Tommy & Julia, Author at Relieve Stress - Be Healthy

September 24, 2008May 2, 2019

My Aching Back…

For years I suffered from Chronic Low Back Pain. The pain varied from slightly annoying to down right debilitating. I found relief from the Yoga Practice I did as a daily ritual for many years, however there were times that I would need to pull myself up by the drip rail on the car to get out of the seat, or have help getting out of bed in the morning, sometimes rolling out onto the floor and crawling to the wall or doorway to climb to a standing position. Yoga did help and for years I was better a lot more than I was worse.

Then the gift of Qi Gong 18 Style was given to me and I began to practice this daily ritual. After about a year, I realized that my low back had not hurt for some time! Wow, what was it about the Qi Gong 18 Style that did what many years of Yoga could not do. Ah Ha! The Qi Gong 18 Style practice had strengthened my back support muscles that were not being engaged when practicing Yoga. The slow and simple movements of Qi Gong 18 Style were allowing all of my muscles to do some work. They were performing the task they were intended to and yet had not done for years. Another Ah Ha! When I stood, it was my “habit” to hyper-extend my knees. Yikes, this shifts all the work to the posterior spinal muscles and allows the anterior muscles to do almost nothing. Over work the exterior muscles, under work the interior muscles and yes you have a sore back. I started becoming aware of when I was hyper-extending my knees, when I realized what I was doing, I would slightly flex my knees and everything would shift and I would stand straighter and taller with support on both sides of my spine.

Some time after making this realization I came across an article that stated in part, “80% of the low back pain is caused by standing with hyper-extended knees.” I am a believer and if you suffer from low back pain, check your stance to notice if you hyper-extend your knees. If you do, flex them and feel the difference. Do your daily Qi Gong 18 Style ritual and strengthen your back.

September 17, 2008May 2, 2019

Simple Movements

When we were infants we learned by observing. We learned to move by watching the simple movements of those around us, studying, trying, trying, ah– success. Through this process we patterned after someone and learned how to use certain muscles to achieve the desired movement. The muscles we used for movement became stronger and our abilities improved.

The muscles we trained ourselves to use are what I call “Big” muscles; they are the ones that do most of the work as we use our bodies. For most of us this is about 20-30% of the muscles in the body. We have “Helper” muscles which assist the “Big” muscles and we have a lot of muscles that simply are there and don’t do much except take up space.

As an infant, all of the muscles work together as intended. As we grow and continue to pattern after others, we allow the ‘Big’ muscles to take over more than their fair share of the work. The smallest ‘helper’ muscles become weaker with less demand on them. The ‘Big’ muscles are overused and the smallest are underused putting stress on the bigger muscles resulting in strained muscles, sore backs, etc.

Our use of the “Big” muscles may not be what some of these were designed for, however we made it work, and this is why we all have different postures, gaits, etc.

When you have a routine Qi Gong 18 Style practice, you begin to shift some of the effort from the “Big” muscles to the support muscles, the ones intended to be part of the action. This shift helps you to move easier, quicker, and with greater agility. Qi Gong 18 Style moves every muscle each time you practice. You awaken muscles that have not been active and help them to become viable, flexible, healthy, and strong. Some of theses muscles have not moved for years and tend to adhere to other tissues surrounding them. The ritual practice will release the adhesions which also adds strength and flexibility to your body. A bonus benefit to the work is our general health improves as our skeletal structure is affected by the awakening and strengthening of semi dormant muscles. We begin to bring our skeleton into alignment which then allows our organs and glands to be in the correct positions allowing them to function better, thus improving our general health.

Simple movements, Huge Results, Greater Health, Greater Strength yours for an investment of only 20 minutes a day.

September 10, 2008May 2, 2019

Energy and Qi Gong

Energy and Qi Gong . Energy is referred to as ‘Qi’, ‘Chi’, or ‘Ki’, the variation depending on which culture it is from and the translation system used. In early writings, what we call Qi Gong was referred to as Dao Yin. The term ‘Qi Gong’ has been used for only the last 70 years or so. ‘Qi Gong’ is translated as ‘Moving (Gong) Energy (Qi).’

Qi Gong is one of the most powerful Internal Exercises of which there are many. There are also many forms or styles of Qi Gong. One of the oldest is 18 Style which was depicted on bamboo artifacts discovered in China predating the use of parchment or paper.

Qi Gong, which is the foundation for all of the Martial Arts, has no self defense. It is an individual practice for creating health and longevity. Self defense developed with Tai Chi, and from there, into all of the other Martial Arts. Many practitioners of the Martial Arts maintain a Qi Gong ritual to build and sustain their energy.

A daily ritual practice of Qi Gong 18 Style circulates the energy (Qi) in the body, moving it through each of the Qi meridians (channels or pathways). By doing this ritual, the Qi energy in the body is balanced and replenished. Through the process of doing this ritual you use every muscle, move every joint and massage all of the internal organs and glands. When coordinating the movements with Rhythmic breathing, the effects of the circulating Qi are further enhanced. As with Yoga, which is known for balance, centering, calming, and strength building, Qi Gong also builds muscular strength and helps with coordination and is often referred to as “Chinese Yoga”.