“Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.”
Tao Te Ching, #23, Translated by S. Mitchell
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Don’t Forget!
Upcoming Event! Chair Tai Chi will be hosting a Carnival of Healing on July 19th. The posting will be filled to the brim with informative resources on healing your body, mind and spirit.
If you have a blog that deals with holistic healing methods such as energy healing, Reiki, exercises, color, vibrational or theta healing, I would love to include a link to your blog in the Carnival. Please send your information to me at taijijuan@gmail.com. Include your name, website or blog address, the title of your blog/site and your email address so that I can respond. Also include the particular article(s) you’d like to have featured. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 17th.
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While praticing this exercise, imagine you are brushing wisps of clouds from in front of your face, chest and abdomen. The source of energy is the meridian called daimei that is located at the waist. As you twist from the waist, ch’i is released and travels along your arms.
Exercise #21 – Hands Waving in Clouds
Benefits: Hands Waving in Clouds will strengthen your shoulder and upper arm muscles and trim your waist as you turn from side to side.
Posture: Remain seated with your back supported by the back of your chair, feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Don’t forget to hold yourself erect.
Illustration by Jane Ramsey
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Begin with your left hand at eye level and your right directly in front of your lower dan tien at the lowest part of your abdomen.
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Breathe in through your nose, then twist from your waist to the left. Your left palm should be facing you at eye level while your right hand moves in front of your abdomen with the fingers trailing. In other words, your right hand is moving with your body to the left with the palm facing away from you.
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Reverse your hands so that the right hand is at eye level and the left in front of your lower abdomen as you twist to the right while breathing out through your mouth.
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This should be one fluid movement from left to right and back again, breathing in while twisting to one side and blowing out as you twist to the other.
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Repeat for at least 9 sets. Then return your hands to your thighs and relax your arms.
Use the acupressure point, Outer Arm Bone, to enhance your session and for the benefit of your arms and shoulders.
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You’ll find this point on the outer surface of your upper arm about a third of the way down from the top of your shoulder.
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Press firmly for no less than 30 seconds on each arm.
Benefits – If used regularly, this acupressure point will relieve sore arms and shoulders and stiff necks.
Don’t forget to drink water at the end of your exercise session or any time you begin to feel thirsty. A Word of Caution…If you have or have had problems with your kidneys, please consult your physician regarding the amount of water appropriate for your condition.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
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This Week’s Featured Blog: http://shecanrun.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/wow-what-is-that-graston-technique-all-about/
Featured Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080620195434.htm
Other Related Health Topics and Fitness Products:
- Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.
- T’ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners is now available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.
- Click on this link for great fitness ideas: Health Tips.
- More great fitness and health ideas: The Health Shack.
- Thinking of going on a diet? Try this link: Best Diets.
- For information on Reiki and other alternative/holistic health issues, click on this link: Phylameana lila Desy.
- How is your posture? Check it out at Posture Exercises.
- For all things T’ai Chi click on this link: American Society of Internal Arts.
- Best bookmarking and blog search site on the web: Technorati.
- For information on child and adult Attention Deficit Disorder, click on this link: http://www.attention-deficit-disorder.net/
- For many articles on general healthful practices, click on http://healthpromotiontips.com/
Other Informative Sites and Blogs:
· http://callierlibrary.wordpress.com
· http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com
· http://www.bottomlinehealth.com
· http://www.americanheart.org
· http://www.msassociation.org
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Chair Tai Chi will be hosting a Carnival of Healing on July 19th. The posting will be filled to the brim with informative resources on healing your body, mind and spirit.
If you have an informational blog (not a blog or website for selling a product) that deals with holistic healing methods such as energy healing, Reiki, exercises, color, vibrational or theta healing, I would love to include a link to your blog in the Carnival. Please send your information to me at taijijuan@gmail.com. Include your name, website or blog address, the title of your blog/site and your email address so that I can respond. Also include the particular article(s) you’d like to have featured. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 17th.
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The exercise, Punching with a Steady Gaze, is beneficial for the functioning of the liver, destroying toxins and allowing faster healing after illness or injury.
Exercise #20 – Punching with a Steady Gaze
Benefits – Use this exercise to increase ch’i and for general strengthening. All the muscles of your arms and your shoulders will be tightened for a more sculpted look.
Posture – Begin in the same posture as usual except this time the small of your back is not against the back of your chair. Your feet, however, remain flat on the floor shoulder width apart. Make sure that you have enough room between you and the back of your chair so that you can bring your fisted hands to your waist without hitting your elbows against the chair. Now, press your shoulders down and lengthen your neck as much as comfortably possible.
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Hold both your hands in a tight fist, palms up. Take a deep breath.
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As you exhale, begin stretching your right arm forward with a punching motion and tighten your abdomen. Just before your arm reaches its full stretch, twist your hand so that the knuckles are now upward. Don’t lock your arm, keep your elbow bent slightly.
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As you return your fist to your waist, inhale again allowing your abdomen to relax and expand.
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Punch out slowly but strongly with your left arm, palms up at first while exhaling and tightening your abdominal muscles. Toward the end of the arm stretch, turn your fist palm down.
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Return your hand to your waist while inhaling and relaxing your arm muscles. The yin or relaxed motion is in the return of the fist to your waist. When you are punching outward, tighten your arm all the way up to the shoulder (yang).
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Continue punching as you gaze steadily forward for as many even handed repetitions as possible. Your arm muscle should feel tight but not strained. Start with a small number of punches and work up to a larger number of punches as your arms strengthen.
Try the acupressure point, Window of Heaven, with the above exercise for further strengthening of your neck and shoulders.
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Find the Window of Heaven pressure point at the indentation at the base of the skull about 1 to 2 inches behind your earlobe.
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Press on this point for 30 to 60 seconds on either side of your earlobe or on both sides at the same time.
Benefits – Relief of a stiff neck, a headache or for shoulder and neck pain from stress or injury.
Don’t forget to drink water either at the end of your exercise session or any time when you begin to feel thirsty. A Word of Caution…If you have or have had problems with your kidneys, please consult your physician regarding the amount of water appropriate for your condition.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
This week’s featured blogs:
http://pluckymama.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/healthy-cleaning/
http://www.attention-deficit-disorder.net/
Other Related Health Topics and Fitness Products:
- Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.
- T’ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners is now available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.
- Click on this link for great fitness ideas: Health Tips.
- More great fitness and health ideas: The Health Shack.
- Thinking of going on a diet? Try this link: Best Diets.
- For information on Reiki and other alternative/holistic health issues, click on this link: Phylameana lila Desy.
- How is your posture? Check it out at Posture Exercises.
- For all things T’ai Chi click on this link: American Society of Internal Arts.
- Best bookmarking and blog search site on the web: Technorati.
- For information on child and adult Attention Deficit Disorder, click on this link: http://www.attention-deficit-disorder.net/
Other Informative Sites and Blogs:
· http://callierlibrary.wordpress.com
· http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com
· http://www.bottomlinehealth.com
· http://www.americanheart.org
· http://www.msassociation.org
Exercise #19 – Calming the Emotions
06/12/2008
“What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear?
Hope and fear are both phantoms
that arise from thinking of the self.
When we don’t see the self as self,
what do we have to fear?”
Tao Te Ching, #13, Translated by S. Mitchell
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Upcoming Event! Chair Tai Chi will be hosting a Carnival of Healing on July 19th. The posting will be filled to the brim with informative resources on healing your body, mind and spirit.
If you have an informational blog (not a blog or website for selling a product) that deals with holistic healing methods such as energy healing, Reiki, exercises, color, vibrational or theta healing, I would love to include a link to your blog in the Carnival. Please send your information to me at taijijuan@gmail.com. Include your name, website or blog address, the title of your blog/site and your email address so I can respond. Also include the particular article(s) you’d like to have featured either as an attachment or by copying and pasting it into your email. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 17th.
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In all my classes, I experiment with a variety of exercise combinations and movements. Because my students are a diverse group it can be difficult to assess the level of effectiveness. Sometimes it’s the combination of exercises that seem to work best; other times it’s the individual exercises that are most effective. These students all have one thing in common though and that is how busy and distracted they are. No matter our age or lifestyle there will always be stressors that impact our health and well-being.
Posture – Remain in the same seated position that you have used in the other exercises. Be relaxed but don’t slump in your chair.
Benefits – The release of negative emotions that interfere with your well-being.
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Sit with your hands resting on your thighs.
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As you breathe in, lift both hands to mid-chest level.
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Breathe out through your mouth and push forward. Keep your arms and hands relaxed as you push.
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When your elbows are almost straight, breathe in again and return your hands to mid-chest level.
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Breathe out as you push your hands straight forward again.
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Repeat your in-and-out breaths for a total of at least 9 times. Remember to push your negative feelings out with each outgoing breath.
Try the acupressure point Spirit Gate to help clear your negative emotions.
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Locate this point on the inside wrist crease of your arm. It is below your little finger just beneath the knobby bone of your hand.
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Press on this point for at least 60 seconds any time during the day when you’re feeling particularly anxious as well as at the end of this exercise session.
Benefits - Regular use of this point will relieve anxiety, nervousness and emotional imbalances.
Don’t forget to replenish your fluids with a glass of water at the end of your exercise session. A word of caution…if you have or have had kidney problems, please consult your physician regarding the amount of water appropriate for your condition.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
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This Week’s Featured Article: Science Daily
Featured Blog: Health Tips
Other Related Health Topics and Fitness Products:
- Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.
- T’ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners is now available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.
- Click on this link for great fitness ideas: Health Tips.
- More great fitness and health ideas: The Health Shack.
- Thinking of going on a diet? Try this link: Best Diets.
- For information on Reiki and other alternative/holistic health issues, click on this link: Phylameana lila Desy.
- How is your posture? Check it out at Posture Exercises.
- For all things T’ai Chi click on this link: American Society of Internal Arts.
- Best bookmarking and blog search site on the web: Technorati.
- For information on child and adult Attention Deficit Disorder, click on this link: http://www.attention-deficit-disorder.net/
Other Informative Sites and Blogs:
· http://callierlibrary.wordpress.com
· http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com
· http://www.bottomlinehealth.com
· http://www.americanheart.org
· http://www.msassociation.org
.
Exercise #18 – Wild Horse
06/05/2008
Healing T’ai Chi
“We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.”
Tao Te Ching, #11, Translated by S. Mitchell
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Upcoming Event! Chair Tai Chi will be hosting a Carnival of Healing on July 19th. The posting will be filled to the brim with informative resources on healing your body, mind and spirit.
If you have an informational blog (not a blog or website for selling a product) that deals with holistic healing methods such as energy healing, Reiki, exercises, color, vibrational or theta healing, I would love to include a link to your blog in the Carnival. Please send your information to me at taijijuan@gmail.com. Include your name, website or blog address, the title of your blog/site and your email address so that I can respond. Also include the particular article(s) you’d like to have featured as an attachment or by copying and pasting. The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 14th.
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Once again the Yang short form has provided an exercise for us that contains multiple benefits for mind and body. Wild Horse benefits shoulders and arms by strengthening and stretching those muscles. If you follow the movements of your arm as you lift it up and out to the side, you will be exercising the muscles of your eyes. Additionally, your mind will get a workout when you direct the ch’i or energy to the arm that is moving across your chest and up to the side to eye level.
Exercise #18 – Wild Horse
Benefits - Wild Horse exercises arms, shoulders, eyes and brain.
Posture – Sit as you have in the previous exercises. Though your posture is straight and lifted, there should be no strain. Relaxation is the key to benefitting from all of these exercises.
Illustration by Jane Ramsey
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Hold your hands near your left hip with the left hand on top and the right underneath. The distance between your hands should be about the size of a soccer ball.
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Breathe in deeply while you bring your arms to your left hip.
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Breathe out as you begin to move your right hand out from underneath your left. Your left hand presses down toward the floor (palm down) while your right arm crosses your chest and ends on your right side at eye level.
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As you begin breathing in again, move your arms to the right side of your body with the left hand underneath the right.
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Breathe out while moving your left arm across your body and up to eye level on your left side. Your right hand will be pressed downward with your palm facing the floor.
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Continue alternating from side to side for a total of 18 times.
Try the acupressure point, Wind Mansion to enhance your session.
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Find this pressure point by tracing your finger along the part of your spinal column located in your neck. Where it joins your skull there is a large hollow.
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Press on the Wind Mansion for 30 to 60 seconds when necessary.
Benefits – This point is especially useful for relieving mental problems and headaches as well as ailments of eyes, ears, nose and throat.
Don’t forget to drink water either at the end of your exercise session or any time during your exercise when you begin to feel thirsty. A word of caution…If you have or have had problems with your kidneys, please consult your physician regarding the amount of daily water intake appropriate for your condition.
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This week’s featured site: http://www.healthshackonline.com/healthblog/
Featured video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FERIw0q8kGk
Other Related Health Topics and Fitness Products:
- Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.
- T’ai Chi in a Chair: Easy 15-Minute Routines for Beginners is now available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.
- Click on this link for great fitness ideas: Health Tips.
- More great fitness and health ideas: The Health Shack.
- Thinking of going on a diet? Try this link: Best Diets.
- For information on Reiki and other alternative/holistic health issues, click on this link: Phylameana lila Desy.
- How is your posture? Check it out at Posture Exercises.
- For all things T’ai Chi click on this link: American Society of Internal Arts.
- Best bookmarking and blog search site on the web: Technorati.
- For information on child and adult Attention Deficit Disorder, click on this link: http://www.attention-deficit-disorder.net/
Other Informative Sites and Blogs:
· http://callierlibrary.wordpress.com
· http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com
· http://www.bottomlinehealth.com
· http://www.americanheart.org
· http://www.msassociation.org
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
Are you interested in writing for children? If so, check out this website for information: Children’s Writing Resource Center
