exercise

Ki Exercises for Recovering Naturalness of Life

Each movement in Dahnhak Ki-gong was created by standardizing movements that come out naturally with the flow of energy when one is in a deep state of meditation. When body and mind become one in this energy, this oneness may express itself in dance. It may manifest in the form of martial arts movements, and [...]

Each movement in Dahnhak Ki-gong was created by standardizing movements that come out naturally with the flow of energy when one is in a deep state of meditation. When body and mind become one in this energy, this oneness may express itself in dance. It may manifest in the form of martial arts movements, and appear in a variety of forms, such as vibrations and the hand gestures of Buddhist images.

Although it involves turning over our bodies to the flow of energy, Dahnhak Ki-gong also consists of controlling the energy flow as we desire. These attitudes seem contrary to each other, but with depth of practice comes the knowledge that the two are linked as one.

Learning to use Ki is like learning to swim. The buoyancy of water, like Ki energy, is invisible and cannot be touched, but the instant we learn to use it, we can swim freely and move as we want. Even without studying Ki-gong, once we learn to use the current of the essential life within us, it flows from our bodies on its own. This is a natural phenomenon of life, like a fish playing in the water where it lives.

Mind-Body Training Methods Containing Philosophy of Ancient Korea

The empty sky at which we look with no particular thoughts in mind is not just empty space. It looks empty, but it is full of the life energy, Ki. Every one of us lives and breathes depending on that empty sky. Although Ki is invisible, it is the dynamic force creating all organisms including [...]

The empty sky at which we look with no particular thoughts in mind is not just empty space. It looks empty, but it is full of the life energy, Ki. Every one of us lives and breathes depending on that empty sky. Although Ki is invisible, it is the dynamic force creating all organisms including humans, making them active and changing them.

The Korean people called the source of life, “Han,” and also named the primordial life force or energy, “Dahn.” Dahnhak Ki-gong is a mind-body training method based on the “Han Philosophy” of ancient Korea.

The Han Philosophy contains the truth that everything in the universe was created from “One Ki” and also returns to this one place when extinguished, and that everything is connected by that one energy source. It also includes the idea that the universe comprises three intrinsic elements, heaven, earth, and humanity, and that these three do not exist separately from each other.

Our bodies and minds are not separate, either. The mind can be trained by governing the body, and the body can be trained by controlling the mind. The role of Ki is to connect body and mind like a bridge at a point between the two. Dahnhak Ki-gong is a practice for maximizing the capabilities of the body and mind by accepting and controlling the life force of the infinite universe, Ki, through concentration, Ki-gong movements, and breathing.

The Brain Loves Sex

They are too much exposed to immature social notions of sex. I include sex education in the family as an important part of Human Technology. Before talking about sex education, allow me to share some general HT perspective on sex in this chapter.
Sexuality is one of the most powerful energies we will ever experience. Sex [...]

They are too much exposed to immature social notions of sex. I include sex education in the family as an important part of Human Technology. Before talking about sex education, allow me to share some general HT perspective on sex in this chapter.

Sexuality is one of the most powerful energies we will ever experience. Sex can be described as passionate and animalistic, or as majestic, exalted, and sacred. For some, these perspectives may be “bookends” for the range of possible interpretations of sexuality. Yet even these views are too limited. Human Technology embraces sexuality as central to life, and intends to expand our experience, understanding, and application of this magnificent energy. As we relate more to sex as an experience of our spirit and not just of the senses, our expression of sexual energy in our lives can shift dramatically.

From a biological point of view, our capacity to desire sex— and to experience pleasure from it—is natural and deeply hardwired in our brains. Millions of years of evolution have given us a wonderfully sophisticated system of brain pathways and hormonal regulators that make us feel good and spur our rituals of attraction and union.

Neurologists say that even the emotion called love, strictly speaking, arises for the most part out of the activity of the brain. This is because the emotions that arouse love are caused by the actions of chemical substances secreted by the cerebrum. They say sexual desires are associated with the body’s chemistry such as dopamme and noradrenalm. It is the brain that loves sex.

Your experience of sex is both private and important to your well-being. I hope you understand for more see Ilchi Lee articles.

Human Technology and Sexuality

Acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion are like the hammer and nails we use to repair and maintain our houses. Anyone who has the ability to use a hammer and nails can practice acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion. You do not need the skills of an architect or builder to use a nail and hammer in the maintenance [...]

Acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion are like the hammer and nails we use to repair and maintain our houses. Anyone who has the ability to use a hammer and nails can practice acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion. You do not need the skills of an architect or builder to use a nail and hammer in the maintenance of your house. In much the same way, you do not need to know about all the structures and functions of the human body to use acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion. Moreover, we possess an amazing functional control panel called the brain. If we take the simplest measures to activate its functions, the brain will automatically take care of the rest. Also you can find some helpful articles by Ilchi lee.

It is a sign of maturity to have the ability to manage our bodies and maintain our health as well as our family’s well-being. Perhaps this should be a requirement before creating families!

I HAVE GIVEN INNUMERABLE LECTURES while traveling around the world during the past twenty-five years. I had many opportunities to have conversation with people of diverse social, cultural, and religious backgrounds about the way of life. During this process, I came upon an important discovery. The attitude and experience of sexuality have vastly influenced the quality of life in both positive and negative ways.

Most people think they have a mature perspective and comfortable relationship with sex. The reality is different. I have found that too many people have twisted or dual perspectives on sex. This reality often prevents people from leading more fulfilling and authentic lives. The times I feel most saddened is when I meet people who have had sexual traumas and suffer from it for the rest of their lives. For this reason, I have emphasized that sex education must take place at home before our children reach puberty and before.

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Tae-yang: The area of the temples. By using the thumbs, press this point for three to five seconds. Repeat this slowly five times. Then tap this point lightly thirty times using the fingertips. [Gak-son (Angle Vertex, THzo): Directly above the apex of the ear on your hairline.
Yeol-kuel (Broken Sequence, LUy): Cross your index fingers and [...]

Tae-yang: The area of the temples. By using the thumbs, press this point for three to five seconds. Repeat this slowly five times. Then tap this point lightly thirty times using the fingertips. [Gak-son (Angle Vertex, THzo): Directly above the apex of the ear on your hairline.

Yeol-kuel (Broken Sequence, LUy): Cross your index fingers and the thumbs of both hands with the index finger of the other hand. The point is located in the depression right under the tip of the index finger, next to the bone and toward the inside. There are many other articles and tips also online by Ilchi Lee.

Joong-bu (Central Treasury, LUi): Place your middle fingers in the hollow area directly below the protrusions of the collarbone just outside your upper breastbone. Breathe deeply as you press this point with your thumb for one minute. Jok-sam-lee (Leg Three Mile, ST36): Place the pads of four fingers under the kneecap. The point is located below the fingers and in between the slight depression formed by the bones. Find the corresponding point on the other leg.

Most of us have a hammer, nails, and other tools for making basic repairs in our homes, as well as the ability to use them. If we make small repairs as they occur, our house remains well maintained and will last a long time. However, if we leave them unfixed, ultimately, the damage to the structure becomes so overwhelming that big renovations are necessary. The same principle applies to the human body.

A Retreat Center In The Sedona Area

As soon as I came down from Bell Rock, I resolved to find out if what the old man had said was true, and I headed straight to Sedona’s top realtor. I gave him a rough description of the land that I had seen just minutes before, and asked him if he knew of a [...]

As soon as I came down from Bell Rock, I resolved to find out if what the old man had said was true, and I headed straight to Sedona’s top realtor. I gave him a rough description of the land that I had seen just minutes before, and asked him if he knew of a retreat center in the Sedona area.

He replied that he certainly knew of such a place, and that he was the real estate agent of record for that particular piece of property. We set out immediately and drove for about forty minutes from the center of Sedona, along an unpaved and rough road, until we came to a wide expanse of land, of about 150 acres, that lay nestled in the middle of national forest preserve. Rows of small housing units, half hidden by red earth, and blending in perfectly, were very harmonious with the land. The agent explained that all of the buildings of the retreat center were designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright to be unobtrusive and ‘nature friendly’. From every angle, red rocks piercing the blue sky formed a stunningly beautiful background. Below, the land was a desert forest of cedar trees and cactus plants comprising national forest.

I was given a tour of the property, not only of the land, but also of the dilapidated, but curiously appealing, housing units where visitors and guests had once stayed. The guide asked me whether I was curious about whom the founder of this retreat center was and handed me a book that the man had written. I was shocked, for as soon as I glanced at the cover, I recognized the author’s face. with the same expression, and gentle smile I had seen on top of Bell Rock. I asked the guide to tell me the story of the retreat center in greater detail.

Ilchi Lee articles on brain respiration.

Mysterious Land of Sedona

I first encountered mention of the place called Sedona in a local newspaper in 1995, and  Ilchi Lee instinctively knew that this must be the place I was looking for. I still recall the vivid joy that I felt the first time I drove down to Sedona from Flagstaff; the magical unveiling of the red [...]

I first encountered mention of the place called Sedona in a local newspaper in 1995, and  Ilchi Lee instinctively knew that this must be the place I was looking for. I still recall the vivid joy that I felt the first time I drove down to Sedona from Flagstaff; the magical unveiling of the red rocks as they lay stretched out in the distance. It was as if a gorgeous silk-screen painting had descended from the heavens above, with even the trees and shrubs that lined the roadway overflowing with delightful and pure energy. The beauty of this place was sacred; a magnificent red cloth of earth inlaid with beautiful gemstones of pines and cedars, embracing the deepest and bluest sky, gently decorated by soft whispers of white clouds. A spontaneous outcry of joyful recognition arose in me as an inner prayer of deep  thanks vibrated throughout my body. Genuine thanks, to the Creator, for allowing such unspeakable beauty to continue to exist. This was the place I had been seeking for. This was my soul’s home.

There are twenty-one known energy vortex areas in the world, and Sedona has four of them concentrated within its borders. An energy vortex is a place where an especially high concentration of the earth’s energy is channeled toward the earth’s surface. A vortex has the effect of helping to restore energy balance in life forms near its source. Of the four vortices in Sedona, the strongest and the most famous is the Bell Rock, a large red rock formation that looks like a bell sprouting from the ground. It looks uniform and gives off an air of safety and security from any angle. A sensitive person can feel a palpable geyser of energy pouring out from Bell Rock to envelop all of Sedona.

Brain Builds A New Set Of Connections To Create A New Habit

At these moments, make a special effort to continue with your fitness plan because these are the moments in which a new habit can be deliberately created. When you walk in the langsaeng style the first few times, there is no habit; the action is novel and naturally enjoyable. When you find yourself feeling tired [...]

At these moments, make a special effort to continue with your fitness plan because these are the moments in which a new habit can be deliberately created. When you walk in the langsaeng style the first few times, there is no habit; the action is novel and naturally enjoyable. When you find yourself feeling tired and unmotivated to move well, recognize it as a natural part of the rewiring process. Your brain will want to fall back into the old routine, but you are the boss. Ilchi Lee advice that during brain exercise you can say to your brain, “Sorry to inconvenience you, but I’ve decided we are going to do something else now.”

When the brain builds a new set of connections to create a new habit, it is a little like building a new wing on your home. It is exhilarating when you first draw up the plans and start laving the foundation. But, at some point, the construction process is bound to be a little bit annoying—messy and exhausting. Maybe you even wish you had not started the project. Yet you carry on, knowing that eventually you will benefit from the addition to your home.

Stopping a fitness routine before it has become a habit is like abandoning a construction project in the middle. By following through with your fitness goals, you become like the foreman of your own brain, remodeling it toward the fit life you seek. When you hear a voice inside urging you to lay off for a while, make sure vour brain knows who’s the boss. Soon you will find that the fitness habit has become a simple, automatic part of your life.

REWIRE YOUR ROUTINE

Ilchi Lee says that it is no wonder it is so difficult to start and stick to a new exercise routine. Every time we make plans to change our patterns of behavior, the brain must create a whole new set of neural connections. This takes a lot of effort on the part of the brain! [...]

Ilchi Lee says that it is no wonder it is so difficult to start and stick to a new exercise routine. Every time we make plans to change our patterns of behavior, the brain must create a whole new set of neural connections. This takes a lot of effort on the part of the brain! It can be exhausting, in fact. Our minds keep pulling us back to those old behaviors, even when we genuinely want to change.

Many Newr Year’s resolutions are foiled every year because of this stubborn feature of the human brain.

You must be persistent about creating a good walking habit for yourself. When you first begin Jangsaeng Walking, you will undoubtedly feel a surge of energy as you move your body and align your energy system. But, as you proceed, you will also experience times of lower energy. This is the time when you are most vulnerable to falling back into old sedentary habits.

Exercise Snacks

The greatest aspect of walking is its practicality. Walking requires no special equipment or clothing, and it can be done at just about any place and any time. Even the busiest person can find time to work it into a schedule. Just start by finding creative ways to add more steps to your day, and [...]

The greatest aspect of walking is its practicality. Walking requires no special equipment or clothing, and it can be done at just about any place and any time. Even the busiest person can find time to work it into a schedule. Just start by finding creative ways to add more steps to your day, and soon you will find that you have doubled your level of physical activity without ever paying a single gym membership or buying any sort of fitness gadget.

If you are used to thinking that your exercise routine must happen in long, sustained bouts several times a week, think again. A recent study suggests that short “exercise snacks” are a way to boost your cardiovascular fitness and to keep excess fat off your body. In other words, the thirty to sixty minutes of exercise you need do not have to happen all at once; they can happen in short ten- to fifteen-minute increments throughout the day.

You can easily apply this concept to walking since it is something you already do every day anyway. Simply find ways to add steps to your day, to create “walking snacks” throughout your day. For example, instead of circling around the parking lot looking for the closest parking space, park at the outer edge of the lot, and apply Jangsaeng Walking as you walk toward the building. Or get in the habit of standing up and walking around in proper posture whenever you receive a cell phone call.

Walking Exercise Tips By Ilchi Lee