By design, contemporary approach to physical fitness focuses on building muscles, pushing limits of endurance, and rapid body movements.Indeed, this approach to fitness is not intended for building mindfulness, restoring higher Self, alignment with universal consciousness, reducing everyday stress, and replenishing energy.
If time is sparse, a single dimensional approach to physical fitness leaves one’s ‘life energy’ depleted and body inflamed.
Eastern holistic practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong are holistic by design where the end goals typically are inner peace, balance, healing, unity and vitality. These practices are designed to produce ‘life energy’ and leave you replenished. This is why people who practice these are left with a tangible sense of renewal at physical, mental, emotional and psycho-spiritual levels.
Yoga
Inner peace. Poses. Energy. Mediation. Exercise. Breath. Oneness. Healing. Balance. Strength. Consciousness. Awareness. Spirit. Wisdom. Unity. Harmony. We all associate these words with Yoga. In contemporary speak, Yoga equals Union. Union of consciousness of an individual with consciousness of the Universe. There are specialized ancient branches of Yoga and new mutations are still emerging. To give you an idea, here’re a few: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Anusara, Swarupa, Kripalu, Sivanda, Karma, Bhakti, Raja, etc There’s a wide diversity across these styles and teaching methodologies. Ultimately, you want to pick what resonates with you and your body.
Tai Chi
Tai chi (pronounced Taiji) is a noncompetitive, self-paced, gentle, graceful art of exercise. It is often thought of as meditation in motion that provides health benefits and inner peace. It is effective at combating stress and anxiety. As with yoga, Tai chi has many variations. Some may focus on health benefits alone, while others focus on martial arts aspects. Variations aside, Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on body, making it generally safe for levels of fitness and age groups.
Tai chi involves:
• forms
• movement routines
• breathing
• awareness
• meditation
• response drills and self defense techniques.
These elements can be grouped within Physical fitness, Meditation, and Martial arts. Tai chi’s popularity, in the last couple of decades, is attributed primarily to it’s health benefits.
Qigong
Qi (chi) is translated as “Life energy”. Qigong is a practice to cultivate and balance Qi. Qigong primarily focuses on healing than martial applications. Qigong is a practice of aligning movement, breath, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation. While many scholars consider Tai chi to be a type of qigong, the two are distinct but closely related practices. As with Yoga and Tai chi, there’re both ancient and contemporary variations of Qigong.
Regardless of variations, majority of these practices rely on:
• Careful, flowing balanced movements
• Slow, deep rhythmic breathing
• Focused meditative state
• Visualization of energy flow
• Sound as a pivot point
• Softer facial expressions
• Relaxed muscles, erect spine and firm grounding
• Balance and fluidity
• Serenity and inner stillness
From a Chinese medical perspective, ongoing health emanates from building qi, eliminating qi blockages, and correcting qi imbalances.
Rejuvenation
Satisfied sleep and deep rest are the least understood yet most critical for rejuvenation and ongoing healing.Generally speaking, in today’s hurried overstimulated lifestyles satisfied sleep and deep rest are rare occurrences.
For our bodies to heal and recover from daily stresses, deep stages of sleep and rest are quintessential.
Sound based slow brain wave tuning and Yoga Nidra are two extraordinary practices that ensure stages of deep sleep.