tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665055440361900732024-03-19T10:37:10.529-07:00Kaizen HealthBaby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-77014783913209581342020-04-02T11:59:00.007-07:002022-01-10T18:09:27.378-08:00Ping Shuai Gong - Swing Hands Workout<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="446" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJQQA66p6Qc" width="536" youtube-src-id="iJQQA66p6Qc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "georgia";">It's been my goal, as an instructor, to teach Qigong that anybody can do at home. I've found that, in many cases, this training requires instruction and class time. Because of distance, availability, scheduling, cost and other constraints, many can't attend. I still believe that these exercises can be done at home (with the help of the Internet and DVDs). Unfortunately, this has been my challenge since students complain that it's, simply, too difficult.<br />
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Well, I think I have a solution. Recently, through research, I came upon a unique form of qigong called "ping shuai gong" or arm swinging exercise. It's simple and effective. Simply watch the videos, and hopefully, you'll see what I mean. It can be boring but no worse than long walks or jogging, but you can offset it by either watching television or listening to music. Put your headsets on. I do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Check out the long list of videos that I have on this post. They're pretty cool with grand master, Lee Feng Sheng, explaining a mindset (in subtitles like watching a kung fu movie) as his students perform the movements. <br /><br />
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I love his wisdom. It's inspirational. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The
goal is to do three sets of ten minutes. The reason. See below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Every 10 minutes is a phase. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">In the 1st 10 minutes, it will activate your basic
circulation. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">In the 2nd 10 minutes, it will start the work inside your internal
organs & will also bear some effects on your brain. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">In the 3rd 10 minutes, or about ½ hour, you will discover that
some of the hidden sickness inside your body will be uncovered. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">This kind of circulation will bring balance and harmony inside
your body. And the hidden old sickness will naturally be cured & you will
feel very comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia";">~ Taiwanese Wushu & Qigong Master Lee Feng San<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://tcminusa.proboards.com/thread/374/letter-cancer-patients" target="_blank">Read Testimonial</a></span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Anyway, check out the videos and let me know what you think!<br />
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The following are more helpful YouTube videos.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8NYsZ2TzJhY" width="560"></iframe>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Instructional Video and Full Workout</span></b><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2iG7jXqL0m0" width="560"></iframe>
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As a change, I produced the following qigong 8 piece brocade video that you can do at home and add to your daily workout.<br />
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It's pretty cool and I hope you like it while you workout with me!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AFk6lgZAU4k" width="560"></iframe>
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u></span></div>
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More inspirational testimonies (Chinese with English Subtitles):<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODnuWxucJjs" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 1</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhrxjawTLuU" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 2</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlIzVJwS2aI" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 3</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fj1yLXc1tA" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 4</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkgZcCI5q78" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 5</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTgJVuF1rMY" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 6</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQmkjj9BQaU" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 7</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAh5tzSFdb8" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 8</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b_QtI6t-YE" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 9</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2epn-D4Rqsk" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 10</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVIWEkXk4wE" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 11</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e6gokT5IiQ" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 12</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y_40kA0wo0" target="_blank">Pingshuai Episode 13</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">PING SHUAI 60 MINUTE LIVE STREAM COURSES ENGLISH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/eluO4LROlGQ" target="_blank">Episode 1</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/hzra4jFZbDE" target="_blank">Episode 2</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/y3tmgk4Sh0k" target="_blank">Episode 3</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/VlZO0X660SM" rel="nofollow">Episode 4</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/JCxYpg4XX7E" target="_blank">Episode 5</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/TQJaAiAa83g" target="_blank">Episode 6</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/I5K2EBu6RXY" target="_blank">Episode 7</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/Iyje1_8wCfQ" target="_blank">Episode 8</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/hLjyzN-60oM" target="_blank">Episode 9</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://youtu.be/pratu9Fr7mw" target="_blank">Episode 10</a><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
And finally, my version of Ping Shuai Gong that has you marching in place to break up the workout. I have students say their legs get heavy. So by marching in place, it helps the circulation. It's not for everyone, but it does provide a version that could benefit some.</span><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eB80cW3tQxE" width="560"></iframe>
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Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-91410113682137992262020-02-19T09:28:00.004-08:002021-09-15T19:34:11.155-07:00The Kaizen Sensei Speaks About PainAs a baby boomer, I’m writing this blog to address a subject matter that is intimate to us, people our ages.<br />
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It is relentless.<br />
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It is undeniable.<br />
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It is bothersome.<br />
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It is that four letter word: PAIN.<br />
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I realize that pain attacks us in so many ways, more specifically, psychological, but today I’m about how it affects our body, How we are reminded each and every freaking morning when we wake up. I apologize, but for the past 20 years, I’ve lived with it and, I’m sure, many of you will agree, it sucks.<br />
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I have already gone through the regimen of consulting doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors, taking over-the-counter drugs and herbs and supplements and the dangerous prescription pain medication, that I’ve chosen not to take, participated in various exercises that included Pilates, gym training, Qigong, Tai Chi, and yoga.<br />
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I’ve changed my diet and lost weight, which I’ve gained back, drank gallons of water, rubbed ointments, and practiced mindful meditation.<br />
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What I’ve found out is that, in my age (mid-60’s, class of 1971, whoooo whoooo), pain does not go away. The doctor suggests surgery, but after hearing about the success and failure rates, I’m not confident that it’s an option until such time it becomes a “no option” decision. Right now, I have a choice.<br />
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So, I’ve got this wild hair to look into what we’re doing to deal with this. I’m going go through my own personal research and data mine facts and myth. I’m not going to say it’s anything near scientific, but it’s a journey I’m going to take, record and document.<br />
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Be forewarned, I’m going to take a “far out” hippie approach, review ideas and options like aroma therapy, sound and vibrations, affirmations, biofeedback, gut flushing, religion, spiritual, healing votices in Sedona, Macchu Picchu and San Francisco’s Tenderloin (kidding about SF), and last but not least, cannabis and hemp.<br />
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So stay tuned. The series begin when the Baby Boomer Sensei Speaks!<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-64208140400884436082018-06-02T10:39:00.000-07:002020-05-17T10:05:38.008-07:00Tai Chi for HumanityRecently, I was recognized for my volunteer work teaching Qigong and Tai Chi at a local Cancer Center. I was both humbled and appreciative and thank my teachers and mentors who helped me be a vessel of their wisdom and contributions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiyEtOoRYBqwxyPgKIomLs0tv8arBbRk320h02zASUMYb829K7o4Lk7cKPZoUqHOgY0wD6wJ145N3K7oVxCCp_SoRQbExA3-Nu8aB7lX1KjhLbRPzM3SKUgRvshCCNTp8g_JIEaesJzWv/s1600/Cancer+Award.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiyEtOoRYBqwxyPgKIomLs0tv8arBbRk320h02zASUMYb829K7o4Lk7cKPZoUqHOgY0wD6wJ145N3K7oVxCCp_SoRQbExA3-Nu8aB7lX1KjhLbRPzM3SKUgRvshCCNTp8g_JIEaesJzWv/s320/Cancer+Award.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>One of my revered instructors, Shihan Frank “China” Yuen, at
the time, was a high ranking Butoko Kai instructor, one of the late Soke
Richard Kim’s original black belts from Hawaii, a wonderful, straight forward
man who spoke in “pigin” English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come
to think of it, almost all of Master Kim’s original blackbelts and associates,
ie., Wally Jay, “Lucky”, and Robert Leong were Hawaiian, who ended up in the
Bay Area and San Francisco, and I had the pleasure and honor of knowing and
learning from their “da kine” island humor and wisdom.<br />
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I was brash, young, flexible, strong and athletic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in their late 50’s and mid-60’s,
still enduring the three hour, four to five day-a-week workouts, that ended in
Yang Long Form Tai Chi and Qigong breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was incredible, and those who were fortunate and privileged enough to
go through those workouts can attest to the value of very “old school” training.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I left the Bay Area and, after four years of this worldly
training, focused on karate and kickboxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I, not only became adept in fighting and forms (“kata”), I promoted
tournaments and kickboxing shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
workouts focused on “banging” and getting “banged”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After reaching the mid-century stage of my life, my body no
longer could meet that demand where the rigors of karate, kickboxing and judo
workouts took its toll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition,
complimentary weight training and long miles on the treadmill and streets were
out of the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Change was necessary.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As an old baby boomer, we did not have written resources,
videos nor the Internet. What we had were an instructor, dojo, repetition,
muscle memory and “not forgetting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I decided that Tai Chi was my solution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Surprisingly after many years of not practicing the Yang
long form, I was able to remember some of the exercises but not enough to be
useful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank God for the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was around 2005 when I started reading up and reviewing YouTube
videos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because I trained in the Bay Area, I knew Chinese
practitioners, who trained in various forms of Kung fu, Tai Chi being one of
the disciplines, but nothing like I learned through my research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know that five Tai Chi styles
existed, though I did witness the Chen style, thinking that it was Kung Fu because of
its quick and snapping techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
instructor briefly taught me Baguazhuang, but I was not that good at the
intricate “mud walking” and circle shifting skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happy to learn the long form that I was,
then, adequate but not adept.<br />
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Within a short period, I recalled the many hours of training
as a young adult in the Bay Area and segued, quickly, into the softer and
internal discipline that now pays dividends beyond my wildest dreams and expectations.</div>
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Tai Chi, that became a personal culture and philosophy, is a
slow motion martial arts dance: methodical, mindful and purposeful. I was
fortunate enough to learn it many years ago, as part of my karate training,
unheard of, at the time because karate was Japanese, and Tai Chi was
Chinese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They represented two sides of
the spectrum:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Japanese karate was strong,
fast and powerful, the Chinese art being soft, relaxed and delicate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to the Internet, I learned the history of the many
styles, but I focused on what I learned those many years ago, which was the
Yang Long Form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of my education and profession, I’ve learned to be a
strong researcher; however, as hard as I tried, I could not grasp the essence
of Chinese Tai Chi history and philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s enamored in many years of antiquity that, if I were to have done it
right, I would’ve started when I was a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This disability of being “not Chinese” inhibited my quest to,
thoroughly, understand this art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The challenge was not in learning the forms: Many years of
training afforded me the ability to learn these particular nuances with
certainty; and, teach to others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, I lacked that all to important esoteric “spirit”.<br />
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Then I picked up the book,<u> The Harvard Medical School
Guide to Tai Chi:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12 Weeks to a Healthy
Body, Strong Heart & Sharp Mind </u>by Peter M. Wayne with Mark L
Fuerst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://leansixsigmaclasses.com/" target="_blank">Free Yellow Belt Lean Six Sigma Class</a><br />
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It opened my eyes to a Western frame of mind that I was not
able to wrap itself around in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bear in mind, I practiced Tai Chi and Qigong for the past ten years
daily and, though I tried, could not fully grasp 3,000 years of ancient
metaphors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their points of reference and
mine did not coincide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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With Dr. Wayne’s book and the “Eight Active Ingredients”, I
started putting pieces together and the “aha” and “making sense” parts fell in
place.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Awareness (including mindfulness and focused
attention).<br />
<ol>
<li>Intention (including belief and expectation).</li>
<li>Structural integration (including dynamic form
and function).<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li>Active relaxation of both mind and body</li>
<li>Strengthening and flexibility.</li>
<li>Natural, freer breathing.</li>
<li>Social support.</li>
<li>Embodied spirituality (including philosophy and
ritual).</li>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This book is comprehensive and for, someone like me,
complete with both layman and erudite explanations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read it through but am working on
reading it the second time and plan on reading it over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tai Chi, unlike my past karate and kickboxing training, has
many exceptional variables, each enamored in years of history and wisdom that
can be passed down to many generations forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is my goal to use this knowledge to continue my volunteer
work at a local cancer center, help wounded soldiers suffering from PTSD, and introduce it into the educational system where techniques and mindful mediation can help students deal with their
growing pains, personal angst, and now, dangerous environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Those of you who are in the position to teach this wisdom,
please do so, not only yourself, but for the sake of humanity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-45011015291085591802018-04-05T07:15:00.001-07:002021-09-15T19:35:21.917-07:00What Is Tai Chi / Qigong?People think Tai Chi is about elderly Asians in a park, moving slowly like astronauts on the
moon.
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I even had a friend ask me if it was one of those expensive coffee house drinks; I told him, "No, that drink would be "chai tea.”<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A fast
growing exercise with about 85 million training it daily internationally (source: http://qialance.com/how-many-people-practice-tai-chi/), there's more than just Asians or old folks making it part of their lives, with or without tea.</span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Tai Chi, translated, means “grand ultimate fist” and is a self defense, practiced primarily for health, balance and well being, an internal martial art that utilizes Qigong (or “energy cultivation”), a 3,000-year-old Chinese based exercise to develop its slow movements unique to itself. Some call it meditation in motion because of its benefits.<br />
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I've been a martial artist for over 45 years, training in karate, kickboxing and judo. Tai Chi was introduced to me in the mid-1970's as an adjunct to my practice. I wasn't impressed then about learning it, since I was young and interested more in learning how to be like the legendary and late Bruce Lee. Little did I know, Bruce Lee's first martial art was Tai Chi that he learned from his father.<br />
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After about 20 years of virtually eliminating it from my workouts, I resumed my Qigong and Tai Chi journey when I was diagnosed with hypertension and needed to find ways of off setting the condition. I heard that the internal martial arts was good for you but didn't realize how much until I reintroduced it into my life. I was trained well by my instructor, and it didn't take me long before I reached a strong level of competence. That was about 15 years ago, and I have not turned my back on it since, practicing it each and every morning.</div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi: 12 Weeks to a Healthy Body, Strong
Heart, and Sharp Mind (Harvard Health Publications) by Peter Wayne, Md says
that there are eight active ingredients that describe the martial art.</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Awareness,
Mindfulness, Focused Attention</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Intention,
Belief, Expectation</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Dynamic
Structural Integration</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Active
Relaxation of Mind and Body</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Aerobic
Exercise, Musculoskeletal Strengthening, and Flexibility</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Natural,
Freer Breathing</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Social
Interaction and Community</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Embodied
Spirituality, Philosophy, and Ritual</span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">And that the combination
of the ingredients above completes a recipe for a full holistic mind and body
approach to exercise that reaps tremendous benefits. The book is comprehensive
and I recommend any Tai Chi enthusiast to pick it up and read it, if not once,
but multiple times. It provides an intellectual perspective that I found
astute, insightful and useful.</span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Types of Tai Chi</b></span></span><br />
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There are five different Tai Chi
systems (Chen, Yang, Wu, Hao, and Sun), and one of them is far from slow.<br />
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To help you get an idea some of the differences, I've provided the videos below.<br />
<br />
The first video is Ren Guang Yi performing an explosive Cannon Fist Chen style form.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Y_GULVhJmM" width="560"></
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This second video shows a wushu taijiquan practitioner in a competition setting combining the five systems into one that resembles a dance as in ice skating.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uejeO-gv9zk" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Even children practice it, so it debunks the idea that only old folks practice it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H4A_l1P8zno" width="560"></iframe><br />
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And here is Jiamin Gao, performing a slow and elegant Yang Style form.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NBGys-uxScs" width="560"></iframe>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Links to Tai Chi Benefits</span></b><br />
<br />
It doesn't matter which system you practice because they all contain the same eight active ingredients Dr. Wayne described in his book.<br />
<br />
The next question is what makes this exercise so special?<br />
<br />
Let's see how it works in practical application. For example, with the new standards on high blood pressure, almost 50% of Americans now have hypertension. If your readings are 120/85, you are now considered hypertensive, which would have been considered healthy in the past.<br />
<br />
As a treatment plan, doctors are prescribing lifestyle changes that include moderate exercise, diet, and stress reduction instead of pills.<br />
<br />
Tai Chi provides the exercise, mindful stress reduction and motivates you to a healthy diet. I have a close friend of mine who began training with me after 40 years of corporate stress. He was 278 lbs. with a series of concerning diagnosis and, after six months of training, dropped to 215 lb. with a healthy prognosis from his physician.<br />
<br />
This ancient exercise and martial art are far reaching and the benefits extend to many conditions that affect all people around the world. To illustrate my point, the following provides you with a series of Internet references that gives you some idea:<br />
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<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMp7Owmmues" width="560"></iframe>
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<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748756/" target="_blank">High Blood Pressure</a><br />
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<a href="http://heartinsight.heart.org/August-2014/How-Tai-Chi-Impacts-Cardiovascular-Health/" target="_blank">Cardiovascular Health</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/cancerwise/2010/12/tai-chi-healing-from-the-inside-out.html" target="_blank">Cancer</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/how-does-tai-chi-work-for-diabetes-2/" target="_blank">Diabetes</a><br />
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<a href="https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2017/11/15/parkinsons-disease-tai-chi-and-balance-in-disease-marked-by-falls/" target="_blank">Parkinson's Disease</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/2018/03/tai-chi-beats-aerobics-for-fibromyalgia.html" target="_blank">Fibromyalgia Pain</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161130131311.htm" target="_blank">PTSD</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/depression/tai-chi-biological-treatment-depression" target="_blank">Depression</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/fitness/weight-loss/programs/tai-chi" target="_blank">Weight Loss</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/corporate_tai_chi_7_elements_to_show_why_5minute_corporate_tai_chi_is_profitable_now" target="_blank">Corporate Tai Chi</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/alternative-and-complementary-medicine/tai-chi-and-chronic-pain" target="_blank">Pain Management</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://vestibular.org/sites/default/files/page_files/Improving%20Balance%20With%20Tai%20Chi_2.pdf" target="_blank">Elderly Balance</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/p/tai-chi-for-kids.html" target="_blank">Tai Chi for Kids</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSN55STxIiY" target="_blank">Qigong for Kids (Video)</a><br />
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<a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/p/tai-chi-testimonial-cures.html" target="_blank">Tai Chi Testimonial Cures</a><br />
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<br />
There you are, a boat load of information that gives you an idea what Tai Chi is and can do for you.<br />
<br />
If you're near a school, I recommend you stopping by and paying a visit. There's a Lean Six Sigma term "gemba" which literally means to "see the truth."<br />
<br />
Information is power and check out YouTube videos where the exercises and forms are there (at no cost) for you to review and emulate.<br />
<br />
I understand that it does not, will not nor cannot replace a good instructor, but the benefits are there should you wish to train solo. On another note, as with any exercise program, be sure to consult with a physician about Tai Chi, especially if you suffer from a chronic condition. In this case, going solo is not advised where a qualified instructor would then be the safe choice; and, by all means, continue to read, research, visit schools and talk with instructors and students.<br />
<br />
As an sensei or sifu, I tell my students that Tai Chi, in addition to the eight active ingredients, requires them to move, think and breathe and sitting at home watching network news or playing on a cell phone, tablet or notebook does nothing to promote good health.<br />
<br />
You've got to move that body, be conscious of what you're doing, and above all, "breathe grasshopper breathe."<br />
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If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I'd love to answer any of your questions.<br />
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In the meantime, let the chi flow!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah-dfvAizWsMYOKg1136-S9PPuwsw589UO7irBd_yLHkFo1SgnXXnsM2PA3rUfm_NArZoPqGJKDzGxOuQPUVQW03p1KxQJ_dNp-rwkvA7W7EZV09afkaSIpgPwxkf0KpfN872uJBp0VbC/s1600/vecteezy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah-dfvAizWsMYOKg1136-S9PPuwsw589UO7irBd_yLHkFo1SgnXXnsM2PA3rUfm_NArZoPqGJKDzGxOuQPUVQW03p1KxQJ_dNp-rwkvA7W7EZV09afkaSIpgPwxkf0KpfN872uJBp0VbC/s1600/vecteezy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of vecteezy.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-48891676684596354912018-04-05T06:47:00.002-07:002018-04-05T07:16:42.313-07:00Practicing Tai Chi helps improve respiratory function in patients with COPD<span style="line-height: 19.96px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The following is a newly published article that I think will benefit people who suffer from COPD. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.96px;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">April 4, 2018, </span><a href="http://www.elsevier.com/" style="color: #313d57; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;" target="_blank">Elsevier</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.96px;">Finding ways to help patients with COPD improve their functional status is an area of interest for pulmonary healthcare providers. Currently, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is used where available to improve exercise capacity and quality of life, but the treatment requires access to trained staff and specialized facilities. A new study in the journal </span><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CHEST</i><span style="line-height: 19.96px;"> looked at Tai Chi as a lower cost, more easily accessed treatment option. Investigators found that this slow, methodical form of exercise is equivalent to PR for improving respiratory function in patients with COPD.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-tai-chi-respiratory-function-patients.html" target="_blank">To read full article click here</a></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7FlNoXHtt0AY2z8mvnnhouerf06fOqrSV1znATsmSjDyDV9MoXg_KIXTzBi7gn1JF1YLsuW3ziJBfKzscfuNSJY1Rh08mPCDkt4-qhYX2xvijdbM-_XJBpyq5-27axERUiIp91OtRVqs/s1600/CHEST+Tai+Chi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7FlNoXHtt0AY2z8mvnnhouerf06fOqrSV1znATsmSjDyDV9MoXg_KIXTzBi7gn1JF1YLsuW3ziJBfKzscfuNSJY1Rh08mPCDkt4-qhYX2xvijdbM-_XJBpyq5-27axERUiIp91OtRVqs/s640/CHEST+Tai+Chi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.96px;">Supporting data can be found at <a href="http://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)30313-1/fulltext" target="_blank">CHEST</a></span></span>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-34089146271955918022018-04-01T08:13:00.000-07:002018-04-04T08:14:06.242-07:00Difference Between Tai Chi and Qigong<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fudqr2owytk" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-46206038034827663752018-03-26T15:27:00.003-07:002018-03-26T15:27:53.986-07:00Tai Chi Beats Aerobics for Fibromyalgia PainBy Mary Elizabeth Dallas<br />
HealthDay Reporter<br />
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THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- If you suffer from fibromyalgia, new research suggests tai chi might do more than aerobic exercise to ease your chronic pain.<br />
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"Tai chi mind-body treatment results in similar or greater improvement in symptoms than aerobic exercise, the current most commonly prescribed nondrug treatment, for a variety of outcomes for patients with fibromyalgia," the study authors wrote.<br />
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To read the rest of the article, go to:<br />
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<a href="https://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20180322/tai-chi-beats-aerobics-for-fibromyalgia-pain#1">Tai Chi Beats Aerobics for Fibromyalgia Pain</a>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-76358698513038811742017-06-09T20:45:00.004-07:002017-06-21T21:20:04.893-07:00My Tai Chi Story<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My Tai Chi Story</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve practiced Tai Chi for over 40 years, learned and experienced the
tremendous benefits, how it’s kept me healthy, in mind, body and spirit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What is Tai Chi?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tai Chi (translated means “grand ultimate fist”) is an internal martial
art created about 300 years ago, when a Buddhist monk observed movements between
a snake and crane fighting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The monk
emulated these movements and created a method of martial arts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Y</span>ears passed and this exercise was developed
into what we know now is Tai Chi and Kung fu.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After graduating from college, I learned Okinawan and Japanese Karate
and Judo and Muay Thai kickboxing. At this same time, I was, also, privileged
to learn Tai Chi.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was taught at the
end of each class, after several long hours of basics, katas and hard thumping
sparring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was grueling, and being
young at the time, I didn’t quite understand the benefits of moving slow and
deliberate, especially, after pushing my body past its limits breaking boards, exchanging
shin kicks and slamming bodies to the floor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When I returned to Kern County, I resume the more dynamic and physical “Bruce
Lee” type of martial arts, earned a black belt in karate, and trained to fight in
the ring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was a fledgling then, but as
years passed, my super healthy body was insulted by age and an onset of high
blood pressure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thinking that more
exercise would solve the problem, I added hours in the gym, lifting weights and
running longer distances on the treadmill as well as continued my karate and
kickboxing work outs, only to end up with no demonstrable results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> resolved to offset this problem.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I changed my diet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ried yoga.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">Me</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ditation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">N</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">othing really worked until I rediscovered Tai Chi, and learned how, in
China, it was proven effective in treating chronic illnesses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instantly, I mentally travelled back into time and to
the Bay Area, and attempted to recollect the Tai Chi form my sensei taught me
those many years ago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Surprisingly, I
did well enough to remember some but not all of the movements.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thank goodness for the Internet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
After reviewing an old black and white video of Fu Zhong Wen, one of Yang
Chen Fu’s (descendant of Yang Style founder, Yang Luchan) students, I was able
to remember and resume the practice of Yang Style 108 Long Form.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
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It didn’t stop there. <br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
I continued my research, and learned that five Tai Chi systems or
schools existed:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Chen, Yang, Wo, Sun and
Hua, with Yang being the most popular.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Little did I know, I was a student of the Yang style and, at the time, didn’t
understand the correlation between Okinawan karate and Chinese Tai Chi, except
for my instructor telling me to shut up and learn.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
When I reconnected to Tai Chi, I instantly devoted myself to daily practice
and research. <br />
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</div>
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Tai Chi’s Health Benefits<br />
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Years ago, my instructor, Shihan Sensei, Frank “China” Yuen, said that
Tai Chi is made up of three fundamental parts: <br />
<br />
Thought.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
Movement.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span><br />
<br />
Breath.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
He continued to explain that as we lived our lives, these elements
interact and communicate with each other.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>But due to our hectic lifestyle, we lose balance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He said that earth’s natural elements follow
these precepts, but we, as humans and our predisposition for success push
ourselves toward the brink of exhaustion.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Our search for that perfect job, home, life and body tilt us sideways; thus,
the unintended results of chronic conditions, negatively, affect our mind, body
and spirit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
Many sources verify and
validate that stress is the root cause for major illnesses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
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When we insist upon success at all cost, we make ourselves sick.<br />
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</div>
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According to Healthline.com, when your body is in stress mode, it …”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">trigger(s) your body’s “fight or flight” response. Your heart races, your
breath quickens, and your muscles ready for action. This response was designed
to protect your body in an emergency by preparing you to react quickly. But
when the stress response keeps firing, day after day, it could put your health
at serious risk. (Source:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ann
Pietrangelo and Stephanie Watson Medically Reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD,
"The Effects of Stress on Your," Healthline.com.,June 5, 2017). </span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Stress is bad, and we need
to recognize its harmful effects.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Sensei </span>proceeded
to explain that the internal life force called “chi” is blocked by stress; <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">that Tai Chi exercise turns the stress switch
off and promotes flow by opening blocks</span> and restoring balance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By training Tai Chi, outside thoughts,
distractions and influences are eliminated, and natural energy flow is
restored.</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/2017/01/stress.html" target="_blank"></a><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/2017/01/stress.html" target="_blank">Please click here to a previous post I wrote on the subject of stress.</a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Another great source is
in Dr. Peter Wayne’s, PhD book <u>The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai
Chi:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>12 Weeks to a Healthy Body, Strong
Heart & Sharp Mind. </u><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I highly
recommend it.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Tai Chi for old folks
only?</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Tai Chi utilizes movements
from Qigong (chee GONG), which translated means “energy cultivation,” a series of
constant movements that link mind and body through deep “dantien” or belly
breathing and promote unencumbered energy flow throughout the body.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The key word is “constant” like walking,
running, cycling and dancing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tai Chi
and Qigong are differentiated through their slow, relaxed (free from strain),
and flowing movements that emphasize mindfulness and coordinated breathing. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Let the chi flow as I
would instruct my students.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">With that said, Tai Chi
and Qigong have been thought a senior citizen’s workout perfect for the elderly,
who do not have the capacity to meet the demands of workouts like “cross fit”,
“spin cycle” or “zumba”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">When I returned to Way of
Japan as a Shotokan karate instructor, I introduced Tai Chi to the curriculum
and found students as young as 10-years-old with high school and college
students and young professionals taking Tai Chi and benefiting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Though perfect for old timers, there’s room
for youngsters, who seek personal balance, control and peace to their hectic
and demanding lives. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Tai Chi makes sick people
well?</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Though stories are told
of people claiming definitively that Tai Chi and Qigong cured their cancer, heart
conditions, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and even the common cold, there’s
no scientific evidence to prove or back its efficacy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is no current science nor method of
identifying, measuring and quantifying “chi”; however, there is hope that, one
day, a way will be discovered, and then we can make this claim.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Until then, we can only say that miraculous
cures and remission from Tai Chi and Qigong are anecdotal. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">My blog/website contain links (see tabs) that
you can read and review.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Regardless of the placebo
effect, Tai Chi convinces people of its magical powers, me included.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">One final note,
I took karate to become a good fighter, and consequently, became one,
literally, a lethal weapon. As mentioned before, Tai Chi was not a
martial art I sought after.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">It found me.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">During a discovery phase later in life, I noticed a transition, an overall perspective
that helped me grow and change.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I was less brash, cocky and aggressive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My fight and “kill or be killed” attitude was replaced with a calm disposition
and demeanor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The slow relaxed movements
I exercised daily, focused on “the now” not the past nor future and allowed me
to surrender to the moment, trust the process, enrich my mind, body and spirit
with breath and feel a sense of total gratitude and compassion, a connection
with the universe, nature and, finally, a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…”</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">small
measure of peace, that we all seek, and few of us ever find.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>From the movie, “The Last Samurai”.</span></i></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">So, if you have the
distinct pleasure and opportunity of taking Tai Chi and Qigong, I recommend you giving it a try.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">You might not only like
it, it just might save your life.</span><br />
<br />
It saved mine.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</span>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-hYxzv8K79c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-35450272202827846372017-05-20T13:02:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:42:53.685-07:00Benefits of Tai Chi Energy: Healing and Staying Healthy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F47wlSh7drrGowyUmxTp3cnJtlcl3FH3gxU2NR9rqSZf67_v1_dYKTzxNHFBHVcjRAlpz2sRtUFDj8e1upO-riJhn5PVF8SBQsiEHGkD5aHfKxCefPacHz_-q9oe4BxeTSA5hri6qCD4/s1600/Tai+Chi+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F47wlSh7drrGowyUmxTp3cnJtlcl3FH3gxU2NR9rqSZf67_v1_dYKTzxNHFBHVcjRAlpz2sRtUFDj8e1upO-riJhn5PVF8SBQsiEHGkD5aHfKxCefPacHz_-q9oe4BxeTSA5hri6qCD4/s320/Tai+Chi+Group.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
By Sensei Domi<br />
<br />
Staying fit and healthy are things we seniors or baby boomers think about all the time. As soon as we wake up and roll out of bed, the aches and pains remind us of our ages.<br />
<br />
My wife and I were at a friend's house, sharing wine and conversation. Aside from talking about grandchildren, retirement, and fixed incomes, we talked about our health, how once vibrant and athletic we were, now reduced to taking handfuls of pills -- our bane: arthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure; in essence, taking synthetic prescription medication to stretch the inevitable.<br />
<br />
Gotta stay alive, right? But is pill taking our only option?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One plan that consists of a bland diet, exercise and getting enough rest is a natural prescription. As easy as it sounds, poor habits and the unwillingness to change (and a host of other reasons) prevent us from taking this simple pill. I'm going to be honest with you. It's not easy to change. It took me time and a period of discovery to embark in a tai chi journey and I'm going to share some of my thoughts with you.<br />
<br />
Easy to say. Hard to do.<br />
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A long time ago when I was in high school, I decided that I was going to be a martial arts expert. I was enamored the very second when I first saw Bruce Lee as the Green Hornet. I was young, flexible and strong. It wasn't hard for me to meet the demands of physically intense workout, I would say, was as difficult as any high school workout.<br />
<br />
As a Baby Boomer, weakened muscles, bones and joints, the result of sarcopenia, stupid abuses and the normal wear and tear of growing old. I know. for a fact, I would be challenged to attempt those same classes. I would have to test my limits and execute techniques without dislocating joints. Funny how that works.<br />
<br />
I understand that martial arts masters living in the mountains still exists, deep in the heart of China, still jumping off roofs and fighting 20 or so ninja assassins after meditating for 10 hours. This is not me.<br />
<br />
I was introduced to taijiquan in 1974 when a fellow Cal Poly student and blackbelt, Ron Lok, showed me the moves after karate practice. I was intrigued by how soft but powerful the movements were. Taijiquan (sometimes known as tai chi) and qigong (pronounced: chee GONG) use ancient training methods designed to energize a person’s qi (chee). Since 1976 when Sensei Yuen first taught it to me, I knew that it was safe and effective. Anyone between ages five and a-hundred-and-twenty-five can do it: Doesn’t require special clothing, equipment or training facility; can be done any time of the day, with or without a training partner,perhaps one of the most effective workout programs available.After graduating from college, I moved to the Bay Area where I resumed karate training with sensei Frank Yuen. It was then when I learned Yang Cheng Fu Long Form. After each and every workout, it was part of our training and I did this for about three years. <br />
<br />
I was in my 20’s then and at the time felt taijiquan was too slow for my taste as I was into more aggressive and combative forms of martial arts like Japanese karate and Muay Thai kickboxing. By the end of 1978, Sensei Yuen moved to Nevada to retire and before he left, told me to “never, ever forget taiji.” <br />
<br />
Years passed and all of a sudden, I turned 50-years-old; my body turned against me. Hard external martial arts like karate and kick boxing, though beneficial, took its toll. Joints suffered and though I tried to keep a stretch, I succumbed to arthritis. I attempted to counteract the effects by lifting weights, running on a treadmill, pushing my limits, and slamming fists and shins onto a heavy bag. With blood pressure still high and uncontrolled by exercise and diet, I had to look elsewhere. While browsing the shelves of a large books store, I discovered a book on healing. It was a bit over my head so I continued to browse. One book led to another until I found a book on taijiquan. Thumbing through the pages, something clicked: Memories of Sensei Yuen leading tai chi filled my head. Immediately, I was motivated. I searched Google and You Tube for references and found a compendium of information. As you can imagine, I learned something new and exciting. (When I practiced tai chi those many years ago, I practiced movements, not realizing the history or culture behind it).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIzrk9wkDwuqNKUk2zkCHBJT4Owd50ItgXyCa1bu5VMXSBNUg37yZXiZmhnj8M-UK4jNkkV3PbwvXMxaws2WnSeAlRMSxnTbNd3fcgCK5ZzZph3j26gC64p8dmrYawGhVaD8LNtLvkHey/s1600/Tai+Chi+Shaolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIzrk9wkDwuqNKUk2zkCHBJT4Owd50ItgXyCa1bu5VMXSBNUg37yZXiZmhnj8M-UK4jNkkV3PbwvXMxaws2WnSeAlRMSxnTbNd3fcgCK5ZzZph3j26gC64p8dmrYawGhVaD8LNtLvkHey/s320/Tai+Chi+Shaolin.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<br />
What I learned was that qigong, taijiquan’s precursor, was about 2,000 years old. Taijiquan, on the other hand, was newer - about 300 to 400 years old. I discovered that five taiji systems existed: Chen, Wudang, Wu, Sun and Yang with Chen style being the father of them all with Yang, a simpler version of the difficult Chen style. I later found that Yang teaches shorter versions, more specifically, 8 step, Bejing 24 step, 37 step form, 42 step competition, 48 step competition and finally 108 step long form. I learned that like in Japanese karate, Yang style has its versions based upon their teachers, such as Chen Man Cheng style, Tung Jin Jei style and finally Yang Chen Fu. After reviewing the different styles, I realized that I learned the Yang Chen Fu version that was as close to the original version taught in the early part of the 20th Century.<br />
<br />
TMC or Traditional Chinese Medicine explains the benefits of qigong and taijiquan by introducing chi. Qigong, literally, means “energy cultivation.” Special techniques handed down from generation to generation include the 13 Hands of Lohan, Eight Piece Brocade, Nine Joint Exercise, Five Animal Frolics and the Yi Jin Jing, about 2,000 different moves or techniques existed. Unlike taijiquan, qigong repeats movements over a given period of time like calisthenics. The difference between qigong and calisthenics is that qigong is slower and it promotes circulation rather than muscle development or aerobics. Taijiquan, translated means “grand ultimate fist” and is a martial art where the movements are performed slowly, with self-defense applications. The movements are deliberate and once completed correctly chi flows throughout the body unencumbered and free from harmful blockages.<br />
<br />
After strenuous work outs, the body releases chemicals healing tears in muscle tissue that normally occurs from exercises such as weight lifting, running long distances, or any hard workout. Because of tai chi's slow and gentle movements, tissue remains healthy but the body reacts biochemically sending the "fixing crew" or “repair” agents to look for something to fix. In addition to this, based upon a recent study by the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, tai chi has been determined an ideal exercise to maintain healthy “arterial compliance” which is a fancy term to mean vein and artery strength and elasticity. Veins and arteries become hard and lose elasticity as a person ages. Those who exercise daily are able to keep this part of their body healthy, thereby fighting the debilitating effects of high blood pressure and cardiovascular related diseases. With both an unencumbered chi flow and the body's own healing system activated, it stands to reason why tai chi with its aerobic, muscle stretching, body and balance mechanics, mental focus, controlled breathing and meditative characteristics, practitioners live long and healthy lives.<br />
<br />
With that said, on the left panel of this blog, you will see me performing examples of qigong and tai chi. <br />
<br />
Some of you may be motivated to stand behind your computer and follow along. I can’t stop you from learning on your own without a qualified instructor. I do recommend, however, as with any exercise and especially you with medical conditions, to talk your doctor first about attempting any exercise. Aside from that, compared to a lot of exercises, tai chi and qigong are relatively safe and extremely beneficial as I explained above. <br />
<br />
So with that said. Good health. Let the chi flow!<br />
<br />
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Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-24689004483469590932017-05-15T10:20:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:43:39.803-07:00Anti-Aging, DHEA and Qigong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">By Sensei Domi</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As a long time martial artist who now trains Taijiquan and Qigong every
day, I’ve definitely enjoyed some of the neat benefits, one of them is
appearing youthful, years younger than what my nearly 60 years on this earth
presents. Everyone who I meet with ask
me what my secret is, I tell them that I eat right, avoid stress, enjoy life
and most importantly, exercise daily, more specifically qigong and taijiguan,
you may know it more as Tai Chi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So this led me to some research and what I’ve found is that one of
the health benefits of these specific exercises is the production of the anti-aging
hormones called Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the adrenal glands. Believe me, this was the first time I’ve
heard of this. Let me explain, this part
of our system is responsible for the body’s ability to heal and regenerate itself.
Research indicates that DHEA has anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-tumor and anti-aging
properties. What age does through its natural process is produce less of this hormone,
as much as 90 percent. That’s why we
age, get wrinkles, look older and can’t catch grand kids when they run off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So what else does DHEA do for us?
It’s responsible for the level of cognitive ability with the greatest
concentration of DHEA found in brain tissue. On the other side of the spectrum,
low levels of DHEA appear to cause age-related degeneration, resulting in
diseases such as Alzheimer, the loss and/or damage of neuronal cells, and the
loss of long-term memory. So there you
have it, answers to some of your age related memory problems!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The big question is what can we do about this? How about buying some magic juice or take a
daily pill. Makes sense. Since the discovery of DHEA’s anti-aging
properties, health food stores stock their shelves with DHEA supplements and
for the wrong reasons, it promotes eternal youth in a bottle! The big problems is that what I’ve found is
that these supplements contain a small portion of the needed anti-aging
properties otherwise found in naturally occurring DHEA not to mention potential
serious side effects such as irritability, depression, and breast growth in men
(yeah, not good).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Qigong which means energy cultivation is an exercise introduced in
China about two or three thousand years ago that utilizes a slow moving calisthenics
movements that boosts the natural production of DHEA. Different than other exercises, it combines
movement with concentrated breathing and meditation and/or guided imagery. With that said this form of ancient exercise promotes increased cognitive
abilities and reduces aging in practitioners and regenerates DHEA!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I’m not sure how long I’ll live.
My goal is to live as long as my mind and body will allow. I’ve got family I want to be with as long as
possible especially grandkids who I have a hard time keeping up with. I need youth to match theirs and any
anti-aging help I’ll take. Fortunate to
me, I’m a long time qigong and taijiquan practitioner and I’ve got an advantage
over some of you who wants to (as Spock would say) “live long and prosper.” But does that mean you’re out of luck? Not really.
For those of you who want to learn more, Youtube has zillions of videos
where you can turn on your computers and follow along. You can even follow along with my version of
what I do each day (scan to the left column of this blog. It has me performing some of these exercises). Secondly, you can
find a school near you. I recommend
checking classes out first before dishing out any cash. Third and finally, if you are not doing any
form of exercise, at least get out and take nice long walks and really enjoy the event, and best to remove all negative thoughts. Can’t get any easier than that. The only thing I highly recommend is for
you that have physical challenges to discuss this and any form of
exercise first with your doctor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With that final note, let’s boost our DHEA levels!!! What do you
say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-28307987285628154012017-05-14T19:58:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:45:40.436-07:00Qi Gong: Anti-Aging Tool Article Reprint from Selfgrowth.com<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BYA4TvjMNFpwQ0EGajGHL32Nugo2CEJX0eB75GtsBz3VPPGTakD_4KH6tRF3lVgcFcyg0VkXzO9wVe61GGCpTpT9y2mRA5PdTAo_gkl2QG1tyUrmHFGXLAGME9jCpUuvXadqtGb8BZFf/s1600/Antiaging+qigon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BYA4TvjMNFpwQ0EGajGHL32Nugo2CEJX0eB75GtsBz3VPPGTakD_4KH6tRF3lVgcFcyg0VkXzO9wVe61GGCpTpT9y2mRA5PdTAo_gkl2QG1tyUrmHFGXLAGME9jCpUuvXadqtGb8BZFf/s200/Antiaging+qigon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
By Kay Hutchinson, CAMQ, CAMT<br />
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Qi gong is one of the most powerful tools for staying young and nourishing longevity. How does it work?<br />
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Builds Internal Strength and Suppleness<br />
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Unlike other forms of traditional western exercise, qi gong trains the energy of the body to invigorate internal organs to promote balanced health and prolong youthful appearance.<br />
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For example, in the Chinese medicine system, the spleen is said to rule the muscles of the body. Certain qi gong movements stimulate the spleen organ and its associated energy pathways. Thus, when one performs qi gong movements that target the spleen, the muscles become more youthful, supple and free of wrinkles (especially in the case of the muscles of the face).<br />
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As an example, I am often mistaken for a woman in my early thirties despite being a forty-four years old instructor of qi gong.<br />
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Also, since qi gong involves deep breath work, greater levels of oxygen enter the bloodstream to help rejuvenate the internal organs on a cellular level.<br />
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Last, on an energetic level, it is said that our essential energy or jing is responsible for youthfulness and housed in the organs of the kidneys.<br />
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Qi gong movements nourish the energy of kidneys. Thus, many qi gong masters have strong kidneys and often appear untouched by time.<br />
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Creates Youthful Brain Cells<br />
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Researchers at the University of California at Irvine discovered that when qi is emitted by qi gong masters, a greater perfusion of blood occurred within the brain.<br />
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Greater perfusion of blood nourishes the brain cells to help prevent dementia and other cognitive and mental conditions associated with aging. Thus, performing qi gong can help keep the brain and mind young and vibrant.<br />
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Prevents Conditions that Prematurely Age the Body<br />
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Qi gong also promotes greater states of relaxation. As a result, heath conditions that are influenced by stress such as premature graying, high blood pressure, and certain types of immunity imbalances, occur less in individuals practicing qi gong.<br />
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Manages and Resolves Conditions that Age the Body<br />
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Qi gong circle walking is especially effective as a healing tool for people who have cancer. At Stanford University, Dr Arnold Tayam, head instructor of the qi gong program, uses a special form of qi gong walking to help promote greater states of relaxation and rejuvenation to help cancer facilitate greater healing with cancer patients.<br />
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Nourishes the Spirit and the Body<br />
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Qi Gong facilitates a connection with a higher power through meditation and movement.<br />
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David Felton, MD, a renowned immunologist who conducted research at the University of California, found that the immunity system is strengthened by spiritual practices.<br />
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Therefore, qi gong, as a spiritual practice, can play a role in helping the immunity system stay balanced to prevent conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis often associated with aging although juvenile forms can also occur.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIBWuVqlq8qffmOVh-j7Y6pOSZdyy0s5FoCrkQtvV5WG5oKsStJMDk2ebjvkunb4eW3XCfhlfnY7DdFlOTWujPY7HTK7NabwnePY9VqlGurKsHsBRBonJTAlQkFs-G7BB7qJ13zXe7fgk/s1600/Antiaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIBWuVqlq8qffmOVh-j7Y6pOSZdyy0s5FoCrkQtvV5WG5oKsStJMDk2ebjvkunb4eW3XCfhlfnY7DdFlOTWujPY7HTK7NabwnePY9VqlGurKsHsBRBonJTAlQkFs-G7BB7qJ13zXe7fgk/s400/Antiaging.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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Creates Youthful Bones<br />
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Qi gong nourishes the bones in two ways. By strengthening the internal organ of the kidneys, said to rule the bones in the Chinese medicine system, bones tend to heal faster and have greater protection against degeneration and osteoporosis.<br />
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As an example, a 74 years old client who performs qi gong everyday, was able to have her cast removed two weeks ahead of schedule following ankle surgery because her bones mended more rapidly than a similar patient who was half her age but not performing qi gong.<br />
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In summary, qi gong can promote greater states of youthfulness and longevity by nourishing the internal organs, muscular and bone systems, and by promoting greater mental and spiritual balance.<br />
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Contact Kay Hutchinson, CAMQ, CAMT to enroll in a needle-free, painless acupressure/qi gong face lift program. <a href="http://www.aikihealing.com/">http://www.aikihealing.com</a><br />
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Author's Bio: Kay Hutchinson is a practitioner of Chinese medicine, energetic life coach and teacher of qi gong movement. She is the founder of Aiki Healing, a private practice in Austin, Texas, and the publisher of "Health Prosperity" a publication dedicated to empowering people to manifest optimum health and wellness.Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-42731726392274382262016-12-28T13:03:00.001-08:002017-01-26T13:10:37.666-08:00Tai Chi for Cancer Patients and SurvivorsI decided that it's time I help cancer patients and survivors with my skills. If I can, in a small way, provide hope and inspiration, then it's all worth it. Wednesday morning 10 to 11. See calendar below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSZ1SpmqAKa-1tl_6gn6O4vlurh20rRCtuZab-5LGUV5BpQz0vb9ubJsAFFWegb6Bi5Oi0CuGK_PJtFE08devqa7m6vaDr7Tb4tq10TTBe5vphgafXAMV_Ieni14o4kV7xN6R4tuwEv3c/s1600/SJH+Cal.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSZ1SpmqAKa-1tl_6gn6O4vlurh20rRCtuZab-5LGUV5BpQz0vb9ubJsAFFWegb6Bi5Oi0CuGK_PJtFE08devqa7m6vaDr7Tb4tq10TTBe5vphgafXAMV_Ieni14o4kV7xN6R4tuwEv3c/s640/SJH+Cal.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.healthyfoundations.com/guolin/guolin_article.html" target="_blank">How Chi Gong Works on Cancer</a></h1>
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Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-65726553614081748732016-12-02T20:15:00.002-08:002016-12-02T20:15:53.377-08:00Tai Chi Can Ease PTSD in Vets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRs5b24GWJpCfSjkaJy1xLsucRsI67Aq0tag8CE5YnbZ1GO5-ahc0wiCuP9IWulnRZsl2_jjsy_G6tSm13Z_MYD1DK2SWSHXrQ88gPvpQVugX0Jx0JrUvuTBF2STlYxOR8XH0lnQvchl1/s1600/Ptsd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRs5b24GWJpCfSjkaJy1xLsucRsI67Aq0tag8CE5YnbZ1GO5-ahc0wiCuP9IWulnRZsl2_jjsy_G6tSm13Z_MYD1DK2SWSHXrQ88gPvpQVugX0Jx0JrUvuTBF2STlYxOR8XH0lnQvchl1/s1600/Ptsd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of inquisitr.com</td></tr>
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Please click link below.</div>
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<a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2016/12/01/tai-chi-can-ease-ptsd-in-vets/113283.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tai Chi Can Ease PTSD in Vets</span></b></a></div>
Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-86707763285080388222016-11-18T17:55:00.000-08:002016-11-18T17:55:22.978-08:00Taboo and "The Fight" Against Cancer<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_cftmja4AvY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-30786973784173653552016-11-16T16:12:00.002-08:002016-12-27T19:23:19.253-08:00The Incredible Story of Guolin: Cancer Survivor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Guolinqigonghk.com</td></tr>
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This is the story of Guolin. I'm sure many of you have no idea who she is. But for those of you who have or have had cancer, this is a story, I’m sure, you'll like.<br />
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Ms. Guo Lin taught traditional Chinese painting and, at 43, was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She had her uterus removed in 1949 while in Shanghai, China. Unfortunately, it spread to her bladder and, in 1960, had half of it removed. After four additional operations, the doctors gave up and, in 1964, told her she had months to live.<br />
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Not one to give up hope, she searched for options. Then by chance, she found, while cleaning her home, ancient Qigong texts left to her by her late grandfather (a Taoist priest). Without a sifu or instructor, she self-taught herself these forms. Incredible as this sounds, in after six months, Guolin’s cancer went into remission.<br />
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With this success, in 1970, she taught other cancer patients, primarily, in the parks of Beijing her “New Qigong Therapy.” The word spread as many benefited from this "new" qigong. By 1977, she gained distinction, leading daily classes by the hundreds, working tirelessly lecturing, demonstrating and promoting good health, until her death in 1984, at age 78. After having survived cancer for over 34 years, helping thousands recover from the pain and suffering of various ailments, and promoting an effective form of Qigong, it was a cerebral hemorrhage that finally took her down.<br />
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A Qigong style was named in her honor, spreading to many countries throughout the world. A TV special on health called "The Healing Heart” showed a segment on Guolin Qigong and the Shanghai Cancer Recovery Club showing members out every day: walking, moving, and breathing – enjoying life instead of waiting to die.<br />
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After reading about her life, I felt inspired to continue her legacy and work to help others.<br />
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Qigong literally means energy exercise and is an ancient practice that incorporates mindful meditation, deep breathing, and slow movements. Tai Chi, a form of Qigong, means Grand Ultimate Fist and is a martial art that like Qigong incorporates slow purposeful movements unlike that of other martial arts like karate, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, judo, wrestling and boxing. <br />
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3,000 years old with nearly hundreds of exercises that target various illnesses, qigong has a rich and wonderful history.<br />
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Goulin, through her will and ability to teach herself the ancient Taoist Qigong techniques, lived way beyond her deadline and created a culture of living instead of waiting to die.<br />
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There are four simple principles to her philosophy.<br />
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• Live with a purpose.<br />
• Accept your condition but not add to it.<br />
• Exercise mind your body and spirit.<br />
• Give.<br />
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Those who have been touched by her work and teaching claim great results. Though considered non-evidence based medicine with anecdotal examples of patients surviving their conditions, some recovering to the point of full remission, these examples provide strong arguments to its efficacy and usefulness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr0aXG4J86Q64JxUzxgIGrtAKZBIDUhvr6sw3OXU6UItHdryW-lYvkahVCulvr2iM_qfRIn92pPmKCwv9a6DD5-hdJsB7UxC9BPmMA2_QZeiEERknDjNWQfrnjJiLU_0p-R843HNYrzQb/s1600/qigong+walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr0aXG4J86Q64JxUzxgIGrtAKZBIDUhvr6sw3OXU6UItHdryW-lYvkahVCulvr2iM_qfRIn92pPmKCwv9a6DD5-hdJsB7UxC9BPmMA2_QZeiEERknDjNWQfrnjJiLU_0p-R843HNYrzQb/s320/qigong+walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Lingui.org</td></tr>
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The one and only constraint preventing it from joining conventional medicine is the inability to measure Chi. As explained in TMC, chi is a person's life force, the energy that moves throughout his body. Without chi, a person dies. Many attempts have been made to scientifically quantify its properties with poor results therefore accepting it as standard treatment is not possible. (At least, not today) Not to be dismissed, qigong, Tai Chi, acupuncture, natural plants and herbs, and mindful meditation are currently being integrated with Western medicine to provide a powerful one-two punch to treat illnesses cancer and chronic illnesses.<br />
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I am not a doctor nor a medical professional. I cannot tell you that the methods that have helped Guolin and her followers will help you. I am a martial artist and have practiced diligently for the past 45 years, both external and internal martial arts where, in the past 15-years, have focused on Tai Chi and Qigong and their esoteric benefits. I have spent hours researching how these techniques and methods have helped many with health conditions and am encouraged by their results.<br />
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I have had family and friends who succumbed to cancer; lived with a brother-in-law and cared for him, for six months until he died, helpless, watching him deteriorate from a 200-pound healthy construction worker to less than a hundred pounds. In his last days, he stayed in bed and waited. I attempted to take him out, to see the world outside his room, but not wanting to fight a battle he knew he already lost, and gave up. What hurt me the most was watching a strong a powerful man, who verbally declared that he would make a difference in this world, lose his will to live. <br />
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Had I known about Guolin and healing qigong at the time, I would’ve taken him to classes.<br />
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Guolin wanted to live, regardless of her condition, and found a way to do so, through an old book her grandfather left her. <br />
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The first precept “live for a purpose.” As a young mother, it was instinctual for her to raise her kids and make sure they were fed, wore warm clothes and protected. She refused to quit despite the pain she was in. I learned in one of the stories, she forced herself to work out two to four hours a day, despite her condition. <br />
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“Accept your condition but not add to it.” She learned that, by complaining about the symptoms and allowing it to control her life, served no purpose. She was at peace with her cancer, and each day when she woke up alive, she was grateful, and she showed her appreciation by going out and teaching, lecturing and encouraging others to life their lives the fullest way possible.<br />
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The third precept, “exercise the mind, body and spirit at every available moment.” She learned that the mind was powerful, stronger than any bone in her body. To win any battle, external or internal, she must stay active, learning something new, practicing her deep breathing and body movements, believing in her internal energy or “chi” to win any battle. If she relented, rested, even for one second, the cancer would win. <br />
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Finally, “giving”. She learned that, by giving; it didn’t have to be money, it could be anything: lending a hand, helping elders with their laundry, making steam buns for the homeless, the mind convinces that the body has the strength to go on. <br />
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This was why she worked tirelessly. She refused to let cancer or any disease win.<br />
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“Giving,” Guolin did, by teaching these principles to others, managing to help thousands deal with their conditions and, as explained before, provided anecdotal evidence of beating the disease.<br />
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To assist in validating my blog, please see the attached link http://www.healthyfoundations.com/guolin/introduction.html<br />
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There are many stories of other cancer survivors, who used TCM to win their battles. I encourage you to read and research more on Guolin, qigong, tai chi, natural herbs, and mindful meditation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of nocamels.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And with that said, I may not have much, but I have some knowledge that may help others deal with their conditions, give them with hope, motivate them to go on and fight the good life. With life, as short as it is, we may as well live each second of the day with the gusto we all are entitled to: I can think of no better way to live.<br />
<br />
Can you?<br />
<br />
<br />
Peace and Harmony.<br />
<br />
Sensei Domi<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-65870535168169302282016-10-27T10:03:00.001-07:002016-10-28T09:48:11.546-07:00Mindfulness of Normal<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kTPUjivVvcxpzfvHJuyA_JzvYoGsPCFarNv-rvD6tp36GpnTMrW237JJYp0s9T4yQbe3qL5On-mHBGUZzbrXLTCKs67IVy1EqhdEGu0ElggUF0e-_XowszIF5qxlXcI45n3fNKDSj5x_/s1600/forestfarming2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kTPUjivVvcxpzfvHJuyA_JzvYoGsPCFarNv-rvD6tp36GpnTMrW237JJYp0s9T4yQbe3qL5On-mHBGUZzbrXLTCKs67IVy1EqhdEGu0ElggUF0e-_XowszIF5qxlXcI45n3fNKDSj5x_/s320/forestfarming2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Forest Farming Community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Recently, I revisited the practice of
mindful meditation. For those who aren't aware, it’s simply the ability the
focus on the moment. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now think about it? How many of us can focus on one thing; for example, a job to be done
without distraction; multitasking, listening to headsets
while cooking, watching television while texting, or thinking about a multitude
of things while walking to work. </span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">How many of us can concentrate on a single, isolated thought for, say, one minute, 60 seconds?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When we think about mediation, we
see ourselves sitting cross legged on the floor with incense burning and
Tibetian Bowls ringing. Some can to do this in various yoga positions, or
like me, through Tai Chi or Qigong.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But is this mindful?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’m not a true expert, but I’ve been
able to summarize mindfulness with these following words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Normal, nonjudgmental awareness of
experiencing now.” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">First word: Normal. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In my many years of martial arts
training I meditated and attempted balance. It was not inconceivable, a notion, where we all, at one point of our life, sought balance. Television shows, social media and traditional sources reminded us of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3t0FcEhO5chyphenhyphenuxu7lI3iSp-2bhDA8bM5pmB_TeRcRGuBISCwMbtG08KXMh47hAytCUq01clnPArvg9UkwOLKs6UwHvDFmOwqmkCbLqVfRARBQr1ZRG7BH-LWg_zGacSJdklMQcb6F3Xmo/s1600/balance_crackerdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3t0FcEhO5chyphenhyphenuxu7lI3iSp-2bhDA8bM5pmB_TeRcRGuBISCwMbtG08KXMh47hAytCUq01clnPArvg9UkwOLKs6UwHvDFmOwqmkCbLqVfRARBQr1ZRG7BH-LWg_zGacSJdklMQcb6F3Xmo/s1600/balance_crackerdoor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of The Cracker Door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Just recently I had a conversation with
a student who asked me to provide a simple explanation of balance. I gave
verbal examples; pushed him off center; showed him
pictures of stones placed in perfect position so that they would remain in a perfect
line without falling. Still confused, he asked if there was something else I could use to help him understand. Then I told him to think of the word “normal” and pointed to a tree outside and asked him if it required instructions on how to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He looked at me and then said. “yes I
now understand.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We live in the world where we are pushed
and pulled, sometimes knowing the causes, where, how and when...from different sources, many our fault, internally rooted. A lot of it are self-imposed. When he struggled with the word
balance, he could not understand how to adjust. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Each day, his life is based upon achieving goals and what contributes, competes and
interchanges with his life. When I mentioned the word normal, as innocuous it sounds, it finally
resonated that being normal in a very complicated world was difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He asked how can a person start to
become normal? I told him it starts by learning how to breathe normally, which means to breath correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGjKBR_g6rC3qBMY63PEH8KZmWPXhp7BHkG0KB_GAR_biuag5GebTufs7zdO77nSfUs5aSg3LlcrdKRKt_MkMb6qU2s49iq8LEKCMvHPo9ROM1NsB4RkCopPjj0pPS3McGl4-3uhMQd81/s1600/The+Creative+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGjKBR_g6rC3qBMY63PEH8KZmWPXhp7BHkG0KB_GAR_biuag5GebTufs7zdO77nSfUs5aSg3LlcrdKRKt_MkMb6qU2s49iq8LEKCMvHPo9ROM1NsB4RkCopPjj0pPS3McGl4-3uhMQd81/s320/The+Creative+Post.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of The Creative Post</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So as an instructor and he the student,
we both embarked on a journey of discovery.
What we did as part of our Tai Chi and Qigong training was to
incorporate visualizing, feeling and thinking. In a small way, we were attempting to balance our basic, emotional and intellectual needs and make them "normal."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This became a new frontier for me as an
instructor whose goal is to help people grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And so, I’ll be posting my thoughts in
future blogs to help bring an understanding to “mindfulness.” As simple as it seems, it is not easy, and I
will find “normal” solutions to help anyone understand and make changes in
his/her lives for personal edification and development.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-38903210018157243222016-10-13T11:31:00.004-07:002016-10-13T11:31:30.277-07:00David Dorian Ross' 16 Step Yang Style Form<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5K6tQ4M9slI" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Don't forget to subscribe to his channel. He's a World Champion and has a great deal to offer to Tai Chi practitioners world wide!</i></span></b><br />
<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-9053360109523321022016-10-02T10:46:00.001-07:002016-10-02T10:46:00.421-07:00Five Animal Frolics Qigong for Health<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sytr0_ufm04?list=PL2HAJOCat-No0cCnUTPIPhx8YuvWQ7Cdy" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-57273146896510659252016-10-01T22:00:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:40:38.110-07:00The 70% Rule<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Summer, late 1960’s, I earned college money by working in the Delano grape fields.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My Filipino co-workers were in their 60’s and 70’s, including my dad, who
worked and moved about with ease and efficiency.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Those of you who had the pleasure of doing this kind of work
appreciated the conditions and methodologies needed to get through a decent
ten-hour day (at the time 10-hour days were the norm).</span><br />
<br />
As I struggled to keep up with this back breaking work, <span style="font-family: "calibri";">my dad would tell me to “take my time, but
hurry up.”</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was young, strong and athletically fit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Hurrying up was not problem.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Doing it efficiently like my dad and his
compatriots was not possible.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I didn’t
have the wherewithal to “take my time.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2054E37iqoZ-gdWTuuW-oCXX-NyPe8BiJQkTO3KeUxBx2AKI56o99wZFNpsRyucUyeDOeOS06hV5jxGJgWJStdyVRl4oRL2lPtRPwkJSGdrDYGNR_89pxfRGQiqXridyaWIWs61rOiYu/s1600/70+percent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2054E37iqoZ-gdWTuuW-oCXX-NyPe8BiJQkTO3KeUxBx2AKI56o99wZFNpsRyucUyeDOeOS06hV5jxGJgWJStdyVRl4oRL2lPtRPwkJSGdrDYGNR_89pxfRGQiqXridyaWIWs61rOiYu/s1600/70+percent.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of essayforme.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">70 Percent Rule</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fast forward to the present and the 70 percent rule.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As a Tai Chi practitioner and instructor for many years,
I was taught this term. It was not until recently when I understood its true meaning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">While researching the web, I came upon a YouTube video.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It showcased martial arts expert, instructor,
speaker, book author, and video producer, Bruce Frantzis, and his version of the 70 percent
rule.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(see link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCfA2jQ7I9I"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCfA2jQ7I9I</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The 70 percent rule is a concept where a person utilizes 70
percent of effort to achieve 100 percent output.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As a Tai Chi practitioner and instructor, I’ve learned that
these classic and age old movements are slow and smooth, not to over
extend or exert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tai Chi which means “grand ultimate fist” utilizes Qigong or
“energy cultivation” movements that integrate mind and body through
concentrated deep breathing and mindfulness.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It’s also known as moving meditation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">External martial arts such as karate, judo, kung fu,
taekwondo, jiujutsu, kickboxing and MMA require the student to exert techniques
at a 100 percent to achieve excellence.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It’s much like modern day sports such as football, soccer, and wrestling
where competition requires full engagement to win.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This concept extends beyond the athletic arena.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s in school, work and life in the modern
world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can personally attest to the
“kill or be killed” mantra where success is achieved by a person’s desire to go
beyond 100 percent, to “do whatever it takes”.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We learn to “multi-task”, miss our children’s baseball games
or recitals, down huge amounts of caffeine and/or alcohol, take wrong
shortcuts, make decisions that may meet expectations, cost dearly in other
important matters.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Who Benefits?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Students seeking high grade point averages.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Athletes attempting stellar performances.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mothers raising perfect children while working
full time jobs.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Executives who make decisions to lay off key
employees for the sake of shareholder financial interest.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why change?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stress!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tai Chi and other internal martial arts use the mind and
body efficiently by relaxing and coordinating all functions as one.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The argument is that if you exert yourself
physically at 100 percent then your mind is diminished.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you think at full capacity, your body is
removed from the process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stress, as I’ve written in the past, kills.<span style="margin: 0px;"> (see link <a href="http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/2017/01/stress.html">http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/2017/01/stress.html</a> )</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
Stress is okay <span style="font-family: "calibri";">when needed in short bursts, like in an
athletic event, taking a test, or even running away from an 800-pound
gorilla.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But keeping the sympathetic
nervous system on full alert is known to the main cause for major illnesses
such as heart conditions and cancer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s a strange phenomenon.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You may ponder and even argue the concept, but reflect when these
instances occur and you will come to realize the truth. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Work yourself to death, and you will die.</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">How?</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So you ask yourself how do you make this change?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of studying for ten hours, study for seven.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of rushing from place to place, take it slow and go with the flow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of maxing out on you work out for a full hour, max
out in 42 minutes and chill in 18.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of thinking and worrying about things that won’t
happen for a distant future, use that time for personal reflection.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Develop a personal mindset that you are going to affect
change in your life to the point where you would take action.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Set a date, the earlier the better. Even right now is good.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Write it down, best in a personal journal as if it already happened.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then just do it and trust the process.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You’ll find yourself reaching your goals as if you engaged yourself
at a 100% but this time giving yourself time and energy for yourself to
smell the roses and enjoy life that you are entitled.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
When you absolutely need to get things done, simply hurry up but be sure to take your time.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-43533144215377062882016-09-24T09:28:00.000-07:002016-10-14T09:11:08.494-07:00People Who Practice Tai Chi Stay Mentally SharpAs I surf the web, I do my share of reading and, in doing so, discovered this recent article (July 10, 2015) that supports the theory that those who practice tai chi regularly stay mentally sharp. Well, that's good for me as I can attest my pencil isn't as sharp as it used to be and wonder how much dull it would be had I not practice, faithfully, my daily and early morning tai chi. I'm going to be one to lead the charge on this, validated or not. These articles and studies give me credence on why I promote this exercise and martial arts. So click on the link below and get yourself practicing tai chi everyday. It ain't no worse than taking those prescription pills every morning!!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://news.sys-con.com/node/3362902" target="_blank">New Study Links Long-Term Tai Chi Mind-Body Exercise to Improved Cognitive Function in Older Adults Study Published in the July 2015 Issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine</a>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-54979753406554641602016-09-23T08:16:00.003-07:002016-09-23T08:16:48.728-07:00Steve Barnes Life Writing<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RupZ0HLzKfs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-67413846186899536452016-09-02T11:26:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:41:55.213-07:00STRESS!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBdtHk_SOSrezBpNUepRY6po7-qnV06GmRo_ki_yzt9HhaTNvrLRNQgrTL2KXpSbUJZQ1KJGp9Ru0avBQ7IkNZdWcIHHxSGyREF_OsTnlA9V3Gy3fsA8Xu6GtFgsPSx4VRPCtC_D3poch/s1600/stress5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBdtHk_SOSrezBpNUepRY6po7-qnV06GmRo_ki_yzt9HhaTNvrLRNQgrTL2KXpSbUJZQ1KJGp9Ru0avBQ7IkNZdWcIHHxSGyREF_OsTnlA9V3Gy3fsA8Xu6GtFgsPSx4VRPCtC_D3poch/s320/stress5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of paleoplan.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Forget about guns and bullets. Stress related illnesses will kill you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><br /></i>
<i>Number of deaths for leading
causes of death:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Heart disease: 614,348<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Cancer: 591,699<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Chronic lower respiratory
diseases: 147,101<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Accidents (unintentional
injuries): 136,053<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases):
133,103<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Alzheimer's disease: 93,541<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Diabetes: 76,488<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Influenza and pneumonia: 55,227<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and
nephrosis: 48,146<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Intentional self-harm (suicide):
42,773<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<i>Source:
Health United States, 2015 Table 19 [PDF- 9.8 MB] (Data are for 2014) <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm"><span style="font-style: normal;">https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So from the above list except from “intentional
self-harm (suicide)” which can come in different forms (pills, driving off a
cliff, jumping off a tall building, gun to the head), we can see a basic trend
for mortality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you know I volunteer my
services as a Tai Chi instructor to teach patients with chronic conditions such
as cancer. My research has suggested some root causes, evidence-based studies and
opinions from reliable sources support my argument. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All points toward “stress.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following article or post
is one of many articles supporting my contention. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/stress-immune-system)/">How Does
Stress Affect Your Immune System? FAWNE HANSEN JULY 20, 2014 The Adrenal
Fatigue Solution (https://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/stress-immune-system)/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I taught martial arts for
over 40 years, Qigong and Tai Chi for about six. And in that time my intent was
to introduce a unique form of exercise for baby boomers specifically those who can
participate and benefit, a bucket list thing.
As time passed that led me to further research, I learned that the
movements, ideas and the philosophies behind them were far-reaching. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One interesting note that I
have learned that people through testimonies have verified health benefits to
the point of cancer patients being healed to the point of remission. From a
personal and layman’s point of view, truth lies behind these words. So
when I teach classes, especially to those who are affected terribly to the
point of losing almost all hope, I share these anecdotal testimonies and share
them for healing and courage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In one class I told them
about my opinion on “multi-tasking” about a well-known slogans, “if we wanted to move up in this world, we had to work our tails off; skies the limit; you’ve got
to give it all you got; do whatever it takes"…and so on. It’s not without merit. Some succeeded and others didn't; and, without
realizing it, walked a road fraught with consequences. Examples. Some ended up divorced, being drug addicts,
participating in criminal activities, such as “white collar” crimes. All for the pursuit of a dream.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Included in this big
reward. You got it. “Stress.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The above post “How Does
Stress Affect Your Immune System?” provided an erudite and discussion on how
stress affected our immune system. I remembered this old television commercial
promoting margarine, where the theme was, “Don't mess with Mother Nature.” Well,
I suppose, by overextending the natural response of stress, Mother Nature
provided the body with a terrible unintended result, such as heart failure,
diabetes, poor immune system, and cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what do we do? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm reminded of this joke.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Question: How many psychiatrists does it take to change
a light bulb? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Answer: One. But
the light bulb has to really want to change!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s examine the
following situation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A business person travels
to work; faces bumper to bumper traffic, arrives to work running to catch up
with a long “to do list; does his/her thing, gets home, plays with kids,
watches the news, decides to run to the gym and bang hours’ worth of exercise from
Zumba, to power lifting, to yoga, to spin cycle, to Brazilian Jiujutsu, to
cross fit, to this, to that. It goes on
and on. Then he/she check cell phones
for texts, social media posts, tweets. Goes to sleep after the 11 o’clock
news. Wakes up in the middle of the
night because of a note to self about what isn’t finished or needs to be done
or schedule a calendar regarding an important personal event like a son or
daughter’s soccer game or recital. Several hours later of fitful sleep and the
alarm goes off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The cycle repeats
itself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over and over, again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a rubber band
stretched to a breaking point, one of these days… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxa03A07B3FwLaBLV0mFBGuhPfPy8rIPoPmNbN3duWw1vZkEFiuLO8unpyCufNCr8IoET6IHim3xTqLvPtcvVI0Tl02lwSGf4QoGSXEi9OjIqJVdLyIFXvwXdaGax26-EYdOuXDJiZhNt/s1600/stress7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxa03A07B3FwLaBLV0mFBGuhPfPy8rIPoPmNbN3duWw1vZkEFiuLO8unpyCufNCr8IoET6IHim3xTqLvPtcvVI0Tl02lwSGf4QoGSXEi9OjIqJVdLyIFXvwXdaGax26-EYdOuXDJiZhNt/s320/stress7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of linkedin.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“SNAP!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several doctor’s, labs and
x-rays later, the doctor tells you, you have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, kidney failure, heart failure…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CANCER!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realize that, for some,
change is impossible. They are either stubborn, hardheaded, believe that habits
can't be broken, or have big fat egos, so inflated that to suggest a change represents an affront to their lifestyle, their successes.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xLgsfi3N_NCBuCusdxbBrwne-1UeWdMLRvGwzmH6bMUgS51iy2dj821F8-j0PnKgfMSsEWcssQtyb2mv8RCqBuZFy_cpoYwv9plNYw4KqDML2Li5MfkzNwPZlMhWIIeOG3FEqZP1uKkZ/s1600/stress6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xLgsfi3N_NCBuCusdxbBrwne-1UeWdMLRvGwzmH6bMUgS51iy2dj821F8-j0PnKgfMSsEWcssQtyb2mv8RCqBuZFy_cpoYwv9plNYw4KqDML2Li5MfkzNwPZlMhWIIeOG3FEqZP1uKkZ/s1600/stress6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of naijapv.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“Unprecedented financial
pressures, and an ever-increasingly aggressive public culture, along with social,
moral and spiritual fragmentation, are leading to lives being overwhelmed by
stress, intolerable interior isolation and even quiet despair.” -- Sean Brady<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shake my head thinking
that a successful dead person has no value to those that rely upon him or her
for financial, mental and spiritual support.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“When I look back on all these
worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he
had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” –
Winston Churchill<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-t1Z5-oPtU" width="560"></iframe>
My next posts will work on
what small steps we can do. Interested?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-42487286979136208992016-08-27T08:37:00.002-07:002016-08-27T08:37:11.257-07:00Be the Fiercest - Deshun Wang<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HX4saxIfPYw" width="560"></iframe>Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-90676491628522042372016-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:002016-08-17T09:54:48.723-07:00 Dizziness Holding You Back?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTeor6FwQN552w-NGg6_2AAJpCQ5zr5807T9MnTxzdUty9rT-48nyu2IdyD3HOQX-AYzAOg3TRbUXMM0BI6d-jeKMk9Yt0odGlGWsuIFGuuSvo2CZHdAryiBNFetFxLl17EEJAy9Di366/s1600/fisherman-fishing-reel-river-39854+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTeor6FwQN552w-NGg6_2AAJpCQ5zr5807T9MnTxzdUty9rT-48nyu2IdyD3HOQX-AYzAOg3TRbUXMM0BI6d-jeKMk9Yt0odGlGWsuIFGuuSvo2CZHdAryiBNFetFxLl17EEJAy9Di366/s320/fisherman-fishing-reel-river-39854+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
By Robert Raad<br />
<br />
If you’re an active, healthy boomer—but at times you experience bouts of debilitating dizziness or a strong sense of spinning—chances are you’re feeling the effects of vertigo. Vertigo is the feeling of uncontrollable movement causing one to experience their environment spinning, resulting in dizziness or nausea for the sufferer. The symptoms may be ongoing or can only happen infrequently. Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, visual disturbances, and difficulty performing physical movements—even walking, can also occur.<br />
<br />
What’s Really Happening?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
First you should know that vertigo is simply a symptom. It’s caused by some other condition and is quite common as we age. It’s best to talk to a doctor to find out what causes yours.<br />
<br />
Most vertigo is caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) which usually brings on sudden bouts of severe dizziness and is often associated with the position of your head. BPPV is caused by crystals becoming loose in your inner ear and translating to you feeling dizzy or nauseated.<br />
<br />
Vertigo can also be caused by various other inner ear conditions like Labyrinthitis or Meniere’s or sometimes it’s caused by migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, or even issues in the brain.<br />
<br />
Want To Get Back To Your Tai Chi Fighting Self?<br />
<br />
Even though the nausea and lack of equilibrium that accompany vertigo can be very hard to deal with, there are multiple ways to combat against it.<br />
<br />
Following your doctor’s advice, exercise, diet and medication can help.<br />
<br />
For those interested, a variety of natural remedies also have success at providing relief from nausea and dizziness.<br />
<br />
If you are experiences symptoms of vertigo, don’t let it keep you from doing the things you love.<br />
<br />
To learn more about Vertigo, and ways to manage it, or to connect with the writer of the piece, please visit us at the <a href="http://di-vertigo.com/community/blog/" target="_blank">Di-Vertigo Blog.</a><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #c0a154; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366505544036190073.post-35703963616453156122016-08-01T17:02:00.000-07:002018-03-11T23:41:18.015-07:00Martial Arts for Seniors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4km5xF53IJBiVoASM7maya3_B2-drS1zSjqrVuxGtQ_fSIhvKKtdAs399ZGlQXhmYXJM91eETUo5kmbEW3G-dZpzZch3Y7TNCx9tm49w-FLF_Nw6tVEwj2a1ZiZwQhY9BpI_5g-xVbKz/s1600/Baby+Boomer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4km5xF53IJBiVoASM7maya3_B2-drS1zSjqrVuxGtQ_fSIhvKKtdAs399ZGlQXhmYXJM91eETUo5kmbEW3G-dZpzZch3Y7TNCx9tm49w-FLF_Nw6tVEwj2a1ZiZwQhY9BpI_5g-xVbKz/s320/Baby+Boomer.jpg" /></a>Retired baby boomers with time on their hand are now considering taking martial arts whether it be karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, or tai chi. Though many have joined the softer and less aggressive arts like qigong or tai chi, a percentage of them are donning cotton white gis and attending karate classes. Some old timers in denial attempt mix martial arts till they end up the emergency room: Mind is willing but the body says no. Many that have decided to go back into martial arts after retirement are those with some experience, quitting, years back as lower ranking belts returning to finally earn the coveted black belt. Some do so after watching their kids through the years take martial arts but didn’t have the guts to take it then. For whatever reason, it’s something that baby boomers want to do now; a bucket list kind of thing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tLhaKC_4LylD62N_ZqWvXWx7Ts92kJ_3h8hfcQ6nRs84UvBBU6DkIM-6vdsY9KYOqsWfENVcVt1vGXOw05xvLzz4hyGkw9ki2tSFWUVwH-bJlgRCsE9JFiu_l1IEAS2rTgTWhhV8sS_D/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tLhaKC_4LylD62N_ZqWvXWx7Ts92kJ_3h8hfcQ6nRs84UvBBU6DkIM-6vdsY9KYOqsWfENVcVt1vGXOw05xvLzz4hyGkw9ki2tSFWUVwH-bJlgRCsE9JFiu_l1IEAS2rTgTWhhV8sS_D/s320/untitled.png" /></a>First of all I admire anyone wanting to take martial arts regardless of age. Being a baby boomer sensei, I still practice both karate and tai chi almost every day. I don’t attend a dojo or teach classes though I’ve been asked to start a school for AARP card carrying members, martial arts for seniors.<br />
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Several weeks ago, I helped judge a tournament and reconnected with fellow martial artist who I’ve known throughout the years. Of course, everyone looked so much older, and not as spry in the legs as in before. To my surprise, many of them still practice in a dojo and pride in surviving, arthritis and all. A close friend and sensei, Ron Lok who is now a high ranking black belt, near if not already 60 years old says he still practices this very difficult kata, Kusankudai, and says with “explosive power.” He also mentioned that he trains with a group of others who are not only in their 60’s but 70’s. Before hearing this, for the past five years, I’ve abandoned almost all karate training due to painful arthritis, sticking with qigong and tai chi; but, after hearing all of my colleagues at advanced ages saying that they’re still working out like young kids, I had to resume my karate training. To my surprise, I was able to get through workouts without much difficulty, no worse than lifting weights or running on a treadmill. I’m of course not going full out like I used to when I was a kid, but nevertheless, adequate enough to feel my heart pound out of my chest and sweat heavy enough to soak my uniform. My arthritis pain had not gone away nor got worse a surprise for me since I expected more pain and grief. (On a side note: For those of you wondering if stuff like tai chi can help you stay mentally fit, click <a href="http://news.sys-con.com/node/3362902" target="_blank">Mentally Fit</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjferSRA0-vD3yuX3beo0TJN45DdPsqtWCI_4iot1A8Tw6qH-f-lz_V62oy1z7J_fuAq2ic7JJZWVK6VONhDoYp3deNGNs6QHW2raS50Xab3vvxsbTLWu5Z3MkDEfhX3kZ_KqoL-M04KTE1/s1600/Push+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjferSRA0-vD3yuX3beo0TJN45DdPsqtWCI_4iot1A8Tw6qH-f-lz_V62oy1z7J_fuAq2ic7JJZWVK6VONhDoYp3deNGNs6QHW2raS50Xab3vvxsbTLWu5Z3MkDEfhX3kZ_KqoL-M04KTE1/s1600/Push+up.jpg" /></a>What I’ve learned at my age is that pain will not go away. It’s something I've learn to deal with and get on with my life. Almost all of us, of course there are exceptions, aren’t as athletic as we were 20 or 30 years ago. We aren’t expected to perform as if we are in our 20’s or 30’s, but our lack of youth or athleticism shouldn’t be a deterrent to take martial arts past our 50’s. What needs to happen is to start smart: Consult with your doctor. For those of you with serious medical conditions, this discussion is not only recommended but mandatory. Strenuous karate workouts could end up bad, and obese individuals with heart conditions would be best to consider a less dynamic art like tai chi.</div>
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I think we old timers know where our bodies are and should listen well to the signals. When I decided to reconnect with karate, I knew I was physically fit to handle the workout: I just had a bad back and two bad knees. I learned to hold back on snap kicks and hard twisting motions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PBeWoyvRT-tHwO0f6h34sbMEgpy4PhhIWrRi5jifH2GECluBRJlYpNtWdVkTDvxKt70BEJO5kRdxxpwfe9GP7aQyMGaa0psWGwJdOBjSK5daHr8G70jhAIBs8MMxKP_oyZqrxiQWBG3o/s1600/Senior+Karate+Class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PBeWoyvRT-tHwO0f6h34sbMEgpy4PhhIWrRi5jifH2GECluBRJlYpNtWdVkTDvxKt70BEJO5kRdxxpwfe9GP7aQyMGaa0psWGwJdOBjSK5daHr8G70jhAIBs8MMxKP_oyZqrxiQWBG3o/s320/Senior+Karate+Class.jpg" width="320" /></a>As you decide which school to attend, recon first, see if gray haired grandpas and grandmas in the class or if the instructor’s like me, a senior citizen. Young instructors think they can teach old folks the same as they teach young’uns. Mistake! If possible, join schools that have classes strictly for the 50+ crowd. There’s a place in Naples, Florida called “Bucket List Martial Arts” that teaches classes specifically to baby boomers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7ebRFTyAuNpmTGhL1FuJKw1B1OjBZ4VfLRCSC752ai3YWg_oRGmMXH_A3hrnH2zJAh_wKHWnWvassv9VWsC8-aD-qiqi4xEu7lHw0ij9mi9nequn-lOivipOAIcylVU15Qn9UfebF36Q/s1600/Senior+Karate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7ebRFTyAuNpmTGhL1FuJKw1B1OjBZ4VfLRCSC752ai3YWg_oRGmMXH_A3hrnH2zJAh_wKHWnWvassv9VWsC8-aD-qiqi4xEu7lHw0ij9mi9nequn-lOivipOAIcylVU15Qn9UfebF36Q/s1600/Senior+Karate.jpg" /></a></div>
It’s got a motto: “If you’re a kid or want to learn cage fighting, go elsewhere.” I think it’s such a neat concept that I might do something like that here in California, so a martial arts school for senior citizens just might be around your corner. So to you baby boomer martial art wanna-bee’s; talk first to a doctor, listen to your body, be positive, and find a school with baby boomer sensei’s that share your pain.<br />
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<a href="http://rtprbakersfield.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">And for goodness sakes! Don't forget your muscle and joint cream!!!</a><br />
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<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.com