Sunday, December 26, 2010

Holidays

As we near the end of another year and the beginning of the new year it is always fun and productive to make some goals or resolutions for our health and well being. For me it is easy: I will continue to "live in the moment" appreciate what I have and do the best I can with what I have now.......How about you? Is there anything that you can add or remove from your life that will bring you peace of mind and a stronger body? To all my students and friends..I hope that next year brings you all that you need - And a few things that you want..Be careful out there...Sifu Mike

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Back from China........I am back with a renewed vigor and an increased appreciation of what Tai-chi has to offer for me and my students....The good news is that anyone can get the benefits of Taiji/Qigong regardless of your age-health or abilities.....The bad news for some is that YOU have to do it daily and try to enjoy what you are doing...It is not a job to help your health.It is a privilege.The next time you are up and moving and breathing--take a moment and really appreciate that you are lucky that you can...the object of taijichuan and Qigong is to create a sense of well being and to feel good.......The masters say "be consistent for a 100 days and it will become a habit".....I wish all my friends could see all the people in China doing some kind of exercise every morning in the parks.(from 9 to 90)and they are having fun playing with all their friends...Remember discipline is the ability to obey yourself...As they say-try it you will like it,and its free.......Be safe and enjoy the holidays...... Sifu Mike

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

T'ai Chi principles for Father's day

Happy Fathers Day... As we know, being a father is a complex responsibility. We also know that raising a child is a double-edged sword, and an ever-changing challenge that, like the yin yang, allows us to experience all ends of the emotional spectrum. Remember that our job is to teach-protect-educate and love our sons and daughters. After they learn, then we can also be their friends. We have to continually adjust our role as they get older and marry and become parents. So for all the sweat and tears and great moments that we have gone through, Hallmark allows us to have a SPECIAL day one time a year. It's this day that seems to become a problem as most of us wait for some recognition and gratitude that may not come.. When we learn T'ai Chi we are taught early not to have preconceived expectations, so we do not get impatient or disappointed -- we learn that the struggle and the journey are the reward. So I say to all my friends who are fathers -- do not worry about the one day! Just enjoy your kids whenever you can and just assume that they love you and care.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Meditation

Most of us by now know that meditation is good for us. Yet very few do it! We have moving meditation like Tai chi or qigong. We can stand still like a tree(Zhan Zhuang).We can sit or lie down. But still we tend not to make time for meditation. Is it because we are to busy to spend 15 minutes a day or do we really not fully understand the health benefits? The best way to protect ourselves from "chronic stress" is to spend 15 minutes every day in quiet simple meditation. Pick a time - relax your body - breathe into the nose and out the mouth (unless you can breathe out the nose easily) - smile at your heart and create a sense of well being. Then just be! This will elicit a relaxation response. This will reduce stress hormones. This will slow down the electrical activity in the brain. This will reduce inflammation and help your heart become stronger. This will strengthen the neural networks that connect heart and brain. This will increase immune-cell activity and maybe help us sleep better. All this for 15 minutes a day. Plus it's fun!


Tai chi thoughts: Remember! Nothing happens unless YOU take the first step! Dont you agree?

Monday, February 1, 2010

A secret to living longer!

Hello to all my students and friends. If I told you that you could improve your overall health by doing something that is easy and fun, and only takes 20 minutes a day, would you do it? This simple exercise will strengthen your legs - improve your balance - increase your circulation - improve your sense of well being - relax your mind and reduce stress - and improve your posture and strengthen your bones. I bet my students have guessed. Start the day with doing "Embrace the Moon" t'ai chi for a warm up, then add a 15- to 20-minute relaxed but brisk walk. Can you imagine? All this for just 30 minutes of your time. Plus it can be fun.......Try it! you will like it!

Tai chi thoughts: I became 65 this month. Which brings up the thought of at what age are we Old? For me its 25 years older than I. What is it for you??