Exercise #80 – Relieving Nasal Congestion 2

  

 Welcome to

Healing T’ai Chi

…the award-winning blog of seated exercises based on Qigong and Yang style T’ai Chi for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

(sponsored by Exerciseline.com)

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The highest good is like water.

Water gives life to the ten thousand

things and does not strive.

It flows in places men reject and so is

like the Tao.

Tao Te Ching # 8, translated by Gia Fu Feng & Jane English

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Relieving Nasal Congestion #2

 

This is a very effective way to relieve pressure and stuffiness in your sinuses.  

1. Breathe through your nose only during this exercise.  Sit back in your chair as usual or rest your elbows on a tabletop to give yourself more leverage.
2. Press your middle fingers or thumbs firmly on the indentations of the inner eye socket where the bridge of the nose meets the bony ridge of your eyebrows.
3. Continue to press on these spots for at least a full minute.  Then, pinch your eyebrows lightly between your thumbs and index fingers and slide your fingers from the inner edge (the area closest to your nose)to the outer edge of your eyebrows.  Continue to slide your fingers from the spot closest to your nose to the end of your eyebrows at least 12 times. 

 Try the pressure point Penetrate Heaven (B 7) to supplement the exercise above.

(from Acupressure’s Potent Points by Michael Reed Gach)

• To find this point, slide your fingers from the backs of your ears to the top of your skull.
• About 1 thumb width below the center of your skull is the pressure point, Penetrate Heaven (B 7).
• Press firmly on one or both sides for at least a full minute.  You can use this effective point as often as you wish.

Benefits: This is an effective point to relieve headaches, a stuffy nose, a weak sense of smell or nasal and head congestion.

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.

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This week’s featured site/blog:

http://maximumwellness.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/an-environmentally-safe-wellness-program-part-ii/

Featured video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTgVDjffxns

Don’t forget…You can find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.

 

http://www.joansweightloss.com

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~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 #79 – Relieving Nasal Congestion 1

 

Welcome to

Healing T’ai Chi

…the award-winning blog of seated exercises based on Qigong and Yang style T’ai Chi for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

~~~~~~~~~

“The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.”

Tao Te Ching #81, translated by S. Mitchell

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Relieving Nasal Congestion

Now that we’ve arrived at the flu season and incidents of H1N1 are on the rise, I thought this would be a good time to review massage and pressure points that target nasal congestion, coughing, colds, headaches, and ear infections.  So, the subject matter for the next several posts will concentrate on what we can all do to stimulate our immune systems and relieve the miseries of flu and cold symptoms.

 Benefits – The following facial massage relieves nasal congestion by opening the sinus cavities alongside the nose and under the eyes.

Posture – Sit as usual with your back flat against the back of your chair by tucking your hips.  Make sure your feet remain shoulder-width apart and flat on the floor.

1. Sit quietly and take the time to breathe in and out slowly at least 3 times.
2. Place your hands alongside your nose and rub your fingers from the middle of your nose down and across your cheeks underneath your eyes.
3. Repeat at least 12 times and then take 3 breaths slowly in and out to finish your session.  Use as often throughout the day as necessary.

Use a combination of 2 pressure points to further relieve the pressure on your sinuses.

 

• Look carefully at the wonderful illustration above by artist, Jane Ramsey from my book  T’ai Chi in a Chair.  You will notice the figure has one hand at the Third Eye Point (GV 24.5) and the other at the Posterior Summit (GV 19).
• Press firmly on these 2 points at the same time for at least one full minute while breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth.  use throughout the day as often as necessary.

Benefits:  These 2 effective pressure points will open your facial sinus cavities, unblocking the congestion that accompanies colds, flu, allergies and sinusitis.

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.

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This week’s featured blog/site:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4937550_avoid-getting-hn-flu-virus.html

Featured video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/livingsomatics

Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.

http://www.joansweightloss.com

http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com

http://mybodysite.com/Publish/index.php

http://www.reikibyrockie.com

Download your free e-book here:

View this document on Scribd

~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 #78 – Touching Heaven and Earth with Both Hands

Welcome to

Healing T’ai Chi 

 

…the award-winning blog of seated exericses based on Qigong and Yang style T’ai Chi for pople of all ages and levels of fitness. 

~~~~~~~~~

 ”Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.”

Tao  Te Ching #2, translated by S. Mitchell

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Touching Heaven and Earth with Both Hands

 

Benefits – This exercise is similar to Washing the Marrow with Both Hands.   The small difference is significant, however,  in that the purpose of this exercise is to pull the stale energy out through the top of your head not bring ch’i to the marrow of your bones.  Whether you use one or both hands to release the used-up energy is not important.  Either method may be used.   It is a matter of personal preference and results.  Try both methods and see which you like better.

Posture - Sit as usual with your feet shoulder-width apart.  Tuck your hips under and press down on your shoulders (even when your arms are overhead).

1. Begin with your hands in front of your lower abdomen, palms facing upward, fingers almost touching.
2. Breathe in slowly.  Then, as you breathe out, lift your arms overhead within 1 or 2 inches of the top of your head, turning the palms so that they are lifted to the ceiling.
3. Breathe in again and then breathe out as you slowly press your arms upward pulling the stale ch’i out through the top of your head.
4. Breath in once again, then breathe out and lower your hands, turning your arms quickly so that your palms face downward again. 
5. Stop at the lower abdomen and breathe in again.  Then press your hands downward to your sides as you breathe out. 
6. Repeat for at least 6 times.

Now that you’ve released your used-up energy, try the pressure point Elegant Mansion (K 27) to boost your immunity.

(illustration from Acupressure’s Potent Points)

• You will find these points directly below your collarbone 1 to 2 inches on both sides of your breastbone.
• Close your hands into fists and press firmly on these point with your thumbs for a full minute.

Benefits:  Use this pressure point frequently to boost your immune system, clear chest congestion, and relieve anxiety and depression.

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.

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This week’s featured site/blog:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-tai-chi-qigong

Featured video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGGMG4FcwAE

Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.

http://www.joansweightloss.com

http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com

http://mybodysite.com/Publish/index.php

http://www.reikibyrockie.com

Download your free e-book:

View this document on Scribd

~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 #77 – Touch Heaven and Earth with One Hand

 

Welcome to

Healing T’ai Chi

…the award-winning blog of seated exercises based on Qigong and Yang style T’ai Chi for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

~~~~~~~~~

“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

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Touch Heaven and Earth with One Hand

 

Benefits – You have an important acupuncture cavity on the top of your head called the Baihui.  It is associated with the Governing Vessel so called because so many of the meridians meet together at this point.  Sending ch’i from this point will energize much of your body.  Pulling used or “waste” ch’i from this point clears the body quickly and effectively.

Posture – Sit as usual, feet flat on the floor, hips tucked under, head held high.

1. Begin with your hands in front of your lower abdomen, palms up, fingertips not quite touching
2. Breathe in slowly as you bring your right arm upward.  Drop your left to your left side, palm parallel with the floor.
3. As you move your arm up over your head, begin to slowly twist your forearm so that your palm will be turned toward the ceiling.  Make sure your hand is directly above the center of your head.
4. Breathe out and “pull” the stale ch’i through the top of your head.   Move your hand slowly and visualize being “pulled” by the upward movement of your right hand.
5. Breathe out slowly but twist your arm quickly so that your palm is now facing downward and slowly bring your right arm down to your lower abdomen bringing your left hand to meet it.  Your hands will now be close together palms facing upward.
6. Repeat the steps above with your left arm moving overhead and your right arm dropping to your right side, palm facing downward.  Continue to alternate arms for at least a total of 3 repetitions with each arm.

Use the presure point One Hundred Meeting Point (GV 20) to complete your session.

(illustration from Acupressure’s Potent Points)

• To find this point, place your right hand behind your right ear and your left behind your left ear.  Move your hands in a straight line to the top of your head.  In the middle of your skull is GV19.  Move your hand about 1 inch forward to find GV 20, the One Hundred Meeting Point.
• Press firmly on this point for at least one full minute.

Benefits:  This point is very good for relieving headaches, improving concentration and memory.  Use this point frequently to increase its effectiveness.

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.

~~~~~~~~~

This week’s featured site/blog:

http://healthandsurvival.com/2009/08/29/children-are-at-high-risk-for-swine-flu/

Featured video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOS1DdE6DfE

Find great deals on home exercise equipment at the Exercise Equipment Super Store.

http://www.joansweightloss.com

http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com

http://mybodysite.com/Publish/index.php

http://www.reikibyrockie.com

Download your free e-book:

 

View this document on Scribd

~The exercises in this blog are intended for educational purposes only.  Always consult with your health care provider before beginning a new exercise program.~