Recent Blog Posts:
Jan 26, 2012
Have you noticed how energy in the atmosphere has been changing recently? Maybe you have, maybe not.
If not don't despair. There are still 11 days left in this year's Spring Festival, a.k.a. Chinese New Year Celebration. So the Year of the Water Dragon--a year that should bring positive change for most of us--is just heating up! For our Qigong group, a big change has already occurred: the loss of Pymander, a source of great wisdom and very pleasant place to practice. It will be sorely missed.
Jan 20, 2012
We are approaching
Chinese New Year, this Monday January 23, offering us yet another opportunity
for New Year's resolutions! So
consider making one of your resolutions to "ride the dragon" for the
next 12 months and see how it changes your life.
SOME PREVIOUS POSTS
May 9 -- THINGS GO BETTER WITH QIGONG!
Yesterday I celebrated Mother's Day by playing 3 sets of tennis. I don't claim to be to be an excellent tennis player, but love the sport. I love it even more when I apply Qigong training while on the court.
First I practiced Qigong movements for about 20 minutes before heading over to the tennis center. This stretched muscles and tendons, stimulated chi flow and reduced my chances of injury. I particularly enjoyed doing "ringing the temple gong," "drawing the bow," and "beating the heavenly drum"
When I arrived, I eased into a state of alert relaxation by focusing on breathing. A few deep, full, slow breaths helped clear the mind and relax the body. Then standing with correct alignment, I sunk my energy to the lower dan tien, just below the naval.
With body relaxed, mind focused, and energy grounded and centered, I played really well. More importantly, I enjoyed every point, even when I made a bad shot.
Qigong training can definitely help your tennis and golf games, and add enjoyment to anything you do.
Have you had any similar experiences as a result of your Qigong
practice? I would love to hear about them! Please write to me or
comment on the blog site.
Spring is finally here and I can feel my body's energy changing like the weather.
Lately I wake up earlier, sprint through projects I couldn't face a couple of months ago and have a more optimistic outlook on life. In years past, I often suffered from "spring fever." You know, that awful malaise that makes you start thinking: "the weather's beautiful, how come I feel like crap?" Or something like that.
Daily Qigong practice has helped me harmonize my internal energy with the changing energy of the seasons. So every morning I do at least 20 reps of the Flowing Motion, some spontaneous movement and a few more postures from the Vitality Enhancement Series.
The result? No more spring fever; no more "April is the cruelest month."
April 16 -- STUDIES SHOW THAT QIGONG REALLY WORKS
Recent scientific studies show that practicing Qigong and Taiji does more than help you relax.
Baylor Medical School researchers took cells from Qigong practitioners and compared them to cells from a control group. The result? The Qigong group's cells lived up to five times longer!
At the University of Miami School of Medicine, children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) exhibited reduced anxiety, hyperactivity and improved conduct after just ten biweekly classes.
Studies of older adults performed by the Center for Tai Chi Studies demonstrated Taiji and Qigong practice improved balance, built greater lower body strength and enhanced immune function.
So if you desire improved health and aim to live a long time, practice Qigong. It really works.
March 24 -- HARMONY AND ADVERSITY
I get inspired by watching birds. They seem so care free, impervious to the worst weather. Like yesterday morning, when Carolina wrens, sparrows and finches were singing during the snowstorm. And how did so many birds survive this brutal winter? Read more...
March 17 -- QIGONG INTO SPRING
After this severe winter, it's a relief to hear birds singing and see little green sprouts pushing up through the ground. But when seasons change, we often feel out of sync with nature, and may develop weird physical and psychological problems. Read more.
March 08 -- QIGONG SCIENCE
Scientific studies have shown that practicing Qigong delivers tremendous
health benefits. The only debate revolves around the "how" and "why."
To the ancient Taoists and Buddhists who developed these practices, the answer is fairly simple. read more
March 02 -- QIGONG REDUCES CRAVINGS
Cravings -- for food, diversions, stuff or whatever -- make us feel out of control and never offer lasting happiness. Still, we all have them, so it's good to find ways to reduce their effects. read more
February 23 -- QIGONG AND YOGA
Some people refer to Qigong as "Chinese yoga," and there are many similarities between these two practices. But there are also some significant differences. read more
February 22 -- QIGONG HELPS WITH SNOW SHOVELING! Qigong practice makes everyday activities easier, and has been particularly beneficial to me this year. Thanks to Qigong, I have enjoyed snow shoveling as much as when I was 12 and charged a dollar to shovel neighbors’ driveways. read more