The Hyggelig Journey

The brilliance of children has always intrigued me. Quick, perceptive — they move through the clinic with an ease that even my own shadow cannot match. They take in every detail, every corner, as if the space were an extension of themselves. And yet, for all their boundless energy, they surrender to treatment with an openness that never ceases to amaze me. They feel the shift in their very skin, in the deep, unspoken language of the body. They arrive unsettled, their small frames weighed down by a world too vast, too demanding. Some are anxious, others irritable, their nervous systems frayed by stimuli too great to bear. But as the treatment unfolds, something changes. Their tension eases, their breath deepens. By the time they rise from the table, they are transformed — lighter, brighter, as if an invisible burden has been lifted. They leave with a spring in their step, their feet barely touching the ground, as if walking on air. Their parents — ah, the parents — watch i...

Machado de Assis once wrote, “There is no joy that does not pay alimony to sadness.” The saying lingers — a quiet murmur of inevitability — as though every moment of happiness were merely an advance on some future sorrow, a loan taken out against the certainty of loss. But what if it were the other way around? What if sadness, inexorable as it may seem, were not a price to be paid, but rather the fleeting shadow cast by a joy that always, in time, finds its way back? Life does not unfold in debts and punishments. There is no great celestial ledger where laughter is weighed against tears, no unseen hand ensuring that every happiness must be counterbalanced with sorrow. What there is, instead, is movement — a rhythm, a cycle, a perpetual ebb and flow. Warmth and cold, presence and absence, elation and stillness. Sadness does not arrive as a debt collector; it arrives as a tide, shifting the landscape, reshaping the contours of who we are. It strips away the old, makes sp...

Acupuncture harmonises the body and mind, fostering mental clarity and emotional maturity. These benefits naturally support three fundamental pillars of human and social progress: understanding the world, self-reflection, and transforming knowledge into action. As a result, acupuncture patients often distinguish themselves in society, developing a broader perspective, making more conscious choices, and maintaining a balanced approach to life. The first pillar centres on expanding knowledge and deepening understanding of the world. Those who actively seek learning overcome limitations and drive transformation. However, stress and emotional burdens can obstruct this process, making it difficult to absorb new information and think critically. This ancient practice alleviates tension, improves mental clarity, and enhances cognitive receptiveness, allowing the mind to fully embrace new ideas and innovations. By fostering a sense of openness, acupuncture helps individuals perceiv...

Kaizen is a quiet hand, adjusting what seems unchangeable. It does not rush, does not force — just refines, shaping everything with time. A philosophy of small steps, daily refinements, imperceptible at first, but transformative in the end. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) follows the same rhythm, seeing health not as a fixed state but as a constant dance, a delicate balance in motion. Yin and Yang shift like the wind, never still. Qi moves through the body — sometimes freely, sometimes obstructed, needing space to circulate. When imbalance settles in, illness whispers before it shouts. TCM listens early, adjusting with subtlety, never imposing, only guiding. Like Kaizen, it does not seek abrupt change but gradual realignment, a quiet return to harmony. A small shift — an acupuncture needle barely felt, a slight change in diet, a deeper breath — can echo through the body like the steady rhythm of a heartbeat. What seems trivial today becomes, over time, a foundation of ...

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), illnesses progress through three stages: energetic, functional, and anatomical. This reflects a growing imbalance in the body, moving from subtle disruptions in energy flow to functional impairments and, eventually, structural damage. However, by recognising and treating these imbalances early, it is possible to restore harmony before they develop into serious conditions. The first stage, known as the energetic phase, presents subtle signs that may not yet be considered symptoms of illness. People may experience unexplained fatigue, emotional fluctuations, or difficulty sleeping — indicating a disturbance in the body’s vital energy, or Qi . At this stage, conventional medical tests often show no abnormalities, yet the person already feels out of balance. TCM sees this as an opportunity for early intervention. Acupuncture, dietary changes, and Qi Gong help restore the smooth flow of energy, preventing minor disharmonies from becoming ...

Unresolved trauma can manifest in many different ways — anxiety, insomnia, chronic tension, or even unexplained physical pain. These symptoms often develop gradually, without an obvious connection to past experiences, making them difficult to recognise as part of a deeper emotional wound. Instead of surfacing as clear memories, trauma frequently lingers in the nervous system, shaping how we react to stress, process emotions, and experience the world. In Tradicional Chinese Medicine, trauma is not seen as a purely psychological issue but as an energetic imbalance that affects the entire body. The mind and body are deeply interconnected, meaning that emotional distress can influence physical health just as much as physical imbalances can impact emotional well-being. Healing from trauma requires an approach that goes beyond intellectual understanding — it must also address the body’s response to past experiences. Acupuncture plays a vital role in this process by helping regula...

It is not quite true that there is a pill for everything. In the West, what we see most frequently are symptomatic treatments that provide temporary control. The idea of a pill that could solve everything at once and forever is not feasible — at least, not yet. Take, for example, mood and neurovegetative disorders. There is evidence that mood is influenced by several complex physiological axes, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the sympathetic-adrenal axis, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Any alteration in how these systems operate and communicate can impact mood. And, as they are evidently interconnected, the complexity is such that achieving complete pharmacological control remains highly unlikely. However, it is important to recognise that not all mental health issues require medication. There is a wide range of techniques and fields of study that can complement psychiatry, including psychology, physical education, neuroscience, and integrative med...

All too often, we encounter situations that provoke fear or disgust, and instead of responding with thoughtfulness, we instinctively swing to the opposite extreme. Rather than pausing to understand the underlying issues or approaching them with balance, we react impulsively, believing that distancing ourselves as much as possible is the safest course of action. Ironically, this approach often leads us straight into the very situation we were trying to avoid — only in a slightly altered form. In our attempt to escape one perceived danger, we blindly run into another, failing to realise that both are merely different sides of the same coin. Take, for example, the way people react to financial hardship. Many witness others struggling under the weight of debt, losing their assets, or even facing bankruptcy. The sight of such instability fuels their determination to avoid the same fate, leading them to adopt an extreme approach to financial security. They dedicate themselves obs...

Our ability to observe our own thoughts and emotions is linked to neural networks primarily located in the prefrontal cortex, just behind the forehead. Meanwhile, intense and unsettling emotions such as anger and anxiety stem from the brain’s more primitive circuits in the limbic system. Between the ages of five and seven, the brain takes a significant leap in its ability to regulate emotional impulses, and this capacity continues to develop throughout life (though during adolescence, emotional centres tend to mature faster than those responsible for self-control). The ability to stay focused and resist distractions — to observe impulses without immediately acting on them — can be trained and strengthened with the right guidance and consistent practice. One simple yet effective way to cultivate this skill is through short mindfulness exercises, such as a three-minute breathing practice. This brief but powerful exercise functions as a mental “push-up” to strengthen focus a...

Every so often, I come across a pre-university student who already possesses a well-developed sense of emotional intelligence. Unlike most, they don’t need an explanation of why emotions influence academic performance — they have already learnt this through personal experience, observation, or reflection. Without even realising it, they have grasped an essential skill that will be invaluable in adulthood, helping them navigate personal and professional challenges with greater ease. However, the reality is that few people develop strong emotional self-awareness. This is not due to a lack of intelligence or capacity but simply because they have never made a habit of observing their own inner world. Many go through life without paying attention to their emotions or understanding how these feelings shape their thoughts, behaviours, and decisions. As a result, they struggle to recognise how emotions influence their professional success, personal relationships, and ability to ...

Get moving — movement is therapy. Our bodies are designed to move, and when we honour that need, we unlock a powerful tool for well-being. Ancient practices like yoga, tai chi, and qigong have long been used to harmonise body and mind, promoting balance, flexibility, and inner peace. Whether you prefer structured movement or simple stretches, integrating physical activity into your day can be transformative. A quick search on YouTube can connect you with guided sessions designed to reduce stress, improve posture, and boost energy levels. Even if you have just a few minutes between tasks, a short sequence of sun salutations or a gentle child’s pose can help reset both body and mind. If time is scarce, even a simple act — like lifting your shoulders to your ears, holding briefly, and releasing with a deep exhale — can work wonders in releasing accumulated tension. But movement alone is not the only path to relaxation. Breathwork is an equally powerful ally. The way we breathe...

Often, due to anxiety, thoughts can become chaotic, and there is a certain level of fear about the future. However, simply knowing that you are doing something productive – whether it be undergoing acupuncture treatment, exercising, or practising self-massage – can help reduce worries about things beyond your control. It is always good to remember that your attitude and reaction are always within your control, and that matters more than predicting everything that might happen tomorrow.

Research suggests that approximately one-third of the world has an innate capacity for emotional intelligence – defined as the ability to recognise an emotion as you are experiencing it, a concept often referred to as "mindfulness." The remaining two-thirds, despite being emotional beings as well, tend to overlook what they feel and think. This happens because whatever we focus on grows, but if you ignore your perception, you weaken an essential resource. Ultimately, this affects the way people live and relate to others, reinforcing the saying: "My generation goes to therapy because yours didn’t." We have a deeply ingrained bias in how we deal with negative thoughts, instinctively clinging to negativity as it is. This often leads to the impression that life is hopeless. Without pausing to acknowledge negative thoughts, the electrical impulses in the brain associated with them are converted into neuroamines, which directly affect the limbic system – the...