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    Archive for April 2007

    Chi Kung Used To Cope With Anxiety And Discrimination During Epidimic

    Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 1:11 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    Oriental therapies can help chronically ill people stay strong and reduce stress levels during epidemics, according to research in the April issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing. Researchers have shown that people who practiced the Oriental art of ChiKung which combines gentle exercise with breathing techniques, meditation and visualisation reaped considerable benefits during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong.

    Researchers have shown that people who practiced the Oriental art of Qigong which combines gentle exercise with breathing techniques, meditation and visualisation reaped considerable benefits during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong.

    It also helped them to cope with the stigmatisation and discrimination that developed against chronically ill people during the crisis, as they were seen as a high risk group with a much greater chance of being infected by, and dying from, the disease.

    "We were already studying the health benefits of this very popular therapy when SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome hit Hong Kong" explains lead author Judy Yuen-man Siu, who carried out the research in the Department of Anthropology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    Edited on: Thursday, July 10, 2014 10:22 AM

    Posted in Mindfulness - Attention , Style: QiGong

    Progression of Training - Knowing Yourself First

    Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 10:17 PM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    For hundreds of years the progression of training has been clear. One only needs to read the classics of almost any style or find a teacher that not only understands, but can help lead you down the proper path. Step One is that the student must know themselves. This step is often the biggest and most difficult, yet a necessary pursuit. Knowing yourself encompasses components such as:

    -"How do I express myself?" Am I defensive, blunt, aggressive, analytical?
    -"Do I move together?" When my hand goes out, does my body and foot go out? Do I snap or accentuate?
    -"Is the six togetherness there, the 3 physical and 3 internals, moving at one time?"
    -"Does my structure support me, am I in balance, supporting the six sides?"

    When a student studies for health, they are on this path, and pursue it for the harmony of togetherness. For even a dedicated student, this may take quite some time, and significant work. It is not a destination, because if our practice stops, the togetherness gets heavily mixed with choas.

    I wanted to take a moment and recognize Peter, one of our consistent students, who this Saturday morning, demonstrated tremendous gain in this understanding through his diligence, pursuit, and attitude.
    Edited on: Thursday, July 03, 2014 1:45 PM

    Posted in Mindfulness - Attention , Style: QiGong

    Learning Expression of Power

    Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2007 at 11:28 PM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    As the students practiced this evening, several were introduced to expressing the same power (peng, lui, gi, an) with a new set of footwork. One of the students made an enlightening comment; "I have learned that I know it if it is just this way". Master Chin often demonstrated, expressed, and taught us that kung fu is a fluid exchange. If you know "when, where, and how your oppenent will attack you" then kungfu is much easier.

    One set of foot work can't always apply. As stated in the classics, the primary expressions of Tai Chi and Kung Fu must be trained in the five stepping changes, advancing, withdrawing, turn left, turn right, and grounded. By taking one set of powers and learning to express it in many variations, (the hands and intention are nearly the same, but the footwork is lively), then we realize that form is a boundry.

    However, by expanding our understanding the training takes on a deeper understanding. When we call upon a command of expression, the footwork must be solid and lively enough to carry out the command. Learning the hands often seems much simplier than learning the body and feet.

    Edited on: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 10:02 PM

    Posted in Style: Tai Chi