Lately, I have been training in moxibustion, an ancient therapy that has been supporting my health for 15 years.

Moxibustion, or moxa therapy, is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). By heating the dried herb mugwort (Ai Ye), the practitioner can bring heat and light energy to points otherwise treated with needles.

My moxa training is happening in Brisbane, with Ko and Aki Okada, at Art of Moxa, who trained in the Japanese form of moxibustion known as Kohki.

Kohki uses a combination of multiple medicinal herbs including mugwort, ginger, peppermint and more. As a beginner student, I am learning the unique Kohki sequences, which use dynamic movement to draw the moxa over the patient’s body, to balance out places of excess (jitsu) and deficiency (kyo).

The moxa treatment applies a method of energising or nourishment to areas of deficiency (kyo) and a method of dispersal to areas of excess (jitsu). This leads to a reduction of disharmony in the system, and towards greater balance and equilibrium internally.

When I was sitting in class recently, learning about these concepts from Ko and Aki, it took me back to my learning around 10 years ago.

While doing the Feldenkrais practitioner training, I did a partner presentation on the function of the elbow. I was fortunate to be partnered with a highly curious student, who was fascinated with two major categories of musculature: tonic and phasic musculature.

Tonic muscles are slow-twitch, posture-stabilising muscles that provide endurance against gravity: these tend to shorten and tighten, meaning we often are not experiencing the full advantage of these stabilisers. Tonic muscles are often situated deep, closer to the joints, and are part of the “core” system.

Phasic muscles are fast-twitch muscles designed for movement, power, and high-load activity. They provide quicker, more intense movements. These tend to weaken and lengthen. Phasic muscles are often more superficial or external, positioned further from joints.

Imbalances often see tonic muscles become overly tight, needing stretching, and phasic muscles become weak, needing strengthening.

It has been so enriching for my learning to hear about these various cultural views of imbalance, and to explore different approaches to moving towards greater internal equilibrium!