Silk Reeling Exercises

Silk Reeling refers to internal (neigong) movement principles practiced in traditional styles of Tai Chi, especially emphasized within the Chen and Wu styles. The metaphoric term derives from the spiraling and twisting movements of the silkworm larva as it wraps itself within its cocoon. In order to draw out the silk successfully, the action must be smooth, consistent and flowing with no jerking or sharp change in direction. Too fast of a movement and the silk breaks. Too slow and it sticks to itself and becomes tangled. Silk Reeling movements are continuous, rhythmic and spiraling patterns practiced at consistent speed with a “light touch” of drawing silk. Silk reeling is practiced in solo forms and stances as well as in “push hands” with a partner.

Key Points of Awareness:
• The head stays upright as if trying to make the scalp push the ceiling up; chin slightly tucked back.
• Keep the head level and don’t drop your head when your arms move downwards or to look at your feet. Use your peripheral vision to focus on the arms when they are lowered.
• The tongue should be gently placed on the top palate (roof) of your mouth.
• Keep your body upright, with the spine naturally straight while keeping the chest relaxed. Do not hold too much tension in your chest.
• When the arms are in the lower phase of the movement don’t lean or bend forward keeping the body upright at all times.
• When moving the arms, try to keep the shoulders relaxed and loose, trying not to lift them.
• During movements when the arms arc away from the body, try not to lift the elbows too high. Make sure you keep your elbow lower then the hand.
• When shifting the weight side-to-side, always keep the knees slightly bent. Don’t straighten the empty leg.
• The breath should be natural, deep, slow and quiet while coordinated with the body movement. Typically when the hand goes across the body, breathe in through the nose. When the hand goes away from the body, breathe out through the nose.

Embrace the concept of feet, waist, arms:

1) Push (power) from the feet
2) Direct with the waist moving
3) Express with the shoulders, arms & hands

Watch the video to see one method of stretching the spine, relieving stress, increasing oxygen intake and becoming more self-aware.

__________

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

Where the Rubber Hits the Road – Personal Responsibility

Personal Responsibility

We are here…right here where the rubber hits the road.

When the action really begins, is when you begin the job, when you really get serious.

So the question I have is, how serious are you folks about doing anything? Likes and smiley faces are nice, but really don’t make us healthier, more fit or more connected.

None of us really have “extra” time but rather “make” time for what we prioritize in our lives. True is true, either we walk the talk, or we talk the walk.

Talk is cheap, time is priceless.

If every person in American spent 5 minutes (or more) every day by exercising, more people could better manage their weight and suffer less from related illnesses.

If every person in American spent 5 minutes (or more) every day calming their mind by practicing deep breathing exercises, more people would be less stressed and suffer less from related illnesses.

If every person in American spent every day becoming more conscious of their nutrition habits, more people would be able to maintain their health through the choices they make while eating and drinking, and suffer less from related illnesses.

If everyone could assume personal responsibility for their own health, our nation would not have to spend as much time, effort, energy and money trying to keep people healthy.

These concepts seem easy enough, but in reality, most people lack the desire or self-discipline to take the effort and do what it takes to stay healthy, prevent illness or cure their own ailments. Self-discipline is one of five steps known to help achieve better mental and physical wellness.

1) Respect – This is where values begin. You must understand and have respect for yourself (self-respect) before you can demonstrate it to others. Taking the steps to take care of your physical and mental well-being effects you first and then those closest to you second.

2) Discipline – Developing control of one’s own desires, commitments, and ultimately your own actions, leads to self-discipline. Control of physical exercises can lead to management of thought and emotion.

3) Self-Esteem – As you review your achievements of respect and discipline, your sense of worth is elevated and appreciated.

4) Confidence – Understanding and accepting your weak areas as well as your stronger aspects removes insecurity. When you feel that you are physically well and mentally sharp, confidence can fill your personality. You can accomplish whatever goal you set out to achieve.

5) Determination to Achieve Goals – The positive sum of the previous aspects leads to one’s determination. Good judgment and focused effort toward positive goals result in true personal success.

Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga all are methods to achieve these traits.

It doesn’t matter so much that you do these exercises, as much as it matters that you do some type of exercise. Walk, jog, swim or whatever – just get going and do something. 5 minutes here and there can quickly turn into 15 or 30 minutes at one time or over the course of a day. Once you are moving or mentally engaged, it is much easier to stay motivated and try a few more exercises for a few more minutes.

Be well, become healthier, be wise.

___________

I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lecture 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

Self-awareness Can be Developed

Self-awareness Can be Developed!

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.

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” 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.

Be well!

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

http://www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

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

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

Discipline the Mind to Discipline the Body

Self-discipline Can be Developed.

Anything of value is always going to require some amount of sacrifice of time, effort and resources.

By gaining control of the physical anatomy, a relationship with the physical body is developed. 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) to improve health & wellness. The mind directs the body, while the body protects the mind.

Discipline the mind in order to discipline the body!

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

Watch the video to get a sample of what this type of instruction entails. 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.

Be well!

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

http://www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

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

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

Learning Options

Learning Options

Qigong, Tai Chi & Wellness lectures, seminars & discussions. These events are for a 1-hour, consisting of explanations, question & answer time and various amounts of physical interaction depending upon the theme. Cost varies upon event and amount of attendees.

Qigong, Tai Chi & Wellness group classes at Winter Park Presbyterian Church, Most Mondays & Fridays, 11:30am to 12:30pm. Classes usually in the Fellowship hall or the Education Building upstairs. Free to church members, $10.00 per drop-in class for non-church members. Class is open to all 18 years of age and older. Average age though, for this class is about 65 & up. Every month we practice a set of movements which changes from month to month.

Qigong, Tai Chi & Wellness group classes are available in the Longwood-Wekiva neighborhood. I offer many levels of self-improvement and awareness through:

– Qigong
– Kung Fu (tai chi, baguazhang and various other types of training)
– acupressure/reflexology
– iron palm/iron body/bone marrow washing
– Traditional Chinese Medicine methods and concepts
– herbal extracts for injuries and conditioning
– weapons training for enhanced awareness
– core strengthening methods
– practical self-defense methods
– management of chronic pain issues through movement, meditation and herbal extracts
– study guides and booklets showing graphics of various exercises, concepts & theories

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

Florida Hospital Healthier Bones Lecture 10-05-2018-12

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

Master Instructor Jim Moltzan has trained with a diverse group of masters and high-level martial arts teachers of many different disciplines. Jim’s specialty is teaching exercises to improve chronic conditions, working with people of all ages, especially senior adults. Offering guidance and instruction, Jim has also worked with Parkinson Disease patients through Florida Hospital. Jim gives regular lectures as requested by AdventHealth (Florida Hospital) regarding the benefits of Eastern practices.

He is 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.

Jim continues his training and teaching in the Orlando, Florida area conducting classes, seminars and lectures as his schedule allows. He balances his teachings and businesses with his own personal cultivation and time spent with his wife and two college-age kids