Blog
Winter Solstice 2024
I invite you to do a mini practice with me that includes a short three-point acupressure routine at the end to quiet the mind and focus on two questions that I believe are a way to “hold” the Winter Solstice…
The Dream of the Butterfly
Ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi (also known as Chuang Tzu) has a famous story of having a special dream about being a butterfly that illustrates the idea of the transformation of things and quietly poses the question about the nature of existence.
Doing Qigong while Making Bread
Doing Qigong while make bread: Just about any manual chore can be a meditative practice. Sometimes you call the set of movements a flow or a form.
Eight Reasons to do Baduanjin Eight Brocades Qigong
In modern times, Baduanjin Qigong has been widely studied by scientists and researchers who study health interventions, ... In China, Baduanjin Qigong is said to be the practice you use to “rid yourself of 100 illnesses.”
The purpose of mindbody arts during times of change
During this important year of elections throughout the world (there were 50 countries having elections this year), I have found myself leaning heavily on mindbody arts personally to get through stress of elections.
Polishing the pearl
Transform the irritant. Practice polishing the pearl of your efforts in Tai Chi.
“Nope. Not today.”
“Nope. Not today.” Saying this phrase in three ways supports mental health and wellbeing.
How much screen time is too much?
We are living in interesting times with many things vying for attention all at once. Living in the “information age” requires finding ways to manage the torrent of information coming to us through the digital pathways. Mindbody practice can help.
A Tale of Two Surgeries
Healing from an injury that requires surgery can be like undoing knots.
Best time of day to practice
When is the best time of day to practice mindbody arts? I get that question a lot, [and] there are two answers to the question...
My take on what self-care really is
In our culture, how did self-care get a strange reputation of getting facials, buying nice clothes, taking bubble baths, getting massages and manicures and neat haircuts?...Sure, all those things can be a kind of self-care, but whole-person self-care is way bigger than that...Life is complex and so are you.
I got it: the end-of-summer cold
Ugh. I got that end-of-summer cold that is going around, and here are some energetic remedies.
On aging and feisty wisdom: Why I broke up with my hairdresser
There is a gap between stereotypes about aging and the scientific facts about healthy aging, and the exciting possibility is to open up to a new narrative about life and what it means to age. Valuing every age and every person is truly worth it.
“Trying not to Try”: A Crash Course in Tai Chi
This phrase “trying not to try” describes the goal and the path for learning and playing Tai Chi, which is authenticity and spontaneity and feeling relaxed and safe and whole in the moment.
From a tender place
A strong emotion can take over and silence every thought in the moment so that all there is is emotion. Grief is very stressful, and the grieving body can hurt (and have trouble breathing and sleeping and eating). The family makes sense of what is happening, because, suddenly, life, the universe, everything has become completely different.
Rejuvenation Flow: An easy acupressure routine
The Rejuvenation Flow sequence helps you make contact with the back of the head, the shoulder, the forehead, chest and heart. This calms the nervous system and protects the heart for a moment of calm contact and self-regulation.
Stress Awareness: Stress in the Right Dose
Stress is a bear! For stress to be beneficial, you may need to change your mindset about it….Stress awareness does not mean getting rid of stress and never ever again being stressed out. Accepting that stress happens is a big step in mastering it.
Shaking with purpose
Qigong Shaking is a form of Qigong practice that involves rhythmic shaking and trembling movements of the body. This practice is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine, and the aim is to promote the flow of Qi (vital energy and biological information exchange within and without your body) throughout the body to improve health and well-being.
Be a good sport
There are mindbody themes in the sport of cycling, because it is about paying attention and cultivating situational awareness, knowing what is going on on multiple levels…. Mind and body must work together at all times.