Blog

BaguaZhang (8 trigram palm)

Bagua, Baguazhang, Bagwa, Pakua, Walking Meditation or “walking of the circle” are all names for this style of Kung Fu training. Translated to English is “8 trigram palm”. Bagua is an internal developing style similar to Tai chi and Hsing Yi. Tai chi is often considered to be the softest, Bagua somewhat harder and Hsing Yi the hardest style of the three main internal styles. Hard and soft refer to the control applied to the various movements practiced. Bagua develops stability in motion amongst many other things. Cheng, Chung, Emei, Sun are all styles of Baguazhang.

Benefits include:

  • Calming of the mind
  • Focuses thought
  • Strengthens and relaxes muscles
  • Can be practices as “Moving Meditation”
  • Attention to body alignments
  • Cultivates internal energy (qi)
  • Develops the physical body from the inside out
  • Slow, medium & fast body motions
  • Static (isometric) as well as continuous (isotonic) movements

Deep mindful breathing, specific muscle stretching and deliberate walking techniques are the basis of BagauZhang exercises. Practicing BaguaZhang or Bagua, stepping positions, body postures and changes (transitional stretching movements) enables one to move your body like a spring, being flexible and light but having a lot of strength and power behind the movement. This would be similar to moving as light and smooth as a feather but having the strength and speed of a bear.

Attaining certain body alignments within postures, holding that position and moving from one to another is essential to develop overall strength, coordination, balance and increase of energy flow throughout the body. Proper breathing is important in the development of internal strength and has to be in tune with each movement. These postures can be practiced as static exercises for any length of time (typically 20 seconds to 5 minutes or more), or dynamically while performing the different stepping methods.

__________

Often we look to point the finger how others should be better. Another perspective would be to make ourselves better. Be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Set the example because this action alone can be contagious in a positive way.

Wisdom is a recipe of knowledge and experience obtained over time (age) allowing one to differentiate when is the correct timing to react or not to react. When to do, when not to do. Coming up to a stop sign, you really don’t care to stop your vehicle (your true feeling) but you do because it is the right action (the law) to stop. If a blaring fire engine were to suddenly appear in your rear view mirror, you might choose to move through the intersection and to a space clear of the oncoming 370,000 pounds of moving metal and water (correct action for this situation).

Learn how to maintain health, fitness and wellness with tai chi, gigong and other time-proven methods. Private, small or group instruction.

Take care of yourself because no one else should care more about you than you. Eat better, move more, stress less, be nicer. Be well!

.Jim Moltzan 407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.comMindAndBodyExercises

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

Key points for my classes

Eat healthier – less junk, salt and alcohol. More fruit & vegetables

Be more active – get off the couch, away from the PC, TV, smarphone, etc.

Sleep better – earn a good night’s rest by being active during the day.

Relieve stress – exercise, meditate, breathe deeper & deliberately, take a break from the news & social media.

Be nice to others -what you put out, you receive back.

Enjoy life, but know your limits (all in moderation)

These are the key components to being healthy.

To enjoy a balance between a healthy mind and body, one can practice exercises that truly engage the mind and body. Breathing control with specific body alignments are methods (very much like yoga) to achieve improve health & wellness. Learn how to maintain health, fitness and wellness with tai chi, gigong and other time-proven methods.

Private, small or group instruction.

Be well!

Jim Moltzan 407-234-0119www.MindAndBodyExercises.comhttps://www.facebook.comMindAndBodyExerciseshttps://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExerciseshttps://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/https://umareg.com/masters-council/

3 Internal Martial Arts

3 Internal Martial Arts – Tai Chi, BaguaZhang & Hsing Yi

Tai Chi, (TaiJi, Tai Chi Ch’uan), Pa Kua (BaGuaZhang), Hsing Yi (XingYi Quan), and are considered the 3 main Taoist Internal Martial Arts. They incorporate many types of trainings including exercises, forms (sets), breathing exercises (Chi Kung or QiGong), meditation, self-defense and weapons skills. Many of the same benefits derived from qigong can be realized from regular practice of these exercise methods.

Tai Chi, Taiji, T’ai Chi Ch’üan, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. The term Tai chi (translates to the ”Supreme Ultimate”) refers to a philosophy of the forces of yin and yang, related to the exercises. Though originally conceived as a martial art, it is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons such as stress relief, physical fitness and achieving greater longevity and self awareness. As a result, many training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims with differing emphasis. Some training forms of Tai chi are especially known for being practiced with relatively slow movements. Chen, Yang and Wu are all styles of Tai chi.

__________

Bagua, Baguazhang, Bagwa, Pakua, Walking Meditation or “walking of the circle” are all names for this style of Kung Fu training. Translated to English is “8 trigram palm”. Bagua is an internal developing style similar to Tai chi and Hsing Yi. Tai chi is often considered to be the softest, Bagua somewhat harder and Hsing Yi the hardest style of the three main internal styles. Hard and soft refer to the control applied to the various movements practiced. Bagua develops stability in motion amongst many other things. Cheng, Chung, Emei, Sun are all styles of Baguazhang.

__________

“San Ti Shi” is Chinese for “Trinity Posture”, also known as the “3 Elements
Form/Posture” or “3 Body Posture”.San Ti Chi is the fundamental posture used in Hsing Yi Chuan (Xing Yi Quan). Hsing Yi is one of the 3 major internal martial arts along with Tai Chi and BaguaZhang. The “three bodies” refers to the three phases all together; heaven-earth-and the human being. It corresponds to the head, hands, and feet in Hsing Yi. These phases are again divided into three sections; spirit-mind-body.

__________

All three styles have many overlapping benefits such as:

  • Calming of the mind
  • Focuses thought
  • Strengthens and relaxes muscles
  • Can be practices as “Moving Meditation”
  • Attention to body alignments
  • Cultivates internal energy (qi)
  • Develops the physical body from the inside out
  • Slow, medium & fast body motions
  • Static as well as continuous movements

__________

Often we look to point the finger how others should be better. Another perspective would be to make ourselves better. Be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Set the example because this action alone can be contagious in a positive way.

Wisdom is a recipe of knowledge and experience obtained over time (age) allowing one to differentiate when is the correct timing to react or not to react. When to do, when not to do. Coming up to a stop sign, you really don’t care to stop your vehicle (your true feeling) but you do because it is the right action (the law) to stop. If a blaring fire engine were to suddenly appear in your rear view mirror, you might choose to move through the intersection and to a space clear of the oncoming 370,000 pounds of moving metal and water (correct action for this situation).

Learn how to maintain health, fitness and wellness with tai chi, gigong and other time-proven methods. Private, small or group instruction.

Take care of yourself because no one else should care more about you than you. Eat better, move more, stress less, be nicer. Be well!

.Jim Moltzan 407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.comMindAndBodyExercises

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia (bone porosity & bone loss)

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia (bone porosity & bone loss)

Are you age 40 or older? If so, you might want to make sure you stay active as you continue to age. After 40 or so, the average woman losses 8% of their bone mass; men loss about 3% per decade. So, by 70 a woman can lose 25%; a man 18%. Bones can become more porous and weaker, usually starting to increase after age 45.

Wow, not good!

Consistent (and appropriate) exercise puts strain on the muscles, joints and bones, causing the bones cells to stay active and continue to remodel, often until the end of life. (Wolff’s Law)Appropriate exercise as we all age depends upon the individual. However, Tai chi, yoga and qigong are all low-impact and can be practiced by most people regardless of age and health issues.

I offer private lessons in Wekiva and weekly group classes at Winter Park Presbyterian Church.

Jim Moltzan407-234-0119 www.MindAndBodyExercises.comhttps://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExerciseshttps://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/https://umareg.com/masters-council/

Grow Older, But Also Grow Wiser

We all grow older, but do we ever really grow up? Growing up usually refers to being more responsible, more independent, more aware, more giving of oneself.

However, it usually takes a better part of a lifetime to realize what is most important in our lives. Our family and our health, right? How cliché. We say it because it sounds wise and moral. But really, what we as humans seem to value the most is our home, cars, money, and other material possessions. Our ego tops the list of our priorities as we like to think that what we offer more than we receive in our daily existence within the universe.

Often we look to point the finger how others should be better. Another perspective would be to make ourselves better. Be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Set the example because this action alone can be contagious in a positive way.

Wisdom is a recipe of knowledge and experience obtained over time (age) allowing one to differentiate when is the correct timing to react or not to react. When to do, when not to do. Coming up to a stop sign, you really don’t care to stop your vehicle (your true feeling) but you do because it is the right action (the law) to stop. If a blaring fire engine were to suddenly appear in your rear view mirror, you might choose to move through the intersection and to a space clear of the oncoming 370,000 pounds of moving metal and water (correct action for this situation).

Learn how to maintain health, fitness and wellness with tai chi, gigong and other time-proven methods. Private, small or group instruction.

Take care of yourself because no one else should care more about you than you. Eat better, move more, stress less, be nicer. Be well!

.Jim Moltzan 407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.comMindAndBodyExercises

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council