Friday, November 22, 2013

Chakras and Benefits of 5 Tibetan Rites


The body has seven key Chakras or Vortexes, like magnetic centres. They revolve at great speed in the healthy body, but when slowed down -- is just another name for old age, ill health and senility. The quickest way to regain health, youth, and vitality is to start these magnetic centres spinning again. 
The primary function of the 5 Rites is to optimize the functioning of our Chakras by speeding up the rate at which they spin. The 7 main Chakras govern the functioning of the Endocrine system which in turn is responsible for the body's overall functioning and aging process. By stimulating the Endocrine system and the circulation of vital life energy or Prana throughout the body, the 5 Rites energize and bring about a complete harmony within our physical, mental and emotional states.
The 5 Tibetan Rites routine is done in a specific sequence that stimulates the whole glandular system boosting your metabolism, among many other remarkable health benefits such as: 
Increased physical strength and flexibility
Toning up flabby stomach, arms and double chin
Release from joints & back pains
Stress relief and a sense of calm
Uninterrupted, restful sleep
Better memory, mental focus and creativity
Improved eyesight
Hair re-growth, restoring full colour to grey hair
Enhanced energy and youthfulness
Rejuvenation of all organs
Relief of menopause symptoms
Renewed sexuality
These 5 Rites are quite different from T'ai Chi or Qigong, but I practice them with proper T'ai Chi and Qigong spirit, mind and body: that is, relaxed and centered, slow and continuous.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

My Daily Workout Includes 5 Tibetan Rites


5 simple techniques, 20 minutes a day is all it takes for a youthful, energetic you. Practice the 5 Tibetan Rites alongside Raageshwari [Loomba] in this exclusive video and feel the difference.
Lesser known amidst the disciplines of Yoga are a very potent set of practices which were formulated by the Tibetan monks over 2500 years ago. They were simply called 'The 5 Rites' and are the secrets behind the monks incredibly long and healthy lives. They were revealed to the world by a retired British army officer who went high into the Himalayas to live and learn from them. Subsequently, a book called the 'Ancient secret of the fountain of youth' was published by Peter Kelder. The book was aptly titled, since the rites in essence slow down the ageing process and fill one with a dynamic youthful energy. As a result one can accomplish a lot more, and one looks and feels young despite the passing years.
I do three repetitions of each Rite, and make them part of my daily workout.  My next two articles detail these 5 Tibetan Rites, includes Chakras and benefits.

Monday, November 18, 2013

My Daily Workout Includes 5 Animal Qigong


the wudang five animal qigong is an ancient system for developing strength, flexibility, and internal awareness for the purpose of furthering one's health and longevity. each animal specifically works on an organ system by stimulating both the physical organ itself and the related energetic meridian pathway as well.
Wei Zi Rong performs the Five Animal Qigong with remarkable flexibility and precision:
  1. Dragon
  2. Tiger
  3. Leopard
  4. Snake
  5. Crane

Friday, November 15, 2013

My Daily Workout Includes Qigong



Years ago our T'ai Chi instructor and classmates traveled to Aspen Academy of Martial Arts in Snowmass, Colorado. There, Marshall Ho'o taught us an exercise that resembles what Jesse Tsao does in this video.

That exercise involved opening up the arms, taking in the the positive energy of the universe, then gathering up the negative energy within us and dispelling it onto the universe to turn into positive.

I practice this Qigong exercise from Jesse Tsao everyday, as part of my overall T'ai Chi workout.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Light and Agile Body, by Chang San-Feng


"In motion the whole body should be light and agile"

Link all parts of the body, as if they were threaded together

My Daily Workout Includes Shaolin Brocade (6-8)




In an important respect, T'ai Chi is an essence. Beyond the study and practice of this martial art, it is a set of principles and philosophy that guide how we stand, how we sit, and how we move. Practically speaking, we can apply T'ai Chi to any of our day to day activities.

I like these Shaolin exercises - the eight pieces of Brocade - because they're meditative and Qigong (i.e., develops and circulates chi). These are the final three sections.

I practice them daily, and I do so, as I would any T'ai Chi form.

Monday, November 11, 2013

My Daily Workout Includes Shaolin Brocade (4-5)





In an important respect, T'ai Chi is an essence.  Beyond the study and practice of this martial art, it is a set of principles and philosophy that guide how we stand, how we sit, and how we move.  Practically speaking, we can apply T'ai Chi to any of our day to day activities.  

I like these Shaolin exercises - the eight pieces of Brocade - because they're meditative and Qigong (i.e., develops and circulates chi).  These are the fourth and fifth sections, so please look to my next post for the remaining three.    

I practice them daily, and I do so, as I would any T'ai Chi form.

Friday, November 8, 2013

My Daily Workout Includes Shaolin Brocade (1-3)




In an important respect, T'ai Chi is an essence.  Beyond the study and practice of this martial art, it is a set of principles and philosophy that guide how we stand, how we sit, and how we move.  Practically speaking, we can apply T'ai Chi to any of our day to day activities.  

I like these Shaolin exercises - the eight pieces of Brocade - because they're meditative and Qigong (i.e., develops and circulates chi).  These are the first three, so please look to my subsequent posts for the remaining five.  

I practice them daily, and I do so, as I would any T'ai Chi form.  

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

T'ai Chi for Older Adult Strength


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Muscle strength. In a 2006 study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Stanford University researchers reported benefits of T'ai Chi in 39 women and men, average age 66, with below-average fitness and at least one cardiovascular risk factor. After taking 36 T'ai Chi classes in 12 weeks, they showed improvement in both lower-body strength (measured by the number of times they could rise from a chair in 30 seconds) and upper-body strength (measured by their ability to do arm curls). 
In a Japanese study using the same strength measures, 113 older adults were assigned to different 12-week exercise programs, including T'ai Chi, brisk walking, and resistance training. People who did T'ai Chi improved more than 30% in lower-body strength and 25% in arm strength — almost as much as those who participated in resistance training, and more than those assigned to brisk walking. 
"Although you aren't working with weights or resistance bands, the unsupported arm exercise involved in T'ai Chi strengthens your upper body," says internist Dr. Gloria Yeh, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. "T'ai Chi strengthens both the lower and upper extremities and also the core muscles of the back and abdomen."
Reference: No pain, big gains.

T'ai Chi is a simple and gentle physical exercise.  We work at keeping weight underside, that is, relaxing the body, stretching it, while letting gravity pull us down naturally.

Sometimes we are so tense that our shoulders rise up, for example.  In T'ai Chi practice, we release that tension consciously so that our body settles down, and we see our shoulders lower as a result.

Moving in the form, or even standing in a posture, with weight underside in our body is akin to lifting dumbbells or barbells, and such natural resistance in T'ai Chi is what builds muscle strength that the above studies found among older adults.

Powerful as Mountain Peak


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Monday, November 4, 2013

The Beauty and Power of T'ai Chi



Revel in the beauty of T'ai Chi.  Feel its power as your practice it.

Use adhering energy (touch) when you do Tui Shou (Push Hands).  Use sensing energy to pick up on, and uproot, the other person's center.

Still Waters of Spiritual Mind


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