My Apologies
08/27/2008
“In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.”
Translated by S. Mitchell, Tao Te Ching # 8
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My apologies…there won’t be a new entry this week. University classes are beginning and syllabi and lesson plans are due. I can’t believe it’s that time of the year already!
In the meantime, please scroll down and review the exercises. Keep practicing. I’ll be back next week.
Thanks for your patience.
Exercise #27 – Fending Off Monkey
08/20/2008
“Can you cleanse your inner vision
until you see nothing but the light?”
Tao Te Ching, #10, Translated by S. Mitchell
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Fending Off Monkey is a wonderful example of the multiplicity of benefits that can be gained by the practice of T’ai Chi. Shoulder muscles are gnetly loosened, neck muscles are stretched and if you follow the movement of your hands, your eye muscles will get a work-out, too.
Exercise #27 – Fending Off Monkey
Benefits: Loosening and stretching shoulder and neck muscles while improving your peripheral vision.
Posture: Sit as usual with your feet shoulder-width apart, back supported by the back of your shoulder. Hold yourself erect but without tension.
Illustration by Jane Ramsey
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Hold your right hand at chest level, palm facing up.
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Begin breathing in through your nose while you swing your left arm back and following the motion of your arm with your eyes.
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Begin breathing out and sweep your arm over your shoulder and forward. Pass your left hand over your right so that your hands are about 2 inches apart.
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Press your right hand forward, fingers slightly cupped extending it out in front of you at chest level. At the same time, draw your right arm back, elbow bent until your right hand is level with your hip.
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Reverse and repeat the hand and arm movements beginning this time with your left hand held in front of your chest, palm facing up. Don’t forget to turn your head and follow the movement of your right arm with your eyes.
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Continue alternating for at least 6 repetitions on each side.
Try the acupressure point, Drilling Bamboo, to strengthen and relax your eyes.
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Locate Drilling Bamboo at the indentations at the bridge of the nose on the inner edge of the eyebrows.
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Press your thumbs firmly at these indentations and press your thumbs upwards at these points on the eye socket bone for no less than 30 seconds.
Benefits - Regular use of this pressure point will relieve red, painful eyes, foggy vision, hay fever and headaches.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
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.
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This week’s featured blog: http://realfitnesstx.com/
- 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/
- http://www.health-risk-assessments.com/
- http://createathrivingbusiness.com/balance-healer-and-business-owner-marketing/2008/07/11/
- http://www.nursingschoolsearch.com/blog/2008/07/100-networks-and-resources-for-male-nurses/
- http://www.x-raytechnicianschools.org/arkansas/top-100-diet-and-fitness-blogs/
- http://realfitnesstx.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
“Colors blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavors numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.”
Tao Te Ching, #12, Translated by S. Mitchell
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The following exercise is part of the Northern Star Qigong form. Proper breathing is particularly important with this exercise. You will be using reverse breathing i.e., lifting your diaphragm and tightening your abdomen when you are breathing in and relaxing your diaphragm as you release your abdominal muscles when you breathe out.
Remember to breathe slowly and steadily. Don’t attempt to breathe too deeply. Your ability to breathe deeply will increase naturally as you practice. It is unhealthy to force your breath to deepen. If practiced incorrectly, deep breathing can result in abdominal pain, dizziness and headaches.
Exercise #26 – Swaying the Head and Wagging the Tail
Benefits – Naturally deepening your breathing while you practice muscle control. Your level of energy will increase when you practice this exercise consistently.
Posture – Begin in your usual postion. You will be bending over your thighs throughout this exercise but continue to keep your feet shoulder-width apart.
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Take a slow breath in through your nose and lift your diaphragm. Begin exhaling as you bend over your thighs.
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Take hold of your ankles then inhale again using reverse breathing.
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Exhale and relax your diaphragm as you swing to the left. Inhale again as you return to the center.
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Exhale and twist to the right. When you’ve reached the end of your exhalation, breathe in again and return to the center.
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One set is a twist to both sides so you will complete 12 individual twists or 6 sets. Return to your upright position at the end of the sets.
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You may repeat the exercise but don’t overdo the repetitions until you are accustomed to performing the exercise.
Try the acupressure point called Three Mile Point to energize your whole body.
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Locate this point about 4 finger widths below your knee cap on the outside of your leg. You will feel an indentation at that spot.
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Press firmly with the middle fingers of your hands on both legs at this point. You may use the pressure point on one leg at a time if you wish but I always use them both at the same time and have been pleased with the point’s effectiveness particularly for the digestion.
Benefits: This pressure point is beneficial for digestive problems. It will also relieve fatigue, dizziness and general weakness.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week’s featured blog: http://www.docroberts.com/blog.aspx
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/
- http://www.health-risk-assessments.com/
- http://createathrivingbusiness.com/balance-healer-and-business-owner-marketing/2008/07/11/
- http://www.nursingschoolsearch.com/blog/2008/07/100-networks-and-resources-for-male-nurses/
- http://www.x-raytechnicianschools.org/arkansas/top-100-diet-and-fitness-blogs/
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 #25 – Drawing Silk from the Cocoon
08/06/2008
“People are born gentle and weak,
At their death they are hard and stiff.
Green plants are tender and filled with sap.
At their death they are withered and dry.
Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.
The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.”
Lao Tzu
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At one time, silk was drawn from the cocoon by hand. The following exercise mimics the movement that would have been necessary to retrieve the silken threads from a cocoon without damaging the filaments. To draw out the silk, the movement must be smooth and consistent without jerking or changing direction too abruptly. Too fast and the silk thread will break; too slow and the thread will stick to itself and become tangled.
Exercise #25 – Drawing Silk from the Cocoon
Benefits: The silk reeling exercise produces a state of mental relaxation in which the mind is alert but conscious of the movement of energy from the lower dan tien through the trunk and out to the fingers of both hands.
Posture: Sit in your usual position with your feet shoulder-width apart, back supported by the back of your chair, head held high but without tension.
- Begin a slow breath in through your nose as you lift both arms at the same time with the backs of your wrists leading the movement.
- When you reach eye level and are ready to inhale, change the position of your hands so that the wrist is leading your arm movement downward. Fingers will be pointed toward the ceiling.
- Breathe out through your mouth as you bring your hands back to rest on your thighs. Make sure that the upward and downward movements are smooth and continuous.
Try the acupressure point, Spirit Gate, to enhance this relaxing exercise.
- Spirit Gate is located on the inside of the arm on the outer edge of the wrist crease.
- Press firmly on this point (one hand at a time) for no less than 30 seconds. Repeat the pressure on your other wrist for an equal amount of time.
Benefits: Use this pressure point whenever you are feeling nervous or anxious. This potent point also relieves emotional imbalances, fear and forgetfulness.
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week’s featured blog: http://healing.about.com/cs/holistictherapies/a/uc_eft_emotions.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/
- http://www.health-risk-assessments.com/
- http://createathrivingbusiness.com/balance-healer-and-business-owner-marketing/2008/07/11/
- http://www.nursingschoolsearch.com/blog/2008/07/100-networks-and-resources-for-male-nurses/
- http://www.x-raytechnicianschools.org/arkansas/top-100-diet-and-fitness-blogs/
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
