“There is movement, but it is not brought about by force.
The movement is natural, arising spontaneously.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HEALING T’AI CHI
Enter the Crown and Wash the Marrow is another exercise from the Northern Star Qigong series. You will be using the reverse breathing method throughout the exercise. The basic purpose of all these Northern Star exercises is to disperse your energy or ch’i throughout your body. Remember to pull your diaphragm upward as you inhale. This will tighten your abdominal muscles. When you exhale allow only the area below your navel to expand.
Benefits – You will feel an increase in your energy level if you practice this exercise and the others from the Northern Star Qigong series on a regular basis. Be sure to do your reverse breathing carefully keeping the instructions in mind as you practice.
Posture – Tuck your hips under so that your back is flat against the back of your chair. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart as usual. Allow the natural curve in your spine to return when you bring your arms back down to your lap.
-
Lift your arm to your sides and up over your head. Lace your fingers, palms up.
-
Keep your head level but lift your eyes upward as though you could look through your head and see your hands. Breathe slowly using your reverse breathing method for a count of 6.
-
Return your arms to your lap and then repeat for a total of 9 times if possible. If your arms get too tired, reduce the number of repetitions to a comfortable level. You can always increase the number as you go along.
You will need to lie either on the floor or on your bed to use this pressure point comfortably and effectively. It is called Bigger Rushing.
-
To locate this pressure point, slide your finger down the top of your foot to the area between your big toe and the one next to it.
-
Press firmly on this point for at least one full minute. You can use this point as often as necessary one foot at a time.
Benefits: Use this point for dizziness, fatigue and for headaches and nausea. This point is also beneficial for relieving arthritis pain, tired eyes, nasal congesiton and hangovers. Your body will be invigorated and cleansed.
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/od/earthhealing/a/natural-ecology.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/
- 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
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
Exercise #30 – Plucking Thread
09/17/2008
“After a time of decay comes the turning point.
The powerful light that has been banished returns.”
I Ching
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Healing T’ai Chi Exercise #30
While doing this exercise, picture yourself pulling threads one by one out of a piece of cloth. At the same time you are pulling the imaginary threads, you are pulling the energy or ch’i from the lower dan tien through the center of your body and up to the level of your eyes.
Illustration by Jane Ramsey
Benefits – This exercise will tone your arms. Your eye muscles will also benefit if you follow the action of your hands as they move up and down.
Posture – Sit with your feet shoulder-width apart. Tuck your hips under so that your back is flat against the chair. This position will allow the energy to flow down your spine unimpeded.
-
Curl your left hand to form a bird beak with all fingers touching your thumb, wrist bent downward.
-
Breathe in slowly as you raise your arm to the level of your eyes. Remember to follow the movement of your hand with your eyes.
-
Begin breathing out slowly through your mouth as you return your hand to knee level, the heel of your hand leading downward.
-
Repeat the movement 9 times with your left hand and then change to your right hand.
The thymus is a mass of glandular tissue related to the endocrine system and the first gland to develop in the fetus. It is responsible for the later and continuing development of the entire immune system.
-
Run your finger along your collarbone until you locate the V directly above the breastbone.
-
Half a finger width below that V you will feel a small depression. The thymus gland is located behind the hollow.
-
Press your index or middle finger firmly on this spot and hold for at least 60 seconds. You may also circle your finger clockwise on this point for the same amount of time.
Benefits: Use this point frequently to ward off illness and to keep the body vigorous and youthful.
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://losangelesliposuction.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/liposuction-options/
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/
- 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
~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~
“The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Stay centered within the Tao.”
Tao Te Ching #53, Translated by S. Mitchell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Healing T’ai Chi #29
With the advent of the fall season, those of us with sinus and allergy problems are miserable and know that it’s only going to get worse! The two techniques described below are designed to relieve sinus pressure and headaches that go along with a stuffy head.
Benefits – You will feel an almost immediate relief and an opening of your sinus cavities.
Posture - Sit in a relaxed position upright but not tense. I would recommend leaving your feet shoulder-width apart because you want your ch’i to continue flowing unimpeded along the meridians.
-
Place your fingers on both sides of your nose in line with the middle of your eye socket.
-
Massage downward and to each side just under the lower bone of your eye socket.
-
Continue massaging firmly but gently until you feel your sinus cavities opening up.
If you’re like I am, you have a squeezed feeling in your head when your sinuses are jammed. Even my ears feel clogged! To alleviate this feeling, I use the following massage technique.
-
Press your thumbs firmly against the back of your ears behind the ear flap.
-
Rub up and down for a minute or so. If you don’t experience some relief, repeat the movement.
Add another element of relief to your facial and behind-the-ear massage, try the following acupressure point called Facial Beauty.
-
Locate this effective point at the bottom of each cheekbone, directly below the pupils of your eyes.
-
Press firmly but gently on these two points, holding your fingers on the cheekbones for no less than 1 minute.
Benefits: Use this point frequently to alleviate a stuffy nose, head congestion, irritated and tired eyes.
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.
Note: 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 blog: http://healthgoogle.blogspot.com/2008/08/its-important-so-they-can-do-something.html
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/
- 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
“The soft overcomes the hard.
The slow overcomes the fast.
Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results.”
Tao Te Ching #36, translated by S. Mitchell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Healing T’ai Chi Exercise #28
The following exercise is from the Northern Star Qigong as described by Deng Ming-Dao in his wonderful book, Scholar Warrior. Once again we use reverse breathing. When inhaling, tighten your abdominal muscles pulling your diaphragm upward. When exhaling, relax your abdominal muscles below the navel only. This exercise has been modified to be used while seated.
Benefits – This exercise will stretch your back muscles gently while making your hip joints more flexible.
Posture – Sit with your back against the chair, feet shoulder-width apart and head held high. This is a relaxed posture but don’t allow yourself to slump.
-
Inhale as you bring your hands up to your sternum close to your chest, palms upward.
-
Exhale as you bend over slowly (one vertebra at a time). Touch the floor with your palms if possible.
-
Begin inhaling as you lift up slowly to return to an upright position.
-
Repeat at least 6 times concentrating on primarily on your breath.
To enhance your exercise session, try the following acupressure wellness exercise.
-
Place the backs of both your hands against your lower back with knuckles facing.
-
Rub briskly up and down on both sides of your spine and down into your buttocks for a full minute.
Benefits: Whenever you feel your back muscles tensing or that first pinch of sciatica, sit down and take a minute to rub your hands along your back as described above. The friction from your hands will warm your muscles and prevent a debilitating backache or sciatic attack. Use as often throughout the day as necessary.
Warning - If you have disintegrating discs or fractured or broken bones, consult your physician before using this acupressure exercise.
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.
Note: 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 blog: http://www.health-article.org/mind-over-body
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/
- 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
