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CHI KUNG ESPAÑOL

CONTENT     

Teoría y Directrices Health Benefits Kojosho The Immune System Shi-Pa-Sho Anatomy of your Respiratory System Medical I Ching 9 Elements Cultivating the Right Mind for Practice Taiji Certified Professionals Principals of Motion Economy Libros Recomendados

TEORÍA Y DIRECTRICES

Chi Kung Integrado es un enfoque progresivo que incorpora estilos clásico y  filosofías con conceptos modernos de energía en una ciencia. Incorpora conciencia del Chi a través de movimiento, quietud, meditación y respiración. Teje las teorías de la Emisión Biofotoniac, Armonía de Chakras, ADN, Anatomía de la Energía, Cinco Elementos, Jing Shen-Chi-Kung, Kundalini, Macrobiótica, Meditación, Nutrición, Pranayama, Sanación Pranica, Shi-Pa-Sho, Tantra, Yoga y en una sola práctica para la comunidad.

Es la fusión de técnicas milenarias de manejo energético con la ciencia moderna. Combina la antigua intuición con nuevos conocimientos creando una base sólida para un arte de curación que nos lleva hacia el futuro en salud y alegría. Compila eficaces técnicas de prevención, curación y  fortalecimiento derivados de la larga historia del pueblo Chino durante su supervivientica en la naturaleza.

Antiguos maestros llegaron a la comprensión de que todo está compuesto de la misma sustancia energética, que llamaron Chi (Qi). La Medicina Tradicional China se basa principalmente en la comprensión de la transformación del Chi a través de todo el cuerpo humano en relación a la energía del medio ambiente. Hoy en día la física cuántica propone que toda la materia está compuesta de energía que está constantemente vibrando en diferentes frecuencias. Esta es una fuerza omnipresente que la física cuántica ha llamado Energía de Punto Cero (EPC)—energía no detectada por nuestros sentidos pero presente en cada centímetro de aire y espacio. El Instituto de Chi Kung Integrado entiende que Chi , o la energía sutil, es igual a EPC.

Esta energía sutil se encuentra ligada directamente al centro del cuerpo humano y directamente ligada a la energía del planeta y al universo. No se encuentra separada del medio ambiente, es una continuidad energética. La experiencia demuestra que la energía sutil no se encuentra limitada por la materia, el tiempo, ni el espacio.

A pesar de la existencia de esta fuerza subyacente intuida desde la antigüedad, la ciencia reciente mente ha medido y demostrado científicamente su existencia. Actualmente los científicos han empezando a comprender que el ADN actúa como un superconductor de este campo energético transportando electrones a lo largo de su doble hélice. Además, investigaciones recientes han demostrado que el ADN se ve afectado por los campos de energía generada por el cuerpo humano. Evidencia de la influencia del campo electromagnético del ser humano en estudios científicos, demuestran que la energía emitida por las manos pueden afectar directamente a la cicatrización, el crecimiento del tejido y la formación de proteínas.

ADN emite energía en forma de biofotones, que se han medido y documentado científicamente. Basándose en estos datos, se ha postulado que las bases apareadas del ADN, y sus posiciones específicas y formas, pueden actuar como antenas en frecuencias electromagnéticas determinando que proteínas o enzimas se producen. Se cree que estos biofotones emitidos pueden actuar como  modelo energético dirigiendo la maquinaria física del ADN para realizar su tarea dentro de las 63 billones de células.

La palabra Chi Kung (Qigong o Chi Gong) se compone de dos palabras Chinas. Chi se traduce como Fuerza Vital o energía cuántica que fluye a través de todas las cosas en el universo. La segunda palabra Kung significa habilidad que se cultiva a través de la práctica—amaestrar. Juntos, Chi Kung significa el cultivo de la energía o el dominio de la energía humana. Es un sistema para la mantención de la salud, la sanación y el incremento de la vitalidad—el dominio para aplicar la energía vital.

Existen tres niveles o etapas (Dantians) para el dominio del Chi Kung las cuales son valoradas por los practicantes como la alquimia  interna en el cultivo y transformación del Jing (esencia o materia) en Chi (energía) y el Chi en Shen (mente / consciencia / espíritu).

Nivel básico Jing Kung es principalmente más físico que los otros niveles y requiere que el practicante condicione su cuerpo coordinando la mente y la respiración con el movimiento. Hay tres puntos anatómicos del cuerpo llamados Dantian (Dan = medicina, Tian = campo), en el cual el punto más bajo se activa y fortalece primero. Jing es la esencia de la vida, el material fundamental que constituye al cuerpo humano, la base material de la vida. El cuerpo humano nace con cantidad limitada de Jing-congénito heredado de nuestros antepasados, esta es base para el Jing-adquirido. A medida que tomamos decisiones en la vida desarrollamos Jing-adquirido como consecuencia de los alimentos y el agua convertida por el estómago y el bazo, almacenándose en los riñones, junto con el Jing-congénito. Esta es la razón por la cual la vitalidad y el Chi se ven afectados por los alimentos.

Nivel intermedio Chi Kung incluye el entrenamiento avanzado hacia una visualización del Chi que circula por los meridianos anteriores y posteriores del torso (Du y Ren), coordinando el flujo del Chi con la respiración rítmica mientras se mantiene mínima tensión de los tejidos.

El meridiano Du Mai (Gobernador del Corazón) recorre por la parte posterior del cuerpo, desde el perineo, sobre la cabeza terminando en el labio superior. Es a menudo llamado el "mar de los meridianos yang", porque los tres meridianos yang de ambos pies y manos convergen en el meridiano Du en el punto Du 14. Este regula la circulación del Chi y la sangre en los meridianos Yang funcionando como un gobernador sobre todos los meridianos yang.

Las funciones del meridiano Du Mai es el de regular la circulación de la sangre y Chi Yang en los meridianos, regular las actividades del cerebro y la médula ósea en la columna vertebral, y regular la función de los sistemas urinario y reproductor.

El meridiano Ren (Vaso Concepción) recorre la parte frontal del cuerpo, desde el perineo hasta el labio inferior. Este meridiano domina el yin del todo el cuerpo. Debido a esto, es también conocido como el "mar de los meridianos yin". Los tres meridianos yin de las manos y los tres meridianos yin de los pies se unen ene el punto Ren 3. Este meridiano se origina en el útero y está especialmente relacionado con la concepción. De ahí su nombre de Vaso Concepción.

Su función es regular la circulación de la sangre y el Chi en los meridianos yin. Regula el flujo menstrual, domina el sistema reproductivo y el feto. Regula la circulación del Chi en el pecho, promueve la función del bazo y el estómago y, en general, fortalece el cuerpo.

El nivel Chi-Kung se completa cuando el practicante está en condición de "sentir el Chi" punto a punto en los meridianos y ha aumentado cualitativamente la vitalidad física y la sensibilidad. Además, se han activado suficientemente los meridianos de las extremidades (los meridianos del centro y de las extremidades son parte de los 8 vasos extraordinarios) hasta que se genera suficiente energía para "emitir" Chi a través de la palma de la mano. Esto se combina con la canalización de "Chi Universal" que entra a través de la cabeza uniéndose con el Chi en el Dantian central (Corazón) que se conoce como el "trasmisor de Chi". Este método se utiliza para restaurar el balance de energía.

El desarrollo del Chi es el único camino para convertirse en Shen-Kung que es la siguiente etapa. Se logra cuando el practicante mantiene un nivel alto de energía vital y mental con una alta conciencia.

Nivel avanzado Shen Kung utiliza la intención, la intuición y clarividencia para lograr sanación. Shen se traduce como espíritu y está estrechamente relacionado con la función del corazón. Shen se deriva del Jing-congénito, y es dependiente de la adquisición del Jing-adquirido de la alimentación para mantener su función. Con abundante Shen el cuerpo será fuerte y el sistema humano funciona armoniosamente.

El practicante de Shen Kung, mientras se encuentra en un estado avanzado de conciencia universal, simplemente se conecta y comunica no verbalmente dando directrices específicas a su objetivo. Por ejemplo, en lugar de utilizar la mano para emitir Chi durante un esguince en el tobillo para dispersar Chi y el estancamiento de la sangre, el practicante se conecta y comunica directamente dirigiendo para lograr el efecto deseado.

La fuerza motriz: Chi
Lo que anima la vida se llama Chi. El concepto de Chi es el centro de la Medicina Tradicional China. La vida se define por Chi aunque es imposible de entender, medir, cuantificar, ver, o aislar. Inmaterial pero fundamental, el mundo material está formado por Chi. Una fuerza invisible conocida sólo por sus efectos. Chi es reconocido indirectamente por lo que promueve, genera y protege—en nuestro caso, la vida.

La materia es Chi manifestado. La formación de montañas, el crecimiento de los bosques, el flujo de los ríos, y las criaturas son la proliferación de todas las manifestaciones de Chi. En el ser humano, todas las funciones del cuerpo, las emociones, la mente y el espíritu son manifestaciones de Chi: detección, cognición, sentir, digerir, agitación y propagación. Chi produce el movimiento y el calor. Es el misterio y el milagro fundamental.

La vida no puede separarse de la forma en que se manifiesta. Cuando el corazón late y el aliento es cálido, se entiende que la vida existe en el cuerpo. Cuando el corazón deja de latir y el cuerpo se enfría, la fuerza vital, o Chi, ya no está presente. La fuerza y la vida son Chi. Al igual que el aire fresco, Chi se mueve libremente, como aire viciado, el estancamiento de Chi es pesado, opresivo, constrictivo y congestionado.

Al igual que el aire, Chi cuenta con su propio movimiento y también activa el movimiento de las cosas fuera de sí mismo. Así como el viento mueve los árboles, pastos y agua, así Chi mueve el pecho en la inhalación y exhalación. Uno inhala Chi, pero también, Chi es la fuerza motriz que establece la respiración. De esta manera, Chi es la causa y el efecto.

La esencia de los alimentos es también una forma de Chi. Esta esencia refinada es la fuente que forma los materiales. Cuando el Chi de los alimentos y el Chi de aire entran en el cuerpo, se convierten en una entidad conocida como "puro" o "verdadero". El Chi del Aire representa el aspecto inmaterial y el Chi de los alimentos el aspecto material. Chi es el fundamento de la estructura y el catalizador de la transformación y movimiento.

La comprensión médica se generó de la observación de la naturaleza. Según el antiguo arte Chino de la ecología práctica, conocida como Feng Shui ("Viento de agua"), se dice que la tierra tiene venas por las que se mueve la energía y actúa como una red en todas las formas de vida. El movimiento del viento y el agua refleja la actividad del Chi.

Las fuerzas de Chi trabajan en ventaja o desventaja. Al observar de cerca la formación de las montañas, el crecimiento de los árboles, el flujo de agua, el movimiento del viento, y los patrones de luz y sombra, el practicante de Feng Shui nos coloca en una relación favorable con respecto a estas fuerzas y así alcanzar el máximo beneficio del medio ambiente. El objetivo es adaptar las viviendas, objetos y actividades con la corriente de Chi. El punto de atención es la relación entre la persona y los patrones de Chi. Esto protege y aumenta nuestra energía y buena suerte.

Práctica de Chi Kung
Mediante el estudio y la práctica de Chi Kung, se puede cultivar la conciencia del Chi, aprendiendo a influenciar y controlar la energía con enfoque e intención. Practicantes de Chi Kung utilizan estas habilidades para modificar la energía de los órganos, centros energéticos y meridianos creando un entorno en el que el cuerpo puede restablecer equilibrio.

El objetivo del Chi Kung es corregir los desequilibrios bio-energéticos y bloqueos en el cuerpo acumulados a lo largo de la vida. Estos desequilibrios se derivan de la mala alimentación, una vida sedentaria, traumas, cirugía, influencias tóxicas, represión de emociones, y el envejecimiento. La terapia Chi Kung ayuda al cuerpo a volver a su estado natural y de armonía, a aliviar el dolor y estrés, y a la regulación hormonal. Las emociones profundas se consideran una de las principales causas de la enfermedad, y pueden ser liberadas.

Como prevención, Chi Kung puede ser utilizado preventivamente para protegernos de enfermedades, tanto agudas como crónicas, y condiciones degenerativas mediante el fortalecimiento de la inmunidad y la resistencia, regulando y fortaleciendo las funciones vitales.

Después de varios siglos de trabajo para vencer la enfermedad con sustancias químicas, drogas, radiación, cirugía radical y otras soluciones tecnológicas, y tratando de prevenir la enfermedad con vacunas, aditivos sintéticos para fortalecer la alimentación, y con una completa guerra química contra los gérmenes, la ciencia médica está empezando a darse cuenta de que "la mejor ofensiva es una buena defensa", y que la mejor defensa es un fuerte y equilibrado sistema energético.

CHI KUNG para la Auto-Sanación

El arte del Chi Kung para la auto-sanación y el Chi Kung médico son un aspecto integral de la medicina tradicional oriental que implica coordinación de la meditación, relajación, patrones de respiración con posturas físicas y movimientos del cuerpo integrando la mente y el cuerpo el cual ha curado a cientos de miles de personas durante miles de años. Con movimientos suaves, visualización, y la imaginación guiada, la regeneración de cada órgano y célula del cuerpo es posible. El Chi Kung es enseñado para el mantenimiento de la salud, la longevidad, y beneficios espirituales. Los practicantes de Chi Kung desarrollan conciencia de la sensación del Chi en su cuerpo y usan su mente para guiar el Chi. Chi Kung se puede dividir en "Medicina", "Arte Marcial", o "Espiritualidad", dependiendo del objetivo de la práctica. Cuando los practicantes adquieren un nivel de habilidad suficientemente alto, pueden dirigir o emitir Chi externo con fines curativos. Estas técnicas son ampliamente utilizadas en Sanación Pránica, como lo enseña el Gran Maestro Choa Kok Sui.

Chi Niebla que sube de la tierra para formar las nubes

El Chi Kung se basa en el entendimiento de que el cuerpo tiene un campo de energía generada y conservada por la respiración natural, conocido como Chi―análogo a Prana y Parnayama en el Yoga. Durante miles de años, millones de personas se han beneficiado de las prácticas de Chi Kung y entendiendo que mejorando la función del Chi mantiene la salud y cura la enfermedad. En la medicina tradicional oriental, la buena salud es el resultado de un flujo libre y un sistema bien equilibrado de energía. La práctica regular del Chi Kung limpia el cuerpo de toxinas, restaura la energía, reduce el estrés y la ansiedad, y ayuda a las personas mantener un estilo de vida saludable y activo.

Chi Kung médico, una de las cuatro principales ramas de la medicina china, es un sistema completo de medicina que reconoce las causas de los síntomas o enfermedades, y trata al paciente holísticamente. Practicado como un excelente complemento a la medicina occidental, la medicina china puede combatir con éxito las condiciones que la medicina occidental considera terca o confusa.

El objetivo del Chi Kung es corregir los desequilibrios biológicos y los bloqueos energéticos en el cuerpo que se acumulan durante toda nuestra vida. Estos incluyen la mala alimentación, sedentarismo, trauma, cirugía, influencias tóxicas, supresión de las emociones y el envejecimiento. La terapia médica Chi Kung de auto tratamiento permite que el cuerpo vuelva a su estado natural de salud y armonía. El dolor y el estrés se alivian y las hormonas se regulan. Emociones profundas, consideradas una de las causas principales de enfermedad en la medicina china, pueden ser purificadas y liberadas. Esto fortalece al cuerpo y regula los órganos internos, el sistema nervioso y el sistema inmunológico.

La Medicina Energética se desarrollo en China durante un período de miles de años. Aunque, el arte y la habilidad clínica de la medicina Chi Kung se considera una parte integral y fundamental de la Medicina China Tradicional moderna, su origen histórico se remonta más allá de la invención del lenguaje escrito.

En la antigua China, la medicina energética y todas las formas de curación fueron del dominio exclusivo de los chamanes de las tribus. Chi Kung se conocía entonces por otros nombres, por ejemplo Xingqi (ayudar el flujo del Chi), atún (la exhalación y la inhalación), y Daoyin (armonizar el cuerpo, la respiración y la mente a través de mover las extremidades y el tronco).

Según la tradición, el origen de las prácticas de Chi Kung y la acupuntura han estado siempre ligados a Huang Di (el Emperador Amarillo), cuyo apellido era Gongsun. El Emperador Amarillo reinó sobre una confederación de clanes tribales en el norte de China  alrededor de 2696-2598 B.C. Se dice que  practico ejercicios de respiración y meditación Chi Kung, la alquimia interna, la herbolaria, y la alquimia sexual, viviendo hasta la edad de 111 años.

En China y más recientemente en los Estados Unidos, los médicos han aplicado Chi Kung en hospitales y clínicas para tratar una variedad de dolencias. Médicos Chi Kung y sus prescripciones puede ser utilizado para tratar cáncer y ayudar a reducir o eliminar los efectos secundarios de la radiación y la quimioterapia. Además, ayuda en el tratamiento de la parálisis cerebral, esclerosis múltiple y enfermedad de Parkinson. Es especialmente útil en el tratamiento de cualquier tipo de dolor crónico, y trastornos crónicos del sistema digestivo, sistema respiratorio, cardiovascular y nervioso. Esta rama de Chi Kung que se conoce en China como Chi emitido (FA-chi), utiliza la energía de los tres Dantians (tres centros energéticos).

Como medicina preventiva, Chi Kung pueden ser utilizado como parte de nuestro régimen ordinario para proteger al practicante de enfermedades agudas y enfermedades crónicas degenerativas mediante el fortalecimiento del sistema inmune, la regulación de las funciones vitales y el mantenimiento equilibrado del sistema energético. Después de varios siglos de trabajar para vencer la enfermedad con productos químicos, radiación, cirugía radical y otras soluciones tecnológicas, y buscando prevenir la enfermedad con vacunas, aditivos sintéticos para fortificar los alimentos y en una guerra química contra los gérmenes, la ciencia médica está empezando a darse cuenta de que "la mejor ofensiva es una buena defensa", y que la mejor defensa es un sistema energético fuerte y bien equilibrado.

Al igual que cualquier otro sistema de salud, Chi Kung, no es una panacea, más bien, es una forma eficaz de practicar salud. Muchos profesionales de salud recomiendan el Chi Kung como una forma importante de la medicina complementaria y alternativa.

Aunque aún no hay instrumentos para medir la fuerza del Chi y que nos pueda dar una clara visión de su conformación física, investigaciones han demostrado que el Chi externo de un maestro de Chi Kung pueden producir importantes cambios estructurales en el agua y soluciones acuosas, alterar el comportamiento de la fase de la dipalmitoil fosfatidilcolina (DPPC) liposomas, y permitir el crecimiento de cristales de proteínas Fab (Yan et al. 1999). Se ha dicho que el Chi Kung es una de las tradiciones de curación más potente jamás desarrollada en la historia humana.

KOJOSHO

Crane

Kojosho is one of many systems said to derive from the Southern Shaolin that traces its lineage back to Hua-T'o, the Chinese philosopher, acupuncturist, herbalist, and Chi Kung doctor. Hua-T'o lived in the third century and is credited with the creation of a series of exercises based on the movements of animals. The discipline of the animal postures, breath, and mind was regularly recommended and practice for strengthening deficient Jing, Chi, and Shen.

The Dao Yin Tu postures silk relic from the King Ma tomb

The Shaolin monks worked Hua-To's original five animal movements adding more animal and element movements creating the Eighteen Lo-Han Postures―Shi-Pa-Sho. The Eighteen Lo-Han Postures were said to be both a means of physical culture and an effective fighting art―a combination of health benefits to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies and self-defense applications in the same exercise.

The original five animal movements create a set of systematic Dao Yin physical training known as the Wuqinxi (Five Animal Play). These five exercises mimic the various movements and gestures of the Deer, Bird, Ape, Tiger, and Bear. The initial goal of these five exercises is to help the practitioner improve his or her health and counteract disease by opening the channels in order to cultivate Essence (Jing), Energy (Chi) and Spirit (Shen). Each of the original Five Animals relate to a specific internal organ, function and/or system, for example:

• The Deer form stimulates and strengthens the function of the Liver and Gall Bladder, strengthens the head, brain, spinal cord, and the central nervous system.
• The Hawk form stimulates and strengthens the function of the Heart and Small Intestine, nerves, sensory system, motor system, the sympathetic nervous system, the lower extremities, the tendons, gallbladder, and liver yang improves balance, opens the joints, relieves congestion and helps cool the body.
• The Monkey form: stimulates and strengthens the function of the Spleen and Stomach, head and skull, upper back, neck, and shoulders in particular and the joints in general.
• The Tiger form stimulates and strengthens the function of the Lungs and Large Intestine, digestive system, the spleen/pancreas and stomach, the female reproductive system, the feet and legs, and subcutaneous tissue.
• The Bear form stimulates and strengthens the function of the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder, develops rooted power, strengthens the bones, and helps warm the body.

Kojosho works a series of exercises based on the Eighteen Postures (Shi-Pa-Sho). Oral Kojosho tradition maintains that the Eighteen Postures of Kojosho are derived from the Eighteen Postures of the Shaolin as taught at the Cai Ji Quan (Kojo Family Dojo) in the port city of Fuzhou, Fukien Province China.

The core training involves two primary features: the first being the solo-form, a slow sequence of movements which emphasize a straight spine, relaxed breathing and a natural range of motion; the second being the two-man-form or pushing-hands a styles of pushing hands for training the reflexes through various motions from the forms in concert with a training partner in order to learn timing, distance, intersection, leverage, and coordination and positioning when interacting with another. Pushing-hands is necessary not only for training the self-defense skills, but by demonstrating the forms' movement principles experientially.

The solo-form takes the students through a complete, natural, range of motion over the body's center of gravity, the lower Dantian. Accurate, repeated practice of the solo-form retrains posture, encourages circulation, opens energy chakras, maintains flexibility through joints and further familiarizes students with the martial application sequences implied by the forms.

The International Kojosho Karate Federation is directed by Dr. Fred Absher, Hanshi , Rank: 9th Dan. This organization has twenty-seven clubs located primarily in the western United States and representatives in fourteen countries. In 1973 Dr. Fred Absher was named Captain of the United States team to the First World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Seoul, Korea.

Dr. Fred Absher was officially inducted into the Taekwondo Hall Of Fame in the most prestigious event in United States Taekwondo history in April of 2007.

SHI-PA-SHO CHI KUNG
Grace is the economy of motion

Shi-Pa-Sho translates as Eighteen Postures originally created by the Shaolin monks in China based on the observation of animal motion as they evolved in the survival of each species. Conscious training of the Eighteen Postures teaches us to move with this grace―effortless beauty.

Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung training is intended to teach awareness of one's own energy balance. It creates an appreciation of the practical value in one's ability to moderate behavior and attitude at physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.  This applies to effective self-healing principles maintaining  health, beauty, endless youth and spirituality.

Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung studies the application of Yin/Yang energy flow in the internal body as well as the surroundings. Chi Kung is, in literature preserved in the oldest schools, said to be a study of yin (receptive) and yang (active) principles in all things―female/male, passive/active, dark/light, yielding/forceful. As yin (dark) grows inside yang (light), yang grows inside yin. The eternal change creates/becomes its opposite. Internal Chi Kung is the practice of gathering energy, where external Chi Kung is the practice of projecting energy. Internal Chi Kung is self-healing, where external Chi Kung is healing others.

In ancient Daoism, the Dao creates Yin and Yang, which in turn give birth to further subdivisions of Yin and Yang, manifesting as four phases of universal energy (Great Yang, Lesser Yang, Great Yin and Lesser Yin). These four phases of universal energy form the energetic bases of the Prenatal and Postnatal transformations, manifested in the form of eight energetic actions. The eight energetic actions (also known as the Bagua Trigrams) act as a template for all creation and can further be manifested through the ever-changing energetic form of the 64 Hexagrams of the Yiling (I-Ching).

Taiji

The later symbol for Yin and Yang (which became popular in the Song Dynasty) still expresses the energetic concept of the Dao transforming into Yin and Yang. However, unless an individual has received competent instruction, the subtleties are easy to overlook.

Successful practitioners who train and master the art of balancing the body's Yin-Yang energies were considered "Tian Shen" or "Xian," meaning "immortals." They were able to harmonize the body with the mind, the mind with the will, the will with the breath, the breath with the spirit, the spirit with motion, and finally, motion with the surrounding environment (Earth), the universe (Heaven), and the divine (Dao).

Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung, as it is practiced in the West today, can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of Yoga and Meditation combined. There are a number of forms which consist of a sequence of movements originally derived from the natural movements of animals. Similar to T'ai Chi, they are performed slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them.

Chi Kung Instructor Miguel Sarria UCLA August, 2007

One of the aims of Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung is to foster the circulation of this Chi within the body enhancing health and vitality. This Chi circulates in patterns that are related to the chakras, nervous and vascular system and thus connected with that of the practice of Acupuncture, Pranic Energy Healing and other oriental healing arts. Activating the Chi opens all the body's chakras allowing the release of congested energy and replenishing them with fresh clean energy.

This techniques foster a calm and tranquil mind, focused on the precise execution of these exercises. Learning to execute them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement, distance, timing and intercession. Thus the practice of Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung contributes to a better body posture, cleaner energy and overall health. Furthermore, the meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing in of itself. It develops lean muscle and sinew, nourishing the internal organ.

The meditative state produces a remarkable reaction in the hormonal system. Instantly, the alkaline enzyme chyle is released throughout the body via the lymphatic system. Chyle alkalizes the the body, strengthens every muscle, and organizes the thought processes. This will make you both relaxed and empowered. The chyle enzyme is, in my opinion, the major alkalizing substance created in the physical body.

Breathing exercises Nei Kung are designed to develop Chi or "breath energy" in coordination with physical movement and the form postures, and combinations of the two. These forms were formerly taught only to disciples as a separate, complementary training system. In the last 50 years they have become better known to the general public.

PRINCIPLES OF MOTION ECONOMY
Use of the Human Body

• The two hands should begin and complete their motions at the same time
• The two hands should not be idle at the same time except during rest periods
• Motions of the arms should be made in opposite and symmetrical directions and should be made simultaneously
• Hand and body motions should be confined to the lowest classification
• Momentum should be employed to assist whenever possible to reduced muscular effort
• Smooth continuous natural motions of the hands or body are preferable following the shortest distance from point A to point B
• Ballistic movements are faster, easier, and more accurate than restricted (fixation) or "controlled" movements
• Rhythm assists a smooth and automatic performance

HEALTH BENEFITS
Recognizing that the body heals itself is the basis to understanding that enhancing the flow of Chi  by opening the chakras promotes any and all healing process.

Chi Kung Instructor Miguel Sarria UCLA August, 2007

Regular practice of Chi Kung activates the Zang Fu organs in the process of creation and storage of essential substance, as well as the reception and digestion of food and the elimination of waste. The heart, lung, spleen-pancreas, liver, kidney and pericardium are Zang organs. The gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and triple warmer are Fu organs. Keeping this activity balance is how we keep ourselves young, full of sexual energy, and healthy.

The Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA studied the effects of regular T'ai Chi practice on a group of older adults who carry the Varicella virus. The virus is left over from chickenpox and causes shingles in one of five adults when their immune systems weaken with age. The group was separated in half, and one half was given tai chi instruction for two hours a week.

T'ai Chi is an offshoot of Chi Kung and operates on similar principles. It is often more complex with some forms containing over one hundred-eight movements, and is generally geared for martial arts applications. T'ai Chi usually takes more time to learn and become proficient at than does Chi Kung.

The results of the study will not be surprising to those who have seen the abundant literature and research on the incredible health benefits of Chi Kung and T'ai Chi. The T'ai Chi group, before taking a Varicella vaccine, showed a positive immune response comparable to younger adults who had taken the vaccine. After taking the vaccine the tai chi group's immunity continued to improve by 40%, reaching nearly twice the strength of the non-tai chi group.

This rigorous new study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.  It is the first of many more to come that will examine health benefits of T'ai Chi. The LA Times reported on it here and the National Institutes of Health reported on it here.

Researchers have also found that long-term Chi Kung practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders. The studies also reported reduced pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects. Other studies have indicated improved cardiovascular and respiratory function in healthy subjects as well as those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients who suffered from heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, arthritis and multiple sclerosis have also benefited from Chi Kung and T'ai Chi.

Chi Kung and T'ai Chi reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The gentle, low impact movements of these practices surprisingly burn more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing. Chi Kung and T'ai Chi has clearly boosts aspects of the immune system's function very significantly, and has been shown to reduce the incidence of anxiety, depression, and overall mood disturbance.

A pilot study has found evidence that T'ai Chi and related Chi Kung helps reduce the severity of diabetes.

The practice of Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung can:

• Harness the power of the energy facilitating spiritual growth regardless of faith or beliefs
• Enhance the human respiratory system
• Improve motion of blood, warm the blood and enhance whole body circulation
• Stimulate appetite, sexual function, assimilation of nutrients, digestion and elimination
• Accelerate metabolism, weight loss, and decreases need for sleep
• Bolster the Immune System by reducing Cortisol, known inhibitor of cytokine production
• Improve dexterity, reflexes, and has shown to prevent osteoporosis in clinical studies
• Open arteries allowing greater brain-based microcirculation to prevent Alzheimer's
• Enhance mental acuity, focus, and concentration
• Help us to calm down, relax, become more peaceful and aware
• Benefit
• Bones, Muscle & Tendons System―increases muscle and tendon strength as well as overall flexibility
• Central Nervous System―switches the autonomous nervous system from the stress-related 'fight or flight' mode of the sympathetic branch over to the restorative healing mode of the parasympathetic branch
• Skeletal System―increases bone strength as well as overall flexibility; generating better posture for the spine with half the amount of bone loss and more flexibility
• Respiratory System―increasing the oxygenation of the blood in the lungs, deep-breathing restores normal pH balance to the blood, while movements improve delivery of the oxygen tot the cells, significantly enhancing the overall respiratory efficiency
• Sensory System
• Endocrine System
• Circulatory System―dramatic improvement in the blood circulation throughout the body, particularly microcirculation in the brain, extremities, and deep tissues of the vital organs
• Digestive System―enhancing digestive secretions, saliva, stomach secretions, intestinal fluids
• The Organs
• Immune Response―activates the innate healing mechanism known as psychoneuroimmunology mediated by positive biofeedback between the nervous system and the endocrine system
• Acid/Alkaline balance (pH)―balances the pH level of the blood, digestive juices and other bodily fluids
• Free Radical Scavenger―laboratory analysis show an increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the most important free radical scavengers,  by 50%

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The immune response involves white blood cells called lymphocytes. The most important are B and T cells. Each B and T cell is programmed to recognize and respond to one specific protein, called an antigen. Different antigens are present on cell membranes.  When lymphocytes encounter their specific antigens, they bind in a "lock and key" manner and destroy the cell.

B cells respond by transforming into antibody-secreting cells.  Their antibody binds to the antigen, causing its destruction.  Some B cells remain in circulation, carrying the memory of that antigen. T cells respond by transforming into helper, cytotoxic, or memory cells. T helper cells help B cells change into antibody secreting cells. Without helper T cells presenting antigens to a B cell, the B cell does not respond.

Cytotoxic T cells act alone, without B cells.  The cells destroyed by cytotoxic T cells are those infected by a virus or a cancer cell changed by mutation. T cells can become memory cells and remain in the circulation for years, ready to respond again if their antigen should appear. The first time B and T cells are exposed to a specific antigen, the response takes weeks.  If re-exposure occurs, B and T memory cells respond immediately to destroy the invader.

Normally, the immune response is well controlled.  If not, autoimmune disease may occur, and self-antigens may be attacked.

Immune System (Video)

ANATOMY OF YOUR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Oxygen is a necessity by all living organisms. Your metabolism, or burning of nutrients, depends on the oxygen we breathe. It releases the energy needed to grow, reproduce, and maintain life through many reactions. What we breathe out is a waste product formed by the combination of carbon from food and oxygen during the metabolism process, also formally known as carbon dioxide. Your breathing is accomplished through the functioning of your respiratory system. Your respiratory system is your apparatus for bringing in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor. We take 15-18 breathes per minute, 960 times per hour, 23,040 times per day, 8,409,600 times per year and more than 590 million times by age 70.

Your respiratory system consists of the nasal cavity, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi, and the most known one, the lungs. Now, when the process of breathing begins, air is taken in through the mouth and nose up through the nasal cavity. Breathing through your nose is best for you since it has a layer of hair in it. This collects any dust or other particles keeping them from reaching your lungs. After the air has traveled through your nose and mouth it all comes together in a point of your throat called the pharynx. At this point there are two routes, one for food and one for air. CULTIVATING THE RIGHT MIND FOR PRACTICE
Right Mind is one of the basic precepts of the "Noble Eight-Fold Path" taught by the Buddha as a way to end suffering and achieve spiritual liberation. Without the right attitude and a wholesome outlook on life, no practice in the world can bring you peace of mind, physical health, happiness and longevity. There is a very strong tendency today to believe that everything can be accomplished entirely through science and technology, modem medicine and diet, physical exercise and various other external methods, without the slightest consideration for the most important factor of all―consciousness.

One of the main purposes of Chi Kung is to cultivate right energy as a functional basis for "right mind". When our energy systems are deficient and imbalanced, clogged with stagnant energies, obstructed with toxins and tensions, and out of tune with the forces of nature and the cosmos, not only does this cause physical disease and degeneration, it also

Above, the Joyous Lake. Below, the Creative Heaven. When Yang energy is allow to grow, fulfillment and true achievement result.

gives rise to mental distress and emotional imbalance. When your energy is pure, strong and well balanced, so are your body, emotions and mind. On the other hand, since "spirit commands energy", it's equally important to cultivate spiritual virtue as a basis for energy work. A mean spirit always generates mean energy, and an angry mind causes the energy cultivated by Chi Kung to deviate into anger. While Chi Kung can certainly help balance and harmonize the mind by nurturing spirit with the pure primordial energy generated by internal alchemy, there is a limit to how far energy can influence spirit.

As we already know, spirit is the ultimate authority in the human system, and therefore it has the power to overrule energy. Thus a conscious effort must be made to cultivate spiritual virtue as a basis for practice. No matter how much energy is harvested from the universe and how well it is cultivated within the human system, if the human mind deviates from the path of wisdom and compassion paved by primordial spirit and defies the universal laws of nature and the cosmos, then energy will heed the same deviant call and manifest the same delinquent activity, for energy always follows the intention. Indeed, one reason that so many people today are so unhealthy, short-lived and spiritually stunted is that they subvert their own vital energy resources with perverse thoughts and deviant intentions.

Positive thinking includes one's entire outlook on life and cultivates an optimistic point of view, precluding the cynical attitudes and dark pessimism which have become so fashionable these days. All too often people discount positive thinking as mere "wishful thinking", because they're afraid to trust the power of spirit and unwilling to cultivate 'right mind' as a basis for life. There is, however, a tremendous reservoir of transformative power locked inside the mind, and the key to unleashing this power is a positive attitude towards life. What this basically means is that your energy is capable of accomplishing whatever you believe it can do, for "spirit commands energy". A positive attitude always propels energy in a positive direction, and "right mind" naturally guides energy the "right way."

All true Chi Kung masters make a strong point of teaching their students that their ordinary behavior in daily life sets the tone for their entire practice, and that private practice and public life can never be separated. If you truly understand and accept the view that all phenomena in life reflect the interplay of universal energies and that all relationships are governed by the interaction between the personal energy fields of the individuals involved, then you must realize the truth of the statement that 'no man is an island'. In terms of energy, there are no concrete boundaries between objects or between people, because all energy fields radiate outward infinitely, and therefore they ultimately intersect with everything else in the universe.

Thus, if half the people on the planet are suffering and unhappy, that negative energy is bound to affect the rest of the people on the planet, whether they are aware of it or not. Unhappy minds project unhappy energies, and unhealthy bodies generate unhealthy energy fields, and those energies and fields broadcast a miasma of misery out in all directions, producing a planetary pall that ultimately affects everyone else in the world. Building high walls and installing steel gates around your home may keep out burglars and protect your material possessions from theft, but they won't keep out the negative energy of other people's misery nor protect you from its negative influence.

According to this view, greedy, selfish behavior towards others is always counterproductive because it causes others to project negative energy that bounces back and harms the perpetrators of greed. Similarly, whenever we help others and make others happy, we thereby also help ourselves and make ourselves happy, because the happiness we bring others with our helpful behavior is projected straight back to us from their minds.

Even if we cannot bring ourselves to be overtly helpful to others, at the very least we should refrain from being harmful and thereby avoid invoking the negative impact of others' enmity. If we go one step further and actually go out of our ways to help others, we then earn their everlasting gratitude. Gratitude and enmity are very different qualities in terms of the type of energy they generate and project on to others. If you earn the enmity of enough people, there is no question that the cumulative effects of the negative energy they project to you will have a strongly negative impact on your life, just as the energy of gratitude can be of tremendous benefit. This point goes beyond moral considerations: it's a basic fact of life, a universal principle of energy, and therefore an important point of practice.

It is due to the primacy of energy in life that human relationships provide such fertile ground for training in energy work. This is especially true of personal family relationships, in which emotions come into play. As everyone knows, the Chinese put great stock in family relationships, viewing the family as a microcosm of society, the state, and the entire cosmos. The energy dynamics between parents and children and among siblings is a training ground for how personal energy is expressed in the world at large. Relationships between teacher and student, master and disciple, were also regarded as sacred, because the teacher or master taught younger people how to harness their instinctive animal energies to serve the higher purposes of Heaven, Earth and Humanity. All such relationships in life may contribute valuable lessons in Chi Kung practice, and all the precepts of balance and harmony which govern Chi Kung may be applied with equally beneficial results to human relationships.

Perhaps the most important element of all in cultivating the right mind for life on the path of spiritual practice and energy work is love. Love, in the altruistic sense of selfless unconditional compassion for others, seems to have gone completely out of style in the modern world, and few people today attribute the rapid decline in human health throughout the world to the absence of love. It is not an accident that all of the world's great religious and mystical traditions consistently stress the overriding importance of love. The great martial artist Chang San-feng, who is credited with developing Tai Chi Chuan six hundred years ago, summed up his entire approach to life by saying, "Therefore, to those who want to know the way to deal with the world, I suggest, Love People."

This is not a goody-two-shoes, pie-in-the-sky moral injunction to be a nice guy or girl, but rather a very basic lesson in energy work and spiritual power. The universe from which we harness power when we practice Chi Kung is a living organism with spirit, and that spirit is guided by wisdom and compassion. All of our energy comes from the universe and ultimately returns to it. In order to fuel our lives, we borrow as much energy from the universe as we need, or as much as our practice permits, but in order for it to work positively for us, universal energy must be utilized in accordance with the other two universal virtues with which it is inseparably linked at its primordial source―wisdom and compassion. In this pragmatic age of science and technology, people are prone to overlook the power of love, but it doesn't take much vision to see very clearly that science and technology, which can be said to represent energy unbridled by love, have certainly brought neither health nor happiness to the world. If love were taken seriously as a guideline for utilizing energy, then atomic energy would never have been allowed to be used to produce weapons of mass destruction. This may seem obvious, and perhaps naive, but the fact remains that love is the best safeguard against the deviant use of energy, and spiritual self-cultivation is the best way to understand how wisdom, love and energy are inseparable triunal virtues that must always be cultivated together.

Introduction to Chi Kung (Video)

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS
Our senior Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung professional Terry Gearey has over 35 years experience practicing and teaching internationally certified by the International Kojosho Karate Federation. Our second certified Shi-Pa-Sho Chi Kung professional Miguel Sarria has over 19 years experience practicing and teaching internationally certified by the International Kojosho Karate Federation; and is also a Certified Chi Kung Instructor from the Supreme Science Qigong Foundation and a Certified Pranic/Chi Kung Healer from the Institute for Inner Studies, Inc.

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