|
Feature
Physical Education Therapeutics
For the average person, self-care is something we try to "fit in" to our very busy lives, often we relate to it as a burden, compared to the "other more important" things we are involved in....Read that sentence again... If that description even somewhat describes your relationship with self care, then this article was written in part, to you.
*General parameters for health & Life-Balance
*Mental & emotional stability *Recovery from debilitating or chronic conditions,
*maintaining health through seasonal changes *compounding the benefits of healthy fuels (foods, herbs, teas etc) and common sense medicines is perhaps more effort than we have "put-in" to knowing ourselves at present, but less effort in the medium & long term for maintaining health and timely lifestyle changes.
"When we give priority to Learning how to care for ourselves, we begin to see dynamic principles in flux, how "systems" work in concert, timing, precision, patterns that reveal short-comings, areas of refinement and strengths/gifts. "
Physical Education Therapeutics are the basic core in Internal Arts. Tai Chi, Chi Gung & Yoga are highly sophisticated living lineages of Therapeutic knowledge that are passed on and added to by each generation. There are many socially common ailments, conditions, traumatic behaviors, imbalances etc. that western medicine finds only "superficial", surgical or "pharmaceutical management" options for. So many are considered "garden variety" ailment/conditions from the Internal Arts perspective as they are easily returned to a state of balance with gentle & consistent effort.
The facts of the matter are that one receives so many core and side benefits from self care & practice, that it feels a bit like "having a stacked deck" or "upper hand" in everything you do. Enough cannot be emphasized on the simple benefit of a calm, relaxed, strong-spirited, Inner Balance one could develop. A willing nature, a stable & respectful attitude and a good strong knowing that one way or another, it will all work out, you get to play a part in how that happens...
Back to top
TRANSFORMATION ART'S MEDFORD CHI GUNG PROGRAM IS ON-GOING AT THE 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
What started as a class for "Fall Reduction" for Elders, became an on-going class of dedicated members of the Medford & surrounding communities. Transformation Arts wishes to thank the 1st Methodist Church for hosting the weekly program for the last few years and giving us a good place to start. The time have come to part ways and we wish to express our gratitude for your community service to us; Thank you for giving us the use of Fellowship Hall!
Classes are still at 12:15pm on Tues. & Thurs., taught both days at the
++++++Presbyterian Church++++++
Back to top
Some Quotes...
"When we are at a loss for words, there need be nothing said"....
Be not a slave to the rational mind, remain poised in receptivity;no need to "figure it out", just pay attention to what's in front of you.
Back to top
New Ti
As we move around in our lives, live our lives, day to day "routines"& patterns become one of the first places where we might observe ourselves in light of what we might refer to as Dynamic Yin Qualities. These qualities are innate and can be in varying states of development, a measure made by beginning to take interest (or remembering what we are born with), & a discerning & receptive type of action (courage mixed with humbleness) towards cultivating intangible and yet, very natural qualities. Yin qualities such as stillness, Balance, Change, Movement & Rhythm are fundamental, & therefore, only need be remembered & gently cultivated at the levels of Mind, of Body and levels beyond. This is the simple & infinitely complex relationship with 'The School of Natural or Nature Learnings/teachings that are basic to all earth-based traditions/cultures, learning & living in relationship with Nature. Nature that exist everywhere as the school of life. This is not something that comes from books or "school learning". This comes from the study of our selves and the life -learning experiences.The potential of Quality of Life Education/Benefits, coupled with the teachings of the 10 year Cycles of Change form a common sense foundation for adapting the Physical practices to daily health benefit.
For example, the principle of Balance has obvious physical & Stability benefits that we all know about & can develop from a regular practice, but the essence or core of this principle can be studied,learned & applied to every aspect of Life.... As simple as knowing that stable emotions & stable mind fundamentally support physical stability...it also works the other way... Quantum mechanics and Bio-Science are joined in the "New Science" that now embraces "flexible parameters" around what is consider hard scientific proof. As an example, we can consider Quantum Mechanics as the macro-model (dimension, time & space, universal Systems in flux)) and Bio-Science as the micro-model (particles, molecules, cells, organic systems in relational inter-dependence). The principle of Balance may be applied to either "construct", Quantum Mechanics or Bio-Science, and what is revealed is; common qualities that can guide us in working with imbalances that are large, medium or small, personal, social or global/cultural. Balance qualities remind us that "flux" is a natural state, flexible, mutable, that balance is in relation to all things, changing moving and part of rhythm.
Balance relates to Change as equilibrium is extended through changing moments, sometime diverted for short or longer periods as distractions and "very important things" happen and we may lose our center or unconsciously but willingly, give it up. Learning to pay attention is a very practical aspect of how maintaining balance is in accord to changing moments, building of momentum, and movement...
Change is fused with movement in a somewhat "grace-less or perhaps slow, beginning", or what might be recognized as random or chaotic movement. Slowly, stasis gives way to micro-movement (which is an visible expression of Chi or Life-force) that appears first as aligning, measuring & quantifying to create the "intangible substance" known as momentum, then the "parts" through shared relations of momentum & movement begin to relate & work together as a "whole" in a dynamic state of motion. Change can now be recognized in its "expressions & states", as an "agreement among cells", as it relates to movement, as movement becomes graceful, efficient and Rhythmic...
Rhythm as a "communication system" bases itself on a long-standing relationship with the qualities of "Yin Learning"; that of familiarizing one's self, "mindful remembering", extended attention ability, following, listening, surrendering, open-ness & consciously developing the common senses to un-common levels of mastery. To understand Rhythm, one must also dwell in stillness, understand Systemic relationships, Creation/Destruction Cycles and recognize the signs/symptoms of arrhythmic movement, "odd states of change", loss of connection and equilibrium. The study and subsequent understanding of the "language" of rhythm, gives us deeper insight from our own personal internal experience.
(((((((()))))))()((((((((()))))))))))()(((((((((()))))))))()((((((((((()))))))))()((((((())))
Traditional Chinese Medicine/ "CommonMan's Knowledge"
Back to top
What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha, literally "to scrape away fever" in Chinese (more loosely, "to scrape away disease by allowing the disease to escape as sandy-looking objects through the skin"), is an ancient medical treatment.
Technique
Gua Sha involves repeated pressured strokes over lubricated skin with a smooth edge. Commonly a Chinese soup spoon was used, or a well worn coin, even honed animal bones, water buffalo horn, or jade. A simple metal cap with a rounded edge is commonly used.
In cases of fatigue from heavy work a piece of ginger root soaked in rice wine is sometimes used to rub down the spine from head to tail.
The smooth edge is placed against the pre-oiled skin surface, pressed down firmly, and then moved down the muscles -- hence the term "friction-stroking" -- or along the pathway of the acupuncture meridians, along the surface of the skin, with each stroke being about 4-6 inches long.
This causes extravasation of blood from the peripheral capillaries (petechiae) and may result in sub-cutaneous blemishing (ecchymosis), which usually takes 2-4 days to fade. Sha rash does not represent capillary rupture as in bruising, as is evidenced by the immediate fading of petechiae to echymosis, and the rapid resolution of sha as compared to bruising. The color of sha varies according to the severity of the patient's blood stasis -- which may correlate with the nature, severity and type of their disorder --appearing from a dark blue-black to a light pink, but is most often a shade of red. Although the marks on the skin look painful, they are not. Patients typically feel immediate sense of relief and change.
Indications
In classical Chinese practice, the Gua Sha technique is most commonly used to:
-
Reduce fever (the technique was used to treat cholera).
-
Treat fatigue caused by exposure to heat (often used to treat heat-stroke) or cold.
-
Cough and dyspnea: bronchitis, asthma, emphysema.
-
Treat muscle and tendon injuries.
-
Move sluggish circulation, fibromyalgia.
-
Treat headache.
-
Treat sunstrokes / heat syncope and nausea.
-
Treat stiffness, pain, immobility.
-
Treat digestive disorders.
-
Treat urinary, gynecological disorders.
-
To assist with reactions to food poisoning.
Gua Sha is part of receptive medicine, and can be learned and used for many garden-variety imbalances. When "Sha" is present, it is easily recognized and remedied. It is mild in application and so even the most sensitive individuals should not fear the sometimes graphic term "scraping". There is really no pain experienced.
Next month we will give a brief over-view on the traditional technique of cupping and the benefits associated with acute injuries, maintenence treatments and gradual longer term support when compounding therapies and positive life-style changes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PUBLIC CLASSES, WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION THARAPEUTICS, CALL (541) 201-8101
Michael Vasquez/ 35 yrs Instruction exp.
|
