Tibetan Martial Arts

Tibetan Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Nei Gong, are ancient Tibetan martial arts that provide health benefits in part by reducing stress, plus they increase flexibility, strength, coordination and balance.

Some spell it Qi Gong, others Chi Kung, or any number of different ways. There are many variations of both how to spell the name and how to perform the movements. They all work well. Some prefer one version over another. Some feel one version works better for them. It’s OK.

Benefits

The exercises emphasis balance towards both the physical and mental. It is very common as we age our sense of balance is lacking; more susceptible to falls and subsequent injuries. These exercises provide a better sense of body movement and growing confidence permitting a person of any age to live a fuller and more productive life. It provides a process of relaxing muscular tensions, improving posture, and a deepening of the breathing process to affect in a positive way the stress levels of our mind and emotion.

Learning this ancient art of Qi Gong can help improve your health by balancing the Ch’i. It also helps to attain a deeper level of relaxation. Qi Gong is the mastery of the mind, body, and spirit with breath work. The focusing the mind and breath while the body is in a static posture, such as meditation, or body movements allows the body to replenish the internal Ch’i.

Nei Gong is considered more of an internal exercise. It allows the body to move in a continuously stretching, expanding, contracting, opening and closing motion. It provides a holistic connection between the mind and body through breath work and body movement.

Tibetan attitude is quite different from other Chinese traditional beliefs. There are really no right or wrong. It’s more the attitude of honoring your self, your mind and body. All exercises are done without exerting any extra effort or going beyond your capability. The Qi Gong and Meditation exercises are done comfortably and what feels right for you. Work with quality rather than seeing how much effort and maximize the activity to be better. Honor yourself and your MindBodySpirit, this is the essence of the Tibetan beliefs.

Stress

Stress, at appropriate times and at manageable levels, is normal and useful. It can sharpen our awareness and provide a boost to our energy. When stress persists or becomes excessive, it is harmful. If you are experiencing symptoms of irritability, depression, low productivity, strained relationships at home or at work, health problems persists, low energy, a pattern of avoiding tasks, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, feeling burned out, feeling tense, nervous or fearful …. You’re STRESSED. Stress has both mental and physical components. The mental components include thoughts and worries. The physical components include illness and tension.

Stress can be reduced by many approaches, but there are some specific eastern methods that fit very well and can provide a different perspective on how to minimize and deal with stress.

Why is stress important?

Stress:

Stress, at appropriate times and at manageable levels, is normal and useful. It can sharpen our awareness and provide a boost to our energy. When stress persists or becomes excessive, it is harmful. If you are experiencing symptoms of irritability, depression, low productivity, strained relationships at home or at work, health problems persists, low energy, a pattern of avoiding tasks, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, feeling burned out, feeling tense, nervous or fearful …. You’re STRESSED. Stress has both mental and physical components. The mental components include thoughts and worries. The physical components include illness and tension.

Stress can be reduced by many approaches, but there are some specific eastern methods that fit very well and can provide a different perspective on how to minimize and deal with stress.

Why "Stress" is an Important Concern

"It is important to understand the many ways that stress and strain affect the human body. In the last 100 years as humans identified and controlled contagious diseases and infections through sanitary practices, personal hygiene, vaccinations, and antibiotics, the average life expectancy climbed to 50 and then to 60 years. With increased longevity, life-style was discovered to be a significant cause of death. People were shortening their lives through smoking, unhealthy eating, drinking, reckless living, and lack of exercise. New knowledge of the importance of physical fitness, nutrition, and safe living led to an increased average life expectancy to over 70 years. Heart attacks, tumors, cancer, high blood pressure, and ulcers emerged as the main causes of death. Even people with good physical and nutritional habits were dying. Is stress the problem? No. The problem is that some people react to circumstances and events in their lives in ways that lead to illness and early death. The real killer is too much constant strain and the victims are often its accomplices." – Al Siebert

In The Road Less Travelled, M. Scott Peck says. "Wise people learn not to dread but actually to welcome problems." The school of life arranges for great learning opportunities for people who react to difficulties by learning new skills.

"It is not the potential stressor itself but how you perceive it and then how you handle it that will determine whether or not it will lead to stress." … Dr. Seligman

insights on stress

The power of the mind and our adaptability by our body are quite thought about. The mind has integrated many and especially to those who require answers and a need for logic reasoning. The power of our mind by the common man or by the lack of understanding how we relate to the reality with the universe is sometimes miss perceived. We sometimes think too much or don't think enough or we think of the wrong things. Our belief system is a powerful tool. Total unit thought. Our body must be told what to do and the accomplished action is executed. We make our body bend to the ways of our minds. We do respond to our will.

Our attitude is influenced by three potential barriers:

1. Being too logical
2. Being too Analytical
3. Having one dimensional belief

Possible Events Leading to Stress:

• Frightened
• High expectations by others/superiors
• Lack of confidence
• Lack of experience
• No guidance
• No mentor
• No support system
• Not fully prepared for Chaos
• Unsure of yourself