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Why More And More People In The West Are Getting Tui Na Therapy

   

In Western Europe, Canada, and the United States, Tui Na massage is steadily growing in popularity. Although it has been around in Europe for about three decades now, this form of massage has only started to spread rapidly during the last 10 years.

In Ireland and the UK, there have been some key innovators that have advocated for this type of therapy.

The rise of the use of Tui Na therapy in Europe began during the 1990’s when a huge influx of foreigners arrived in China and enrolled at the major Hospitals in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing. These hospital were looking for extra funding from foreign students.

The newness of these experiences spurred some of the best European practitioners to treat ill patients with their newly acquired Tuina therapy skills and in the same day or within a week, their patients leave feeling well and good. If these patients were treated by Western Shiatsu practitioners, it would have taken them months to heal; Tui Na therapy has proven to be a much more effective treatment that produced fast and rapid results.

For these innovators, the biggest teachers were their patients themselves and with every new conditions and every new patient, the practitioners expanded their knowledge and ability to treat which when they returned to Europe applied their skill to their fellow countrymen with utmost efficiency.

Tui Na especially regulates the endocrine system as well as the other organ systems of the body. It moves vital energy (Qi) and blood. It brings the body and mind together as one – illness arises when these two elements separate.

Not that many Westerners have a good understanding of what Tui Na is really all about nor for that matter, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and even Shiatsu massage. Practitioners of these different types of alternative therapies diagnose and treat disease in a manner that is totally different from Western modern medicine protocols.

Like massage therapy, Tui Na uses hands on/manual interaction to relax the person and heal ailments. Tui Na is more satisfying than herbal medicine and more non invasive than inserting needles into people’s skin. If you have a background in martial arts, Tui Na therapy gives you certain advantages/similarities that can increase your combat skills.

Practitioners oftentimes experience a continuity or natural flow from one discipline to the other. For some, Tui Na can be like a second martial art. Among other things, it entails relaxation, internal force, timing, good posture, discipline, concentration, and most of all, patience.

Generally speaking, Tui Na can help bring about the following health benefits:

o Reduction of anxiety
o Reduction of muscle spasm
o Muscle relaxation
o Mental relaxation
o Treating and preventing injury
o Increases the flow of Blood and Qi
o Promotes lymphatic drainage
o Enhances the removal of cellular waste
o Increases body awareness
o Improves flexibility and posture

All these benefits may be attained through a blend of both Eastern and Western diagnostic tools. It involves an understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, human pathology and physiology, anatomy, body mechanics, ending in the execution of manipulations and techniques that are uniquely Tui Na.

In China, Tui Na is perhaps the most difficult of the disciplines to master as a practitioner and hence is much more rewarding.

It’s hard to admit it, but it’s one of the world’s best kept secrets! It is an ancient healing art that offers a wonderful rewarding experience, no matter if you’re the one giving or receiving the therapy.

For practitioners, it can evolve into an ever more satisfying profession. Although you can become highly skillful in the techniques within a short period of time, becoming conscious of your own potential is in the realm of time spent in good effort, passion, and dedication.

You will likely be hooked to the therapy once you have experienced a general Tui Na treatment. Some people find it extremely relaxing and stress relieving that they go for treatment every day. Obviously, they get it due to the “feel good” factor that it provides more than for health reasons.

If you have received treatment for a certain condition, then you’ll probably be surprised at how fast Tui Na facilitates recovery.

In certain instances, some aspects of the therapy may be uncomfortable, but it traumatizes the body in a very methodical manner that the natural healing power of the body is triggered into action.

Thrive Wellness Center
2499 Glades Rd #305a
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 416-4391
http://thrivewellnesscenter.com/acupuncture-boca-raton/

The Healing Benefits Of Qi Gong For The Soul, Mind, And Body

   

In the world all around us, stress is a pervasive factor- we worry about the safety of our water and food and about the environment, we have fears over the political instabilities happening all around the world, and have to deal with financial anxieties over the economy. A lot of people are affected by the negative energies that come from concerns and worries of other people even if they are not directly focused on their stressors.

Stress is based on messages that are interpreted by the body. The adverse energetic vibrations associated with stress are extremely erratic, and may lead to some level of uncertainty and disorientation.

People who are very prone to stress may feel lost, uncertain where they should be headed or where they are in their lives. Feelings that are unresolved can cause physical and emotional health problems. Studies have, in fact, shown that many forms of chronic stress are tied to a greater risk of heart attacks and heart disease. Chronic stress can cause health problems as it increases the amounts of adrenal steroid hormones and adrenalin in the body.

According to one homeopathic study, adrenalin arousal can be compared to “a car engine being left idling at high speed.” Even a simple dispute can make our blood pressure shoot up and make our hearts beat faster. Disturbed sleep and depression, which can create other health issues, can also be caused by stress. Stress is not just a personal matter, it may adversely impact the relationship you have between family and friends; anyone in touch with the stressed individual can be negatively affected. We may be unable to control what other people do, feel, or say, or control events, but we can control the various stresses that we have to deal with every day.

Practicing the ancient Chinese healing art of qigong (or Chi gong) in Fort Lauderdale is one extremely effective and very safe way of soothing these unsettling energetic vibrations generated by stress. When we practice Qi Gong, we allow our energy to flow freely which can help us feel more balanced – emotionally and physically. Qi Gong practices involve performing an internal exercise to balance Qi (our body’s energy), simple movements, visualization, and breathing.

The Chinese have been performing qi gong exercises for thousands of years as a way to calm the spirit, mind, and body. Qi is the energy of creation. It is the vital energy of our body, the energy of life itself. It is in all living things, animals, plants, and people. The original energy of the universe is called Universal Qi. All of us are born with qi and blood. The Gong in qi gong means to practice or work. Qi gong therefore, means to practice with life energy.

Qi Gong – The Benefits

When you practice qi gong, you are focusing consciously upon holding and building up qi within the body to maintain and increase vitality. When you are practicing qi gong, your mind forgets the stress around you. You free yourself of worries and thoughts as you concentrate on moving and working the qi.

On several instances, some of us have heard participants report that their problems are not only forgotten while they practice Qi Gong, their pain and aches seem to also go away. When one practices, their stress starts to decrease in their body naturally.

Qi boosts the immune system and balances the body. It promotes stability and security to the emotional body. It raises your levels of energy, enabling you to feel content and more connected. Practicing qi gong daily can boost your general health, keeping you strong, and making you youthful. Even though the practice may be uncomplicated, we recommend that you learn from a qualified instructor who has positive Qi energy. The exercises should be performed for at least 5 – 20 minutes a day.

While there are thousands forms of qi qong involving discipline, regular practice, and in a lot of instances, light physical movement, qi gong is neither a competition, nor a sport. It is about promoting health through meditation, controlled breathing, and focused relaxation. Wu’s Fitness & Health Qi Gong, Longevity Qi gong, Wu’s Anti-Cancer, and Wu’s Eye Qi Gong, are some of the more famous forms of qi gong. It is after all, for all those who have a desire to take charge of, and to partake in their own well-being. And you will actually look forward to your practice because practicing makes you feel good.

An Uncomplicated Qi Gong exercise

By performing this easy Qi Gong exercise to relieve stress you may be able to connect with Universal qi from the earth and heaven:

1. Stand relaxed with your arms beside your body, your tongue touching the palate and your knees slightly bent.

2. Inhale through your nose. Imagine positive qi descending from the universe and penetrating through the crown of your head.

3. Exhale through your nose. Imagine the qi cleansing and detoxifying your body, washing away the stress, down to your feet and out to the earth. Repeat, if you so desire.

Inherently Qi gong raises your consciousness and transports your emotional body into a more positive state. You must think about moving the Qi, when you start move the body. When you perform the exercises, any feelings of concern and worry will effortlessly and naturally go away. Qi gong is an extremely relaxing therapy that heals and balances your soul, mind, and body. Within us, it brings in a sense of well-being that gives us the power to cope with stress and the stressors in our life in a far more efficient way.

The Positive Effects Of Qi Gong In The Treatment Of Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes

   

Medical researchers all agree; for managing diabetes, both for type 1 and especially the more common Type 2, exercise works extremely well as a self-regulating and effective modality. In Type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin (insulin deficiency) to manage blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body’s resistance to insulin, (which is manufactured in adequate amounts at the cellular level) resulting in the person having a constantly high level of blood sugar.

According to a study entitled “The Effect of Qi-Gong Relaxation Exercise on the Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus”, published by the American Diabetes Association, in 2002, “Due to the fact that obese patients benefited from Qi gong exercises which led to a significant reduction in C-peptide in this study, researchers have concluded that Qi-gong exercises can indeed improve insulin resistance. Various other studies described relaxation training’s effects on type 2 diabetes, which meant that Qi-gong may improve glucose metabolism due to the body’s relaxation response from the exercises. Based on these findings, it was concluded that Qi-gong relaxation exercise is a proven beneficial complementary treatment for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.”

This discovery is important for a number of reasons; one, it indicates factors which are inter-related, which may lead to degradation in overall health. This degradation may be triggered by one or more of the conditions: heart disease, obesity, and type 1 or 2 diabetes. Each of these conditions may lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which may involve emotional or recreational eating that in turn, can result in both or one of the other conditions. The conditions may probably worsen as activity decreases, and as the conditions worsen, life can becomes more stressful.

A type of immune deficiency disease, Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented although it can be properly managed through exercises, diet, and drugs. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is considered to be manageable and preventable. If your doctor diagnoses you with pre-diabetic conditions, he may suggest certain lifestyle modifications. The advised changes may be profoundly simple, but in the start, can be agonizingly difficult: Exercise and Diet. Reference was made a while ago to benefits for obese patients, most people are aware that obesity can be a predecessor for type 2 diabetes and heart conditions. Of course, diet will entail both the amounts and types of food consumed.

Exercise can help regulate the level of blood sugar by boosting the uptake of glucose. It can help create muscle cells that can replace the fat stored in the body: muscle utilizes more sugar. Exercise burns calories which can maintain and/or help you lose weight. For people with Type 2 diabetes, exercise promotes sensitivity of their body cells to insulin. As this sensitivity is increased, the natural insulin produced by your body begins to works better helping your blood sugar levels to likewise get better. According to the University of Iowa Healthcare Hospitals & Clinics, when you perform exercise every other day at least, you will more likely to experience this effect. Following a proper diet and regular exercise may help bring your blood sugars within the target range without the need to use drugs.

Your doctor or healthcare provider in Overland Park should monitor your exercise if you have been living a sedentary lifestyle for quite a while or have been ill or injured; too fast and too much exercise can cause more harm than good. Your exercise plan may lead to failure if it causes you to over-stresses (if it is “too hard”, or hurts too much after). Qi gong is one of the exercises recommended for the management of diabetes mellitus. For the three conditions of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes stress is the one factor that is most common among people who have had encounters with the three diseases. Stress can be controlled by real relaxation (this does not mean eating a bag of treats while lying around the pool or watching shows on your 50” plasma TV). Qi gong gives you at the same time a dose of exercise and real relaxation therapy.

Qi Gong is an ideal way to start up an exercise. It may lead to higher levels of duration and intensity without you needing to “work out” on a gym or buy and use expensive equipment. People who perform some type of qi gong exercises usually see it as play than work. Its popularity is growing by the day and may someday rival that of Tai Chi, another form of relaxation exercise that secures your well-being and health. Tai Chi is actually one style of Qi Gong which has literally thousands of styles and forms. However, all these styles and forms have essentially the same core: gentle and slow movements synchronized with rhythmic, deep breathing. Qi Gong exercises may be very easy, basic, and simple or it may be difficult, confusing, and extremely complex – for every person there is a corresponding form or style. People can learn it from video and books; however the best and easiest way to learn is from a good instructor in a group. You’ll know if your instructor is competent during the first session.

If you want to learn Qi Gong in a class or group, you can check the program listing of your community center. If you reside near a university campus or a college, you may check their listings of “continuous learning” programs, and if there is a local martial art studio near your area that offer Tai Chi, you can call them to inquire about qi gong. There are listings that are posted on-line as free basic samplings or paid courses of learning.

Tai Chi Exercises Should Always Be Combined With Proper Breathing And Meditation

   

A never ending quest for sports or skills that enhance well being and health may inevitably lead you to the most useful and gracious forms of Tai Chi. While it is thought to be a skill for combat, these restful and mild movements are done to activate the smooth flow of Chi or vital energy. Tai Chi is known by millions around the world as the ‘elixir of youth’, since it is considered to be a recreation for attaining longevity.

Tai Chi was developed in China by Taoist monks who formed the exercise movements through their observation of a duel between a crane and a snake. The skill one develops is filled with the knowledge of the sky, man, and earth. These exercises should be performed along with proper breathing and meditation to arouse full awareness.

They can be performed in a group or in solitude. People of all ages throughout China practice Tai Chi early in the morning every day. It helps them start the day feeling joyful, relaxed, content, and healthy. While there are many styles of Tai Chi, all involve graceful, relaxed, and slow movements in which every step segues into the next one. Tai Chi can be seen as a dance between the body and soul in which focus plays a very important role in the exercises. If this type of exercise isn’t fully embraced whole-heartedly, you aren’t expected to experience ultimate well-being.

Tai Chi enhances health by treating physical ills, improving muscle strength and tone, enhancing sleep, and relieving rigidity and pain. Some people report that the exercises has helped treat conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism, arthritis, chronic heart conditions, fatigue, insomnia, and depression.

As with any other physical recreation, you should be careful not to exercise excessively as it may lead to sprains or injured muscles. Tai Chi should not be practiced with painful joints, during pregnancy or illness, or directly after a meal. If you are a beginner, we advice that you first do some research about Tai Chi and then join a group or hire a trainer to be on the safe side.

 

Dr. Vickery is a licensed acupuncturist in Tarzana, CA., and the founder and clinical director of Vickery Health and Wellness.