Dynamic Balance

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With the New year comes all kinds of resolutions. Lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking etc etc etc. But I have a simple resolution which will make you healthier. Unfortunately while it is the easiest thing in the world to do, it is also the hardest thing in the world to do.

BREATHE! Breathing deeply and consciously has a tremendous amount of benefits from reducing anxiety attacks, to lowering blood pressure, in fact the reduced strain on all visceral systems can help almost any pathology. Lets face it the easier the body works,... the less strain it has to deal with and the more life it has to fight off illness, injury and poisons.

In many cultures over the history of mankind abdominal breathing has been associated with improving and maintaining good health.

Lets face it, it s simple, it doesn't take extra time away from anything else, no special clothes or gym memberships, you can do it anywhere, anytime, and it is pretty hard to over do it, and finally, last but not least (GASP!  OMG!) it is good for you!

Did You know?

Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung") is an ancient Chinese exercise system combining meditation and slow, gentle movements to promote health and relaxation. The qigong student learns to visualize an invisible energy field known as qi ("life force") and move it through the body to balance and heal dysfunction.

Body Balancing Massage Therapy

Abdominal breathing is not just something I encourage  my clients to practice, but it is something I do myself to improve my own health. From anxiety attacks to carpal tunnel to back and hip pain the simple act of breathing affects the the whole body producing a healthy effect.

First the How: For those just beginning I have found that a supine (on your back) posture is the best. Rest your hands on your tummy with your thumbs falling on your belly button - doesn't matter if your an inny or outy - when you inhale you fill your tummy (let it expand) first, then let the breath rise into your chest. When you exhale you "pull" your tummy down towards your spine. At the end of your breath you simply let go of your tummy and the air will fill your tummy first naturally.

The best reason for doing abdominal breathing supine is when you start to really learn the breath you may fall asleep. That is just fine! The more you practice the more energy you will generate.

It usually take a a week of practice to get the breath. I recommend the before you get up and last thing before sleep. Use your snooze alarm. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier than you need to get up. When the alarm goes off, hit the snooze and breath until the snooze alarm goes off. Yes you may fall asleep at first but slowly you will wake up more and more refreshed and energized. Do the breathing as you fall asleep and you will sleep deeper and more restful. This is not a technique, or a trick, this is a habit change that can and will improve your health, mind and life. "There is the water, drink it or don't!" Now its up to you!

Did You Know?
Many millennia ago, Taoist
monks practiced gentle meditative movements called "qigong" (Chi Gung) to attain immortality. They passed along this secret healing art to the Chinese emperors.

Chi gung practitioners have long understood the benefits of breathing exercises. Chi Gung practitioners call this developing the "wei chi". Eastern Medicine incorporates deep breathing exercises into their restorative prescriptions.  Wei Chi is very similar to the lymphatic system.  Western medical practitioners did not know of the lymphatic system of the body until 1628, and only discovered its existence and not its uses. Eastern medicine does not refer to the lymphatic system per se as it groups it into the "Spleen Meridian" . Eastern medicine established its format of meridians in the 27th century BC.

Deep breathing is good for increasing your energy level, ridding your body of toxins, increasing your ability to ward off illness. Deep breathing is also one of the mechanical ways that the body promotes lymphatic flow. Deep breathing stimulates the lymphatic processes which improves removal of toxins, which allows your body to work easier, which gives you more energy, and helps to ward off pathogens (cold, viruses, harmful bacteria etc).

Tai Chi is often referred to moving meditation, while chi gung is "usually" stationary moving the arms or maybe a step or two. Neither Chi gung nor Tai Chi are religions, while they follow general principles of Taoism, the techniques, positions and movement benefit circulation, center of gravity, balance and so very much more. Chi gung and Tai Chi are long standing forms of exercise designed to improve health through learned breathing techniques.