Morning habits - the Chinese body clock

The strength of Chinese medicine lies in preventing illness. The emperors of ancient China longed for eternal life, and employed the finest minds to find ways to it. At its foundation stood the synchronisation between the laws of nature and the human body - and they discovered the inner clock thousands of years before science proved it.

The Chinese clock describes the flow of Qi through the body's channels. Each organ has two dominant hours in which it works at its best. And so the morning opens:

• Lung energy opens the day - this is the time to move the body, warm it with movement and bring in breath.
• The large intestine - a time for release and emptying, of physical waste and emotional alike. An excellent time for meditation.
• The stomach is the queen of the morning - the time to gather in food and energy for the whole day.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

When we don't eat in the morning, the body is forced to use the little energy from yesterday, and over time we deplete our basic essence. Studies show that physical activity in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach, helps regulate the hormone cortisol and reduce stress and anxiety.

The morning is the point of strength for the rest of the day. When it opens calmly, with a gentle warm-up, deep breathing and enough food, we are surprised to discover how much influence these moments have - on us, on our surroundings and on the family.