Adding to the 9 Things because I Love America too!1. Yes You Can..though recently I’ve heard this is getting more difficult. In the UK you will all the reasons you can’t do something before the first reason you can.
Thank God…Why?
Friday 18th July 2014 began as an ordinary Friday except I’d arranged to pick up some printing from 10 miles away in Coventry and set out on a beautifully sunny day where the temperatures were in the eighties and perfect for being on the scooter.
The journey went without hitch until 9.45 am when I was riding down Gulson Road, Coventry with some cars parked on the right hand side, so I was towards the centre of the road and travelling at 30 mph.
I saw the Virgin Network van parked outside a shop but it was stationary so not a problem. Until I was some 15/20 yards away when the van swerved out in front of me with no signal or warning. It was as if the driver hadn’t looked and just put the van into gear and sped off.
I hit the brakes and from then on in I was in……..now here comes the dilemma…I stopped one foot away from the side of the van as it drove across the road and up an adjacent road without stopping and I can only conclude without being aware of me at all.
There I was stopped dead in the middle of the road, the braking had pulled my body over the handle bars and jerked my feet to the ground. The car behind me quickly pulled up beside me and what the driver said seemed innocuous at the time, but the words are the reason I’m writing this.
“Thank God you stopped in time. Are you OK?
I nodded and smiled but stayed there while two or three more cars moved passed me and glanced over. I decided that since I was still upright and the road was clear I’d better move off. There was still a mile or so to go and the van had missed me.
But as I got back into gear and moved off those words came back to me “Thank God you stopped.”
I’ll make it clear here and now, I don’t believe in God at all. I believe the spirit of my ancestors are looking after me at the moment but God. No. Because let’s face it if I have to “Thank God” for the fact that I was quick enough and alert enough to pull the brakes; would it be OK to blame him for the time he decides not to help out? What would be the difference between this God deciding today wasn’t the day for me to crash and then deciding the next time is? What about the people who have been injured or killed on the road today why was it not their time to be saved?
Anyway, I arrived safely and found the printing wasn’t quite ready yet anyway so it would have been a very costly journey for nothing. But the people at the company looked at me once and asked me what was wrong, they saw something in my face or my posture and then it occurred to me that I did feel a bit queasy, and a sit down and cup of tea required.
The rest of the day passed safely and here I am writing about the incident and asking the question..
Do you believe God played a part in the incident Yes or No?
Shiatsu study to use
As a businessman committed to getting people to MOVE I have recently spent more of my time writing as a member of The Working Writer’s Club. The experience has brought home to me just how long we can sit at a computer/typewriter while we discipline ourselves to writing our articles and books. It has also reminded me of the amount of time we can spend sitting down when we are engrossed. So, I want to send this message out to fellow writers:
Let’s Move and Let’s Make It FUN>>
My advice is to find our favourite piece of music (with a beat) and instead of singing along lets stand up or move forward in our chair and DANCE. Just dance as if no one’s watching..but if you want a routine..Try This:
Walk on the spot–Arms swinging…
Alternate toe touches — Alternate heel touches
Raise the heels (calf raising)– Rock from…
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As a businessman committed to getting people to MOVE I have recently spent more of my time writing as a member of The Working Writer’s Club. The experience has brought home to me just how long we can sit at a computer/typewriter while we discipline ourselves to writing our articles and books. It has also reminded me of the amount of time we can spend sitting down when we are engrossed. So, I want to send this message out to fellow writers:
Let’s Move and Let’s Make It FUN>>
My advice is to find our favourite piece of music (with a beat) and instead of singing along lets stand up or move forward in our chair and DANCE. Just dance as if no one’s watching..but if you want a routine..Try This:
Walk on the spot–Arms swinging…
Alternate toe touches — Alternate heel touches
Raise the heels (calf raising)– Rock from heels to toes
(get the blood to flow right down to our extremities)
Plant your feet– Push your right arm across the body to the left–Push your left arm across the body to the right..
Raise the right arm up and across to the left– Raise the left arm up and across to the right..
Reach the right arm straight up to the ceiling — Raise the left arm straight up to the ceiling..
Both arms down by your sides–Circle your shoulders backwards– circle your shoulders forwards——–Right shoulder back– Left shoulder back..
Walk on the Spot–arms swinging……………………………………………………………………………………..
Do as many repetitions as you feel suits you or for as many tracks as you want to Dance To.
OR
It may be that you feel the need to breath and relax your shoulders, re;ease the tension,,
Sit upright in your chair and look towards a wall or a tree that is still..
Extend your spine up–relax your shoulder blades down–have a small space between your trunk and your arms..relax your fingers.
Take a gentle breath in through your nose and have a steady count of 4..
Take a long slow breath out to a count of 8..
Focus on the out-breath..the in breath will take care of itself.
If your eyes are open simply focus on the space ahead of you..if your eyes close remember the focus is still on the breath..not on falling asleep..(check that your spine stays erect)
Don’t believe that sitting still is not moving..I suggest you try..it’s not an easy option..
Whatever you feel suits you..put the cd on and let the rhythm of the music take you with it, until your ready to write again.
Why Tai Chi?
That’s the question I get asked more than any other. It’s usually asked by the athletes who have seen the group exercising outdoors as they walk passed us after their workout.
“You only stand still.”Try it….
After you’ve read this I’m going to want you to get up, Stand Up..Get out of your seat and try “Standing Still”But first let’s have a look at the question Why Tai Chi?
First a bit about me..I’m a 61-year-old Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor..after living most of my life involved in contact sports that wrecked my body. Right ankle twisted so often it stopped swelling up: Right knee ruptured during cartilage surgery:Right clavicle sticking out of its socket:Lower back stiffness that meant I couldn’t touch my knees.
That was twelve years ago.Check out the pics attached..
What equipment do you need to begin a programme? Easy..enough space to stand up..and if you can include fresh air do it!!
That’s it..No Excuses.
Now daily practice means I move efficiently, my leg muscles are internally strong..that means that I can stand still for an hour, barely moving, but I can hold a squat position for a long time and deliver a head-high kick .My upper body is totally relaxed; full shoulder rotation, Full arm rotation and the ability to look over and behind both shoulders.Your upper body is totally relaxed and therefore able to move with speed and power from a firm, strong base. I can deliver 100 punches in 20 seconds..
Think about it..if you’re attacked do you stiffen up and take a defensive stance or do you relax, stand firm and just rotate the hips so that the attacker falls off balance and into your range. Are you moving backwards out of range taking your legs out of the fight or are you able to deliver a powerful kick with little back-lift. All of the movements need relaxed muscles, balanced stance and focus.The movements need to be practised everyday so that they become natural.
The discipline needed to practice the same move time after time so that it flows from one move to another takes a dedicated mind.I’ve just read an article by Anthony M Drage on this site and he talked about detail.The difference in delivering a powerful punch from one stance and moving your feet two inches is massive.The relaxation of muscles means your reactions are lightning fast as opposed to strained muscles after a weight session where they’re fatigued.
Look at the breathing of an athlete after a weight training or track session where the emphasis is on expanding energy..short, fast breathes the mind still racing..now look at the breathing of an athlete after tai chi..deep, controlled and settled. The mind follows as energy is collected and stored.The fighter can build resistance by focussing the mind.We’re looking for tireless stamina, speed, flexibility and the suppression of stress related reactions.
You see Bootcamps,heavy weights and “eye balls out” sessions are *designed to take the body beyond healthy limits* and produce extreme reactions. Tai Chi trains you to be cool-headed while others are stressing.High intensity workouts place different degrees of tension and imbalances on the body and that means fascia hardens to compensate* (Scott Sonnen) Tai Chi compensates with “low intensity–though not that low” exercises to reprogram motor functions, rotations, balance, extensions and stillness. These periods are vital to keep the body flexible way into your coming years and to prevent over use injuries.
Tai Chi allows you to build stamina, strength and muscular endurance without complex movements being performed under fatigue.
So let’s have a go..
Enough talk.Move back from the PC..your sitting on a chair..OK
Feet apart, firmly on the floor…begin to stand up but stop with your backside just two inches off the seat..squat position..
Now..have your arms at chest level as if your holding a delicate balloon..too loose it falls out–too tight it bursts. Look ahead and focus..Breath in to a slow count of Four//Breath slowly out to a count of Four x 6 times
Lift the “balloon”.. level with your eyes..palms facing away from your face and follow the breathing pattern x 6 times
Lift the balloon above your head..palms facing the ceiling and follow the breathing pattern x 6 times
Now push the chair away.. pretend that the balloon weighs heavier.. sink down into your feet and lower to full squat..thighs parallel to the floor…repeat the three positions as above..
Then stand up…
Day by day, week by week, month by month standing for longer.Use your imagination..imagine you’re holding a medicine ball and follow the program..make it heavy.
Then follow the particular tai chi form you’ve chosen…
That’s why Tai Chi
..moving slowly requires absolute focus..try standing on one leg and singing..try standing on your left leg, swinging your right leg slowly up and forward into a kick… stopping it at the strike point.at the same time.swing your left arm round and forward..your right arm round and out to the side..
Tai chi demands total balance, bad balance in one position ruins the movement into the next position with strength and control.Just check out any tai chi video and check out the powerful, yet flowing movements of masters..Think you could destroy them..in most cases think again.
For the last 12 years I have been drawn into the particular physical benefits of T’ai Chi being able, after six weeks to bend my knees without pain, stand upright without my shoulders hurting and generally moving more freely than I have for many years.
The Introduction
My first introduction to this form of martial art came just as my body was falling apart after years of contact sports and the training required for those sports.I had no right knee to speak of; a right ankle which no longer swelled up after turning over so many times and a right collar bone sticking up from the shoulder joint. Oh and a broken nose.
The History and Benefits
The Lee Style is recorded as being some 3000 years old and was introduced into my area by Master Chee Soo.
Known as the “Square Yard T’ai Chi” because all the moves can be practised in a square yard of floor space means this form of exercise can be practised daily wherever you are.
The repetition of movements helps to strengthen the muscles around joints, improves posture, balance and body control.
There are deeper aspects to T’ai Chi but I have dedicated myself to the physical side of the form with the aim of improving stances,posture and co-ordination of hands, arms,legs and feet.
The flow of the movements often hide the strength and flexibility required to acheive improved movement. It also hides the mental capacity of concentration and focus needed to utilize speed and power.
The Breathing patterns allow the body’s ability to create healthy blood flow and circulation along with improved relaxation which can never be overstated. The overall physical and mental effects of the improved breathing patterns are well documented but personally my experience has been that time, actual physical time has passed so quickly that students with chronic and acute joint and muscular pain have ,in fact, been able to tolerate sixty minutes of exercise. This is despite the fact that they had come to me before the class began and warned me that they may leave the session early if the pain gets too bad. In my twelve years of practice only two people have ever had to leave because they felt unable to carry on.
If you want to know more about this powerful form of exercise visit www.balancehealth-fitness.co.uk to find out just what a balanced exercise programme consists of.
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