Monday, 29 March 2010

What is Qigong Chi Gong?


Qi Gong Chi Gong For Health And Longevity
What is Qigong Chi Gong?

Qi Gong (sometimes spelt Chi Gong and pronounced Chee like cheese) is a simple, natural and powerful set of breathing exercises that originate from the Shaolin Temple of Zen in China. Qigong taps into the inner reservoir of energy and restores our body to its original programme of health

In China, Qigong is called the secret of youth and longevity because it slows the ageing process down and promotes health and longevity from the inside out. Time-tested for thousands of years, studies today have found that Qigong exercise can boost levels of one of the most important ‘anti-ageing’ enzymes in the body.

Qigong History

In the past Qigong was passed down secretly from generation to generation at the Shaolin Temple in China. Bodhidharma (the founder of Zen) was the 1st generation and I am one of the 34th generations. In 1985 the Chinese government granted its approval of Qigong and I now have permission to teach what I learnt at the temple.

Qigong Exercise

A set of Qigong exercises is called a form. There are thousands of Qigong exercises (forms) but the Shaolin Temple believe that the most powerful Qigong exercise for health comes from the Yi Yin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and Xi Sui Jing (Bone Marrow Cleansing Classic).

Muscle Tendon Changing and Bone Marrow Cleansing Classic

When the Bodhidharma came to the Shaolin Temple he found the monks were weak from sitting meditation. Just as the Buddha had realised the health of the body was as important as the health of the mind in order to gain enlightenment, the Bodhidharma developed a unique system of Qigong to energize the monks and help them gain enlightenment.

The Yi Yin Jing Xi Sui Jing taught the monks how to use Qi to clean the bone marrow and strengthen the blood and immune system, as well as how to energize the brain. This helped them to attain Buddhahood.

Eight Simple Qigong Exercises

The Eight Treasures (sometimes called Eight Pieces of Brocade and in Chinese Ba Duan Yin) are the eight most powerful movements from the Yi Yin Jing Xi Sui Jing. This form is possibly the most popular Qigong in the China. There are many different variations of this form but in The Way of Qigong Volume 1 and my Insant Health book, I teach the original Buddhist Qigong exactly as it was taught in the temple.

Eight Great Exercises: Eight Great Reasons To Do Qigong

Regulate blood pressure
Boost the immune system
Ease the stress and strain of working at a computer
Optimize energy
Turn back the clock
Harmonize the mind and body
Help with co-ordination (therefore preventing falls later on in life)
Prevent illness and promote good health


Qigong Training

Qigong training can be done by adults of all ages. The healing exercises can even be done in just a few minutes a day so you can easily fit them into your hectic lifestyle. Please take a minute to raise your arms to the sky, then stretch them out in front of you, and finally stretch them out to the side, this is the only space you need to begin your practice. The only equipment you need is an Insant Health Massage Brush.

Qigong Massage

An important part of the Qigong Workout Program is the self-massage with a bamboo massage brush. The 108 bamboo rods in this massage brush create vibrations which relieve stress and tension in the muscles, assist in unblocking the acupuncture channels, and help the body to detoxify through the stimulation of the lymphatic system. Students have reported that if used directly on the skin (rather than through clothing) it has helped them to reduce and prevent cellulite.


Learn Qigong Now

I provide a very simple introduction to a sitting Qigong which you can start practicing with right now. Whether you want to learn Qigong in the UK, the USA or whatever part of the world you are in, I provide three simple ways for you to learn Qigong so that you can start right now.

Qigong Book

Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity is a step-by-step guide to increasing your health and longevity. As well as teaching The Eight Treasures Qigong, I also guide you through Qigong Breathing, Qigong Stretching, Qigong Meditation and Qigong Massage.

Qigong DVD

In The Way Of Qigong Volume 1 I teach the same form of Qigong that is taught in Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity. In The Way Of Qigong 2 & Volume 3, I teach Yi Yin Jing (Muscle/Tendon changing classic) and Xi Sui Jing.I also goes into more detail about the Qigong massage.
Both the books and the DVDs work as stand alone products on their own. It is not necessary to purchase both but students have found that they do compliment each other.

Qigong Class

You can also do a private classes with me. I teach in London UK and Los Angeles USA. Qigong is a powerful form of self-healing which works directly with the bodies own medicine. The goal is for our body to become its own doctor. The Qigong exercises that I teach in my books and DVDs are safe and highly effective. However, there are some forms of Qigong which cannot be taught correctly or safely in a book or a DVD. These include all of the 72 styles such as Iron Shirt, Iron Leg, and also some of the more potent Healing Qigongs such as the secret Shaolin Temple Bone Marrow Qi Lifting Qigong.
Bone Marrow Qi Lifting has both a Taoist practice and a Buddhist practice. I teache the Buddhist practice which is significantly different from the Taoist practice. This can only be transmitted master to student. The female Bone Marrow Qi Lifting is taught by my female student.

Qigong Questions

Once you begin your Qigong program, you become my student and if you have any questions which aren’t answered in my books or DVDs, you can email me and someone from his team will do their best to help. If they can’t answer, your enquiry will be passed directly to me.

Frequently Asked Questions About Qigong

How many times a week should I practice?

Regular practice is necessary. Like all things, it’s best you do a little every day rather than once hour a week. The minimum is three times a week, if you can practice Qigong once a day then that is ideal. The quality of the practice is more important than the quantity. If you sign up to the newsletter you will receive monthly training tips and regular guidance from Shifu to help you stay motivated to train.

What is the difference between Tai Qi and Qigong?

Qigong is solely about internal training. It focuses on the breath with the movement. Tai Qi also includes self-defence. Tai Chi movements are flowing like water while Qigong movements use a dynamic stretch.

What is the difference between yoga and qigong?

Qigong is sometimes described as Chinese Yoga but this description is not entirely accurate. There are many yoga practioners who find that finishing of their yoga practice with Qigong helps to deepen their practice because the kind of stretching we do in Qigong is a different type to that done in yoga.
Only when sunlight is focused on a small area of glass can it start a fire. Qigong is the same. The only focus is on our Qi. This narrow focus gives Qigong a different kind of power and energy.

Is there a Qigong for women?

All of the Qigong Forms that Shifu teaches in his books and DVDs are suitable for women and men. Latest research shows that practicing Ba Duan Jin can prevent bone loss in middle-aged women.
Bone Marrow Qi Lifting is a secret Qigong from the Shaolin Temple. One of these Qigongs is specifically for women. This Qigong can only be taught privately. It is necessary to learn The Eight Treasures Qigong Form before beginning this secret Qigong practice.

How does Qigong manage stress?

Hormone levels, heart rate and blood pressure increase when a person is under stress. Researchers have found that the nervous system becomes highly active. Research has also found that Qigong reduces activity in the nervous system. The Qigong movements help to harmonize the mind and body, regulate blood pressure and reduce the level of stress hormone. Qigong helps to bring about a state of deep but alert relaxation.

Is Qigong safe to learn from a book or DVD?


There are some types of Qigong  which are not safe to learn from a book or a DVD such as hard Qigongs like Iron Shirt, or some of the more potent medical Qigong's such as Qi Lifting. These Qigong Techniques can only be transmitted master to student and I only teach these on a one to one basis. The Qigong Forms that I teach in my book and DVDs are safe and effective.  Once you've finished The Eight Treasures Form from Instant Health and The Way Of Qigong or any of the other Qigong Forms on my DVDs, you will feel calmer, more expansive, your face will look relaxed and more alert. As you continue, you will have more energy and your sleep will be deeper. You will feel more at peace with the world because you feel more at peace with yourself. If you listen to your body, it is wise and has its own instincts. Trust it.

Qigong Empowerment – Yin and Yang

Modern science is discovering that the mind and body are not separate from each other but interdependent, and a mind at peace with itself protects the body’s health. In order to maximize our health and longevity we need to do not only Qigong but also a form of weight bearing and cardiovascular exercise such as Kung Fu

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Instant Health and Fitness is about using what we do as a pathway to wholeness and inner peace. It's about understanding that the inner health of our body is just as important as the outer health. When I was a boy at the Shaolin Temple my master taught me that when I practiced kung fu I did kung fu meditation, when I ran I did running meditation and fighting meditation and eating meditation... This act of meditation helps us to stay calm, free and anchored to the only place of power which is the now.

My name is Shifu Yan Lei, I’m from China and I came to the UK in 2000 to help my brother open an authentic Shaolin school in London. I found that the Shaolin class not only increased my student’s health and fitness levels but also their confidence and sense of happiness. This is why I started to make Qigong and Kung Fu DVDs and books. My mission is to share with as many people as possible authentic Shaolin. Though sometimes I prefer not to call what I do Shaolin or martial arts because people can have preconceptions about what this means. Qigong and Kung Fu is just exercise Chinese style! Nothing special, nothing strange.

Of course, Shaolin is also about art and beauty and demonstration but this is not what I do. I don’t do gymnastics (though I did some when I was a boy), I don’t do weapons, and I can’t stand on my head or do somersaults. I’m a 34th generation Shaolin master who specializes in using what I learnt for fitness, fighting and longevity. Through my facebook, blog, newsletters, books and DVDs, I hope to share my twenty-five years experience with you so you can bring to your life the wholeness, health and inner satisfaction that you seek.

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Stay Healthy Fish Tacos as featured in Natural Muscle Magazine

Hi Everyone!!!


I hope you are trying some of my Stay Healthy recipes and enjoying the fabulous tastes of eating for a healthy lifestyle. They are so easy, taste fabulous, and just what you need to get healthy. Nutrition plays such an important role in staying healthy......so no more excuses...I am giving you the tools!!! Try some Stay Healthy Fish Tacos tonight on page 48 of the April Issue of Natural Muscle Magazine!!!




Stay Healthy!!!!


Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT


Monday, 22 March 2010

Allergy Sufferer? Why You Need An Air Purifier

By Owen Jones

There are various forms of air purifier systems, so it can
be difficult to know what someone means when they are talking
about air purifying. For instance, all air conditioning
units and most central heating systems have some form of air
purification built in. In deed, the air purification filters
in most split air conditioning units are very advanced. A
similar add-on unit can be purchased for most central
heating and central conditioning systems.

However, you may not require heating or cooling units, but
you may want a dedicated air purifier. Air purification
units can greatly increase your quality of life,
particularly if you suffer from an allergy or live with a
smoker or pets.

Air purifiers or air cleaners, as they are also identified,
clean the air of pollutants and foreign bodies. However,
some air purifiers are more advanced than others, so it is a
good idea to identify what you want to remove from your air
before you buy one.

This is because not all machines will take all kinds of
filters and not all filters will eliminate all pollutants.
Some will, but not all. So if you want to clean pollen out
of the air because you suffer from hay fever, check with the
dealer that the unit that you like, can do the job.

Air purifiers will greatly help allergy sufferers and some
people do not realize that they have an allergy. Some people
are allergic to pet hairs, or dog and or cat skin particles
or smoke or traffic pollutants like tyre rubber to speak
nothing of the exhaust fumes that none of us like. So, if
you live near a road or a factory, or keep a cat or a dog,
you live with a smoker or you suffer from hay fever, an air
purifier would most likely be beneficial to you.

How you do this is clearly up to you. If you have a central
air conditioning unit already, it is probably better for you
to install an air purification system near your blower. This
method is relatively cheap ($300 - $1,000), but it will
purify the air in the whole house.

If you live in a bedsit, a trailer or a caravan and it gets
hot where you live, a split air con system is probably
better for you, but if you just want to purify the air
immediately around you, then a portable air purifier will
suffice.

One word of caution though, many of the cheaper portable air
purifying units are worse than useless because they are
burning your electricity without giving you any benefit.
These cheap models do not have the power to purify large
volumes of air and they do not have filters that are capable
of blocking the allergens that trouble us.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many
subjects, but is currently involved with
(http://homeairconditioningsystems.org/split-air-conditioning-systems.html)
split air conditioning systems. If you are interested in
(http://homeairconditioningsystems.org) Home Air
Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.



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Friday, 19 February 2010

Stay Healthy Feature Recipe in the March Issue of Natural Muscle Magazine!!!

Hi Everyone!!!!

Did you get a chance to try the Stay Healthy Roasted Brussel Sprouts??? Check out page 48 of the March issue of Natural Muscle Magazine and cook up a side tonight!!!!

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/total-health/nmmarch10digiopt/2010021701/


Stay Healthy!!!
Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT
http://www.stayhealthyfitness.com/

Friday, 29 January 2010

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Stay Healthy Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Hi Readers!!!!

Brussel Sprouts have never tasted soooooo good!!!! My Mom used to fix brussel sprouts for me when I was small and I have fond memories of these small cabbage looking cruciferous vegetables. I have modified the recipe by roasting them which provides a remarkable crunchy outer texture and delicious soft center. The key benefits of brussel sprouts include anti-cancer properties due to their high phytochemical content. They are also high in fiber, are a good source of folate, vitamin C, and iron. Let's get to the kitchen and cook up this power packed side of sprouts tonight!!!!


STAY HEALTHY ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS




1 lb Brussel Sprouts
3 Tblsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Johnnys Garlic Spread & Seasoning (or spices that you like...pepper, oregano, thyme, basil..just to name a few)


Heat oven to 375 degrees
Prepare a cookie sheet by covering with aluminum foil (easy clean up)
Wash, drain and cut the stem ends off all the Brussel Sprouts
Place Olive Oil in a bowl and sprinkle with 1 tblsp seasoning (or spice of your liking), mix together like a salad dressing
Roll each brussel sprout in oil mixture and place on the cookie sheet
Do not waste the sprout leaves that have separated, coat those and place on the sheet for a crunchy treat
Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes or until the outer shell is nicely browned

Remove and Enjoy!!!!!!


Stay Healthy!!!!

Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT