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Research shows that walking not running is healthier
For thousands of years Taoism has advocated living at a slower pace. Many people are confounded when they realize that this principle of Taoism is even applied to exercise, actually it is especially applied to exercise. Wu Wei is one of the foundational principles which is usually translated as “doing without doing”. A more appropriate definition is allowing things to be done without meddlesome, combative, or egotistical effort.
Compare this to the modern/western approach which is to be as involved as possible (Carpe Diem), and control everything from beginning to end.
This Tao of Revitalization (the way of self healing and longevity) was often at odds with what the modern experts were advocating. Instead of taking life slower, bookstores and television programming are filled with experts telling people to keep the heart rate up, run or jog daily, renew your gym memberships, partake in the latest aerobics fashions and fads etc… Throughout this the Taoist would advise the opposite usually to the dismay of the student.
Perhaps this is changing, however, as modern research is beginning to confirm the Taoist teachings. In 2013, Dr. Samir Vermani, M.D., wrote an article for ABC News which shattered the belief that running is good for you. The article was based on Dr. Vermani’s research as well as a Danish health Medical study.
“Your one-hour spinning class may be a good workout, but simply taking the stairs may be better.
When the amount of calories burned is the same, standing and walking over the course of a day is superior to an hour of intense exercise in improving cholesterol and preventing diabetes, a new study found.
‘Get out of your chair as much as you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator, go by bike [and] leave your car at home,” said Hans Savelberg, associate professor in the Department of Human Movement Sciences at Maastricht University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands, and author of the study published today in the journal PLOS One.
Danish researchers followed 18 young people ages 19 to 24, all of normal weight, who performed three separate exercise regimens over the course of the study. In the first, participants did not exercise and sat for 14 hours. In the second, participants sat for 13 hours, but performed one hour of vigorous cycling. In the third, participants sat for 8 hours, but engaged in 4 hours of walking and 2 hours of standing.
Energy expenditure was the same in the vigorous exercise regimen and the standing and walking regimen. After each regimen, researchers tracked insulin sensitivity – a laboratory test to monitor development of diabetes – and cholesterol levels.”
Naturally, the group that sat less and moved more had lower cholesterol and improved insulin sensitivity. The researchers also found, however, that the group that engaged in 4 hours of walking and 2 hours of standing throughout the day had better results then the group that exercised intensely for one hour.
The researchers were shocked to find that the negative affects of sitting most of the day cannot be reversed by focusing ones energy into a one hour intense exercise class or workout routine.
“If you exercise for half an hour and are sedentary for the rest of the day, that represents an unhealthy lifestyle,” said Savelberg. “Long periods of non-sitting at a low intensity level should be classified as an active lifestyle. (ABC World News)”
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2016 Year of the Yang Fire Monkey
As we transition from the year of the Wood Goat to the year of the Yang Fire Monkey, it is time for us to reflect on what changes may occur so that we can be prepared no matter what situations may arise.
When we examine the last two Fire Monkey years (1896 and 1956) we will get a better understanding of what could occur/repeat this year. A cursory glance of the last two years of the Wood Goat will show the similarities we experienced in 2015.
Monkey years tend to reflect the nature of the animal being: unpredictable, quick to change, seeking new adventures, and also in Yang years the negative aspect can be enhanced; short tempered, quick to fight and prone to aggression etc…
Major events of 1956
- 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- Morocco declares its independence from France.
- Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic.
- Maria Desylla-Kapodistria is elected mayor of Corfu and becomes the first female mayor in Greece.
- The United Methodist Church in America decides at its General Conference to grant women full ordained clergy status.
- General Electric/Telechron introduces model 7H241 “The Snooz Alarm”, first snooze alarm clock ever.
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Federal Aid Highway Act, creating the Interstate Highway System.
- The first Lockheed U-2 spy plane flight over the Soviet Union.
- The world’s first commercial nuclear power plant is opened at Calder Hall in England.
- Suez Crisis: The United Kingdom, France, and Israel secretly meet in and make plans to invade Egypt. The United Kingdom and France begin bombing Egypt to force the reopening of the Suez Canal.
- 1956 Hungarian Revolution: More Soviet troops invade Hungary to crush a revolt… Thousands are killed, more are wounded, and nearly a quarter million leave the country.
- Suez Crisis: The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for the United Kingdom, France, and Israel to withdraw their troops from Arab lands immediately.
- The United States Supreme Court declares illegal the state and municipal laws requiring segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama, thus ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Major events of 1896
- H. L. Smith takes the first X-ray photograph.
- The first study of the sensitivity of global climate to atmospheric carbon dioxide is published. Svante Arrhenius presents his findings in his paper.
- The opening ceremonies of the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympic Games, are held in Athens.
- Plessy v. Ferguson: The U.S. Supreme Court introduces the “separate but equal” doctrine and upholds racial segregation.
- St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado: The costliest and third deadliest tornado in U.S. history levels a mile wide swath of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, incurring US$2.9 billion (1997 USD) in normalized damages, killing more than 255 and injuring over 1,000 people.
- Meiji-Sanriku Earthquake Twenty-seven thousand people died in a huge tsunami that swept over the seaport of Kamaishi, Japan
- International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress opens in London.
- The Philippine Revolution erupts.
- An extraordinary heat wave affects the northeastern United States.
- Skookum Jim Mason, George Carmack and Dawson Charlie discover gold in the Klondike, Yukon.
We can see from these past two Fire Monkey years that the world experienced Socialist Revolutions, racial strife, major weather events, war in the Middle East as well as economic advances that later turned into bubbles. Will any of these repeat in 2016, only time will tell.
Master Zhongxian Wu mentions that:
“According to Daoist Five Element cosmology and alchemy principles, these energies will manifest as Cold Water, Heat Fire, and Wind Wood.
In other words, we will experience dramatic weather patterns this year, with weather patterns shifting very quickly. This pattern will prove difficult for those of you who have weak gastrointestinal function, kidney function, or heart function.”
Regardless of what happens in the world this year, make sure you focus on your internal cultivation, remaining calm and balanced, as well as, strengthening your body, mind and spirit.
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Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1896
https://worldhistoryproject.org/1896
5 tips to have this year be your best year ever
Every year, many people, before or after the ball drops and the fireworks end, make several “New Year’s resolutions”. Usually, people carry over unresolved items from the prior year. Others come up with a list that is so unattainable that it practically guarantees they will not be achieved. If you are not involved in Cancer research or the health-care field what are the odds that you will cure Cancer? If you are not an astronaut, forget about walking on the moon as well.
Another mistake people make is having plans that do not personally affect them or others. It’s more like a “wish list”, and for others it’s a “look good” list.
- Goals: As mentioned above, create goals that are realistic and attainable, however, do not pick goals that you are guaranteed of attaining either. If you know you are getting a promotion this month, then do not have that as a goal. Make sure you write your goals down and tell someone what they are. We all need someone to help hold us accountable. This is important: write down 6 month, 2 year and 5 year goals, as explained in the article, Attitude of Heaven: Taoist method of planning & attaining goals, then review those goals monthly and make any revisions that are necessary.
- Community: Make friends with or join groups of like minded people. Let’s say you want to lose weight, it is going to be much easier to do so with a group of people who also want to lose weight. Even better, make sure you know people who are already their “ideal” weight. Want to quit smoking, have friends that already quit and those that never smoked. The flip side of this coin is that you also need to distance yourself from those people that do not reflect your goals, or the new you that you are creating/enhancing.
- Activities: Actively participate in things that are going to help your goals/mission. Avoid things that are just going to take up your time, waste your energy and distract you from your mission and goals.
- Discipline/Honesty: Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying that “the early bird gets the worm”. Sometimes the difference between success and failure is not being willing to change. Often times people complain that they just do not have enough time to exercise, how do I find time to cook, meditate, go for walks etc…. After hearing this, ask them (or yourself), did you watch TV today, what time did you wake up etc…? Consider that the average American under 65 watches an average of 5 hours of TV every day, if your over 65 its closer to 7 hours per day (Cross-Platform Report). Imagine how much extra time you would have if you cut back to 4 hours per day. How about waking up 30 minutes earlier? Now you have an extra 1.5 hours in your day, and that is after only adjusting TV viewing and the time you wake up.
- Be honest with yourself. We all know if we need to lose weight, drink too much, are eating too much, not as healthy as we could be etc… Perhaps, resolve to not buy larger sizes, if those clothes are getting tight, time to put down the remote and do some internal exercise. Stop going to those fast food and chain restaurants, not only will your health improve, you will also save money.
- Invest in loss: Lao Tzu stated that in order to gain we must first be willing to lose. You will make mistakes, you will forget, the important thing is that you keep going. We have all heard that the best thing to do after falling off the horse….is to get back on it. So what if you have been trying to do something for the last few years and have not done it yet. Thomas Edison failed between 700-10,000 times (depending on who you ask) before finding the correct method for the light bulb. When asked he said, I did not fail, I simply found “X” number of ways it will not work.
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Get ready this winter has the potential to deliver powerful storms
According to Taoist cosmology winter officially began around November 7th. Some signs of winters arrival are already being felt in Colorado, USA and Northern Europe. Between November 17-19 the greater Boulder Colorado area recorded approx. 18” of snow.
Yet, some parts of the United States have been unusually warm, in particular the southeastern seaboard and especially Florida, which has maintained near summer level heat well into the middle of November.
According to Master Zhongxian Wu:
“this winter season will be extremely cold in most areas of the northern hemisphere, as compared with the last few winters. I expect this to be especially true in those areas that missed cold weather last winter, for instance, in the Stockholm area.… The Cold Water Qi (manifested as heavy mist, rainstorms and snowstorms) will officially kick in about two weeks from now. [two weeks from Nov. 7th]”
The national meteorologists are predicting that this winter will have a similar pattern as the winter of 1998 with a strong “El Nino” effect. If this is true, then we could see a repeat of “The Great North American Ice Storm of 1998, which ’caused massive damage to trees and electrical infrastructure all over the area, leading to widespread long-term power outages. Millions were left in the dark for periods varying from days to weeks, and in some instances, months. It led to 35 fatalities, a shutdown of activities in large cities like Montreal and Ottawa, and an unprecedented effort in reconstruction of the power grid. The ice storm led to the largest deployment of Canadian military personnel since the Korean War, with over 16,000 Canadian Forces personnel deployed, 12,000 in Quebec and 4,000 in Ontario at the height of the crisis.”
This would also be consistent with Master Wu’s prediction of heavy mist, rainstorms and snowstorms as a result of Cold Water Qi.
If we look at the winters from the last two Wood Goat years (1955 and 1895) we see a definite pattern beginning to develop.
- “The Storm of the Century, Great Christmas Flood of 1955”, affected most of the US west coast
- Great Blizzard of 1955 in Wyoming
- March of 1956 most of the North Eastern United States was hit by a major winter storm/blizzard.
- The Great Freeze of 1895 affecting most of Florida, brought temperatures down to 19 degrees in Orlando and 24 degrees in West Palm Beach, decimating the citrus industry.
- Houston, Texas recorded 22” of snow in February 1895. The same system also brought 24” of snow in Rayne Louisiana, 16” in Houma Louisiana (just south of New Orleans), 22” in Lake Charles Louisiana and 6” in Mobile Alabama
It is very important to protect your vital organs, especially your Kidneys, during very cold winters with a lot of snow and/or rain. Internal cultivation (Kidney exercise, Meridian Massage, 8 Directional Exercise, lower back exercises etc…) as well as eating warming foods and drinking warming tea (ginger, cinnamon etc…). Try to conserve your energy as much as possible and avoid drafts and sweating. Also, do not over use the heater in your home as that can cause disruptions of your energy as well.
Regardless of what happens in this winter, make sure you focus on your internal cultivation, remaining calm and balanced, as well as, strengthening your body, mind and spirit.
Don’t miss another Taoism article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.
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Suffering from text neck or turkey neck, Taoism to the rescue
Many people spend several hours each day either in front of a computer or using their “smart phones”. There is a good chance that you are reading this article from a “smart” device, whether it be a phone or tablet, or the ever increasing (in size anyway) phablet.
When surveyed, teenagers and people in their early 20’s report that they spend almost the entire day using their phone; texting, posting messages, reading email, browsing facebook and twitter etc… Some people even have the urge to text while sleeping; that’s right, rapid eye movement has been replaced with rapid finger taping while sleeping. If you search for “finger twitching while sleeping” you will find many people looking for advice for this relatively new problem. “According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8-18 year olds spend an average of seven and a half hours using ‘entertainment media’ every day. (Your smart phone is a pain in the neck)”
This finger twitching/tapping, however, is a minor problem compared to the much larger and potentially problematic condition of the “text neck” or “turkey neck” phenomenon.
This condition is created as a result of repeated and prolonged poor posture that is encouraged by using so called smart devices, in particular smart phones.
The tendency is to hold the phone at chest level and tilt the head and neck forward to look down at the phone. When you do this, a tremendous pressure is placed on the neck and over time the spine begins to degenerate.
“Dean Fishman, a chiropractor in Florida, was examining an X-ray of a 17-year-old patient’s neck in 2009 when he noticed something unusual. The ghostly image of her vertebral column showed a reversal of the curvature that normally appears in the cervical spine — a degenerative state he’d most often seen in middle-aged people who had spent several decades of their life in poor posture.
‘That’s when I looked over at the patient, ‘Fishman says. She was slumped in her chair, head tilted downward, madly typing away on her cellphone. When he mentioned to the patient’s mother that the girl’s posture could be causing her headaches, he got what he describes as an “emotional response.’ It seemed the teen spent much of her life in that position. Right then, Fishman says, ‘I knew I was on to something.”
“The head in neutral has a normal weight” of 10 to 12 pounds, says Fishman, explaining that neutral position is ears over shoulders with shoulder blades pulled back. “If you start to tilt your head forward, with gravity and the distance from neutral, the weight starts to increase.”
This pressure on the neck and spine can vary between neutral to 60 pounds at a 60 degree tilt forward. Imagine carrying around 60 pounds on your neck, for several hours each day!
“Judith Gold, ScD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Temple University’s College of Health Professions and Social Work, presented evidence at this year’s meeting of the American Public Health Association suggesting that the more college students texted, the more pain they reported in their necks and shoulders.”
What can we do to prevent these problems?
The usual recommendations are good, however, they do not go far enough. For instance, recommending that the person sit with a straight back/spine, shoulders relaxed, head straight, bring the phone up to eye level rather than looking down, limit extended use by taking frequent breaks etc…
There is a better solution that will enhance the above recommendations. Practice the ancient Taoist “Turtle Exercise”.
Sit in a comfortable chair or on the floor (if floor then cross your legs), wrap your fingers around your thumbs (baby fist) and rest them on your lap. Sit with the back straight, lightly close the eyes, take a deep breath in and bring your chin down slightly and back towards the throat so the back of the neck stretches upward, exhale and bring the chin up so the back of the neck “folds into the shoulders”, repeat 12 times, slowly and do not strain. Practice 3 sets of 12 once or twice daily, or when needed. This will help to strengthen the spine, and nerves, and also serves as a meditation when combined with “Crane Breathing”.
This in addition to the other Taoist Internal Exercises will help to ensure that you prevent or help improve this painful and damaging problem.
Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.
Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
Are health gurus trustworthy?
Over the last 50 or 60 years there have been many dietary recommendations. Some of these recommendations have become so popular that the originator of the plan or lead spokesperson has risen to the level of a Diet “Guru”. The world is full of all sorts of gurus; before we examine a recent list of so called diet gurus, lets examine the definition of guru.
Oxford dictionary defines it thus: (in Hinduism) a spiritual teacher, (in Sikhism) any of the first ten leaders of the Sikh religion, an influential teacher, a revered mentor.
Now could be a good time to pause and reflect on why is a Hindu and Sikh term “guru”, being applied to “dietary” advice supposedly targeting and being advocated to the majority of the population? Also, who decides or decided that these people were “gurus” after all. Are they revered mentors, a Hindu spiritual teacher or one of the original leaders of the Sikh religion?
Before we digress further lets examine the list of Diet Gurus Who Died of Poor Health:
- “James Fixx: author of ‘The Complete Book of Running’, ran 10 miles per day, advocated running as being great for the heart and cardiovascular health. Dropped dead of a heart attack at 52 while running.
- Michael Montignac: developed a weight loss program that layed the foundation for the anti-carbohydrate movement, focused on ‘good versus bad carbs’ and the glycemic index. Died of prostate cancer at 66, his book ‘Eat Yourself Slim’ sold millions of copies around the world.
- Nathan Pritikin: recognized a connection between diet and heart disease, and had many media appearances. Battled with Leukemia and committed suicide at 69.
- Robert Atkins: creator of The Atkins Diet, advocated avoiding carbs (similar to Michael Montignac) and eating a diet high in fat and animal protein. Died at 72, and it was later revealed that he suffered from a history of serious heart problems, including congestive heart failure and hypertension.
- Robert Kowalski: His book ‘The New 8 Week Cholesterol Cure’ spent 115 weeks on the New York Times best sellers list, as well as several other ‘8 week cure’ books, died at 65 from a pulmonary embolism.”
The original article which appeared in “Mother Nature Network”, listed a few more “gurus” and also calculated that the average age of these gurus was far below the national average. These five had an average age of 64.8, compared to the national average in the US which is generally around 80 years old, if you average out men and women.
Often times, people will ask “What do you think of the advice given on the TV, radio etc…, regarding diet:? Your National Taoism Examiners answer is usually: “stick with what is tried and tested and does not waver, pick something that has been proven time and time again to be accurate and is not interested in becoming a fad or best selling information.” Then they are reminded of the Taoist Dietary principles and philosophy which have been around for over 5,000 years. Principles such as: eating less meat, drinking less, balancing the 5 tastes and colors, making sure you balance the acid/alkaline nature of the food etc…
We must learn to distrust or at least be wary of the latest fads, which more often than not, are just slick marketing ploys designed to get us to buy something, that we really do not need.
Another tip or principle, is to examine the source of the information. For instance, if you are reading or hearing health related news, ask yourself “what is the health of the person that is telling me this or advocating that”. If the person is not healthy then why listen to them? If a person who is overweight, sells a book about weight loss, why would we listen to them? If a person advocating a particular diet dies from cardiovascular disease, then perhaps, they did not know what they were talking about.
Remember the 100 year principle, which basically states, that if something has been around for at least 100 years, with no negative side effects, and it actually produces the result advocated, then perhaps, that is worth listening to. Everything else just has to wait, and either become time tested, or drift away with the rest of the slick advertising disguised as beneficial advice.
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Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
2015 Year of the Wood Goat
This year most of the world in one way or another either celebrated , or was at least aware of, Chinese New Year on February 19th.
The celebration usually lasts several days, and in some areas can last an entire week.
There is some discrepancy, especially in the west, whether, this is the year of the Goat, Sheep or Ram. You will hear different names used in conversation, and most likely in advertisements, trying to entice you into their stores.
Yang, is the Chinese word, and its closest western translation would be Goat. On the mainland of China, people will say this is the year of the Goat, and historically the character meant “Goat”.
What can we expect for this year?
Master Zhongxian Wu states:
“Goats give you gentle and peaceful feelings when they chew grass with a slow, grinding motion. Yet they move with great speed and agility when navigating their way through rough, rocky, mountainous areas. They have strong horns and are always ready to defeat their enemies.
Goat is the eighth animal symbol in the 12 Chinese Animals System.
We use Wei 未 to represent the Goat symbol in the 12 Earthly Branches.
Wei is a symbol for the 13:00–14:59 time of day, and for the sixth month in the Chinese Lunar-Solar calendar (which is approximately July 7 to August 8 in the Gregorian solar calendar).
Wei represents the napping time of day and the third summer month when nature is in its ripest season. It is a time or a place where Yang energy (life energy) continues its decline and when the life cycle becomes more mellow. We use the tidal hexagram Dun 遁 ䷠ to symbolize the Goat.”
He cautions those who are prone to lung and digestive trouble, to be extra vigilant and disciplined with their internal exercises.
Lets look at two prior Wood Goat years.
Sometimes, the best way to get an understanding of current conditions is to examine the past and make note of any correlations.
Major events of 1955 (www.historycentral.com):
- Germany becomes a member of NATO
- Vienna Treaty restores Austrian independence
- Geneva summit
- First McDonald’s restaurant opens
- Military coup ousts Peron
- Mirage unveiled
- U-2 tested
- Rosa Parks refuses to give up seat
- Mary McLeod Bethune Dies
- Fidel Castro starts the 26th of July Movement
- US military intervention in Iran
- Great Britain declares State of Emergency due to National Rail Strike
- The Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies sign the Warsaw Pact
- The United States begins its involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
Major events of 1895 (www.worldhistoryproject.org):
- Winston Churchill visits Cuba
- Frederick Douglas dies
- Oscar Wilde Brings Libel Charges Against the Marquess of Queensberry
- Oscar Wilde is Sentenced to Two Years Hard Labor
- Booker T. Washington Delivers His “Atlanta Compromise” Speech
Looking at the last two Wood Goat years we see the potential for peaceful negotiations, however, these were also years either leading up to or the beginnings of revolution and political turmoil. Economically, Goat years tend to be lean, and it is a good time to focus on minimizing ones budget, and increasing savings as much as possible. 1895 was the middle of the 1893-1898 depression, and 1955 saw the rise of “consumerism”, massive increase in personal debt and deflation.
Regardless of what happens in the world this year, make sure you focus on your internal cultivation, remaining calm and balanced, as well as, strengthening your body, mind and spirit.
Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.
Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
Review of the top Taoism stories for 2014
2014, the year of the Yang Wood Horse has proven to be everything one would expect from this type of year. This year we left two years characterized by inward searching energy (water dragon and water snake) and entered a year dominated by an element (wood) known for growth, new beginnings; think of a small plant or tree just beginning to grow/sprout. The horse is known as a noble animal and is associated with being: strong, disciplined, regal, elegant, travel, adventure, also capable of great speed and endurance/perseverance.
When combined a Wood Horse year has the potential for fast growth. In a Yang year this effect can be compounded even further. Those versed in even a rudimentary understanding of Taoist philosophy, know that fast uncontrolled growth often does not have a good outcome, nor is it long lasting.
Surely, there were quite a few incidents this past year that occurred very quickly, and picked up momentum almost “out of nowhere”. Ah, the year of the horse indeed.
In this review, however, we will focus on some of the positive events this past year.
Nine faults a master or teacher must avoid January 23, 2014
Being a master or teacher should be one of the most respected and appreciated positions in society, to a lesser extent coaching as well. Since people in these positions have close personal contact with people from various levels of society…
Nine things that will lead any student to failure January 26, 2014
In a prior article we listed 9 faults or traits masters and teachers of any subject or system must avoid in order to be successful and to help ensure the success of their students. This article is going to shift…
China shares over 5,000 years of scripts with the United Nations February 12, 2014
A major event occurred at the United Nations in New York City, not surprisingly the event was not covered on any of the major Western news networks.The Chinese Ethnic Scripts Exhibition made its debut and was organized by Liu…
Annals of Internal Medicine agrees with Taoism: multivitamins should not be used February 28, 2014
For the last several decades (at least the last four), multivitamins have been promoted as the perfect solution for improper nutrition. Many reports and stories, mainly in the form of advertising and marketing, have portrayed vitamins as preventing various diseases…
World unites against Monsanto and GM food May 15, 2014
Recently, Vermont became the first state in the U.S. To pass a GMO labeling law. This law requires all food that contains any Genetically Modified ingredients to be clearly labeled as such. For instance, if your corn chowder contains…
Unraveling the mysterious and misunderstood concept of P’u July 14, 2014
Many people who study or casually read about Taoism will at some point come across several principles and concepts which are considered important to the Taoist system.Some of the more popular principles are: Wu-wei, Tao and Te, Lao…
Chuang tzu’s advice on recognizing the true nature of things July 27, 2014
In a recent article “Unraveling the mysterious and misunderstood concept of P’u”, we examined how the true meaning of P’u is not the uncarved block, rather it is the ideal of remaining or…
Harvard study proves meditation can hinder the onset of Alzheimer’s September 26, 2014
If you ask most adults who are middle age or older, what their greatest fear is in regards to aging, many will say they do not want to “lose their mind”. They want to be able to…
The unnatural state of natural food in the US November 21, 2014
When you browse the shelves at your local grocery store, you may have noticed that more and more products contain the dubious label “Natural” or “Natural food”, or contains “Natural ingredients”.Morning and evening…
Who were the three kings/wise men of the Orient? December 26, 2014
Many of you may be familiar with the classic Christmas carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are”, some may be listening to it now, and yes, some may be tired of hearing it.Let’s re-examine…
There were many examples of positive things that occurred this past year, most of which, ironically never made it into the mainstream news or the 24 hour infotainment stations.
Let us all commit to making 2015, the Year of the Sheep, a year where we focus on the inner development/cultivation of our body-mind and spirit.
Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.
Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
NQA DAY 2013: Get excited get involved be the Qi
“The NQA’s Regional Committee is excited to announce the Second Annual NQA DAY, being held Saturday October 5, 2013 at locations around the country. Events are already scheduled in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah and California… The National Qigong Association is the premier membership organization for Qigong. Be a part of the Qi Flow and the Qi Excitement that is moving through our country. The mission of the NQA is “Enhancing and nourishing the quality of life through Qigong for all… (www.nqa.org)”
Carefully review the list of events, organized by regions, and feel free to contact each person in charge for more information. Not only will you be able to practice with like minded individuals and learn new skills, you will also be able to encourage the development and growth of the Qigong community. This is a great opportunity to share the many benefits of Qigong with those whom are unfamiliar with this ancient science, which is rooted in Taoism and is one branch of the Tao of Revitalization.
NORTHEAST REGIONALS
Qigong in the Park, Central Park
Saturday October 5, 2013
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mineral Springs – Central Park West, West 69’th Street, New York, NY 10019
“Come Qi with us at the Mineral Springs area off 73rd Street and central Park West. Join teachers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut who will provide a variety of forms to enhance vital ener-Qi! The event is free!”
Lamont Thomas – ldtlamont@sbcglobal.net – 203.843.1595
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National Qigong Day
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
106 Kimberbrae Drive – Kimberton, PA 19442
“Come Celebrate National Qigong Association Day with Helene Albright NQA Certified Qigong Instructor. Complimentary program includes sharing Qi thru Qigong movements, breath work, education and fun activities. We will spice up our Qi gathering with refreshments after the program. Reservations are mandatory so we can plan accordingly.”
Helene Albright at 610-933-6735 or hmalbright@comcast.net
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NQA DAY Celebration
Saturday, October 5, 2013
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Burroughs Community Center – 2470 Fairfield Avenue – Bridgeport, CT
“Come Qi with us in Bridgeport, CT and the Burroughs Community Center. Join teachers Julie Moffat, Darryl Manning & Maryann Charmoz of Connecticut who will provide a variety of forms to enhance vital ener-Qi. The event is free.”
Julie Moffat juliemoffat3@hotmail.com
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EAST CENTRAL REGIONALS
Discover Qigong: The Art of healthy Living
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Kankakee Farmers’ Market, Kankakee, IL
“Come discover the healing energy of Qigong. Teachers will be on hand to lead gentle exercise routines that feature healthful breathing, moderate stretching, and mindful movement designed to let you achieve and maintain a sense of wellness in your life. The event is sponsored by the National Qigong Association (NQA), the premiere membership organization for practitioners and teachers of the Healing Energy Arts.”
Gary F. Paruszkiewicz,C.S.M.E. NQA Practitioner Member = gfprelax1@gmail.com www.relax1.net
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WEST CENTRAL REGIONALS
Denver NQA Day Celebration
Saturday, October 12, 2013
1:30 to 4:30 PM
Dancing the Soul, A Center for Creative Movement and Stillness
950-C Jersey Street
Denver, CO 80220
303-502-4586
“We will celebrate Qigong by exploring various simple forms from at least three instructors. We will have time between sessions for door prize drawings, sharing refreshments and to network with other practitioners and teachers. This event is open to people of all levels of experience, including those new to Qigong.”
Eric Imbody, Professional Member 303-355-1239 eimbody@earthlink.net
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Qigong in the Tao Garden
Saturday, October 5, 2013
11am to 1 pm. Weather permitting
The Center Place
2730 29th Street
Boulder Colorado
“Come and join others in the peaceful backyard of the Center Place. We will do several forms of Qigong as a group. All levels of experience are welcome.”
Annie Roberts, Professional NQA Member, 303-425-5345
Damaris Jarboux, Professional NQA Member, 303-447-0484
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Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong & Tai Chi
Friday, October 4, 2013
12:00 noon to 2:00 PM
3220 South State St. Salt Lake City, UT
“Join us as we celebrate National Qigong Association Day. One hour of Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong with Kimerly Wagstaff, RN, CHN followed by one hour of Old Yang Style Tai Chi taught by Master Cheng Tsang Lu. This event is FREE.”
Kimerly at 801.201.5887
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WESTERN REGIONALS
Qigong in the Park for Everyone
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:30 to 11:30 AM
Cloverdale City Park – West end of 2nd Street – Cloverdale, CA. 95425
“PYNK Qigong will again be hosting a qigong workshop open to the public and celebrating NQA DAY with our special guest the venerable Mark Johnson a founding member of the National Qigong Association (NQA). Share the experience of ancient Chinese health practices as traditionally done in the fresh air and sunshine of our local free park.”
Janet Seaforth – NQA Level III Instructor – 707.894.7345 – www.PYNKQigong.com – seaforthjohnson@att.net
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