Make training a habit
New Year’s Eve always brings out the resolutions. I know many people use the new year as a time to renew their commitment to their training – yoga, tai chi, pilates, music, makko ho whatever it is.
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Get a jump on your New Year resolution
It’s only a few weeks before the new year. The time for New Year resolutions fast approaches and if you are anything like me, the run up to the holiday season is always a bit too hectic. I know so many people who make the same resolution every year – to practice everyday. And it is only through daily practice that we bring our yoga or our tai chi or our makko ho our lives completely. At the same time, for anyone who is not a teacher of these arts or a full time practitioner, it can be difficult – it can be more than just a balancing act – work, family, general household tasks all take time and we can be left feeling frazzled and dazed and confused and not sure where to even start our practice. Continue Reading
Tai Chi may Ward Off Knee Pain
What a great pun 
Story taken from http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20091029/hl_hsn/taichimayhelpwardoffkneepaininseniors. The cool thing in this study is that people were taught some self massage in the tai chi sessions. I think it’s an often overlooked part of the healing arts from the East. Things like Tuina, Shiatsu and Anma are as old as the hills and all of these systems have a self treatment component that is often very easy to learn and very beneficial as well.
Relaxation and the genes
Healthday news reports that
Researchers say they’ve taken a significant stride forward in understanding how relaxation techniques such as meditation, prayer and yoga improve health: by changing patterns of gene activity that affect how the body responds to stress.
Basically, the mind can affect the body and what researches have found is that when we evoke a relaxation response, the mind turns off genes that are turned on by stress. This seems absolutely miraculous, but science is starting to converge with alternative therapies and beginning to chart what yogis, tai chi masters and meditation experts have know for years: That the mind really does affect the body.
Lots of different systems can evoke the so called relaxation response: Tai chi, yoga and meditation as mentioned, but also things like repetitive prayer, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. It really is great news when science starts to investigate the effect these powerful techniques have on our minds and bodies and provides us with a scientific explanation for what is happening. Though, all the understanding in the world won’t help unless you actually do your practice!