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What is harmony but health. My mission is to find the health, anyone can find disease. Self-healing empowerment.
- One's health can be measured by one's flexibility. Entry for June 20, 2007
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Yesterday, I had another great private training session in Bando Yoga from Cheryl Tippie, a student of Dr. Muang Gyi. I met Cheryl at a Yoga Seminar presented by Dr. Muang Gyi at the Inosanto Academy on February 25, 2007 when he selectively paired me with one of his devoted pupils. I was so impressed by Dr. Gyi's health and knowledge of the healing arts that I wanted to learn more. The past four months of learning aspects of the extensive Banda Yoga system has been very rewarding. The six main objectives of Bando Yoga are sharpening of one's Suppleness, Strength, Stability, Speed, Stamina, and Senses. Suppleness has many levels to its definition.
At a physical level, suppleness is the ability to have ease in full range of motion without breaking.1 I have been suffering from a recent stiff neck and a chronically tight lower back (probably due to prolonged sitting in front of a computer without stretching). My range of motion in both areas has been poor and the pain has been extreme. While doing the final asanas in the first form of Dhanda yoga, it was quite evident which areas of my body were not healthy and in need of extra stretching. The importance of flexibility can be seen especially in athletes and in age. Healthy adults can be exemplified by erect posture and fluidity of motion. Dr. Gyi is a perfect example of health as an aging athlete. He will be visiting southern California again to give another Self-Healing Yoga Systems Seminar at the Inosanto Academy on September 30, 2007.
At a mental level, suppleness is defined as being readily adaptable or responsive to new situations.1 As a doctor, I am constantly asked to immediately respond to new situations. My flexibility to juggle multiple patients with various problems is an important aspect in determining my success as a physician. In life, our flexibility to deal with a variety of people with different cultural beliefs and values will determine our success as a society. Unlike the supple person, a person with a stiff mind is someone that is stubborn and unyielding to the ideas of others. Yielding (or bending) does not imply a loss of one's personal integrity or values but rather an acknowledgement and understanding of the ideas of others. Suppleness in this situation is the ability to move in all directions with an idea without a compromise to one's personal integrity and values. The health of oneself can be measured by one’s ability to respond and be adaptable to new situations.
At a spiritual level, suppleness refers to being compliant often to the point of obsequiousness.[1] Being able to comply almost with a point of mercy is a very difficult thing to accomplish especially in this age of strong-willed independence that has been reinforced by the American “me” culture. We are all at the mercy of some aspect of our situation whether we like to believe it or not. How we choose to respond to our situation will determine our health. The choice to comply or to resist is ours. As a working mom, I am always at the mercy of my son’s schedule, my work schedule, and my husband’s schedule. The ability to comply with multiple schedules and still have time for oneself requires time management skills and proper planning.
Suppleness of body, mind and spirit can be trained through stretching, meditation and prayer. During this most recent yoga training session, I learned another mudra that I would like to share. A mudra refers to various symbolic gestures, postures, or movements for the purpose of healing, meditation, cleansing, balance, harmony, etc. This particular mudra may be used to calm us when our emotions get the best of heart, mind and spirit. Called the "Anger Mudra", it is performed in a relaxed lotus sitting position (legs crossed) with the words in the brackets thought or said while performing the stated movements three times.
“Release me (or free me) from the demons that enslave my heart. Release me (or free me) from the demons that torture my mind. Release me (or free me) from the demons that poison my spirit.” (3x)
1. Place hands in prayer position over the heart chakra (sternum). Open hands palm facing body and move hands outward towards the shoulders. [RELEASE ME]
2. Push hands laterally to the sides outside of the shoulders with palm facing outward. [FROM THE DEMONS]
3. Clasp hands in a rolled fist over the heart. [THAT ENSLAVE MY HEART]
4. Place hands in prayer position over the heart chakra (sternum). Open hands palm facing body and move hands outward towards the shoulders. [RELEASE ME]
5. Push hands laterally to the sides outside of the shoulders with palm facing outward. [FROM THE DEMONS]
6. Clasp hands in a rolled fist over the forehead. [THAT TORTURE MY MIND]
7. Place hands in prayer position over the heart chakra (sternum). Open hands palm facing body and move hands outward towards the shoulders. [RELEASE ME]
8. Push hands laterally to the sides outside of the shoulders with palm facing outward. [FROM THE DEMONS]
9. Clasp hands in a rolled fist above the head. [POISON MY SPIRIT]
[1] Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. “Suppleness”. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/suppleness. Accessed on June 20, 2007.
Tags: suppleness, flexibility, dr.gyi, bandoyoga, stiffneck, backpain, doctor, mind, body, spirit Wednesday June 20, 2007 - 09:25am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments - Swinging into action. Entry for June 15, 2007
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When you apply yourself with a kettlebell, you can expect great results. What is a kettlebell? A kettlebell is cast iron round weight with a single handle that was traditionally used by Russian weight lifters ("gireviks"). The use of kettlebells has become increasingly popular in the United States due to the introduction of the fitness tool by Pavel Tsatsouline.
I began training with a kettlebell about two months after the birth of my first son and during my last year of medical school. Between the rigorous demands of parenthood, completing my clinical rotations, and studying for my physician licensing exam, I was limited on time to work-out. I wanted an activity that would get my heart pumping like long-distance running used to do, strengthen my body like swimming did during pregnancy, and lose the baby fat that I had gained with pregancy. I didn't have flexibility anymore to hit the pavement or pool and I was crunched for time.
Russian kettlebell training has been the best solution to my health maintainance needs. Under the instruction of my husband, Dr. Mark Cheng, L.Ac., PhD and occasionally Pavel Tsatsouline himself, I have seen remarkable improvements in my body awareness and mechanics using the principles of tension and relaxation. "Hard Style" training principles has taught me to engage my entire body including my breath to safely lift, swing and press heavy objects (including weights heavier than myself as in the picture).
In the beginning, my routine was simple consisting of basic deadlift, swings, and turkish get-up using an 18 pound and 26 pound kettlebell. My workout ranged from a quick 10 minute weekday routine to an hour weekend training session. Of the three basic techniques, the swing was what really got me hooked on kettlebells. After doing a minute straight of swings, I was as winded as if I had done a minute of bleachers without going anywhere and my entire body felt like it had a good workout without being in pain. The swing utilizes the kettlebell to strengthen and stabilize the entire musculoskeletal system and to condition the cardiopulmonary system. The swing is a highly efficient technique that if done properly can tone your entire body.
Like the name implies, the kettlebell swings from between the girevik's legs to in front of the girevik. In order to gain enough momentum to drive the kettlebell forward, the girevik must thrust the hips forward by tightening the butt muscles (e.g., gluteus maximus and minimus) and abdominal muscles (e.g., rectus abdominus and thoracic diaphragm) while straightening the legs by pushing the heals into the ground. To prevent the kettlebell from being propelled too far forward, the girevick must engage the back muscles (e.g., trapezius and latissimus) to stabilize the upper back and also engage shoulder muscles (e.g., deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres) to stabilize the upper arm. These are just a few of the muscles that are being used during this technique just to emphasize the efficiency of it. This one technique accomplishes what sit-ups may do for your abs, what stair-climbers may do for your butt, and what lifting weights may do for your arms.
This picture was taken of me at the Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification course in April 2007 where I became a certified instructor. Weighing only 102 pounds, I am shown swinging the 106 pound "beast". What are you waiting for start swinging into action!
Tags: kettlebell, fitness, health, strength, power, training, weightloss, pregnancy Saturday June 16, 2007 - 12:29am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
