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

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

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Masters Council

Excessive Sitting Often Leading to Metabolic Syndrome

Sitting for prolonged amounts of time is as, or more detrimental than tobacco smoking.

Most people are beginning to realize that sitting too much is unhealthy. Most feel lethargic after sitting after a long day at work or a TV binge . What exactly goes downhill in our bodies when we sit on the average, for nearly eight hours per day?

Common health issues from prolonged sitting:

Tightness of hips & relative muscle groups
Weakened abdominal muscles
Pancreas over-stimulation
Achy shoulders and back
Weakened glute muscles
Vertebrae issues
Heart disease
Colon cancer
Neck strain

More specific health issues:

Head:
Long periods of sitting can help to form blood clots, which can eventually travel to the brain resulting in stroke.

Neck:
Muscles in the neck become strained and tight. Fluid retained in the lower body during the day, returns to the neck region during sleep causing sleep apnea.

Lungs:
All day sitting raises doubles the risk of pulmonary embolism or blood clotting.

Heart:
Heart disease and diabetes risk doubles for those with a sedentary lifestyle versus those who are more active.

Stomach:
Prolonged sitting often leads to obesity, colon cancer and other digestion ailments. Metabolism is impaired as enzymes within muscles responsible for breaking down fats are essential turned off from lack of physical movement.

Spine (muscles & vertebrae):
Prolonged sitting puts excess pressure on vertebrae and muscles, compressing nerves connected to the whole body affecting many bodily functions.

Arms & Legs:
Lack of physical movement of the limbs helps lead to high blood pressure.

Glutes:
Pressure on nerves running through glutes and legs can become compressed causing pain and leading to more lack of activity.

Posture:
Posture is the relative placement of the human body and its components such as, but not confined to, the spine and limbs. Many people in the United States experience some type of chronic pain at some time in their lives. Causes of pain can vary depending upon the individual and their circumstances. Poor posture can be responsible for many ailments ranging from ankle, knee, hip and back pain. A spinal misalignment, due to improper posture, an injury, hereditary or even congenital conditions, can have an eventual ripple effect throughout the human body. A shift of .375″ (13mm) can cause the depicted ailments. A simple habitual tilt of the head or shift in the body weight over time, changes the alignment of the spine. This re-alignment begins to effect the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves causing a total imbalance within these body systems. An injured ankle or knee can become the spark that cause a ripple effect literally from head to toe. Instinctively, as humans we try to center our head directly above our physical center of gravity. Poor posture, short leg syndrome, injuries or habitual body movements can cause remodeling of the muscular, skeletal and nervous system. These root problems can be the cause of many chronic ailments.

What is the solution to these issues?

get up out of the chair more often
become more active
consult with your physician or chiropractor
have your posture checked
stretch regularly
perform non-specific symmetrical exercises
inspect footwear for uneven wear patterns
evaluate poor posture habits and adjust
review career choices if necessary

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Control the body with the mind. Manage the mind by disciplining the body, through physical activity. Learn to be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong mind, body, immune system, and outlook on life.

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

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

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises

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

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

WSJ Article Highlights That Cardiovascular Disease Cause More Deaths Every Year, Than Covid-19 Has at its Worst

“Stopping a Pandemic Deadlier Than Covid”

“Cardiovascular disease kills more people each year than Covid at its worst. We know how to prevent it. We just need the political will.”

Excerpt from the article:

“First, some basics. In the first two years of the pandemic, Covid killed nearly 900,000 people in the U.S. In those same years, heart attacks and strokes killed more than 1.6 million. Globally, Covid killed more than 10 million people in the first two years of the pandemic; in the same two years, cardiovascular disease killed more than 35 million. The three leading drivers of heart attacks and strokes—accounting for around two-thirds of the global total—are tobacco use, hypertension and air pollution, and all three are preventable.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/stopping-a-pandemic-deadlier-than-covid-11648220259?st=nibaybgiyt7d9ch&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

What is the solution to these issues?

get up out of the chair more often
become more active
manage your diet as if your life depended upon it
consult with your physician, nutritionist, chiropractor or other healthcare professional regularly
have your posture checked
exercise and stretch regularly
perform non-specific symmetrical exercises (engage both left & right, top & bottom)
inspect footwear for uneven wear patterns
evaluate poor lifestyle habits and adjust
review career choices if necessary
have an outlet for your stress and emotional ups & downs
evaluate alcohol and drug consumption

_______________

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

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

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises

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

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

Masters Council

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.

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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

Stress Response Leads to Obesity, Depression and Even More Stress

We all know what stress is, but how does it manifest and what can we do to manage it?

If we are to grow a garden, do we try to nourish the seeds in a healthy, safe and nutritional environment? Or do we just plant the seeds in sand in a mostly dark place where no one checks to see how they are sprouting? Well, metaphorically, this is how our nation cultivates our youth with little or no education in health, nutrition, fitness, stress management and accountability. No wonder why teenage depression and suicide has skyrocketed in the last few years. And no wonder our nation is a nation of overweight children soon to be obese and sickly adults. We need to move past the politics and cultural correctness of not addressing the American diet and lifestyle choices of being the root causes of obesity that lead to disease and health issues in our country.

**US Obesity** https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-child-17-18/obesity-child.htm

For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in 2017-2018:

The prevalence of obesity was 19.3% and affected about 14.4 million children and adolescents.
Obesity prevalence was 13.4% among 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.3% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 21.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds. Childhood obesity is also more common among certain populations.
Obesity prevalence was 25.6% among Hispanic children, 24.2% among non-Hispanic Black children, 16.1% among non-Hispanic White children, and 8.7% among non-Hispanic Asian children.

Credit: Derek Thompson, The Atlantic; data from the CDC.

Anxiety and depression affects many children
- 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have diagnosed anxiety.
- 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have diagnosed depression.
Anxiety and depression have increased over time
- “Ever having been diagnosed with either anxiety or depression” among children aged 6-17 years increased from 5.4% in 2003 to 8% in 2007 and to 8.4% in 2011–2012.
- “Ever having been diagnosed with anxiety” among children aged 6-17 years increased from 5.5% in 2007 to 6.4% in 2011–2012.
- “Ever having been diagnosed with depression” among children aged 6-17 years did not change between 2007 (4.7%) and 2011–2012 (4.9%).

In years past, recess and physical education (PE) were part of the school day from kindergarten through elementary school. High school students had PE every school day until graduation. Regular exercise has been known and proven to help manage stress and maintain better health and mental well being. Currently, many schools require only 1 credit of PE over 4 years of high school and often offer it as an online course. Today if students are not involved in school or extracurricular sports, few make the time or commitment to stay physically active. Unhealthy kids quickly turn into unhealthy adults. The health of our people is directly affecting the safety of our nation. For the sake of our youth and ultimately our country, put PE and maybe health education back into the school system, as a priority and not just a minimal requirement.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-child-17-18/obesity-child.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/anxiety-depression-children.html

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. For more information, contact Jim Moltzan at 407-234-0119 or www.MindAndBodyExercises.com