Building Strength Through Qigong

Qigong is also spelled Chi Kung. It is an ancient form of meditation that is easy to learn and helps you calm the mind and body, relieve stress, and because stress is a killer, when you ease stress your body functions and heals more efficiently. In this video, Sifu Ken Gullette gives you a brief introduction into Qigong and leads you through a 5-minute exercise.

Ken Gullette does fine instruction and demonstration in this video.

Qigong is about chi study and development, and it does so by holding postures and repeating movements.  It builds your body in ways that may correlate with isometric and isotonic exercises, and it also build your mind by instilling focus and discipline in your workout.

A Wonderfully Performed and Filmed T'ai Chi

A few moments inside the eye of the storm.
With Michael Acton and Faisal Ahmed Mian to the music "Wandering Saint" by L. Subramaniam.

A wonderfully performed and filmed T'ai Chi.

Brush Knee, Twist Step in Self Defense

At the 5:05 mark of my video T'ai Chi Empower - Form and Flow, I begin a series of Brush Knee, Twist Step movements.  

Now watch Rick Marantz demonstrate the martial arts application of this movement:

 

Sometimes you don't have to do much to defend yourself.  Moreover, what you do to defend yourself may be as natural as circling your arm up then down and stepping forward with a hand.

Integrative Medicine at The Osher Clinical Center

If you have an ailment, you may choose a strictly Western treatment.  You may choose a strictly Eastern treatment.  You may choose some balance of both.  

It stands to reason that if you're chronically tense in one part of your body, over time that tension emanates through other parts of your body.  Arthur Anton related just that, as held the car steering wheel so tightly he felt pain in his neck.  

T'ai Chi builds awareness of your whole body, so you can better identify where they might tension that you were not aware of previously.  Moreover, because shoong (relaxation) is such a vital part of T'ai Chi, you can gradually release such tension. 

I also appreciate hearing Bonnie O'Connor acknowledge how the hands are diagnostic and therapeutic.  Educational, too.  

Many of us first feel the chi as heat or tingling in our hands.  That chi can be a sensory and healing touch for yourself or for someone else.  

I appreciate The Osher Clinical Center's efforts to understand and integrate Western and Eastern medicine.

Mystery of Chi, by Bill Moyers

"The Mystery of Chi" is part of "Healing and the Mind" series by Bill Moyers.  You may or may not be familiar with chi, but I ask that you simply note your thoughts and reactions as you watch this documentary.  Please share them with me.

Life with Awareness, by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Meditation means living your life, as if it really mattered.  That means you have to be here for it.  With awareness and a certain degree of kindness.

 Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about living a life that embodies clarity, wisdom, kindness and well-being.  It's not some Mount Everest we have to travel to and climb, but it's right here closer than close.  There is no one right way to meditate.  But finding it, we can turn to meditation to live more meaningfully.

Mindfulness Meditation, by David Nichtern

David Nichtern offers a good, practical lesson on mindfulness meditation:

• It doesn't matter how you sit or where you sit.  As long as your back is straight, but not rigid, and you feel comfortable, you're in fine position to meditate.  
• You neither invite thoughts in, or push thoughts out, of your mind.  You simply observe them openly but neutrally, and keep quiet and still.  In time your mind will settle.    
• Breathe naturally, and be aware of your breathing.  Keep it relaxed.  You can use your breathing as a way to anchor your concentration and promote your awareness.