains why there has been an increasing global interest in natural lifestyles and medicines in the past few decades of our increasingly yang, mainstream world.

For those who are looking for support while finding their balance, consider Energex Recovery. Just as activities can be looked at in this way, so can foods and medicinal herbs. Energex Recovery contains three unique ginsengs, each providing the needed energy to create a well-rounded (in yin and yang!) formula.