Tai Chi - QiGong

Discover the many possible health benefits with the ancient art of T’ai Chi. With gentle flowing movements, reduce stress, improve health, flexibility and balance. Learn how to move your vital energy or Qi while meditating and breathing when you practice QiGong. This is a modified style that everyone can follow.

In T'ai Chi,

• We try to have a stress-free life
• We don't talk about people, we don't critique and we don't judge
• We don't complicate life and we don't allow anyone to complicate our life
• Live today, in the moment, here and now. We live the present, the "now" We let go of our past and our regrets. We forgive ourselves, for what we didn't do or didn't say
• We forgive our mistakes and we learn from them.
• Imagine what you want to be and then strive to get it.
• We believe that all extremes are bad; we have to be balanced.

T'ai Chi is a Chinese system of slow meditative, low impact exercise designed for relaxation, concentration, balance, coordination, breathing and stretching. Done correctly it will relieve stress, exercise your body and improve your fitness. There are many different styles worldwide that developed from the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu, and Sun with many variations depending on the school.

A new awakening: transform your life!

Lak'ech Ala K'in "I am you, and you are me." Maya Greeting MayaJourney

Tàijíquán - T'ai Chi Chuan - The Supreme Ultimate Fist or Supreme Qi (Chi), is an internal Chinese martial art, a discipline practiced for both defense and health benefits.

• T'ai Chi Ch'uan translates as "the ultimate or supreme" - "ch'i / qì," meaning life energy.
• The t'aijitu symbol, in the Tao philosophy, represents the union of the Yin and Yang forces or energy; Feminine-Masculine.
• The Single Ultimate, the union of the two opposite forces, the primordial force; contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent and they balance each other. Based on the guideline of traditional Chinese medicine, is a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and of I Ching divination. Dark and light, female and male, cold and hot, low and high, manifestations of yin and yang, the perfect balance, the equilibrium that everything and everyone has to have. Every aspect of our world has both yin and yang that complement and interact as part of a dynamic system.
• Meditation in Movement - Mental clarity and concentration. The movements are based on coordination and relaxation, rather than muscular tension, in order to neutralize or initiate attacks. The slow, repetitive work involved in the process of learning, opens the internal circulation: body heat, lymph system, lungs, etc.

According to Chinese legend, Zhang San Feng came upon a fight between a magpie and a snake. Amazed by the fluidity of those movements, he saw a source of strength. The martial dance of the snake was softness; softness that overcomes hardness. This is just one of the legends. Others say, that the monks, tired of being robbed and in ill health, due to their lack of movement, were visited by a Sage. This wise man, some speculate came from India, taught them meditation through movement and a way to defend themselves through the fluidity, softness that overcomes hardness, and movements that promote the flow of the Qi (Chi) or life-energy.

Why Yin and Yang symbol looks this way? -

Simplified 24 Movements (press to see this wonderful site with pictures)
Red Book - Starts in page 3

Cultivating "Qi" - Chi - Ch'i - Qi - Qǐ - "life energy"

• Relax, concentrate and use minimal physical effort.
• Don't tense your muscles. Learn to utilize the tonic muscles instead of the phasic ones. They are the ones that support your posture, give balance and help you against gravity. We are dealing constantly with gravitational pull, this causes imbalances. Tonic muscles tend to become shortened if we do not specifically stretch them regularly. While the Phasic ones, tend to become elongated; all extremes are bad. Tonic muscles work to maintain our posture, while the phasic muscles become weak if you don't strengthen them. All our muscles work in conjunction and should be balanced.
• Concentrate - While doing T'ai Chi and Qigong, imagine the movement before you do it, visualize the breathing, movement and the circulation or movement of your Qi.
• Posture - Imagine you have a balloon on top of your head that keeps you straight. From now on, you will have it.
• Breathe deep.
• Balance your life. All extremes are bad.
• Let go so that you can breath. Don't forget to breath!

Blending the powers of body, mind and spirit, the T’ai Chi Chuan style incorporates breathing and meditation techniques. There are several styles and many variations.

• Yang Style – Yang softened the art of Chen Wang Ting by removing many of the more vigorous tactics, while his son Yang Chien Ho improved the techniques for health.
• Wu Style – Yang Lu Chan and his second son Ban Ho taught the small style. The second style of Wu was a version of the above. The third version called the Wu School was created around 1852 by Wu Yu Xiang and it is a compact form.
• Sun Style – Sun Lu Tang, a boxer, combined the three schools into one.

QiGong or Chi Kung – Using the postnatal breath (diaphragm muscle is pressed downward as we inhale and flexed upward as we exhale) or the prenatal breath method that reverses the above, the arms, waist and sounds from the Dan Tien are used to increase the Qi or life force.

Meditation – The purpose of meditation in T’ai Chi is to cultivate the Qi force of the body. You can meditate jan-chung (standing) or sitting. In the standing form, the student holds a large ball or barrel concentrating in the Dan Tian area and controlling the breath. If you choose the ching-tso or seated meditation, you can do it on the floor or chair.

T’ai Chi Form - The form is a series of movements that are linked in a hsing or set. Every style is different but it can consist of 44 to 108 separate movements. The postures in the different styles are similar. The styles are done in a very small pace except in the Chen style, where it has quick motions and stamping of the feat and it is done in a faster pace. Any of the styles can be done faster to demonstrate their martial arts application and for those that want to have an aerobic exercise.

Push Hands - Sensitivity and Awareness Exercise

This exercise was developed not only to be aware of the energy flow, but to learn how to guide the force of the contender by neutralizing and guiding it without opposing it; without effort. This is a defensive technique that teaches us that it is not necessary to fight against an opposing force. We learn to go with the flow while borrowing the energy from the opponent. Neutralizing, controlling and using the opponent’s energy.

Weapon Training - As an extension of energy, the students learn to use weapons to develop waist strength and flexibility, control and enhance the energy.

Mental Awareness and Self Confidence

Mental attitude is the main benefit of T’ai Chi. Learning to relax and to be aware of your body and your surroundings is a part of the learning. Mind and body control will increase as we concentrate and relax during the form. Flexibility is also one of the benefits. You won’t lose weight but, by releasing the tension, you will learn to stimulate the immune system, reducing high blood pressure and stress. Ease of motion and correct alignment will be achieved.

Qì 氣 - "life energy" - Gōng 功 - "results" - QìGōng is the discipline to cultivate the life energy; the physical training for awakening one's true nature. It involves breathing and slow movements together with visualization and concentration. It is a discipline, not a religion. There are different schools of QìGōng.

• The traditional Chinese Medical community uses it as a preventive and curative method. In many countries around the world is being used as a form of exercise for the mind and body.
• The Martial Arts community considers it as an important part of their training.
• The Taoists and Buddhist, use it to meditate.
• In the Confucian school, the practice is used to improve the moral character.

Breath awareness, visualization, meditation, Qì circulation and posture are used in this practice.

Filling the Vessel / Basic Breathing - Stand with your spine erect; remember there is a balloon on top of your head that keeps your chin up, elongating your torso. Inhale deeply, filling your torso from bottom to top. Exhale completely, emptying your torso from top to bottom.

• Breathe to the top of your head. Exhale in four steps: exhale to the throat, exhale to the chest, then to the stomach area, and to the dantien. Get rid of all the stagnant air. Do this 3 times.
• As you breath, be aware of the area of your body you are working with; have control.
• Visualize the movement before you do it.

Directed Breathing - As you inhale, visualize the air filling your left leg. As you exhale, visualize the air leaving your leg. Next do it with your right leg, going through your hips, abdomen, right chest, left chest, right arm, left arm, neck and shoulders, ending with your head. You will learn to control the energy, have awareness of your body and manipulate the energy with visualization. This is great when something hurts or there is a blockage in the meridians.

Eight Pieces of Brocade - Silk/like movements to move the energy and improve health.

• Shuang Shou Tuo Tian - Hold up the Heavens - Stimulates the Sanjiao Meridian, also called the "Triple Warmer."
• Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Hawk - It exercises the waist area, kidneys and spleen.
• Separate Heaven and Earth - Stimulates the stomach.
• Wise Owl Gazes Backwards - Stretches the neck, presses lymph nodes.
• Sway the Head - Regulates function of the heart and lungs by removing excess xin huo or heat.
• Two Hands Hold the Feet - Strengthens kidneys
• Clench the Fists and Glare Fiercely - Punching movement, increases strength and drains lymph nodes.
• Bouncing on the Toes - Moves the Qi or Chi

MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF QIGONG - Keneth M. Sancier - PhD- Therapeutic Balancing of the Meridians and Functions of the Body, Examples of Medical application, combinations of Qigong and drugs versus drug therapy alone and studies.

QiGong Correct Posture

• "We cannot teach Tao, we have to cultivate it within us."
• "The way that can be spoken, is not the right way: the name that can be named, is not the right name."
• Bagua, symbol that represent the Tao and its pursuit.

"There was something formless yet complete, that existed before heaven and earth. Without sound, without substance. Depended on nothing, unchanging...All pervading, unfailing. One may think of it as the mother, of all things under heaven, Its true name I do not know, Tao is the name I give it." Tao Teh Ching - Lao Tze "The Old Sage"

"The cause of all misery is *ignorance...it is ignorance that makes us hate each other, it is through ignorance that we do not know each other." Swami Vivekananda

*ignorance of understanding others' beliefs and ignorance of what we have in common with religions other than our own.

• Tao - Dào - D'âu - "The Way or The Path" - "Essence of the Universe, Natural Order of Existence," "The Right Way of Existence"
• Teh - Power
• Ching - Book
• Tao Teh Ching - Book of the Way and its Power

Metaphysical concept adopted in Confucianism, Chan, Zen Buddhism and ancient Chinese philosophy.

"If the principles of Tao are not followed, there are consequences comparable to karma."

Related to the concept of yin and yang; the proper practice involves working with these principles to find life balance. To find this balance, we have to practice "a way of life;" a balance in our character and the way we conduct our life. The ancient Chinese Books of the I Ching and the Tao Teh Ching refer to Tao as the "unnamed Tao," something that cannot be expressed or understood; the flow of the universe, the essence that keeps the universe balancedis related to Qi or Chi. It cannot be taught, it has to come within. It is not a religion; it is a way of life.

• Wu - emptiness
• Wu Wei - empty action; action without force
• Yin Yang - balance of opposites
• Tao is like water; self-replenishing, soft and quiet but powerful, and impassively generous.
• Tao T'ung - tradition of "the Way"
• Te - "power; virtue; integrity" term used to refer to proper adherence to Tao; Te is the cultivation of the way.
• Jen - humanity
• Emptiness is the Tao.
• Tao is equated with the Absolute.
• Wang Fu-Chih expressed the Tao as the T'ai Chi: the Great Ultimate, as well as the road leading to it.

Tao is a non-religious concept; it is not a deity to be worshiped, nor is it absolute.
T'ai Chi takes the concepts of Tao, the way of life; "a discipline, not a religion, focusing on humane nature and righteousness." Earliest written forms of dào: script characters from Zhou Dynasty 1045-256 B.C.E.

Jing – Essence– Original source that determines the characteristics and nature of a person. Jing is the root of life, the principal of the three Roots; your basic strength. If your parents are healthy, you will have a good foundation, but you have to maintain the Jing. After you are born the Jing is in your kidneys. Kidneys are the root of your Jing. You cannot increase it but you can improve the quality. Qigong teaches you how to use and convert your Jing into original Qi. "Huan Jing Bu Nao" is the way to return the Jing to nourish the brain, and can be obtained by deep breathing and Qigong exercise.

Qi – Internal Energy – We produce the Qi from the food we eat, the air we breathe and our ancestors. There are two kinds of Qi: the Yuan Qi, which you get from your parents at conception, and the Hou Tian Qi, that you get from the energy surrounding you, the food and the air. The Qi is the one that energizes the Shen or Spirit. By meditation or exercise we can move the Qi and open the meridians so that the energy can flow. The meridians are like highways, that, when they are blocked, sickness, pain or death will occur. The root of the Qi are the kidneys and it resides in the lower Dan T’ian; two and a half inches below your belly button. Leading the Qi to the head, it stays at the center of the forehead or Upper Dan T’ian. This is where the Shen resides. Qi supports the Shen keeping it strong. If your Qi is weak, your Shen will be weak.

Shen – Spirit- Soul – Your Shen resides in the center of our mind. It must be nourished by our Qi (energy). This is what makes us different from the animals. When our Qi is full, our Shen will be vitalized. Shen keeps us alive and controls the Qi. Maintaining your Shen strong will keep your Qi strong. The root of the Shen is your Yi (mind or intention). Energizing and stimulating your mind will help you to be aware of your surroundings and yourself. Your Shen will be raised and nourished by your Qi, which keeps your mind clear and energized. When your Shen is weak your Qi is weak.

QìGōng - ChiKung

“Where the mind goes, the chi follows.” Hand Silk Reeling promotes Qi or Chi Circulation.
- Bend knees, relax, imagine roots under your feet, you are glued to the floor.
- Closing the Kua– Kua has been translated as the inguinal canal and appears where the thigh joins the pelvis.

• The Kegel Exercise was named after Dr. Kegel and consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles of the pelvic floor to improve muscle tone. It may be beneficial in treating incontinence in both men and woman and control. For men it is used for treating prostate pain and swelling.

Mayo Clinic Kegel Woman

Mayo Clinic Kegel Men

A 58-year-old man with a 10-year history of idiopathic Parkinson's disease presented with an incapacitating freezing of gait. However, the patient's ability to ride a bicycle was remarkably preserved. (In Video 2, the patient is not wearing a safety helmet because in the Netherlands, wearing a safety helmet is neither required by law nor customary.) NEJM

Tai Chi May Help Parkinson's Patients Regain Balance

• Exercise and Parkinson's - A neuroscientist discovers a mysterious connection between our hands and legs.
• Exercise your left brain- These Brain stimulation techniques will assist in strengthening the weak side of the brain and serve to lessen the effects of tremors and weakness due to Parkinson's disease, if done with diligence and consistency.

• Qigong exercise for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Germany.

Ask your Doctor if Exercise is right for you. Ask him about Ibuprofen (Alzheimer’s) and Vitamin D.

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful:

• Good nutrition: try to buy organic food, limit your red meat and products that have hormones
• Eat foods high in antioxidants: blueberries, nuts, green tea, strawberries
• Enhance your immune function
• Avoid pesticides
• Avoid gluten
• Avoid taking products that contain aluminum: some anti acid medicine and some tomato sauce products contain aluminum. Also avoid deodorant with aluminum.
• Start with small changes in your diet. Try it for a couple of weeks and see how you feel. Make a menu of plant based diet. Go organic if possible, avoid red meat and
• Avoid stress; stress can lead to shrinkage of the memory centers of the brain

Exercise

• Exercise will help you with stress, increase flexibility, strength, calmer lifestyle, energizes your life and body conditioning
• Laugh - not only helps you with stress, but it is a fact that after you laugh, your stress hormone cortisol lowers. Also, it changes your body chemistry and lowers the risk of heart attack
• Exercise several times per day with rest periods in between. Combine exercise with meditation: Yoga or T’ai Chi
• Go dancing every week
• Flexibility - Stretch
• Balance - Teach your brain you are not going to fall by doing simple exercises
• Open the Joints
• Exercise your Lungs
• QiGong
• Play Music: Music stimulates your mind and relaxes your body. Vibration is important in our lives.
• Sing: vocal exercises improve speech and helps swallowing
• Keep Memory Skills
• Pay attention
• Make a diary, write a to-do list, have a schedule
• Repeat, visualize, associate
• Travel - Do you know that using a map helps you?
• Visit museums and art galleries. Pay attention to the little details in the paintings. Look at the different colors. Make up a story of what the artist tried to represent
• Learn to do one thing at a time; don’t multitask
• Learn to use the computer; write your biography
• Meditate: start slow if you’ve never done it. Increment your time or do it twice a day. By learning to meditate you will learn to regulate the breath.
• Physical therapy, speech therapy (if necessary), and occupational therapy
• Learn a new skill; new language, new word, read, do crossword puzzles, take a class, learn to play an instrument
• Do something creative: paint, draw, build, find a new hobby
• Place railings in commonly used areas of the house (Parkinson’s - Alzheimer’s)
• Special eating utensils (Parkinson’s - Alzheimer’s)
• Socialize

Read the "Importance of Vibration" under the QiGong section. Try to learn piano, use a keyboard, any musical instrument will do.Use music everyday at all time.

Parkinson's - Beehive.org

Warning Signs: Call 911

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause Find your nearest "Stroke Certified" Hospital

• A Heart Healthy Action Beehive.org

Please help stop the sale of Underwire Bras for Kids. Stores like J.C. Penney Marshalls, among others, sell underwire bras for 10 year old girls and up.

Physical Effects of Underwire

- The wire under a bra presses directly on two neurolymphatic reflexes. One reflex lies under the right breast and leads to the liver and gall bladder, while the reflex under the left breast goes to the stomach. Pressure on these points at first create a stimulating affect, but over time decrease the function of these organs. Some doctors believe the rate of breast cancer in the West is higher than in other regions of the world due to poorly fitting bras, with underwire posing a primary concern. As bras place pressure on the lymph nodes and block the lymph glands from draining, toxins are not freely removed from the body, possibly increasing the risk of breast cancer. It is also believed that bras cause the breasts to overheat, causing impaired health much like tight briefs lower sperm count in men. How Well Does Your Bra Fit? The next time you take your bra off, look in the mirror for red lines. Check under each breast, along the sides, and on top of your shoulders. Ill-fitting bras leave pressure marks and may constrict lymph flow and circulation. It is recommended that women remove their bra for at least 12 hours in each 24-hour period. Better breast health is just around the corner by doing two simple things: 1) Purchase bras without wire; and 2) cut the fabric at the end of your current underwire and slip the wire out.

Lymph Node TreatmentCancerCenter.com CTCA CancerCenter.com

Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi & Deepak Chopra NYC Wed 3/16/11 - Trauma and stress can act as a trigger- Head injury, stroke, infection - Genetic prophile to acess the risk, biomarkers, etc. Therapies with life style changes, drugs and exercise.

 3.30.11 - Beautiful pictures  Kung Fu Master,China National Geographic Magazine Features Buddhist monk and kung fu master Shi Dejian (above) and his disciples hauled bags of cement and roof tiles up steep mountain paths to build an isolated retreat (in background) away from the tourist crowds at the Shaolin Temple.