This week's vlog is a guest video interview of my father-in-law, Irwin Rosenberg, Jean Mayer professor of Medicine and Nutrition at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. He gave us a great interview about the importance of muscular health and integrity when it comes to aging well and having a higher quality of life.
Rami's Blog
Like the Yin-Yang, Eastern Martial Arts and Western medicine are two halves of a whole. My mission is to preserve the ancient mind-body tools and pass them on to you.
The Energetic System
Over the next few weeks, the Friday blogs will be delving into some Taoist and Buddhist theories of the body's energy system and breathing techniques. If you find yourself really enjoying these posts please take a look at my Sunset Tai Chi books/dvds as all of this material can be found in there.
(On the other hand, if this stuff really bores you but you still want to learn Tai Chi forms, keep an eye out for my next Udemy course release, "Tai Chi for a Focused Mind - Pure and Simple." It's an abridged version of my current Tai Chi for Beginner's course that distills everything down to just the movements.)
The Lower Energy Center
One of the main energetic centers of the body is located two inches below the belly button, about three inches inward (toward the spine). In Western study, this spot in the abdomen is called the center of gravity.
In qigong, this area is known as the lower dan tian, which translates as "field of elixir," and is believed to be the body's main qi energy storage area. It is from this point that qi energy is also circulated throughout the body, much like the heart circulates blood.
The first skill required for both martial arts and health is the ability to mentally reside in one's physical center of gravity, the lower energy center. Use your breathing to reinforce your mental focus by expanding and contracting your abdominal and back muscles in a controlled manner as you breath in and out, respectively.
So, to summarize:
- Focus your mind on the lower energy center.
- Breath in and contract your belly and back. (Contracting your back is pretty challenging, and it only moves in about a half-inch, so don't force it).
- Breath out and expand your belly and back.
- Repeat, using only 80% effort on the breaths, contractions, and expansions.
Residing in the lower energy center is the secret to storing qi energy and "recharging the battery" in our body. This should not be seen as an exercise, but as a habit, or way of doing things. Ideally, after lots of practice, you should be doing this lower energy center visualization throughout your daily activities: driving, walking, gardening, typing, you name it.
Do this, and keep reading the Friday blogs to continue on your journey of increased internal awareness.
Hey Rami! Exercise for parents AND kids?
This week on the vlog, Rami shows both a stretch and an exercise that parents can do with their kids. Improving mobility in the lower spine keeps adults from having back injuries, and helps children of all ages perform out on the sports field.
ACROSS Lexington with Rick Abrams
My good friend, business colleague, and student, Rick Abrams is quite literally walking proof of the effectiveness of mind-body techniques in the fight against cancer and countless other health issues. Rick's positive attitude and commitment to a healthy lifestyle is something that everyone, especially adults, should have in this day and age.
But even better than being an example of healthy living, Rick has also organized ACROSS Lexington to improve the wellness of his whole community. Check out the article here about Rick's story and his walking activities in Lexington.
And after you are done reading that article, think about ways that you can be more active, or engage more of your community to be active. The future of our health lies in a culture of health. The first steps to improving health and health care in America are the ones right outside your own front door.
P.S. The new online course Alleviate Upper Back Pain with Tai Chi & QiGong is now available on udemy.com! Keep an eye out for a special offer going up on the homepage very soon to get the course at a discount.
Hey Rami! Sound and Healing
Hey everyone! Long time no see! Have you ever wondered why monks chant and vocalize during their meditations? Well, this weeks vlog is here to explain the power of these good vibrations.
One Week Hiatus
We're taking a week off from the blog! Don't worry though, we're gonna be brainstorming all new kinds of content for you guys, and we'll be back with a vlog next Tuesday, the 20th.
This is a perfect time to catch up on blog posts that you haven't read yet, or think of new questions that you have for Rami. We're always looking for new things to post about, so please share!
And last but not least, thank you so much for your readership. It means a lot to have a devoted audience. It reminds us every day that we're helping people, and in the end, that is always our goal.
See you next week! Stretch, breath, and be well.