Fit And Flexible
It is 6:00 a.m. The sun is just beginning to rise. The sky above the horizon is shades of orange and pink. The air is cool and invites you to jump out of bed, step into your exercise togs and greet this day with an energetic six mile run, twenty mile bike ride, forty minutes of aerobics, swimming, hiking, walking....
The benefits of regular exercise are numerous. In a culture where physical activity is no longer necessary for survival, we must discipline ourselves to move in ways that promote good health—and there are many! In our society we have numerous opportunities to workout. There are gyms on every other corner in most cities where one can participate in weight lifting, aerobics, pilates, yoga, spinning, running and more depending upon the specific facility. There are dance classes of every description available to us, cycling clubs, swimming clubs and don’t forget walking, it’s easy and almost anyone can walk.
The physical advantages to exercise include stronger heart function, lowered blood pressure, increased metabolism, improved immune system functioning and more efficient overall organ function. When you exercise your breathing deepens sending more oxygen to all parts of the body. All physical and physiological patterns of the body build successively from the breath. Circulation increases. When you allow the breath to flow through the body without resistance, which is necessary to exercise with any efficiency, you find that the need to structure life's situations to fit your mental constructs lessens. Confidence to go with the flow of life increases as you develop a greater sense of body awareness. How am I connected to this body? Who am I within this body and who am I not? Robert Adams states in his book Silence of the Heart that you are not your body or your mind for that matter. As the body becomes more FIT and FLEXIBLE, the mind too stretches beyond whatever thoughts limit you to an existence that does not allow you to know the Self. Exercise opens the door to your greater potential on all levels.
Researchers have found that exercise, especially running, improves brain chemistry and is instrumental in decreasing depression. Exercise aids memory, executive functioning, concentration and accelerates the mind’s performance ability. Studies relating exercise to improved health are being directed toward the older population as it is believed regular increased physical activity can slow down the effects of aging and improve the quality of later years.
For anyone who engages in physical activity regularly these deductions may seem obvious. But to the general population it is beneficial that these studies are being marketed in a way that we cannot ignore the positive rewards of a regular exercise program and as being highly advantageous to the body, mind, spirit relationship. Researchers at the School of Behavioral Sciences, James Cook University in Australia, have studied the hormone levels of runners and meditators. The results showed that levels of CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone: a peptide of 41 amino acids produced in the hypothalamus) were elevated in both groups. CRH is directly related to positive mood changes after running and meditation. It may be that the ability of CHR to alter mood may also be responsible for a heightened receptivity to our own intuitive nature. Another possibility is that certain forms of exercise stimulate the pineal gland just as it does the hippocampus, the part of the brain adjacent to the pineal gland responsible for memory.
The pineal gland is located near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres. Besides producing melatonin, a hormone associated with the sleep cycle, the pineal gland may be responsible for DMT an endogenous and hallucinogen. Dr. Rick Strassman discusses DMT in his book DMT: The Spirit Molecule. Other researchers do not agree with his assessment. However, yogis from ancient times have “believed that the pineal gland secreted an ambrosial nectar essential for longevity, and it was thought that this structure was related to the third eye, or Ajna chakra. As such the pineal gland was associated with the ability to see within, allowing entrance to a pure intuitive perception.”—p.74 Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit-Donna Farhi
The Ajna chakra is responsible for the processing of sensory input, intuition, telepathic communication, and the ability to meditate. The pineal gland could be seen as the seat of the Muse, that manifestation of the imagination that has assisted humans during the creative process for centuries. In children the pineal gland is larger than that of an adult. In many adults the pineal gland has calcified.
Exercise that loops energy around the pineal gland
Begin this visualization as always in a relaxed state with focus on your breathing that is slow and deep. One way that energy circulates through the human body is that it descends the right side and ascends the left side. First place your attention on bringing an even flow of energy down the right side of the body and up the left side. See it as it proceeds downward from your head, all the way down to your toes. You may even feel the energy as a warm current flowing steadily downward. It is possible that the energy may stop in a certain area such as the hip, a common place for energy to become lodged, as that is where we store our emotional issues. If you suspect the energy is not moving at any point picture a lever in that place, like a big light switch and push the switch up or on and continue once the energy is freed.
Follow the energy then up the left side of the body and into the brain where it is possible to see the energy loop before it again begins to descend. A sense of peace and happiness can be felt at this point. The energy has just circled the pineal gland!
Yoga for Fitness and Flexibility
Yoga aims at creating harmony between body, mind and spirit and synchronicity between the internal and the external. Yoga means literally yoking or joining two things together. Hatha yoga for example is the uniting of the masculine, active and the feminine receptive aspects--ha means sun and tha means moon.
Yoga encourages you toward consciousness rather than ego. In yoga there is no competition, comparison or judgement. There is only you at peace with all aspects of your being. As you enter a pose, you become aware of the body's response to that pose. And more deeply aware as the response changes with your desire to surrender to that pose.
www.healthandyoga.com (great articles! and information)
www.secretsofyoga.com (articles and videos and more)
www.yoga-mind-control.com (articles videos and more)
Qi Gong, an Ancient Chinese Practice
Qi Gong means, 'working with your life energy'. Present day Qi Gong has developed from a ritual dance that was meant to bring healing and elevated awareness to the participant. Now there are over 500 different forms of Qi Gong that all compliment the original philosophy of restoring the vital connection between body, mind and spirit. Taoist masters believed that there is always the same amount of energy available in the universe at all times. And as human beings are a part of that energy it is available to us at all times. Qi Gong through stimulating heightened awareness, increases our potential of connecting with this energy. When Qi or life force energy is allowed to circulate freely within the body without direction one becomes aligned with universal energy to optimize health and potential on all levels. The spontaneity of some forms of Qi Gong allow the body's natural intuitive sense to guide the practice in the direction most beneficial to the healing of the body. One such form is Tao Guang Gong or Taoist Light Qi Gong where following the correct execution of each posture the body flows freely in whatever way the body desires.
Practiced on a regular basis, Qi gong brings a great sense of peace and well being to the follower. Greater strength and connection to the Self promotes a feeling of overall harmony with the physical and spiritual environment.
www.qigonghealing.com (great information and articles)
www.dragondoor.com (strong articles and lots of information)
www.qigong4u.com (books, videos and more)
