Archive for November, 2009
Health and the Internal Arts Part 1
One important thing I have learned in studying the Internal Martial Arts is the importance of being proactive in developing vitality, martial skills, and hence promoting serenity and longevity. The philosophy of Taoism promotes eating pure natural foods in the proper mix and season.
As I have been more proactive in learning and applying these principles, I have experienced greater vitality. I have seen how these approaches to health focus more on the whole, and can attest to the power of taking care of one’s health from a holistic perspective.
Aligning with Health
Despite an increasingly high incidence of maladies that seem to be overly attributed to “genetic predispositions”, a growing group of individuals see the power of whole natural food diets and practices that align with these Taoist philosophies of healthy living. I plan on expounding on a future blog entry, the specific benefits I have experienced with these practices.
Health freedom promotes and allows to thrive among many this ability to be proactive and hence experience the benefits associated with these natural health practices.
Unfortunately, it seems there are elements within society that would just assume that everyone would have no choice except those proposed for their own profit. This is obviously not to say profit is a bad thing. I believe it is a great thing when both parties truly benefit. Unfortunately, I believe we have reached a juncture in our own nation in which profit is less and less tempered with moral responsibility.
Qigong and Rising-Sun People
According to Chogyam Trunpa, there are Rising-Sun and Setting-Sun individuals. Rising-Sun people bring light to the people and their ideas; Setting-Sun individuals bring darkness to the people and their ideas. When we don’t do and live what we love, we may have a tendency to bring more darkness than light.
Picture your interactions with others. Do you bring light or darkness to the table?
There is the Yin and Yang side to us; we need both.
In Qigong, we become energy enriched, because we spend time playing with it. We actualize ourselves every time we stand our ground. This is an inspiring practice because it gives us energy from ourselves. Qigong enhances physical and mental strength, so we can meet the day with an inner Qi smile and change the world, one kind interaction at a time.
We become Rising-Sun people.
Courage to Stand Still
Standing still gives me the courage to face and neutralize my internal enemies with stillness. It gives me the time and fortitude to forge new paths with
- wellness
- awareness
- self regard
- empathy
- power
- fun
Because I’ve experienced these things, I know that life for my family and I can be this way.
When one stands in their own power, there is no room for excuses. There is no time to engage with inferior influences. Enemies help us grow, you heard the saying…
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
It’s true. Enemies challenge you to wake up to yourself.
Qigong Dispels Fear and Wakes You Up
With Qigong, breathing is deeper and athletic. It’s an awesome workout too. All the muscles in the body are engaged, totally hooked into the core. When standing in Qigong, there are subtle micro-movements going on all the time: small, settling shifts throughout the body, because we are alive.
In Qigong postures act as a catalyst to make life more manageable. By standing still, physical and mental injuries are very apparent; they are however, more manageable. My enemies are right there, and distractions are for the moment, limited. They face me straight on and I have nowhere to run, because I’m standing still. I must face them.
