Strengthen Your Mental Tolerance by Understanding the Energetic Structure of the 8 Extraordinary Vessels

The 8 Extraordinary Energy Meridians or Vessels

By strengthening the physical body through exercise – specific exercises such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, and others, are methods to develop self-disciple. By practicing self-induced strategic trauma (training) one can dramatically strengthen their nervous system and in turn, develop mental stress to better deal with the stress of daily trials and tribulations. By manifesting our own internal pressure (mind and body training), it is much easier to manage external pressure (stress) that constantly pushes into our personal space.

Managing ones physical body, thoughts and emotions all burn a tremendous amount of energy. The brain used 20% of the body’s overall energy expenditure, while only comprising 2% of our body weight.

Exercise and wellness methods and concepts like these have been known for centuries, but are considered new or “alternative” to modern western culture.

Fatigue and Vitality – Saskatoon Wellness Centre (saskwellness.com)

Building stronger muscles can lead to building stronger joints and bones. Additionally, by holding static postures, positions or exercises the nervous system is strengthened. Specific joint alignments engage the nervous system to endure more pain, stress and discomfort. Standing perfectly still for 1 minute can be challenging; 5 minutes of not moving might be considered self-torture for some. And that is just standing and not even trying to hold a difficult posture. Think of tempering steel in fire to strengthen the metal.

When engaging the muscles, tendons, bones and fascia, the 12 regular energy meridians are engaged plus the 8 extraordinary meridians (or vessels) are opened and filled as reservoirs to adjust the ebb and flow of energy throughout the body and thereby strengthening the immune system among other bodily functions. These meridians and vessels run throughout the body in a spider web-like pattern from head to toe, on the surface as well as deep into the internals of the human body.

Often times people will ask me, “where did you learn this?” Well…almost 40 years ago I began studying Korean kung fu, then Traditional Chinese Medicine, medical qigong, fitness, wellness and anatomy. It didn’t happen overnight or from a weekend seminar. It took me decades of learning, studying and teaching from and with high level masters and teachers. And I’m not done learning yet, are you?

The physical exercises are just part of this training in addition to breath control and the self-awareness of the energy flow within the body.

Read and follow my blog posts to learn more about major health issues and what you can do about it.

Be well, become healthy, be wise.

#mentalhealth #stressmanagement #depression

Jim Moltzan

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Masters Council

Iron Palm / Iron Body Conditioning

Iron Palm Conditioning started with Shaolin Monks practicing methods to make the hands. legs, and feet, feel as strong as iron. Iron Palm liniment is applied on the hands, legs, shins or any part of the body used to strike during training to prevent pain, strengthen the bones, tendons. ligaments. and connective tissue while helping these areas to heal more quickly. Iron Palm and Iron Body are a more advanced practice of acupressure and/or reflexology. As the specific parts of the body are precisely hit, acupoints on the 12 energy meridians are stimulated. These acupoints directly affect the internal organs of the human body.

This training can consist of punching the hands into large containers of dried beans, sand, rocks, and metal shavings among other media. Kicking bamboo trees, bags of sand, rocks and metal shavings is also part of this training regimen. Proper breathing (Qigong) and concentration develops, literally hands of iron while simultaneously improving blood and energy flow throughout the body and its internal organs.

Iron Palm (Liniment)
Iron Palm liniment was formulated to strengthen and heal bones, ligaments, tendons, connective tissue and sinew from injuries and all types of repetitive contact exercises like hitting a punching bag, all types of Iron Palm bags or if you are advanced enough in training where you are breaking objects like brick, boards. etc. Another powerful benefit of Iron Palm liniment is reducing pain very quickly. Iron Palm herbal liniments are used externally. Iron Palm recipes are also used for reducing pain due to conditioning or from everyday injuries. Iron Palm liniments can also help with chronic conditions related to the above-mentioned areas. A person does not necessarily need to practice Iron Palm conditioning in order to receive the healing benefits of these extracts.

I have learned to produce these Jows ” and have been using them for almost 40 years to externally treat injuries, aches and pains. If overly sore or injured, we can also use curcumin poultices or store-bought plaster patches with cayenne.

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Qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga are not the only methods that can be used within this formula but have proven the test of time as methods to cultivate harmony of the mind, body and spirit. These exercise practices offer a wide spectrum of physical wellness benefits, stress relief as well as means of self-awareness. Not all teachers nor students practice these for the same goals.

I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

I started my martial arts training at the age of 16, starting with Korean martial arts and evolving into BaguaZhang, Tai Chi, and Qigong. I have been training, studying and teaching for almost 40 years effectively educating hundreds of students.

As a recognized master instructor, I have trained with a diverse group of masters and high-level martial arts teachers of many different disciplines. My specialty is teaching exercises to improve chronic conditions, working with people of all ages, especially senior adults. Offering guidance and instruction, I have also worked with Parkinson Disease patients through Florida Hospital. I offer regular lectures as requested by AdventHealth (Florida Hospital) regarding the benefits of Eastern practices.

I am the author and graphic artist of numerous journals, graphic charts and study guides relative to the mind and body connection and how it relates to martial arts, fitness and self-improvement.

I continue training and teaching in the Orlando, Florida area conducting classes, seminars and lectures as my schedule allows. I balance my teaching and businesses with my own personal cultivation and time spent with my wife and two college-age kids.

Herbal Extracts for Longevity & Healing

Traditional herbal extracts consisting of various liniments, tinctures, teas, etc. are known for their unique properties, which harmonize both the mind and body, allowing the body to find its natural balance in just a short amount of time. Each traditional herbal extract formula targets a specific area of the body, just as different foods and vitamins supply nutrients to specific areas of the body or different medicines are used to treat specific illnesses. During physical exercise or qigong practice, the application of these herbal extracts helps to relax the muscles and increase circulation, allowing you to challenge yourself further. This then allows you to maximize your full strength and speed while preventing injury caused by shocking different parts of the body, such as: joints, nerves, and muscles. Some herbs allow the body to naturally expel toxins from joints and tissues, enabling oxygen and vital nutrients to reach affected areas. Others stimulate the body’s natural energy to accelerate healing in the muscles, joints, nerves, and ligaments.

Blockages of the Qi, or chi (energy) flow usually result in poor blood circulation followed by illness. Acupressure or “pressure point” massage in conjunction with herbal extracts open the blood circulation and energy pathways increasing a flow of vitality that moves throughout the whole body. Response time to this opening of the energy pathways is usually less than 5 minutes.

Why Conventional Methods Don’t Fix Chronic Pain Issues

When in pain, receptors become oversensitive requiring ever increasing amounts of input to dull this signal. Over time, the natural pain-killing mechanism will exhaust itself trying to keep up with the oversensitive receptors. The result being that the pain and inflammatory responses become chronic, and the pain becomes increasingly resistant to conventional pain-relief methods (ice, heat, etc.) and pain medications. Chronic inflammation can destroy our joints completely over time. Pain relievers (NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, etc.) are ineffective against this gradual degeneration. They may help somewhat with chronic pain symptoms but ultimately, they don’t repair the biological pain receptor nor joint damage. Many pain-relieving drugs are known to have serious side effects. COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Celebrex) have previously been shown to cause an increased risk of heart ailments. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.) can cause bleeding ulcers and do damage to the digestive system and kidneys. Often these medicines are unable to keep the chronic inflammation from continuing to cause cartilage degradation and have little or no power to reverse the process.

Be well!

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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

Tibetan Meditation – basics

Tibetan medicine seeks to draw attention to the relationship in balancing aspects of the mind, body, and behavior. Meditation is an integral component within Tibetan medicine. Through practices of Tibetan meditation, the practitioner seeks to probe the nature of reality. There is an emphasis to tame the incessant inner dialogue of our thoughts, which is constantly shifting to the barrage of sensory input. This inner dialogue is often referred to as the “monkey mind”. Through these meditation methods one can transform the mind into a conduit to create better health and happiness (University of Minnesota, 2020).

The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to reach nirvana or spiritual enlightenment where there is an absence of suffering or realization of the self and its relation to the universe. Nirvana translates to “cessation”, as in removing suffering and its undesired effects of drama, manipulation, aggression, struggle, etc. Practice of Tibetan meditation is a means that can lead to this goal.

Within Buddhism is the concept of The Four Noble Truths, which are relative to the meditation practices. These truths would be:

Life is painful and frustrating. Everyone experiences painful and frustrating moments.

Suffering has a cause. The cause comes from our attachment to what we know and is familiar.

The cause of suffering can be ended by releasing expectations and attachments. Attachment based on fear of loss and fear of being alone and separate, are the causes of suffering.

Meditation, or the practice of mindfulness and awareness, is the way to end suffering

We can stop dwelling in the past by being focused on the current moment. Keeping these concepts at the forefront of our thoughts, will help with detachment and concentration, and lead to mastery of the mind (Yugay, 2018).

Sitting while meditating is a major component of Tibetan Meditation, I think it is important to note that these practices are more of a lifestyle where these truths are experienced and addressed throughout the whole day, every day, for the practitioner and not just something to ponder once in a while when it is convenient.

I found some information about the Dalai Lama that I found quite interesting. The Dalai Lama actually has his own website! Amazing how he has embraced modern technologies to further spread his teachings of awareness of compassion, suffering and other aspects of Buddhism and Tibetan Meditation. The Dalia Lama is the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism. His meditation schedule is a large portion of his daily routine, being quite intense compared to most people who meditate. He starts his days with a few hours of prayers, meditations, and prostrations. After breakfast, he spends another three hours on meditation and prayer. After his 5 p.m. tea, the Dalai Lama concludes his day with another two more hours of meditation and then finishes with his evening prayers. Every day he spends about seven hours a day on mindfulness. He shares that even if you only commit five minutes a day to meditation, one can still gain the benefits of slowing aging, sharpening the mind, and reducing stress.

Be well!

References:

6 Tips for Longevity From the Dalai Lama | Well+Good (wellandgood.com)Links to an external site.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama | The 14th Dalai Lama

University of Minnesota. (2020, May). How Can I Practice Tibetan Meditation? https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-can-i-practice-tibetan-meditationLinks to an external site.

Yugay, I. (2018, January 19). The Secret To Enlightenment With Buddhist Meditation. Mindvalley. https://blog.mindvalley.com/buddhist-meditation/Links to an external site.

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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

Singing Bowls Meditation

A singing bowl or standing bell, are mostly crystal or metal alloy bowls where, by rubbing a mallet around the bowl’s outer rim and edges produce sounds. Singing bowls and sometimes gongs, surround the user with tones that offer the goal of relaxation by decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression. These sounds offer an escape from the everyday incessant inner dialogue or chatter of thoughts within one’s mind. Singing bowl techniques can be very mind engaging, similarly to meditation practices and yoga, and are often practiced in tandem.

Standing bells historically were a bowl or gong and struck with a wooden or felted mallet. Use goes back thousands of years, with origins in China and Mongolia. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries used the bowls in this manner to keep time or to signal the end of a meditation.

Theories regarding sound bowls claim that specific sounds can calm the mind by entraining the brain’s electrical impulses to mimic those found while in states of deep concentration, meditation, or relaxation. Theta waves are present when one is in deep concentration or meditation. From listening to singing bowls, one can guide their mind towards theta brain wave activity.

Click on the link to begin a “A Sound Meditation with Quartz Crystal Bowls”.

Once I started the audio file, I took a moment or two to take in the sounds I was hearing. I have practiced other meditation practices using sounds and/or music, so I had an idea of what to expect. This was to be a different “flavor” of a wide palette of meditation techniques.

After a few seconds, I put my focus on my breathing rhythm and body alignments. I find it easier to engage my thoughts by performing a mental inventory of the physical aspects of the meditation practice; kind of a scan from head to toe. I close my eyes lightly while I sit upright, but in a relaxed posture. I also become aware of my head pushing upward as my shoulders relax and sink downward. By gently stretching my neck side to side and forward and backward, I am able to release more tension in my face, neck, upper back and even my shoulders. The sounds continue to change in volume and tones, which is somewhat relaxing to my hearing and consequently, my whole body through my nervous system.

I then become more aware of my breaths by moving my respiratory diaphragm (belly), to further release and relax the muscular tension, especially during my exhales. 4 seconds to inhale, pause for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, pause again for 4 seconds, and then repeat this sequence with another 4 second inhale. This brings my breaths per minute (BPM) down to just below 4 respirations; more than slow enough to get below the 10 BPM that engages the parasympathetic nervous system. I have been practicing this breathing pattern (box breathing) for decades now, so I don’t really count the seconds but rather go by instinct to lengthen my breaths. The sounds continue in the background and are beginning to sound and feel more like vibrations than individual tones. I can slightly feel my body buzzing or vibrating also during this part of the session. It is quite relaxing and comfortable at the same time.

Now I can feel my mouth become moist, my palms and feet become warm, and my stomach begins to gurgle a bit. My brain is telling my body that I am relaxed enough to begin “rest and digest”. I become aware of my thoughts and continue the downward scan and release of muscular tension along the way, all the way down to my feet and toes. I maintain just enough tension to maintain my body posture but not too stiff or too relaxed.

Upon finishing I feel calm, refreshed, at ease and clearer. The room is quieter, but now I can hear the refrigerator and A/C in the background. My emotions feel as if they have been reset, for now at least. The room seems brighter, and my eyes focus a bit sharper for a few minutes thereafter the practice. This is a very satisfying and unique type of practice that I will be adding more into my meditation routines, maybe with or without static stances or posture work.

Reference:

Singing Bowls For Meditation: Deepen Your Practice – Insight Timer Blog

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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com