Most people cannot defend themselves in a physical confrontation.
Few people exercise or stay active (only about 23% CDC 2018) let alone practice the physical and mental skills that can protect themselves or loved ones.
Kids don’t play outside or together as much as they use to. Video games and smartphones arethe substitute for physical activity and developing social skills. Both of which are needed to avoid physical confrontations. In reality, most kids (and adults) never learn how to defend themselves these days until after the actual need arises – which unfortunately could be too late.
We live in a very different world than when we did a a few decades back. If you believe television and movies, everyone knows kung fu, boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA). However, this is not reality.
Good skills to learn:
Basic defense skills against being grabbed, touched, punched, kicked, etc.
Anatomy relative to “pressure points” or key body parts to defend or attack if necessary.
Situational awareness relative to options before and after someone finds themselves in a potentially dangerous and life changing event.
Balance, coordination and strength exercises to develop self-esteem and confidence that one does not need to be a victim or rely upon others for their own personal safety.
Contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119
(almost 40 years of practicing and teaching of wellness, self-defense and a martial arts)
For at least the last few decades, we have known that in order to maintain wellness we need a healthy mind, body and spirit. The state of our health directly impacts our body’s innate (natural) immunity against disease, illness and injury.
Eat quality food, be active, avoid stress, sleep soundly, drink alcohol responsibility, don’t smoke, maintain positive relationships, enjoy life – these are known and science-proven components to maintain wellness. Why did these concepts lose popularity and credibility?
For whatever reasons, our society for the last year and half, has pretty much disconnected the key components of health, fitness and wellness from personal responsibility. We have grown accustomed to blaming somebody, anybody, and everybody for our health issues, when we ultimately make the decisions of what we put into our bodies and the lifestyle we live.
Obviously not everyone’s socioeconomic situation allows for the Utopia of the perfect society many seek. But overall, our US citizens possess the freedom and ability to change the exact things that make us sick and dis-“ease”d.
“Normal” in the US:
– 12.2% of adults meet the daily fruit intake recommendation (CDC 2018)
– 9.3% of adults meet the daily vegetable intake recommendation (CDC 2018)
– 23% Exercise regularly (CDC 2018)
– 42% vitamin D deficiency (CDC 2018)
– 73% overweight (CDC 2018)
– 42% obese (CDC 2018)
– 18% obesity age 2-18 (CDC 2018)
– 70% on prescriptions (CDC 2019)
– 60% have chronic issues (CDC 2019)
– 40% have more than one chronic issues (comorbidities) (CDC 2019)
– 14% Smoke (CDC 2019)
These are the reasons why the US spends the most $$$ of all nations on healthcare but does not even rank in the top 30 nations for quality of life.
I am adamantly pursuing opportunities to share and teach methods of mind, body and self-awareness to open and willing health-conscious individuals. I teach and encourage people how to live a healthy lifestyle. Learn how this works and relates to your health and well being.
Heal the Body With the Mind (knowledge of how the body works)
Heal the Mind With the Body (skillful practices that engage one’s mind)
Many chronic health issues can be managed or eliminated with appropriate knowledge of how the human body works. Ailments such as joint or muscular pain are often due to injury or postural issues. Proper knowledge of exercise and physical movement can usually help. Issues such as stress, headaches, high blood pressure, obesity and many others can be improved through the appropriate methods for each individual’s personal situation.
Additionally, many emotional and mental issues can be improved or managed through skillful practices that engage the individuals mind and body simultaneously. Examples of mind and body engaging methods would be tai chi, yoga, pilates, meditation. Other methods might include playing a musical instrument, painting or engaging in nature.
Be well!
I teach and encourage people how to live a healthy lifestyle. Learn how this works and relates to your health and well being.
How aware are you, of seeing yourself for who your truly are? Can you see every line, mark or feature on your face in your thoughts without looking in the mirror? If no one is around to see your actions, do you still keep your morals and values in check? Seeing yourself as others see you, and not caring what others think of you are two entirely different discussions. This post is about the ongoing cultivation of trying to become the best version of yourself and not about how to justify our poor behavior or actions towards those we interact with. Now then, how can we become more self-aware to be the best we can be?
I have found from my almost 40 years of studying, practicing and teaching of martial arts and other Eastern wellness methods, that it is much easier to become aware of our physical body than to know how our mind works. Therefore, the body is the key into the mind. The mind controls the body. Our body protects our mind. We are not our thoughts, but rather the observer of our thoughts or consciousness. Our body doesn’t move on its own, other than for reflexes and autonomic functions. Our body doesn’t make the decisions to get up, open the refrigerator, and put something to eat in our mouth. Junk food or healthy snack? You as the observer makes these choices. Our thoughts do not make these decisions either, but rather our consciousness. Once one becomes self-aware of their consciousness, now they can observe their thoughts and choose to direct them with our without emotion. For example, after opening the refrigerator and accidentally dropping a glass container that shatters, we choose how to react to this maybe by experiencing regret, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. Or maybe you really didn’t like that container to begin with and now you are happy, relieved or indifferent after all it was only a glass container and not your house catching on fire or someone being seriously injured.
You are not your thoughts!
For most people, it is very difficult to train or discipline their mind and consequently, their body. People often say or do things they regret only to realize later that they lacked the self control and self awareness to make good decisions to begin with. By gaining control of the physical anatomy, a relationship with the physical body is developed. Attention to the details of your body positioning, is what trains the mind to become more self-aware. When aligning the limbs and joints to stretch and strengthen them, while also maintaining deep and deliberate breathing rhythms, an individual can cultivate a more harmonious link between the mind, body and spirit (self-awareness). Practice of exercises that truly engage the mind and body, (very much like yoga, tai chi, isometrics) to improve health & wellness. The mind directs the body, while the body protects the mind.
Ship Pal Gye, Taoist yoga or the “Filling the 8 Vessels”
Ship Pal Gye, Taoist yoga or the “Filling the 8 Vessels” are methods to increase the capacity of your nervous system. By holding the body in specific alignments, the nervous system is strengthened to endure more pain, stress and discomfort. Think of tempering steel in fire to strengthen the metal. Building self-discipline of the mind and body simultaneously!
When engaging the muscles, tendons, bones and fascia, the 12 regular energy meridians are engaged plus the 8 extraordinary meridians 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.
Exercise methods like these have been known for centuries, but are considered new or “alternative” to modern western culture.
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?
Learn how this all works from private, small or group instruction.
For example, in the US an individual needs to go through the school system at least until 16 years old, before they can starting working to earn an income. Then one can possibly move on to trade school, college, the military or other further education to elevate their knowledge base to their next level. Or not! Some people enter into the work force, take care of family or friends, or move onto other modes of becoming what is considered a successful life. With age, knowledge and life experience, I have found that all roads basically lead to the same goals of:
Pursuing health and happiness
Living with meaning and purpose
Becoming an asset to society
Acquiring wisdom throughout one’s life
Unless someone is independently wealthy and have innate knowledge of how to manage their resources, they need to have some plan to gain the knowledge in order to achieve the above facets of life.
Review the following graphics to see a logical progression of achieving a well earned life. Learn before earn. Never stop learning; never stop earning. Invest in yourself.
Be well, stay healthy, be wise.
I can help. I have almost 40 years worth of experience in practicing and teaching others to take control of their health and well-being. Wellness lectures, classes, study guides & booklets.For more information, contact Jim Moltzan at 407-234-0119 or www.MindAndBodyExercises.com
United Martial Arts Association 