Capitalism in America

In America, all you have to do is name it, claim it and then you can reap the benefit of ownership. This is especially true in the world of aesthetics and therapeutic body work. Look at all the trade marked names of techniques that have resulted from someones vacation in Asia.

They look at or experience what is offered locally and come up with some snappy name; and then call it their own original idea or invention. On the plane ride home they make preparations to trademark their borrowed "idea" so that no one else can steal it. These borrowed ideas may get obligatory mention of the place and the people where initially found but never enough information is given for others to discover the true origin of this "original" trademarked idea. The consumer who finds the "idea" novel...since they don't get out much and have no clue what women do in Asia for health and beauty, pay exorbitantly high prices for what in Asia is a simple thing. What a crock and a tribute to American ingenuity and sense of capitalism! See it, claim it and then capitalize on it has become the American way.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system. I have a new technique I'd like to share with you based on my travels of numerous web pages of the Orient...

Really, I've reinstituted my bodywork practice and have decided to focus on the feet. The feet are the instrument of stability. Their orientation is the earth. Their position when a person is standing put them in direct contact with powerful forces emanating from the earth. Those who feet are planted firmly on the earth have few problems with the health of their incomes, relationships or other areas of the life. Those who are working with issues of stability have problems with dry crusted feet, sore achy feet, smelly feet, etc. indicating an imbalance of a very base order. When ones feet hurt, the whole body is out of sorts.

Many illnesses are reflected in the feet. This is not to say that you can cure those illnesses through the feet alone but when your feet feel good, you tend to feel better. A foot rub when you are stressed can be quite refreshing. A skillful practitioner can smooth out tense areas on the feet, thus making life more pleasant.

I have a higher regard for my feet as during a recent period of economic down turn I witnessed the changes which occurred in my own feet. My bare feet had been in such an embarrassing state that I refused to remove my shoes to go to the pool and wore my water aerobic shoes while at the health club at all times. Needless to say this put quite a bit of additional stress on me and made me uncomfortable. But as things began to pick up...(long story about how I used what I know about health and healing to change my life) my feet automatically began to look better. I was impressed to assist by rubbing them, bathing them and working my points.

I vowed to make the humble and often overused feet the subject of my current inquiry into heath and health modalities. I am looking into simple but effective methods of dealing with the feet from beauty techniques, to acupressure and point work and just about everything connected with feet.

I know, I started with a rant but have no fear, I'm looking for organic methods and not someones "borrowed" method they stole from Asia or any other place.

What will I do with the information I gather? Compile it giving credit where credit is due. I will capitalize on what I compile but not for profit but for health so that others may learn simple techniques that may help reduce their reliance on the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry.

E- Dao

Interpretations of Chinese thought is difficult for one who does not speak or read Chinese. Most works important to ABT's are old, written in ancient dialects no longer spoken or taught in China or Chinese language classes.

Luckily, I can glean a reasonable understanding of various works from scholars like Cleary, Wilhelm and Dreher. TCM methods are derived from centuries of Chinese thought and research, some of which can be gleaned by reading the works of great Chinese Masters. Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching also known as: The book of meaning and life is a great book to read. Not only for it's relation to Asian bodywork but also because it offers good advice to modern day situations.

I just discovered that many of the thing I've purchased in the past could have been bought on Ebay saving me lots of money and time that I could have used elsewhere. Once I found a new word processor for a fraction of it's original cost. The next day I bought the same thing because it was much cheaper than the first one I bought. A big problem for me is that I'm often outbidded. So, I try to create strategies on bidding. One day it had become evident that bidding had become quite an obsession that keep me at my computer long hours. I had been on Ebay nearly all day watching or checking on my bids. One of which was a copy of the Tao de Ching.

My modest bid for the Tao was beaten by another bidder. It all seemed wrong to compete for the Tao so I stopped altogether but not with my other bids. I justified my behavior as the thrill of bidding and allowed an aggressive and anxious spirit to take over me. I reasoned that it was worth it when when I won. In later reflections on that day I pondered why didn't I try a little harder to win the Tao book? Was I observing some taboo that prevents the sale or barter of the Tao? The answer was more simple than that. I already owned two different translations of it. Why would I need another when I don't make use of the ones I have? I hadn't stopped bidding out of respect for the book, the other bidder or anything else. It was out of respect for myself.

My copy of the Dao is a translation by Wilhelm. Randomly I selected a passage to read. The line from passage #44:

Whosoever amasses things inevitabley loses the important things.

Stuck a chord with me. Ebaying, as I had been was a major source of negative expressions. Not only does ebaying bring up an agressive spirit in me but it also comes with anxiety. I could hardly wait to get in the fray and make my bids. Then I check and recheck to make sure I'm the highest bidder. I didn't need the stuff I bidded on that badly.

That passage was a reminder that I needed to make changes if I was to remain an Ebayer. As I said before I was obsessed. For the chance of acquiring merchandise on Ebay I was giving up my peace of mind in exchange for chaos. Now, I think about strategies to allow me to use restraint, and bid conscientiously. One way is to first reconsider the value and utility of what I'm bidding on and then decide the maximun price I'm willing to pay, make it and walk away. I accept that if I am outbidded maybe I didn't need the item as much as I thought and let it go. This way I conserve my power for more important things like finding a use for the Tao in my everyday life.

A New Belly Book

I got a really good suggestion for a book on the belly. It is:
"Healing from Within With Chi Nei Tsang: Applied Chi Kung in Internal Organs Treatment by Gilles Marin". Gilles and company are students of Mantak Chia who is the originator of the Chi Nei Tsang method. As soon as I can get my hands on a copy I'm going to find out more.

I was looking on the internet for information on the abdomen and all I could find was excercises to strenghten stomach via sit-ups and curls, a la western style. There was no mention of internal strength nor did I see anything where people actually placed their hands on their abdomem. Why was there no mention of anything but physical strength in relation to the abdomen? What a myopic (new word for today) thought! That is why I love Asian bodywork, it is a complete wholistic system that considers inner and outer strength.

I'm working on organizing my notes on a Qi gong style I learned from Jeffrey Yuen. In preparation for the actual movements you warm up by doing abdominal breathing. The movements are powerful on their own, alone, that working the abdominal from the breathings is a total movement. If I continue my qi gong practice and never set foot in a gym again, I will be o.k. But I find the combination of Qi gong and excercise perfect companions for health and weightloss

Jeffrey Yuen Qigong

Last year, I had the opportunity to take a qigong meditation course with Daoist Master Jeffrey Yuen. It was held at the classrooms at Daoist Healing Arts in Asheville, North Carolina. Parts of the state had been hit hard by hurricanes but things were pretty much back to normal while I was there. Perhaps, the weather had something to do with the packed class. But, there was space for all and it was a particularly learning time for me. I'm not new to qigong, several of my Asian bodywork teachers have taught me the various styles they have learned. My experience in Asheville was special, and one that I may not forget for a while. I learned about an amazingly simple yet complex method to stay balanced when all about may be confusion.

We often have these ideas about what we think qigong is, based on our practice of yoga, or other disciplines. Jeffrey stated out by telling us what Daoist Meditation was. Here are some things he had to say:

Daoist Meditation is different than other meditations; also involved is healing.

It focus's on the physical body. The body is the vehicle to redeem the spirit.

It is not about achieving a particular state. That becomes an obstacle of itself.

It is not necessarily exhilarating. There is difficulty looking at oneself; pain comes to term.

You relax, concentrate and if you are able to maintain concentration, you meditate.

In meditation you are doing nothing and becoming one with silence.

Anywhere you wait you are given the opportunity to meditate.

Meditation is a form of qigong. Qigong is not necessarily a form of meditation.

It was a day long session and the entire morning was filled with a detailed explanation of the basics: breathing, postures and awareness or the preliminaries in preparation to meditate. One discipline of meditation is perseverance, where if you faithfully practice you will "reach sensation". He says that pain in the body is its way of saying to give it more attention. Meditation is the arousal of yang qi to move obstacles. The best time to practice is the dawn when the suns energy is about to rise. It is a good time to develop psychic energies.

Focusing to the point of exhausting our sense organs we reach pure sound etc., where there is noting left to see, hear or feel. That is called the surrender to nothingness or Wu way or Tai Qi (not the Tai ji you do in the gym). He shared with us special breathing techniques and ways of sealing organs. He says it is important to discover the microcosmic and to relax the points associated with it. You can meditate sitting as it is the most popular but you could stand which strengthens the kidneys or lying down which affects the lungs or you could walk which affects the liver.

The experience of Qigong meditation with Jeffrey Yuen was most enlightening and refreshing. There is a set of preparation excercises that we did to prepare for meditation in the afternoon. I'm was impressed that just doing the preparation I saw immediate improvement in my health. I have a tendency toward lung problems and wheeze at times. but not as I walked the steep walkways of the city when I went to get my lunch. My lungs were as clear as if I'd gotten a shot of something to open them and No wheezing! This was an unexpected benefit which made me look forward to the afternoon session even more. I was not disappointed and would highly recommend Daoist Meditation to anyone who askes me which method I think is best. In terms of which is best depends on what the person is looking for. As complicated as life can be I prefer simplicity in all things. In Daoist Meditation I found a system that is as easy as breathing and sitting down. It can't get any more simple than that.

Belly Books

I'm just hung up on my belly and want to unravel its' mysteries. I'm checking my personal library for all references to the belly that I can find. Doesn't matter whether it's TCM or not. My goal is to compile a reference list of books about the belly. Tops on my list is Mantak Chia's, Chi Nei Tsang.

Last night I reviewed the wind releasing technique from chapter 4 entitled: Opening the Gates and Chasing the Wind. It is amazing how my perspective on Asian Bodywork has changed since I bought that book over ten years ago. Then I wasn't too impressed, last night, it was the bomb! It really works! My result was very, very releasing. I supplemented my session by applying a warm pack over my navel as I rested. Mr. Chia teaches you the location of the pulses surrounding the navel and how to feel for them. Amazing to actually place you finger on the pulse to get a sense of the associated organ and how it is functioning.

I could not feel the femoral pulse at the inquinal groove, that bother's me a lot. It is located roughly on the medial side of the front of the thigh. To locate it measure halfway between the iliac crest and the pubic symphysys on the crease of the IG. I tried sitting, lying down. standing up and standing with my foot on a chair but could not feel the pulse. Actually, I did feel something but it was indistinct, then there was nothing. That point opens the pelvis and leg area. From reading a medical site on the internet, I learned that the femoral artery if blocked can affect the carotid, and be a factor in strokes. Gives me a clue that I have aa lot of work to do. To ABT's any blockage is a potential problem which we deal with accordingly.

A good thing about Chi Nei Tsang book one, is that you don't have to memorize names or characteristics of acu-points as you would with Jin Shin Do or acupuncture. That makes it look easy but make no mistake, it uses powerful points. The book is excellent for someone starting out because it gives you the preliminaries, 3 Chapters worth of Taoist tradition and TCM theory. Giving you a good grounding and it includes Taoist meditations. The meditations help prepare your mind and body to do this type of work. This is one of my favorite books. I don't understand it all but I like it for what it reveals about me and my body.

The belly is known by many names. I try not to say stomach because people seem to be so confused as to what it is and where it is. Another name for the belly is Hara. Today I say belly, next time I may be working with the hara, its all the same. Any difference is personal and subjective. If you know of a particular belly book that I might be interested in, email me. I'd love to hear about it.

Signs of the Times

In spite of the weather report that cold will be returning to the Midwest, I feel that Spring is just around the corner. Besides the unseasonably warm weather I've awaken several mornings to the chatter of many birds. Throughout the day they make their appearance more often on my balcony (in spite of the fact nothing is there for them), than during the months of December and January. I hope that it will not be as some have said who remind me of a season when birds froze to death because they came out too early. In any case I'm taking this as a sign that the remaining wintery days will be mild.

I haven't settled on a particular date to start cleaning, but hear that March is an ideal time to start. I imagine that there are planetary, seasonal, lunar and other things to be considered but I don't know of anything specific so I will no doubt start an active cleanse before the end of February. Besides, I think it better to rely upon my own internal resource to determine the best time for me to start.


One book I've reading is "The Belly and it's Power" by Allan Saltzman. Mr Saltzman has incorporated various Asian traditions in his bodywork practice. As interested in anything dealing with the belly as I am I was especially interested in his book when I saw that he refers to the work of Al Huang the instructor of my own Tai Ji and Qigong teacher. Saltzman shows that western man is ungrounded because he thinks too much and is light in the belly, in contrast eastern man is solid in his mid section and therefore grounded which Al H. calls secure, and light in the head. Remember the old clown toy with the weighted bottom? No matter how you hit it, it would fall and return to an upright postition much like what Al H is refering to.

My teacher teaches us to tap the abdomen for grounding when we find that in the course of our Tai Ji practice we have become unbalanced. I've learned to consider the abdomen and related dan tien as a major source of grounding and power. However, if you read other authors you will find some people consider the entire lower body for grounding. All I need do is practice to see what works best for me. In any case I find his book highly informative and practical with regard to the abodomen and related systems. He goes on to demonstrate abdominal self massage, breathing techniques and tells which muscles to focus on to bring balance and vitality to our central power house. I think it will be a very useful book to ponder as I prepare for spring cleaning.

Children are such interesting and fun people to excercise with. Last night my neice and nephew were visiting. I had promised my neice to listen to her new CD of USHER when I worked out later that night. At the specified time I was wrapped up as usual with my work on my computer when she came over boom box in hand to remind me of my promise. I had no excuse.

A few minutes later we were bopping to 'Yeah!' and 'Burn' while having so much fun! The whole album had interesting sections that corresponded to the various movements we did. They showed the new dances and I was able to direct things so that we could work all segments of the body. Mostly we did free style mimicing each other. More than fun was happening. As we danced we were raising our heart rate and geting some good excercise. When it was time to cool down I decided to use the movements I learned in Qigong which we did as we listened to 'Confessions'. It was easy to teach the children and they learned quickly.

The movements worked perfectly to slow our heart rates to normalcy and I believe that not only that but they also moved the lactic acid our of our muscles. I awoke the next day with very little pain or discomfort. One Qigong movement I think was especially useful for me was 'The Heart' from the pushing method. As I moved the sound Haw automatically flowed from my body. I felt a refreshment that travelled from my chest to my limbs. Usher and Qigong who would have thought it? I had a spontaneous moment with the children that I hope happens again.