Mindfullness Used to be called “Paying Attention” (1-hour lecture on Tai Chi)

Years back, mindfulness was called paying attention.

Some smart marketers decided that “paying attention” could be re-branded into “mindfulness” and a billion dollar industry was created. Seminars, retreats, classes, phone apps and a plethora of other events and items have come about to help people learn to pay attention or be more mindful.

However, Eastern philosophy and its methods of yoga (qigong), tai chi and others, have been around for thousands of years and have already been proven to improve mental and physical health. Better fitness, health and well-being usually help the body’s innate (natural) immunity to combat illness, disease and injuries.

Mind, Body & Spirit. Many people talk about this but how do you actually be more present. Watch my video below of my introductory Tai Chi & Qigong class at the University Club of Winter Park to learn how these methods help us to pay better attention to what is most important in our lives.

Physical Exercise (body)

Regulated Breathing (mind)

Self Awareness (spirit)

The former are key components to a healthy lifestyle. However, more important is the quality or specificity of how you exercise for your abilities and limitations. How deep and the frequency of your breaths is more important than just being able to breathe. What you think about determines the quality of your thoughts being positive or negative with both affecting the emotions and consequently the nervous system and blood chemistry.

It really is that simple. Our health, good or bad is the manifestation of our lifestyle. What we eat, what we think and how we move our bodies – all our reflected in our well-being. Our health is ultimately our own individual responsibility. Obviously some people’s individual situation requires help and/or assistance from within our society. Socioeconomic issues effect many. But mostly, people have choices in the US regarding their own lifestyle and how it affects their own health. People usually are not forced to eat low nutritional junk food, smoke or live a sedentary lifestyle. We make our own decisions and live with the causes, effects and results of our choices.