The differences between Tai chi and Qigong

February 25, 2010

By: Amy Becton

Both Tai Chi and Qigong are meditative practices that use movement and breathing as mental anchors for gathering the mind. Like sitting meditations, these two practices provide relaxation, stress relief and awareness. But because they also involve moving they provide the added benefit of exercise. Moving accompanied by relaxation helps create flexibility and enhanced body function.

Qigong exercises have a Traditional Chinese Medical heritage. There are moving, standing and sitting qigong positions. Moving Qigong is practiced as either a single movement or a small number of movements repeated over and over. These simple movements are used to stimulate pathways of energy in the body that balance specific organ systems. There are over 4000 thousands years of refinement within traditional qigong practices. Practitioners have linked several different forms of energy with each other and commonly use visualizations, colors and sounds to remove blockages in the body. The main focus of qigong is to restore the natural flow of human energy.

In contrast, Tai chi exercises have a martial arts heritage. My tai chi teacher describes tai chi as “Qigong in Application.” In addition to the healing benefits of simple qigong movements, Tai chi practices focus on developing one’s ability to respond in harmony to an ever-changing environment. The principles upon which Tai chi is based form a foundation for mastering creative energy. Some people use these skillful means for self-defense and also for self-cultivation practices.

Tai chi movements are performed in a long sequence of complex postures that flow together like a choreographed dance. Learning these dynamic sequences improves coordination, balance, mental agility and can even reverse the aging process! Recent research suggests that regular tai chi practice increases the level of antioxidants that circulate in the blood stream (Goon 2009) and is an effective way of relieving chronic joint pain. (Audette 2006).

The most commonly practiced tai chi sequence is called the “short form,” which generally contains 24-64 movements. A short form can take as long as 20 minutes to perform and is an easily packaged way to get daily exercise. There are also longer forms that are 108 movements or more and a variety of weapon forms.

Whether practiced for health or self-mastery, both of these powerful ancient arts are a fun and challenging way to bring personal fulfillment into life. When applied to life circumstances, these techniques show you how to become more personally responsible for your life’s direction. They are self-supporting and energy conserving activities, which highlight the universal connection we have to everything around us.

Have Fun Giving Back

February 23, 2010

Join us on SATURDAY, MARCH 6
9am-4pm for a special donation-based day
All proceeds will go to Partners in Health (StandwithHaiti.org)

Heart Connection Here.
Donation-Based Outreach There.

Our hearts ached when we saw the destruction that Haiti faced from the earthquake on January 12th. Relief efforts are still under way and we know we can help in a big way. But we can’t do it alone. We are asking our local kula to help us give back.

What do you need to do?
Simply come prepared to give back and create a fun, loving atmosphere for the day. Suggested donation for classes and events are $5 each. We’ve been gathering an abundance of items for a silent auction that you won’t be able to resist. Give what you can and come enjoy a day of fun and community!

What will we provide?
As always we’ll have open arms and abundant positive attitudes, but we’ll also be putting together some special samplings just for you.

Highlights of the day will include:

• Silent Auction: almost $1000 worth of local discounts, gift certificates and merchandise have been donated for your bidding pleasure. Silent auction items include private yoga, wellness and massage sessions, local store and restaurant gift certificates, and more!
• Yoga classes: special classes for beginners and intermediate students, hot yoga, vinyasa, qigong and tai chi. (click here to view class times)
• Wellness events: join us to learn about healthy habits with our new nutritionist Jodi Sheakley or come and relax into a chair massage with our new massage therapist, Tammy Shulenberger.

How can you help?
Spread the word…forward this to your friends….share on facebook…and don’t forget to mark YOUR calendars. Let’s see if we can make this the biggest event yet at the Bindu! If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact shelly@thebindu.com.

We know that our community has the capacity and the heart to contribute greatly to the relief efforts. We have the opportunity to make that contribution a fun one. We hope you’ll join us!

Click here for more detailed information about the day.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/ / CC BY 2.0

How hypnosis can heal emotional issues and fears

February 18, 2010

by Meredith DeSopo, www.LakeNormanHypnosis.com

Our subconscious mind is a great storehouse of information that contains all our emotions, beliefs and memories of everything we have experienced since the beginning of our existence. Our conscious, waking mind is where analytical thought process, judgment and critical thinking occur.

During a hypnosis session, the doorway between the conscious and subconscious minds is opened, and we gain access to all the emotions and memories that are stored in one’s subconscious mind. So, let’s say someone has a long standing fear of dogs. They cannot consciously recall ever being attacked or bitten by a dog – so why do they experience fear?

The subconscious mind contains not only the source of this fear; but also contains the solution. This makes my job very easy. I merely act as a tour guide…asking open ended questions that direct the person to the information that they need, which is already held within their own subconscious mind.

This fear of dogs could have originated when the person was two years old, and their mother was carrying them inside from the car when a stray dog approached and scared the mother. Nobody was bitten. No one was attacked by this dog. But, this initial incident set up a pathway in the child’s mind that dogs = fear. Then, later in life, other incidents confirm and support this same fear. These subsequent events tend to have a compounding effect, not only reinforcing this fear but making that initial pathway even stronger. By the time this person is an adult, an irrational fear or phobia regarding dogs has set in.

The first step to healing this issue is to go back in time to discover the initial event in the person. Remember, that information is stored in their subconscious mind. Then we do healing work around that incident, and bring healing forward…through all the subsequent events and into the present, and even the future. This method has a profound and immediate healing effect.

It’s like building a pyramid out of soup cans…where there are 5 soup cans on the bottom row, 4 on the next row, and so on. When we try to use our conscious minds to figure out the source of our fears, we are removing the top can, then a few from the next row…etc.

But with hypnosis, when we are working with the subconscious mind, we flip that pyramid upside down. That first event, when the person was 2 years old is now the single bottom soup can. When we remove that bottom can, the entire pyramid falls. The upper cans simply cannot exist without that bottom one to rest upon. This is how hypnosis can cause very rapid and permanent healing for longstanding emotional issues.

Take a look in your pantry. What soup cans are you holding onto that you are ready to get rid of…for good?

Contact me if you have any additional questions or to find out how Hypnosis can help you. Mention this blog posting for 10% off your next Hypnosis Session.

CONTACT:
Meredith@LakeNormanHypnosis.com
704-425-5500

Welcome Jodi Sheakley, Nutritionist, to our Team!

February 10, 2010

Over the next few weeks, we invite you to get to know the newest members of the Bindu team. Nutritionist Jodi Sheakley is now available full time at the Bindu to work with individuals and groups to identify and achieve their nutrition and wellness goals.

Jodi Sheakley

BA Summa Cum Laude, University of Pittsburgh, 1995
MS (highest honors), PhD (in progress), Holistic Nutrition Clayton College of Natural Health
Certified fitness trainer
Owner/operator, Nutrivita Wellness (nutrition and healthy living consulting firm for individuals and organizations)

Recently Kelley Gardner enjoyed a Q&A with Jodi:

KG: What are your passions in your work and how do you hope to make a difference in the world?
JS: Being able to help someone navigate through all of the nutrition information – and ‘mis-information’ that exists – is one of my greatest joys. I’m blessed with the knowledge to help others make incremental changes that help them increase their energy, meet their health and wellness goals, and enjoy success! Most people are already taking steps towards better health and wellness and many people now exercise at least one hour a day. I have the opportunity to help with those other 23 hours that are full of food choices.

A fun part of my day is opening an email or text from one of my clients that shares one of his/her ‘aha’ moments. I’m also grateful to be the go-to, trusted resource person when that person faces challenges – I don’t take that privilege lightly!

KG: How can we expect to experience your skills and offerings at the Bindu and in the community?
JS: I will be available to create programs to support a wide variety of needs such as:

• Individuals, families and groups who are interested in weight management and health management for specific health concerns like insulin resistance, high blood pressure, nutritional support for cancer, chronic fatigue, etc.
• Sports nutrition, adults and youth
• On-the-go eating (a particular area of my expertise) since many of us lead our lives on “fast-forward!”
• School-based programs for high school students who seek stress reduction, student-life balance, fitness/wellness, and time management
• In-home pantry makeovers
• Grocery store tours
• Speaking engagements to groups interested in living a healthier lifestyle

KG: How can our readers contact you?
JS: My email is jodi@nutrivitawellness.com and my phone # is 704-965-0785. Please visit my website at www.nutrivitawellness.com

Drive your way to less neck and shoulder pain

February 4, 2010

By: Marty Kestin, www.ensomabodyworks.com

As a continuation of the “5 Steps to Better Posture” blog, I offer you a 6^th Step: Drive Consciously.

Driving can be hard on your back, shoulders and neck. Here are some ways to optimize your time in the car to promote healthy posture and less muscle and disc strain:

1. Be conscious of how you are seated. Are you slouched? Are you relaxed? Are your shoulders tensed up? Being aware of your sitting position is the first step towards improving it and removing bad habits.
2. Set the foundation for good posture. Make sure you have an arch in your low back. Most of us do not have enough curve in the low back, whether in the car or standing. If your car seat is lumbar adjustable, use it to create more of an arch – it may feel weird at first, but it’s good for your lower back and actually pulls your shoulders and head back in line with the hips. If your car seat is not adjustable in the lumbar region, buy a lumbar support or roll up a bath towel and place it between your low back and the car seat.
3. At each stop sign, traffic light, or behind the slow poke in the fast lane, do the following:
   - Relax your back, neck, and shoulders
   - Roll shoulders up, back, and down
   - Breathe, relax some more
   - Go back to focusing on driving and forget about keeping the posture right!
4. The old drivers’ ed is out and the new is in. Positioning hands on the wheel at “10 and 2” promotes tense and elevated shoulders and tight neck muscles. Try “8 and 4” instead. It promotes keeping the shoulders back and down. Having trouble keeping the shoulders back and down? Move your seat forward an inch or two.
5. Practice, practice, practice! Changing a habit is an organic process needing modifications, feedback, encouragement, and a positive attitude. Feel free to email Marty mkestin@ensomabodyworks.com, post questions on the blog or share your success story!

Marty Kestin, the Posture Coach, has a private practice in Charlotte and Lake Norman. He teaches workshops regionally to professionals and laymen alike on improving posture to eliminate orthopaedic conditions and chronic pain. He also can educate your workforce on ergonomics and Repetitive Strain Injury prevention.

Marty is also available for satellite therapy sessions. Send him your postural photos, and he will coach you on the phone to create a self-care plan with custom exercises and strategies to get you out of pain and into a pain-free and vibrant lifestyle.