Kathy Elliott asked:


The first, and most important thing you need to do is to learn to breathe correctly. I am a sixth degree blackbelt in hung-gar, toy-gar, and choy-li fut styles of kung-fu, and an expert in tai chi, an ancient oriental martial art that practices slow movements, with deep breathing, for health. I have been practicing tai chi for over 34 years. I have been able to control pain, and fight off diseases, and overcome drug side effects, that sidelined other people.

For the most important part of the breathing is actually not that difficult. Simply picture a big circle running down from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. Stand at attention with your head relaxed, and looking straight forward. Your feet should be shoulder length apart with your hands relaxed and pointing palm down at your sides. Slowly raise your hands while slooooooowly breathing in, continue breathing in picturing a circle starting at your hands and continuing down over your head towards your feet. When your hands reach the top of your head, start to exhale slowly lowering your hands at the same time. You should be able to make a 20 count both in and out. Start at 10 if you cannot. Work your way up to 20.

Do 10 repetitions 3 times a day. Morning, noon, and night before bed. You will start feeling more energy in just a week.

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The next exercise we will do is another secret oriental technique called the 8 Section Brocade. This exercise is taught in a system of healing called Qi Gong by the Chinese. This incorporates the special deep breathing I taught you in the first section and adds 8 special movements that cleanse and detoxify all 8 major sections of your body, purifying and healing them. The Chinese believe that everything in your body is controlled by a central point called the furnace. It resides in a spot about 3 inches directly below your navel.

8 SECTION BROCADE

The 8 section Brocade is also called the silk thread. These exercises are healing in nature and help to detoxify and cleanse the body. You should do the exercises at least 3 to 4 times a day to get the maximum benefit. You will start feeling better within a week. After a month, even people who are virtual couch potatoes will be moving fluidly and easily, even with most forms of mild arthritis.

The main thing to remember is to RELAX and take it easy. Don’t expect to do everything picture perfect from step one. Remember the tortoise won the race, not the hare. If you can only do 10 reps, do 10 reps. If 5, then do 5. It isn’t a contest.

Just compete against yourself. Add one rep per day.

You need to practice the breathing above until it becomes second nature. Practice makes perfect! The 8 Section Brocade comes from an art called Qi’ Gong.

To understand Qi Gong, we will go into a little bit of history, without going into too much detail. The martial arts originally started with an Indian monk who travelled to China about 4,000 years ago, and taught his system of martial arts to the Buddhist monks at the Shaolin temple. Many traditional Chinese Medical arts started thereafter, and were combined with the martial arts into elaborate and detailed systems of training, weapons, and remedies.

Yoga and tai chi and Qi Gong are very similar, and that is no surprise. After many centuries, these practices became an essential part of the fabric of Chinese society and all of the people from the young to the very old practiced these arts for health, to prevent and cure diseases, to calm the spirit, and for longevity, and virility.

Qi Gong or Dao-yin, has obscure origins, but many ancient manuals of military drills and exercises depict similar movements that date back over 2,000 years. It is interesting that in 1973, archeologists in China found the tomb of king Ma who lived during the Western Han Dynasty dated 206 BC – 24 AD. In the tomb, they found scrolls depicting 44 people in various poses, or Dao-yin diagram, with the name of an animal or the name of a disease that the posture may help cure. Some of the postures are very close to those in the Eight Section Brocade.

Hua T’o who lived circa 110-207 CE is one of the most famous physicians of the Han Dynasty. In the History of the Later Han, Hua T’o wrote:

“Man’s body must have exercise, but it should never be done to the point of exhaustion. By moving about briskly, digestion is improved, the blood vessels are opened, and illnesses are prevented. It is like a used doorstep which never rots. As far as Tao Yin ( bending and stretching exercises) is concerned, we have the bear’s neck, the crane’s twist, and swaying the waist, and moving the joints to promote long life. Now I have created the art called the Frolics of the Five Animals, the Tiger, the Deer, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Crane. It eliminates sickness, benefits the legs, and is a form of Tao Yin. If you feel out of sorts, just practice one of my Frolics. A gentle sweat will exude, the complexion will become rosy; the body will feel light and you will want to eat.” – From: Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T’ ai Chi, p. 6

Bodhidharma, the great Founder of the Shaolin temple styles, taught a set of 18 exercise know as the 18 hands of the Lohan. This Shaolin Lohan Qi Gong ( the art of the breath of the enlightened ones), ” is an internal set of exercises for cultivating the “three treasures ” of qi or chi(vital energy), jing(essence), and shen(spirit)”, according to Howard Choy. Sifu or Master Wong Kiew-Kit says that “the first eight Lohan Hands are the same as the eight exercises in a famous set of chi kung (or Qi Gong) exercises called the Eight Pieces of Brocade.”

There are various versions, both seated and standing, of the 18 Lohan Qi Gong movements. Some of the 18 Lohan have up to 4 levels and scores of movement forms. The only remaining full form of the 18 Lohan Qi Gong remains in the style of Kung Fu known as Choy Li Fut, which I was taught starting at age 10, by my Sifu, Master Ting Fong Wong, a student of the famous Leong Tin Chee, along with Hung Gar, and Toy Gar styles.

I obtained a 6th degree Black Belt from my Sifu, and bested the other instructors running the school on Great Arrow in Buffalo, NY which my brother, Kevin and I ran with Master Wong. Each degree in our style, demanded 3 degrees which means 18 levels once Black Belt had been attained. In China stripes are sewn on the sleeves of your uniform. Belts are not worn.

We were not taught T’ai Chi until we had attained Brown or one Belt level below Black. The same with weapons training. That is because the internal style is much more deadly and advanced than the hard or external style. A violent, undisciplined person should never be taught. They will just victimize others and disgrace their teacher.

I have trained in Judo, jui-jitsu, and Tae-Kwon Do. Also, 7 Stars Praying Mantis Kung Fu. I have recently started training under a Master of Sun style Tai Chi and Qi Gong. I have also contacted the last living GrandMaster or keeper of the Style who decended from the founder of Choy Li Fut, and am trying to find out about continuing my training in that style. So you can see, I am more than qualified to teach you these exercises.

Some instructors tell you to do the exercises at a moderate pace, others very slowly. Many say that you will only really see benefits after 90 days. I think they are correct that the greatest benefit is seen about starting then, but I think you will notice a difference definitely within a week, and dramatically, after a month. Here we go!

Prop the Heaven to Improve the Functions of the Triple Warmers. (R1) Supporting the Sky with Both Hands Regulates All Internal Organs. (R2) Double Hands Hold up the Heavens to Regulate the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). (R3) Scoop the Stream. (R4) Holding up the Sky with both Hands to Regulate the San Chiu (Triple Warmer). (R5) Two Hands Reach Skyward to Balance the Triple Burner. (R6) Pressing the Heavens with Two Hands. (R7) Upholding Heaven with Both Hands. (R8) Supporting Heaven, Support the Void. (R10) Lifting the Sky. (R11)

1. Pressing the Heavens with Two Hands Works upper back, neck, shoulders. 2. Drawing the Bow Works shoulders, arms, and thighs. 3. Separating Heaven and Earth Works middle and upper back, shoulders, and stretches spine. 4. Wise Owl Gazes from Side to Side Works neck and upper back. 5. Big Bear Turns from Side to Side Works hips, lower back, thighs, and knees.6. Punching with Angry Eyes Works thighs, lower back, knees, and shoulders.7. Touching Toes then Bending Backwards Works lower back, hamstrings, abdominals, hips. 8. Bouncing on the Toes Works calves, thighs and lower back.

STARTING AND RESTING POSITION (WU JI)

Stand up straight. Your feet should be shoulder length apart. Toes pointed straight ahead. Both feet should be flat on the floor. Relax. Smile inwards.

Your eyes should be open. Breathe in and out in a relaxed, easy manner.

Keep your lips parted slightly. Your arms should be relaxed at your sides with your hands down and pointed at your thighs. Relax your shoulders and let them droop slightly. Some instructors say your tip of your tongue should just touch the roof of your mouth. Breathe in slowly as above, in through your nose and out through your mouth. It resembles the mountain position of Yoga. Empty yourself and stand strong like a mountain powerful and aloof.

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1. Pressing the Heavens with Two Hands

Use the Wu Ji position, and step out to the left. Shoulder width apart. Keep your knees slightly bent , back straight, butt in. Slowly and gently, raise your hands to your waist. Your palms should face upward and your fingers loosely together. The fingers of each hand should point towards each other, and be kept 2 to 4 inches apart. Raise both hands up until you reach your forehead. Inhale as you raise your arms. Relax your abdomen. When you reach your forehead, turn your hands so that your palms face outward. Press your arms upward and outwards in front of your body. Don’t press the arms straight up. Keep your wrists bent, and point your fingers toward each other. Keep inhaling while relaxing your abdomen. Gently stretch the whole body upward as your hands move upward above your head. Move up onto your toes slightly as your arms reach their maximum height. Imagine a circle from your Dan Tien or center of your being(3 inches below and in from your navel), up the middle of your body, and down over the top of your head, and ending at the soles of your feet. Breathe very, very slowly. Use a count of 20, if you can.

Just count the first time or so. Then you will know how to breathe without distraction. Once you hit the maximum height start lowering your hands back down to your side turning them palms outward and slowly exhaling to a count of twenty. Pretend you are breathing down through the soles of your feet.

Repeat Pressing the Sky 6 to 12 times. Breathe as above.

Return to the Wu Ji or empty stance, and breathe naturally a few times to cleanse the air, and normalize your breathing.

You can do the movements seated, standing, or walking and some teachers tell you to interlace the fingers and press straight up. Doing the Qi Gong outdoors in nice weather is always pleasant and advisable.

This exercise helps the Triple burner or the heart, lungs, and stomach, and improves the heart, lungs, stomach, spleen, and liver. All the upper trunk organs are stimulated. Chinese Medicine classes the organs differently than our anatomy. You can look up Chinese Medicine in Google and read to understand the difference.

2. DRAWING THE BOW

Begin in the starting “Wu Ji” Position. Lift up your left foot and step out to the side into a horse stance. Both feet should be facing forward and flat on the floor. The feet should be exactly shoulder width apart and and you should bend your knees. Your back should be straight and your head up and face forward.

Cross your arms your left over your right. Look to the left and pretend you are aiming and pulling the strings of a bow and letting go and releasing the arrow towards a target. As you draw the bow, inhale deeply and slowly. Aim the bow, and release the fingers of the right hand to let the arrow go. As you release the arrow, start to exhale slowly. Relax. Do the movement 5x to the left and then 5x to the right. Breathe slowly and rhythmically, concentrating on each movement so as to perform it correctly. Return to the resting position in between each movement.

As with all the movements, they can be done seated, standing, or walking.

You can increase the number of repetitions to 12 to each side or more if you wish.

This exercise exercise primarily the lungs and the kidneys while the horse stance tones the legs, waist, and back. The mind is helped by the oxygenation.

3. SEPARATING HEAVEN AND EARTH

Lift up and step with your left foot out to the side until you are in a comfortable horse stance with your feet facing forwards and about shoulder width apart. Your arms should be relaxed at your sides with your hands on your thighs. The right hand lifts up along your side and the palm faces downward. The left hand moves to the center of the waist, palm facing upwards. Inhale slowly and deeply as you turn your left hand over so that your palm faces your chest. Bring your left arm up so that your hand moves up the middle of your chest. Slowly lift your right hand to your waist, palm facing downwards. Inhale slowly through your nose. When your left hand reaches eye level, turn your left palm outwards. Start exhaling through your mouth. Press your left arm up at the same time and forward as far as possible, palm facing up. At the same time, press your right arm down and just a little ways back as far as you can, with your palm facing down. Watch your left hand with your eyes while keeping your head facing forward. Start inhaling as you move your left hand in a circular motion out and down. Follow the left hand with your eyes as it moves down. At the same time, while inhaling and moving your left arm out and down, bring your right arm up and out in a circular motion. Bring your right hand to your eye level, palm facing upwards. Bring your left hand to your waist level, palm facing down. As you slowly exhale, press your right arm upward and forward as far as you can, palm facing upwards. At the same time, press your left arm down and slightly back as far as you can, palm facing downwards. Don’t bend your neck to look at your hand. Look at your right hand. Repeat the movements, alternating from side to side, for 6 to 12 repetitions each side. Exhale as your press up and out, inhale as your arms and hands circle out and down.

Move your left foot back so you are resting in the wuji stance.

Again, you can perform the movements while you are seated, walking, or standing.

Most practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, believe that this exercise helps heal the spleen and the stomach.

4. THE WISE OWL GAZES BACKWARD

Lift and step with your left foot and place your feet at a shoulder’s width apart. Look straight ahead. Your hands should be at your hips with your palms facing down. Press down with palms. Stand up straight and relax. Lift your head up, with your chin tucked in slightly. Hips and butt are tucked in. Don’t move your shoulders during the movement. Inhale slowly and deeply. Slowly and gently turn your head to the left side. Look behind you as far as you can. Exhale slowly and deeply as you look behind you. After you have completely exhaled, start to return your head slowly and gently to the front position. Look straight ahead. Then turn your head slowly and gently back towards the right side. Continue to slowly inhale as you turn your body to the right and look behind you as far as you can exhale slowly as you look behind you. After you have completely exhaled, start to return your head slowly and gently, to the front. Look straight ahead. Repeat the movement gazing to the front, left rear, and right rear a total of 8 times each side.

Pretend you are an owl, turning his head from side to side. Move your left foot back to a wuji stance.

Breath easily. Relax. Move slowly. Don’t strain yourself and only move back as far as you can comfortably. Remember, you can perform this movement sitting, walking, or standing.

This movement exercises the neck and eye muscles. Balance and brain are improved by the coordination practiced during the movements. Deep breathing oxegenates the body and kills toxic infections and viruses.

Add Amazon link to book below.

According to the Ancient Way to Keep Fit, written by Zong Wu and Li Mao , “Referring to the seven factors causing impairments by overstrain, viz., (1) overfeeding that impairs the spleen; (2) fury that causes adverse flow of Qi and impairs the liver; (3) forced overloading or prolonged sitting in damp places that injures the kidneys; (4) cold weather or drinking cold beverages that injures the lungs; (5) sorrow and anxiety that injure the heart; (6) wind and rain, cold and summer-heat that impair the constitution; and (7) great shock and intemperance that impair mentality.” p. 113-Regarding “Turn head to look back to allay five strains and seven impairments.”

5. PUNCHING WITH AN ANGRY GAZE

Step out with the left foot into a horse stance. Start as usual from a wuji stance. Look straight ahead and relax completely. Arms are at the waist and close your hands gently in a soft fist. Slide your right hand slowly forward along the body and when your hand leaves the waist, start turning your fist over slowly and deliberately and extend your arm until the arm is almost, but not quite completely extended. Your arm should be slightly bent and your fist flat forwards, with your thumb over your fingers and your fingers completely together and closed. Now, strike forward slowly with your left hand, turn over your fist as it leaves the body and slowly extend your arm, until your fist is almost completely extended. Leave your arm ever so slightly bent at the elbow. Do not tense your fist or strike hard. This is like tai chi. Slowly. Gently. Breath out as your fist extends out, and in as your fist returns to the body. Do the movement 8 times on each side.

Return to the wuji, resting stance.

This movement strengthens the muscles and improves the Qi, or Chi.

Again, this movement can be done walking, standing, or sitting.

6. BOUNCING ON THE TOES

Relax and assume the starting or wuji stance. Start the movement with your right foot forward and your right foot on your toes. Your arms should be at your hips, with your palms facing downwards. Press down with your palms. Bend your knees and move your torso down. Straighten your knees and move your torso up. Always keep the knees slightly bent. Raise your body slowly up and down.

Your back heel stays flat on the floor. This movement is exactly like what we called the “upper horse”. Others call it the “cat stance”. Stretch out your spine as you move up on your toes. Breathe in slowly as you move up on your toes, and exhale slowly as you return to the starting position. Do 8 repetitions on each side. Move slowly and don’t strain yourself. Imagine yourself on a sunny beach, or in a forest, on the seashore, move up and down like the tide and waves rolling in and out. Relax and hear the sound of the water. Or imagine you are below a beautiful waterfall, watching the water cascading down over the rocks. Use whatever imagery relaxes you. Some do up to 160 repetitions for an excellent whole body workout. Remember, the movements, like all the others, can be done sitting, walking or standing.

This movement helps the following muscles and parts of the body:

1. The calf muscles. To increase the workout, use dumbbells to really work the calf. Point your toes in, to work the outside of the calves, point your toes out to work the inside muscles of the calves. Finally, do the movement with your toes pointing straight ahead to work all sides of the muscles.

2. Again, the breathing helps to oxygenated the body and kills bacteria and viruses. Good for the heart and lungs. Great aerobic exercise.

This exercise helps to rid the body of disease and stimulates the immune system. The hips and lower back are also toned. The feet muscles are exercised and stretched. Leg muscles are strengthened, because one leg is worked more than the other. This exercise can be done either walking, sitting, or standing.

7. THE BIG BEAR TURNS FROM SIDE TO SIDE

Start this movement from the starting or wuji stance. Step out to the left into a horse stance. Your feet should be wider than shoulder width. Feet should be pointing forward or at a 45 degree angle. The knees should be bent as you squat down. The depth that you squat depends on your level of fitness. Try to squat lower with every repetition of this exercise. Rest your hands on the side of your thighs. Your elbows should be pointing out to the sides at a 90 degree angle from the direction that you are facing. If you are facing north, your right elbow should point to the east and your left elbow to the west.. Breathe slowly and deeply as you bend down exhale, and as you face to the sides inhale.

Face north. Keep your hands on your hips thoughout the exercise. Slowly turn your waist to the left until your chest is facing east. Your right elbow should be pointing noeth and you should have your head turned and looking north. Inhale slowly and deeply.

Slowly turn to the right as you bend forward to the front. Exhale as you move to the right side towards the west. When you are facing the middle, your head and shoulders should be at the lowest point bending forward. Turn your waist to the right and lift the upper torso. Slowly turn your waist to the right until your chest is facing west. As you turn to the right your left knee will bend more. Your left elbow should be pointing north, and you should have your head turned towards the north. Inhale slowly and deeply.

Repeat the movement, back and forth, from side to side, for 8 repetitions to each side. Get the feel of swinging from side to side. Keep the posture erect as you face east and west and bend the head and shoulders back. Hold the back and place your right palm on your back and and your left hand on your back palm side down on each hand.

This exercise helps heartburn. The horse stance works the thighs and legs. Bending and turning at the waist trims and tones the waist, hip, abdominal and lower back muscles. The upper back and triceps are tightened as you turn from side to side. The spine is gently stretched to help realign your body and relieve stiffness. Kidneys are strengthened, and Qi or chi are made vital and abundant.

8. TOUCHING THE TOES AND BENDING BACKWARDS

Start from the beginning or wuji stance. Step out to the left with your left fot bout 6 to 8 inches. Your stance should be comfortable. Inhale slowly and deeply and relax and push out with your abdomen as you inhale.

Bend slowly backward from the waist and have both of your hands extended out all the way over your head bend as far backwards as you can comfortably. Don’t fall. Then bend forward and exhale slowly as you reach towards your feet your fingertips should touch lightly at the bottom of the movement. Then clasp your hands 2 or 3 times together and release, while remaining in a bent forward position. Remember, inhale as you bend back at the beginning of the movement, and exhale as you bend forward and down. When you come back up to the starting position, start massaging your kidney areas on both sides of your back in semi circles for 30 seconds or so. This movement is called ” Rubbing the Court of the kidneys”.

Repeat the movement 8 times. Move slowly and carefully without jerking or bouncing up and down.

This movement can be done sitting or standing.

This movement strengthens the kidneys and waist.

You can move your hands to massage different pressure or Qi points or meridians on the body.

To end the set, perform the bouncing on the toes movement to end the exercise and close the Qi Gong set. You should feel relaxed and invigorated at th e completion of these exercises. This set is excellent for warming up and stretching for weight training or any other sport. It helps the body and blood flow increase and heals the muscles between sets of weight training or resistance exercises.



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Thomas Cutler asked:


Celebrate Acupuncture Awareness Day with the highly trained staff at Enlightened Healing on Wednesday, October 24, from 5 – 8pm. According to practitioner Anali Garcia, “As part of the celebration we are providing free food and drinks, free Traditional Chinese Medical tongue and pulse diagnosis, free stress-reduction treatments with acupressure ear seeds, free tuina (chinese massage) chair mini-sessions, and free informational literature.” Additionally, the first five guests receive a $100 gift certificate good toward services with Anali Garcia, A.P.

Acupuncture has been used for over 3000 years! It is estimated that as many as 43% of Americans have used or are currently using some form of complementary or alternative therapy such as acupuncture or Oriental Medicine. In recognition of this fact and in support of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, officially observed on October 24, is part of an effort to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is supported through a unique international partnership of organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The partnership includes professional associations, research organizations and educational institutions.

Oriental medicine is a comprehensive health care system encompassing a variety of traditional health care therapies that have been used for more than 3,000 years to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Acupuncture is one of the essential elements of Oriental medicine. Other elements include Chinese herbology, bodywork (such as acupressure and shiatsu), diet and exercise (such as tai chi and qi gong), all based on traditional medicinal principles.

All Oriental medicine modalities are intended to improve the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi regulates the body’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and is influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). According to traditional Chinese medicine, when yin and yang are balanced, they work together with the natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and maintain health.

According to a National Institutes of Health consensus panel of scientists, researchers, and practitioners, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer-related treatments, as well as for dental pain experienced after surgery. The panel also found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with conventional therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to assist in stroke rehabilitation.

The offices of Enlightened Healing are located at 811 SE 8th Ave Suite 209 (Near SW 10th and Federal- US1) in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Space is limited, so those wishing to attend this fun, interesting, and informative event must telephone 954-427-1663, no later than noon on October 24th.



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CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd asked:


These are exciting times as alternative medicine like naturopathy is growing in public demand. As you may be aware, students may not have to settle for a certificate in natural healing, when they can achieve their doctor of naturopathic medicine degree through a number of schools of naturopathy.

In addition to offering holistic workshops and seminars in Qi gong, Tai Chi, and other holistic continuing education courses, schools of naturopathy are renowned for their in-depth training in the healing arts. Among general studies included in naturopathic medicine programs are healing principles, naturopathic history, scope of practice, and more.

Before applying to any one of the schools of naturopathy, it is important to review course prerequisites. In most cases, you will need a predetermined amount of education from an accredited school or university prior to enrollment. Also, it is always a good idea to explore career opportunities in the field, and State regulations/requirements with respect to the practice.

Once you’ve carefully examined the field and you’re ready to take the academic challenge at one of the schools of naturopathy in your area, it’s time to review the school’s curriculum. Like most healthcare programs, education and training at schools of naturopathy take about four to five years to complete.

After you’ve met all prerequisite requirements, and have enrolled at one of the schools of naturopathy, you will be introduced to a rigorous curriculum. In the first and second years, you will learn about anatomy, bodywork techniques, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, classical Chinese medicine, Qi gong, and herbal medicine, among other studies.

Years three and four at schools of naturopathy are much more comprehensive, and commonly involve in-depth clinical training in internal medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, advanced plant medicine, integrative medicine therapies, homeopathy, counseling techniques, hydrotherapy, and more.

Upon successful completion of education and training at one of the many schools of naturopathy in the United States and Canada, practitioners can earn full licensure to practice in 20 jurisdictions including Alaska, Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba, among other regions. Bare in mind, however, that the States of South Carolina and Tennessee prohibit the practice altogether.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other natural health programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore schools of naturopathy near you.

Schools of Naturopathy

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Thomas Cutler asked:


Oriental medicine is a comprehensive health care system encompassing a variety of traditional health care therapies that have been used for more than 3,000 years to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Acupuncture is one of the essential elements of Oriental medicine. Other elements include Chinese herbology, bodywork (such as acupressure and shiatsu), diet and exercise (such as tai chi and qi gong), all based on traditional medicinal principles.

All Oriental medicine modalities are intended to improve the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi regulates the body’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and is influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). According to traditional Chinese medicine, when yin and yang are balanced, they work together with the natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and maintain health.

Acupuncture has been used for over 3000 years! It is estimated that as many as 43% of Americans have used or are currently using some form of complementary or alternative therapy such as acupuncture or Oriental Medicine. In recognition of this fact and in support of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, officially observed on October 24, is part of an effort to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is supported through a unique international partnership of organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The partnership includes professional associations, research organizations and educational institutions.

According to a National Institutes of Health consensus panel of scientists, researchers, and practitioners, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer-related treatments, as well as for dental pain experienced after surgery. The panel also found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with conventional therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to assist in stroke rehabilitation.

Celebrate Acupuncture Awareness Day with the highly trained staff at Enlightened Healing on Wednesday, October 24, from 5 – 8pm. According to practitioner Anali Garcia, “As part of the celebration we are providing free food and drinks, free Traditional Chinese Medical tongue and pulse diagnosis, free stress-reduction treatments with acupressure ear seeds, free tuina (chinese massage) chair mini-sessions, and free informational literature.” Additionally, the first five guests receive a $100 gift certificate good toward services with Anali Garcia, A.P.

The offices of Enlightened Healing are located at 811 SE 8th Ave Suite 209 (Near SW 10th and Federal- US1) in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Space is limited, so those wishing to attend this fun, interesting, and informative event must telephone 954-427-1663, no later than noon on October 24th.



Website content

Thomas Cutler asked:


Acupuncture has been used for over 3000 years! It is estimated that as many as 43% of Americans have used or are currently using some form of complementary or alternative therapy such as acupuncture or Oriental Medicine. In recognition of this fact and in support of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day, officially observed on October 24, is part of an effort to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is supported through a unique international partnership of organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The partnership includes professional associations, research organizations and educational institutions.

Oriental medicine is a comprehensive health care system encompassing a variety of traditional health care therapies that have been used for more than 3,000 years to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Acupuncture is one of the essential elements of Oriental medicine. Other elements include Chinese herbology, bodywork (such as acupressure and shiatsu), diet and exercise (such as tai chi and qi gong), all based on traditional medicinal principles.

All Oriental medicine modalities are intended to improve the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi regulates the body’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and is influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). According to traditional Chinese medicine, when yin and yang are balanced, they work together with the natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and maintain health.

According to a National Institutes of Health consensus panel of scientists, researchers, and practitioners, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer-related treatments, as well as for dental pain experienced after surgery. The panel also found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with conventional therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to assist in stroke rehabilitation.

Celebrate Acupuncture Awareness Day with the highly trained staff at Enlightened Healing on Wednesday, October 24, from 5 – 8pm. According to practitioner Anali Garcia, “As part of the celebration we are providing free food and drinks, free Traditional Chinese Medical tongue and pulse diagnosis, free stress-reduction treatments with acupressure ear seeds, free tuina (chinese massage) chair mini-sessions, and free informational literature.” Additionally, the first five guests receive a $100 gift certificate good toward services with Anali Garcia, A.P.

The offices of Enlightened Healing are located at 811 SE 8th Ave Suite 209 (Near SW 10th and Federal- US1) in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Space is limited, so those wishing to attend this fun, interesting, and informative event must telephone 954-427-1663, no later than noon on October 24th.



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Sandra Hishinuma asked:


While we in the West are more familiar with the way doctors practice traditional medicine for healing, the ancient Eastern practice of medicine known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM), has recently become popular in the West as an alternative to traditional medicine.  In order to understand the way illness is treated in traditional Chinese medicine, we need to understand their view of illness in the human body.

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the Taoist philosophy that the human body is a universe with a set of complete and interconnected systems.  Those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the body.  This is the principle of yin and yang.  These two opposites are constantly in motion, creating a fluctuating balance in a healthy body.  Illness occurs when either yin or yang is in a state of prolonged excess or deficiency.  Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are trained to view the body, mind and spirit as one system and to treat the disease in a holistic manner.  The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi (breath or life force), blood, jing (essence), other bodily fluids, the five elements, emotions and the soul or spirit (shen).

Typical therapies for traditional Chinese medicine include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong exercises.  Acupuncture treatment stimulates certain areas of the external body along the body’s meridian lines.  Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally and Qi Gong aims to restore the flow inside the network through the regulation of qi.

When seeking treatment from a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you will usually be asked questions about your emotional and mental life as well as your physical symptoms.  You may also have your pulse taken several times, once for each internal organ, and the color and texture of your tongue will be checked.  The practitioner will then create a customized treatment plan designed to improve your overall health, instead of just for the illness you sought treatment for.

In most cases, the practitioner will use acupuncture to stimulate specific points along your meridians in order to bring qi back into balance.  He may also use moxibustion (application of small mounds of burning herbs), cupping (use of suction cups), or deep tissue massage.  You may also get a prescription for a combination of herbs and ingredients formulated to correct whatever imbalances the practitioner thinks may be causing your illness.  You would typically brew these herbs into a tea, or they may come in pill or extract form.  Lastly, you may be asked to practice Qi Gong or Tai Chi (slow and gentle martial arts that combine breathing, movement, and meditation) to balance and strengthen your qi.

Depending on which treatments are used, traditional Chinese medicine can be quite safe and effective.  Acupuncture is usually quite safe as long as your practitioner uses properly sterilized or disposable needles to prevent infection.  You need to let your acupuncturist know if you are taking pain relievers as they can exacerbate bruising from the needles.  The use of herbal combinations can be a bit of a problem.  Many Chinese herbalists won’t tell you what’s in the mixture which could contain trace amounts of dangerous substances such as mercury or arsenic.  You should let her practitioner know about any drugs you are taking and let your doctor know of any herbs you are taking as certain herbs and mixtures may adversely interact with the drugs.

If you are looking for an alternative to traditional medicine, and would like to treat your illness in a more holistic manner, traditional Chinese medicine may be your answer.



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CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd asked:


When you’re ready to achieve your degree or certificate in one of the world’s most ancient healing arts, then you should acquire training in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With programs ranging from certification in Tuina (Chinese medical massage) to a doctorate in Oriental medicine, the educational options are wide open.

To earn your masters in acupuncture and Oriental medicine (MSTOM), training in traditional Chinese medicine entails anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, acupuncture and Oriental medicine (fundamentals, diagnosis, and treatment); acupuncture point locations, applications and theory; acupuncture and needling techniques; auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture), Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Chinese herbology, Eastern nutrition, Tuina, moxibustion, cupping, and more.

If you’re interested in becoming a professional doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (DAOM) practitioner, comprehensive training in traditional Chinese medicine is critical. While courses vary with respect to prerequisites, general doctorate programs require a great deal of commitment; usually over 1,200 training hours. In addition to philosophies, principles and training in traditional Chinese medicine (and advanced studies of the masters program), coursework includes family medicine, medical Chinese language, and application of Chinese classics, among others.

Some training in traditional Chinese medicine colleges includes associate and bachelor degree programs as well. These courses are often geared toward Eastern holistic health, nutrition, and herbal medicine.

If you’re strapped for time but want to acquire some training in traditional Chinese medicine, you can apply to one of the many Asian bodywork or Tuina certification programs. In addition to learning about anatomy and physiology, students enrolled in these programs gain training in traditional Chinese medicine theories and philosophies, instrumental Tuina hand and structural techniques, Shiatsu, acupressure, Qi Gong, as well as basic CPR and first aid.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other TCM programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore training in traditional Chinese medicine near you.

Training in Traditional Chinese Medicine

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techtrend asked:


If your hair loss begins around the onset of menopause, you can maintain hormonal balance (and hence hair thickness) with herbs containing plant-based estrogens, such as dong quai (Angelica sinensis) or ashwaganda (Withania somnifera), suggests Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., a naturopath and author of Healthy Healing (Healthy Healing Publications, 1997). Other herbs that exert mild estrogenic effects include damiana (Turnera diffusa), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and sage (Salvia officinalis).

Home remedies are safe, effective, and also costs you less. Try the below given home remedies and see the beautiful change in your hair.An oriental method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used to increase circulation to the scalp and face also. The fingers should be placed at the center of the skull base and then begin to tap approximately 30 times. Work your way outward toward the ears continuing to tap gently. After reaching the ears go back to the center of the skull a little higher up and work your way around to the ear region. Keep going up about eight levels, each time repeating the process.

Hair care for oily hair

Oily hair-There is a blockage in the hair follicles because of excess oil deposition and dirt in the oily hairs. In oily hair there is a much secretion of sebaceous glands as a result scalp and hairs are very oily.

Lemon juice prevents dandruffs—apply lemon juice and keep it for 10-15 minutes on hair and rinse off. This hair care tip is suitable for any hair kind and will keep your hair clean and healthy.

Wash your hair using triphala powder, a natural and safe hair care for oily hair. The remedy for oily hair starts with hair cleansing and toning routines.



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Fiona Taylor asked:


Spirit in Sport: peak performance & the zone in sport

Book Intro (Preface)

By Fiona Taylor, 1992 Olympian, mystic, coach and former World Champion Windsurfer

“The board glides smoothly across the water.

Under my feet the board feels light and responsive. It is purely an extension of me,

there is no resistance.

The sail is an extension of my upper body. It feels comfortable.

The rig feels right. It responds effortlessly to the increase in wind.

My body feels lean and strong.

I love being on the water. I love being here.

I have an inner knowing of all that is today. I am at home on the water.

The wind, the waves and the water are my friends.

I am at One with them.

Unity. No hesitation – just inspiration

A feeling of Lightness of being.

Joy, a rush of energy as I accelerate in a 3 knot gust………

Whee. I am free.

The six minute start signal is about to go.

My timer is set for the 6 minute count down to the start.

It is about the wind and me.

There are other boards around. I know who they are, and I know that I know this place better than them and I will win this race. There is no doubt whatsoever.

My focus is on just being in the moment..

I am not thinking.

I am just feeling. Everything feels surreal, my focus is not on any ‘one thing’ but simply being at one with all that is.

Intuitively I approach the line. I have already chosen where I want to start.

No one is in my way. I have claimed my starting position.

As I look up wind towards the top mark, the wind has remained steady. I have a race plan and I just know. I am just in the now moment.

Bang – the start gun, with four pumps I am off the line with a clear start.

I am fast, I feel fast as the board glides up wind……………

My focus is on being at one with the wind, as I round the top mark first.

My focus is on feeling light and at one with the board. I am so far ahead now that I can still sail completely free, me and the wind, without needing to protect my position from the windsurfers behind me. This race is mine. I knew it was before the start……

I love windsurfing……I love just being out here on the ocean………..”

This was the natural state that I was in when I was spending every spare minute of my day at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club as a young teenager.

In 1983 I was a 12 year old who spent her entire summer either in the water swimming, snorkeling or in boats. My dad had introduced me to sailing as a young girl and had thrown me into a sabot which is about 7 feet in length with a small sail. It is the first boat usually that kids learn in. My sister and I used to call them ‘bath tubs’. Dad bought a sabot for my sisters and I to sail in and we called it ‘Bubbles’. Bubbles was a sturdy, heavy and slow sabot.

I was the middle child of three girls and my older sister Anna was three years older than me, so she got to steer the boat, and I was the crew. I have a vivid memory of dad sending us of to sail in Sabot Week at Frankston Yacht Club when I was 9 years. The first race Anna and I spent arguing and fighting on which way to go and who was better at steering the boat. We were so engrossed in our own chaos that we had no awareness of the rest of the fleet.

After some time a rescue boat drove up to us as told us that the race was finishing (as all the other boats were finishing) and that we had better head back to shore. We had not even made the first mark yet because we were absorbed in trying to get our own way in our boat. After that I realized that I really was more suited to sailing on my own, and was much happier that way, being my own person and making my own decisions.

Soon after that when I was 12 the sport of windsurfing came along and it was the ‘new thing’ to do. In 1983 and 1984 more and more people at the yacht club and other clubs started windsurfing and there was soon a regular weekend windsurfing race that was attracting more people than sabot sailing.

Our good friends the Gold’s lent me their windsurfer and gave me my first go at it. I could hardly reach the boom when I first started, and as a 12 year old I had to use the adult equipment with larger sail, as the manufacturers had not yet made boards for kids. My fierce determination allowed me to overlook the bruises, cuts and sore hands to keep on trying to pull the sail up out of the water. I eventually did, thanks to the support from those on the beach who egged me on. The first time I managed to get going and glided along the surface of the water I was on a high. I only managed to go 20 meters before I fell off, but that was enough to get the feeling of it. I was hooked on the thrill of windsurfing across the water on my own.

It used to take me a long time to pull the sail out of the water because I was small, but once I got it up and going it all felt so natural to me. I had a natural feel for the board and the wind and by the end of that summer it just seemed to ‘click’ for me and I could sail in all directions, go where I wanted to go, and more importantly get back to the beach! I lost count of how many times I fell in, crashed, dropped the sail or got stuck out at sea needing to be rescued. One thing that worked for me was that I did not have any fear of the sea. We grew up 200 meters from the beach on the Mornington Peninsula and I learned to swim at an early age. In fact I felt more at home on or in the water, than on the land.

At the end of that summer mum bought the family our first second hand windsurfer. But you can guess who used it most of the time. My poor sisters, mum and dad had to really work hard to get me away from it, and actually have a chance to use it. Soon all my friends and I at the yacht club were having fun, mucking around on windsurfers, trying new things, new tricks and racing against each other every weekend.

I am eternally grateful to the wonderful support I received from the members at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club. Everyone was so supportive in helping me learn to windsurf. Very shortly after I starting racing I started to win the races. Men and women of all ages entered. I vividly remember sailing towards the finish line and I was coming second. Another guy Ashley was winning the race and he was about 50 meters ahead with only about 200 meters to go. The finish line was just inside the cliff face where the wind started to shear away and get gusty. I naturally kept an eye on the wind and where the next gusts were coming from. I could see Ashley sailing a bit too close to the Cliff, even though it was a more direct route to the finish line. But there was less wind in there, so I decided to stay in the gust a bit further out, and then turn towards the finish line inside the cliff at the last minute. This paid off and I passed him and won the race. He had not seen me coming and was quite surprised to see me pass in front of him. There was no doubt he was stronger than me and had good windsurfing skills, but I was able to read the wind better on the day. I rushed home and told mum that I had won the race. Her comment was “Gee darling, were you the only one in the race?”

Such faith I thought. But mum and dad soon realized that winning the race at the club was a weekly occurrence for me. I then moved on to race the regional clubs and in those days 120 windsurfers would turn up to race, people of all sizes and abilities. I ended up winning those too, to the surprise of all the strong guys with the latest and fastest equipment. But again it was my ability to read wind shifts that enabled me to win the races. In the early days, a lot of the people who started windsurfing did not come from a sailing and tactical background with knowledge and understanding of the wind and so they could not quite work out why I used to win, even though I was 13 and they were 25.

From the beginning I always windsurfed with the guys and always aimed at beating everyone. Because of that I never saw myself as weaker or lesser ability by being a girl. And in the old days men and women raced together, but they were scored individually, so that you could be the ‘first woman’ or ‘first man’. When I was 14 I had the opportunity to compete at the Australian Windsurfing Championships in Adelaide. Mum and dad decided to make a family holiday out of it and we drove over to Glenelg in January that year. I had recently placed third in the women’s event at the State Championship but the Nationals were a little more daunting and the ocean waves at Glenelg caused me to come to grief on the downwind legs. Anyway, I met some wonderful fellow competitors who I became friendly with and I placed 8th that year. From 1986-1990 I won several Australian Open Championships. During that time I would go out and windsurf around all on my own as training and I had no coach or lessons or feedback from anyone. I just went about it on my own and did well, won and never really analyzed anything about my performance. I watched and learned and just did what I always did, felt how I always felt and had an unquestionable knowing that I was the best out there and that I would win.

And I did. The space I was in when I raced was like being on auto pilot, I felt the wind, I felt when to tack or turn; I did not have to ‘think’ about it.

In 1988 the International Yacht Racing Union had managed to include Women’s windsurfing as a Full Medal Sport to be introduced at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The men’s windsurfing event had been included in 1988, and the sport was an exhibition sport at the LA Olympics in 1984. In 1988 I was studying for my VCE (Higher School Year 12), in my final year of high school and I was ranked number 1 in Australia. I made a decision then that I would go the 1992 Olympic Games.

During my final year of High School I was windsurfing after school each night to train up for the World Youth (Under 19) Championships in Spain in July that year. I had been selected to go, and the whole trip was funded by the Australian team. It was my first international event and the standard was very high. There was a team coach which was new to me, as I had never had a coach before. He was a nice guy but mainly focused on the boat classes as he did not know much about the Mistral Windsurfing Class so he left David, my fellow male counterpart, and me to do our own thing. David was a brilliant windsurfer and he won every race at the Youth Worlds and I only won one, to finish 6th overall. I returned to Australia, back to homework and the world of school.

On finishing high school Mum and dad at the time were concerned that I get a proper education and not be side tracked by this ‘windsurfing thing’. But nevertheless I convinced them that I would travel for a year overseas, compete at some events, work and have some fun before I return the following year to start University.

My first event after high school was in Palermo, Sicily. It was the World Windsurfer Team’s Championships where they have two men and one woman from each country. We made the final against the Sicilian Team and there was much cheering going on from the side lines for the Sicilian Team. A floatilla of boats came out to watch as we raced the best of three races. It came down to a grueling last race win, whichever team won would win the event. I was coming ahead of the Sicilian girl and all I had to do was cross the finish line and we won the regatta. However, the Sicilian team wanted to win ‘at all costs’ and Alfredo decided to sail downwind and try and stop me from crossing the finish line before Giarda, the female member of their team. Team tactics can get pretty nasty, especially in Sicily where the race committee did have a reputation for turning a blind eye to what was going on. There was much yelling as Alfredo came down and literally pushed his boom into my head to try and knock me off. In the end I dropped my sail unable to keep my height towards the finish line and Giarda crossed in front of me. It was pretty obvious to all the other teams and the jury boat that Alfredo had broken a rule. After much commotion and yelling, in Italian and English the protest flag went up. We had no choice but to protest. After two hours of testimony the jury awarded us with the win. This was a good start to my first campaign over seas winning the World Team Windsurfing Champs. From 1985 to 1999 I won a total of seven world windsurfing titles in the Windsurfer and Mistral Classes and thirteen Australian titles. There were many times where I felt in the zone and in my magic, where winning was effortless and enjoyable.

But there were times, particularly from 1994 onwards where I lost my magic and sense of feel. I had illness, injury and chaos which I could not pinpoint the origin of and the flame of my inspiration went out. By the time I retired in 1999 I was angry and exhausted feeling that I had never actually realized my dream of Olympic Gold, particularly when I knew I had the desire and the natural ability to achieve it.

On retiring from competitive windsurfing at the end of 1999 I launched myself straight into a corporate sales role. It was the first time I had been a full time employee in the corporate environment. During my windsurfing years I had run my own event management business and had been self employed since I was 17 so I was used to being my own boss. Within a year I realized that I was not suited to working for a large corporate and decided to go back and do contract marketing and sales work instead.

Up until this point in my life I had always lived with clarity of purpose. I made decisions and had the determination and drive to make them happen. But in 2000 and 2001 every thing I touched seemed to fail. Within 12 months my personal relationship finished, my health had deteriorated significantly and I had clients who failed to pay me which sent me into to the red financially. My stomach had swollen up, I had pain in my pancreas and liver all the time, my face had bloated up. I was now twenty kilos overweight. I felt terrible. My self esteem hit the floor. Financially I worked one sales contract after the other trying to play ‘catch up’ financially. I worked seven days a week. As a result I burned out completely – emotionally, physically and spiritually.

During this time I read every book I could find about health, psychology and spirituality. I attended workshop after workshop: including Qi-gong, emotional freedom technique, heart coherence, quantum physics, sacred geometry, spiritual manifestation and emotional intelligence. I was spending over twenty five hours a week on research. I was desperately searching for answers.

I then went to a doctor who practiced western and eastern medicine who threw the book at me. He told me that my body was shutting down. He said I was a toxic waste dump. My lymph system was not working efficiently. I had a build up of cancer cells in my body. He wanted me to go on his strict diet and have treatment each week at his clinic to get me back to health. At the time I had no money to even pay for extra vitamins, let alone weekly treatment. I was under huge stress and as a result had begun to drink too much alcohol. For a period of 8 months I had buried all my pain in drinking to numb myself from feeling.

When I left the doctors clinic that day, after he threw the book at me, deep down I knew that even if I did everything he told me to do it would not have made any difference. An inner voice told me I had to find the answer at the spiritual level. I felt that I would slowly die if I did not find the spiritual answer. And I felt so exhausted at the time that I did not really care if I did die. In fact at the time all I wanted to do was to curl up in bed go to sleep and not wake up.

My search continued and I went to a naturapath healer who did a chakra balance on me and helped clear my body at the astral level. This seemed to help me for a short while. Very soon after this I went to Sydney to meet a French lady who had a new electro-magnetic machine that could bring your spirit back properly into the body. I was willing to try anything at this stage. When I arrived at her clinic I held on to these two metal handles and she said my spirit was eight metres away from my body. In other words I was not spiritually grounded and balanced. Somehow she brought my spirit back into my body. Within two minutes my lymphatic system started to gurgle and move. I went to the loo about ten times that day emptying fluid. I certainly felt more grounded after her treatment.

But still a deeper part of me kept searching for answers. My stomach was still bloated and I still had constant pain in my pancreas, like a knife in my back. A year before I had prolapsed a disc and had a knee reconstruction to mend my ACL that I tore snow skiing. I had never felt the same since being on anti-infalammatory drugs for my prolapsed disc. These injuries had also caused me to lose confidence in my physical ability to exercise. As a result I had lost all the fitness I had taken for granted in all my years of windsurfing.

Finally I met a metaphysical counselor and mystic Yvonne Evans who also worked as a corporate coach in Melbourne. In one session with her she cleared my energy field (aura, mind field, at the astral and spiritual level). Immediately after she cleared my energy field my hips shifted back to their correct posture and the pain went from my pancreas.

She told me to rest afterwards and I went home and had the deepest and most restful sleep I had had for a long time. A week later I had the first mystical experience that woke me up about the nature of the soul and past lives.

I was sitting in a coffee shop with Yvonne and we were talking about what could be the cause of my swollen stomach. We had discussed much of what had happened to me in this life including several operations I had had as a baby and child on my small intestine. (At four weeks old the doctors cut out one fifth of my small intestine because of a cyst. I then had plastic surgery on the scar tissue that spread right across my stomach when I was eight.) The answers didn’t seem to reside in this life time. Then out of my mouth came “I think I have been stabbed in another life.”

Yvonne, being a mystic, was able to tune into my soul story and access the relevant information at that level. She said that I had been disembowled on a battle field as a soldier. I immediately felt a shiver up my spine as I saw flashes of this past life. I went home and went to bed. I felt exhausted. For over two hours this past life trauma was released from my memory at soul level. My body shook and trembled and contorted as the memory was released via the physical cells in my body. This is called a physical catharsis. All I could do was surrender to it and consciously allow it to happen. Meanwhile I had the visual images and memories of being disembowled. It was not physically painful, but extremely overwhelming and exhausting.

After I released this memory my body literally morphed. My stomach went in three inches, all the aches and pains I had been feeling for two years disappeared. My face changed back to its normal state and I felt spiritually grounded for the first time in over three years.

The physical change in my body was so profound that my neighbour saw me the next morning and couldn’t believe the instant change in my appearance. This was when I realized that if we change at the mind-field level, in this case at the level of the unconscious – the soul, then our body can change instantly. A friend of mine had also done this herself when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She tuned into her Soul Self to get the answers. She received the answers and released the energy (in the mind) that caused the tumour in the first place. She went back for an x-ray a week later and her brain tumour was gone.

I had read a lot of material including books by Dr. Valerie Hunt from the Bio-energy fields foundation and Professor William Tiller, head of materials science at Stanford University who all confirmed that mind precedes matter. I had read that we create our own reality with our thoughts and our feelings. But it was not until I connected with my Soul did I realize the truth, that yes, we create reality. The good, the bad and the great.

(Quantum scientists have confirmed since the 1920s that we create our reality. Spiritual mystics and teachers throughout time have told us that we in fact create our own reality. The mind/body/spirit and new age movement have repeated over and over again that what we think about, we bring about. It is only when we connect to our spiritual intuition do we realize the truth of this. The rational mind, or ego, cannot fathom that we create our reality.)

From this point on I was able to reconnect again with my spiritual intuition and inner guidance from Soul. I was able to wake up to all the unconscious themes that had played out for me in my windsurfing career. I realized that I had caused, or allowed in the chaos, illness and so called ‘bad luck’ at the unconscious level when I competed in windsurfing. I was responsible for it all. There was no such thing as bad luck.

During this time I had started to facilitate workshops on reality creation and transforming unconscious themes that were holding people back in their lives. My mystical abilities returned and I was able to assist others to heal past lives that affected their current reality. (A mystic is someone who can access information at the level of the Soul whilst remaining grounded in physical reality. Information at the Soul level vibrates at a higher frequency than the information we receive via our five physical senses.) I realized that two in three clients had deep Soul themes playing out for them that originated from another lifehood (or past life). Once we healed these deeper themes their reality would change instantly. They would be free of pain and fear.

My clairvoyance, clairsentience and clairaudience returned and I was able to communicate with the Arch Angels again. I had had this ability as a child but had lost it in my teens. This enabled me to help people heal physical ailments together with assisting them to intellectually understand the origin of their pain and crisis. I could vibrate them up so they could access this information and transform it to higher awareness.

I had read as much as I could find on emotions and emotional intelligence and one of the people who discussed emotions in a way that I understood them, and had worked with them, was Dr. Valerie Hunt. She too had helped people heal past life (or lifehood) themes. She understood the nature of emotions held at Soul level that were deep and profound and shaped all other perceptions and behaviour. In her book Infinite Mind she shares over forty years of research into the human energy field (the mind) and the spiritual nature of who we are. She stated that emotions were the organizer of the energy field (the mind). Her work greatly appealed to me as it blended the scientific research together with the spiritual, eternal, nature of who we are.

I realized that you could not change limiting beliefs, that resided at the subconscious and unconscious mind, by using the power the conscious mind alone. I discussed this with two friends who were both NLP experts and hypnotherapists who had also done the deeper spiritual healing work on themselves. They both agreed that you could not heal these deeper themes without going first finding the cause of the theme – the origin of behavior.

You could use self affirmations until the cows came home but they were not going to change unconscious behaviour. Traditional psychology also did not discuss the nature of ‘past lives’ or the fact that we are multi-dimensional in nature. And most psychologists assist people from the perspective that they are victims of their reality, rather than the fact that they create their reality. So they treat the symptoms rather than the cause.

After healing my own Soul themes I was finally free from regret and the disappointment of never attaining my dream of Olympic Gold. I thought about all those athletes who had retired from sport never having realized their own dreams. If only I had understood and healed my unconscious themes (beliefs and emotional wounds) whilst I was at my peak in windsurfing. What could I have gone on to achieve if I did not have sabotaging behavior?

I thought about those athletes that have ‘accidents’, ‘illness’ or keep coming second when they have the ability to win. If these athletes healed their own unconscious beliefs they could change their reality and performance quickly.

The times when I had won in windsurfing I realized were the times when I was physically, emotionally and spiritually coherent. When I felt in the flow where everything felt easy; I was spiritually connected. My mind was present and I was more in a feeling, rather than a thinking state of mind. To me being in the zone was a spiritual experience.

In 2004 I decided to write a book about the nature of ‘spirit in sport’. Rather than simply sharing my own story I wanted to speak to other athletes about their own personal experience of the zone. I was intrigued as to whether or not other athletes felt that the zone was a ‘spiritual experience’.

After speaking with other athletes I realized that each of them had their own understanding of how the mind works; their own relationship with their own mind, the Self, spirit, and a higher source or God. Some athletes referred to the zone as being fully prepared and doing the training necessary to win. Others suggested it was when they were able to mentally focus without chatter in their head. Whilst other’s shared that their experience of the zone was more a spiritual or an out of body experience.

In my book ‘Spirit in Sport’I share some of my experiences and those of fellow world and Olympic Champions about the zone in sport. There are times where I share my story from the perspective of me the windsurfer and there are times that I put my ‘teaching hat on’ and share it from my perspective now – Fiona the mystic.

From the perspective of an athlete I realize that all we really want to do as an athlete is achieve our dreams, whether it is to win, be top three or top ten. As an athlete I was totally focused on my training and competition schedule. I would plan for four years ahead, each Olympiad.

Whereas today I can look back in hindsight and have the luxury of seeing my windsurfing career through the eyes of my own Soul’s evolution. I understand the nature of Soul purpose, divine timing and the spiritual lessons I needed to learn.

Which leads me to pose the following questions:

What makes athletes great vs just good?

Are we pre-destined to be great, or do we become great?

Why do some people have more chaos than others?

What are our own spiritual lessons to learn in this life?

Can we change our destiny?

Can we fast track our evolution?

These are all questions that all of us ask at some point in our lives. Are the great athletes throughout time born to be great or is it by pure chance that they are great?

If we view our life through the eyes of the ego self, or rational mind, we do not know. But if we connect to our Soul Self, our bigger story, we are able to feel our divine truth and Soul purpose, whether it is to be a great athlete or simply be a competitor and learn along the way. If we take responsibility for our own reality creation we can transform any unconscious themes that are getting in the way of winning much faster than if we deny we have them.

From the perspective of our Soul we choose the story of our life before we incarnate. At our highest level of play we choose the major events and wins in our sporting career and any chaos that we experience. Chaos provides the experience to learn and grow. For without chaos and challenge the ego experiences very little growth in consciousness.

We all have a bigger story, a divine Soul purpose with spiritual lessons to learn in this life.

Sport provides a play ground for this learning, growth and self awareness.

I postulate that the ability to experience the zone in sport, and reproduce optimal states of performance over and over again, relates to a person’s level of consciousness. The more spiritually evolved we are, the higher our consciousness level. The more we can access power at the universal/spiritual level the more we can access the zone.

This brings us to the nature of authentic power vs force. When I personally accessed the zone state in my windsurfing I felt ‘spiritually powerful’, like I was connected to All that Is. In my book I have written about this as being Authentic Power as opposed to force where we feel we are forcing things to happen. Authentic power feels effortless.

When we compete with pure desire from the Soul and spirit we not only achieve greatness in sport we live a fulfilling and rewarding life.

I share my story and those of 15 other World and Olympic Champions in my book ‘Spirit in Sport. The book is for fellow athletes, sports coaches, psychologists and the sports fan who want to discover the ‘missing pieces of the puzzle’ in performance.

Fiona Taylor

March 2007

www.barakaya.com



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Harper Watson asked:


Fact: There is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair loss.

However, some methods that have been used work on some people. Here are some suggestions for natural remedies to hair loss.

Massage

Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in mild cases stimulate some hair growth in minor cases of temporary hair loss.

There are several electric massagers on the market that have an attachment for scalp massaging as well. An oriental method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used to increase circulation to the scalp and face also.

Aromatherapy

A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond, soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp.

Saw Palmetto Extract

There is a definite connection between the prostate and hair loss for men. Saw Palmetto has been found to work in fighting benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT, which is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia.

Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen and shows promise as an effective treatment for hair loss prevention. More information on Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Women on oral contraceptives or hormone therapy should not take Saw Palmetto.

Nettle Root Extract

Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals and lipids that can be beneficial to the hair. Nettle Root Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH.

Rosemary and Sage

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit traditionally when used externally. Boil together in water rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair daily.

Jojoba Oil

If you are predisposed to seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, or dandruff, you could consider using jojoba oil. Mexicans and southwestern Native American nations have used jojoba oil traditionally for centuries to promote hair growth and the control of dandruff. Jojoba oil is great for hypoallergenic skin because it is a great moisturizer and mimics the scalp’s own sebum.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Aloe’s can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit.

Henna

Henna is a traditional Indian herb that acts as a natural conditioner and is excellent for the maintenance of healthy hair. It can help heal the hair shaft by repairing and sealing the cuticle, protecting hair against breakage and loss of shine.

Polysorbate-80

Polysorbate-80 is an FDA approved surfactant that is also approved as a food additive. Although not proven, Polysorbate-80 is said to remove deposits of DHT and cholesterol from the scalp. Polysorbate-80 is being recommended by some naturopathic practitioners as an application for the scalp approximately 15 minutes prior to shampooing.

Cleansing and Detoxification

Cleansing should be a major part of your regimen to maintain and grow hair. Many scalp related diseases are directly the result of toxemia, while toxins in the body adversely affecting the body’s systems indirectly affect other conditions. Cleansing can be performed through oral means regularly and occasionally by enema or colonic irrigation.

More remedies for detoxification

Psyllium husk

Fiber is vital to cleansing, and most North American diets are deficient in natural fiber. Psyllium husk is a bulking laxative agent that can be used to safely move waste through the colon. Psyllium is a very good substance as it gently scrubs the walls of the colon to remove waste that is stuck to the walls.

Exercise

Finally, although exercise does absolutely nothing directly to grow hair, most holistic practitioners recommend it. Exercising can improve blood flow, the delivery of oxygen to the cells of the body, and help the digestion of foods, all things that aid the health of hair follicles.

Disclaimer: The advice here is not presented from a medical practitioner. Any and all dietary and medical planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners. This information does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.



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