What is Qi?

Qi is pronounced as “chee” and means “breath” in Chinese. Other definitions are vitality, energy, force, air, vapor. Qi is the life energy that all living creatures require in order to exist. Different cultures call this energy Chi (English), Ki (from Japanese), Gi (Korean) or Prana (Indian).

Qi is a type of energy in the human body and circulates within the blood, cells, and tissues throughout. “When qi moves, blood follows” is a root concept with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Qi flows in a specific pattern, at specific times from one organ to the next through meridians within the body. These meridians or channels might best be described as something similar to the electrical lines on a printed circuit board. There are 12 main meridians, with 2 for each organ (situated bilaterally from head to toe) for 12 organs. Zang Fu Zhi qi, is that which circulates through the organs. Jing Luo Zhi qi is that which circulates through the meridians.

Qi has mass the same way smoke or vapor has mass; both are transitional states of form. Qi (energy) is regarded as one of the 3 Treasures (San Jiao) or essential components of life, with essence (Jing) and spirit (Shen) being the other two. When energy, essence and spirit are in harmony with one another, the person finds themselves alert, healthy, and vibrant. Or the opposite if their treasures are in imbalance. If this harmonious flow is disrupted, illness occurs.

• Physically (jing): energetically manifesting as the body’s cells and tissues into form, bone marrow, blood and bodily fluids.

• Energetically (qi): as resonant vibration, heat, sound, light and electromagnetic fields.

• Spiritually (shen): energetically manifesting through subtle vibrations which extend through space or Wu Ji.

The following graphic shows how qi can be conceptualized into the Chinese ideogram of rice cooking atop a heat source and producing the wisps of vapor (energy) that we see rising above the cooking rice.

The amount of qi in one’s body and the quality of it determines whether an individual is generally healthy or prone to illness. There is a finite amount in our bodies and is gradually exhausted due to age and possible abuses. When it decreases so does the lifespan of the individual.

A proper balance of nutrition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle directly affect the quality and abundance of qi. Emotions and their balance or lack thereof, affects the quality of an individual’s qi. The emotions of joy, anger, sadness, grief and fear affect our qi within specific organs.

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. I also have hundreds of FREE education video classes, lectures and seminars available on my YouTube channel at:

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

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

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Excessive Sitting Can Cause Chronic Pain

Many people have been sitting much more this last year while working at home, online classes and in general less physical activity. Consequently, long hours of sitting is also a known cause for lower back, leg and neck issues. Most people in the United States will experience back pain at some time in their lives. Causes of back pain are many ranging from poor posture, heavy lifting and lack of exercise amongst others. Some find relief through chiropractic or acupuncture therapy. Most pain goes away within a few days or weeks only to return at a later date.

Unless the root cause is fixed, most treatments only offer temporary relief. In many cases, the root cause of back pain is tight hamstring and/or quadricep muscles. Excessive sitting can tighten these muscles as well as lack of proper stretching on a regular basis.

I have learned, studied, practiced and teach literally hundreds of various low-impact exercises that can build stronger bones, muscles and joints. Private, small or group instruction.

Be well!

Jim Moltzan407-234-0119

http://www.MindAndBodyExercises.com https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

What Type of House Have We Built?

It is almost always easier to maintain something than to fix it once it has broken. The same is true for maintaining health. Why wait for someone to “fix” your health when you have the tools in your own garage? Proper diet, active lifestyle, positive attitude, social interaction – these are the keys to your healthy house.

I have learned, studied, practiced and teach literally hundreds of various low-impact exercises that can build stronger bones, muscles and joints. Private, small or group instruction.

Be well!

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

http://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

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

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

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

Learning Before Earning

Learning Before Earning

Seems like a fairly simple concept, right?

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