Fear Factor – Managing Anxiety
About one in 13 people globally suffer from anxiety (Psychological Medicine, May 2013). It is the most common mental health issue. The expat lifestyle - with its inherent change, uncertainty, and being away from familiar support networks - may in itself cause anxiety and can be especially difficult for those prone to anxiety. Julia Söllner is a German Psychologist and works at Body and Soul Medical Clinic. She assists clients from...
Understanding family dynamics for a happier life!
Family is where everything begins, family is where we receive core values, beliefs and perceptions of the world which determine how we develop our personality. When I talk about family, it could be a couple or the singles relationship with their parents (even if they aren’t currently next or around me). Family is not the stagnant picture we posted on WeChat; family is a dynamic, which is constantly changing and moving influenced by...
How TCM help manage your stress and stay healthy?
As we are facing the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak recently, people are living under travel restriction, suggested to work from home, and stay away from crowds. Both, employees and employers are stressed about the new regulations. Besides that, in this tough period Shanghai expats face many sorts of pressure, managing people and goals at work. It’s easy to see why many of us feel stressed. What is Stress? Western medicine describes stress as...
Enhancing your mental health!
Today we are entering into the 3rd week after The Coronavirus outbreak happened and with the measures to contain it (some preventive isolation) the concern about our health and the unknown about when it’ll be finished, most of us have experienced uncertainty, anxiety and sometimes fear. Right now more than ever we need to keep in mind that our mental health is very important to cope with the situation and to create a balanced and harmonious reality. I...
Everything Changes – How Do I Stay in Balance?
Nothing stays as it is and we and our lives are constantly changing - sometimes slower, sometimes faster. We deal with changing seasons, the usual ups and downs of our everyday lives, and occasional difficult times. Figuring out how to stay in our personal balance can be challenging at times, especially in the busy surroundings of Shanghai. The experience of imbalance is different for everyone. Some people get easily irritated or...
Conversations with Doris: How We Can All Benefit from Ancient Chinese Wisdom
The Best of Both Worlds: Bringing the Knowledge of TCM to Improving Health Today. The first Body & Soul location opened in 2004. So, how did an expat from Germany with a background in IT sales come to run one of the most successful healthcare organizations in Shanghai? How did Doris Rathgeber come to understand the Eastern approach to mind and body? And, what has she learned that might help...
New School Year, New You: Achieving Your Goals
As the school year starts and many of us return from summer holidays, we start to think of plans for the time ahead. Some will be starting a new job, or coming to Shanghai for the first time. And, many of us will be ready to settle back into a routine and think about things we’d like to change or accomplish. This is the perfect time to set goals, whether...
What Are You Really Saying? Unlocking the Secrets of Good Communication
„You cannot not communicate."(Paul Watzlawick) Communication is everywhere and makes our interactions possible. But communication is not just a simple tool for giving objective information. We’re constantly giving signals in our communications and creating an atmosphere for personal relationships. We communicate inner feelings and expectations along with information. How you talk to someone makes a world of difference. Communication can make relationships stronger. Good communication is a powerful tool for your personal...
Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue worldwide, affecting some 40 million adults in the U.S. alone. Many expats in Shanghai struggle with anxiety. It is perhaps unsurprising given the fast-paced lifestyle, high pressure jobs and other stressors many of us face. However, anxiety is just a symptom. It is the tip of the iceberg, the manifestation of what is going on inside of us. It may show an emotional...
Common Emotional and Relationship Issues for Today’s Woman
The devaluation of the feminine energy and our attempts to fit into society’s/other’s view of our roles plays a part in many of the emotional and relationship issues women face today. I work with many clients to better understand how these issues are affecting their lives and to examine how they see themselves and how they can reconnect with their feminine energy. One common example is the successful career woman in...