Every Monday morning,  I make a post about “Gratitude Mondays” on my Facebook page.  I  post an update asking folks to comment about what they are grateful for today.  It’s good practice, and the comments are always interesting and heartwarming.

I started this a while ago because…well…people hate Mondays!  And that’s not a healthy way to start the day. It’s much better to start the day, and the week, with gratitude.

The longer I teach, the more I think that gratitude is the big secret of life.  I teach gratitude meditations in a wide variety of classes — classes that focus on health, classes that focus on prosperity, and classes that focus on happiness.

In other words — if you want health, wealth, or happiness, then gratitude is something that you should practice daily.

In my classes, I often teach a simple gratitude meditation.  You can try it yourself:

1. Stand upright.   Relax from head to toe. (Try my free qigong lesson if you don’t know how.)
2. Think of something or someone that sparks a feeling of gratitude in your.
3. Feel the gratitude in your body and breathe gratefully.

If you don’t feel it, then you’re not doing it right.  For those having trouble with gratitude, here are some tricks that I teach my students.

Tips for Mastering Gratitude: 

1. Start with physical objects. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes?  Is there a gadget, or piece of equipment, that you’re grateful for?  What objects do you own now that, just a few years ago, were only a dream?
2. Then move on to people.  Who are you grateful for?  A family member?  A dear friend?  A teacher (like, perhaps, your  qigong or tai chi teacher).  Consider also the barista who makes your coffee, the techie who fixes your computer, and the farmer who grows your food.
3. Finally, move on to opportunities.  This is large, wide category.  For example — feel grateful for the opportunity to use the Internet, which billions don’t have.  Or the opportunity to learn something new. Or the opportunity to connect with friends and family over the holidays.  Get creative.

Starting with objects, and then moving to people, and then finishing with opportunities will give you some structure for your gratitude practice.  Remember — gratitude should become a daily practice, not just something that you do once in a while.  Eventually, once you become skillful at practicing gratitude, you can maintain a feeling of gratitude throughout the entire day.

And if that doesn’t stop you from hating Mondays, then I don’t know what will! 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 3 Easy Tips for Mastering Gratitude appeared first on Flowing Zen.

You’ve learned qigong and/or tai chi from a good teacher, and you’ve been practicing for at least 1 year.

You’ve gotten good results — and yet you still have some lingering health issues.

Meanwhile, other people have been able to overcome those same issues using qigong. And yet you can’t seem to do that for yourself.

Why?

I’ve seen it in many times. For example, I once had two students literally standing next to each other in a class.  One of them had overcome arthritis in about 6 months using qigong. The other student, however, was still suffering from arthritis even after 2 years of practice.

This is a perfect example of the gap that exists between theory and reality that I mentioned in a previous article, What We Can (and Can’t) Heal. 

In theory, your problem can be healed, but in reality, it hasn’t happened.

I’ve seen people reverse arthritis many, many times. And people all over the world are reversing it with diet, acupuncture, chiropractic, and other methods. So there’s no question that — in theory — arthritis can be reversed.

Then why does arthritis reverse itself in some people, but not others?

The answer is simple: Something is blocking the energy.

To narrow down the possibilities, let’s assume that you’re following the 3 Golden Rules, and that your dosage is correct.

Let’s also assume that, in theory, your particular problem can be healed, even if that’s just theoretical.

Then what’s blocking you?

Well, it’s complicated.

What’s Blocking You?

The human body is an incredibly complex healing machine, and there are many things that can potentially block your energy.

I developed the Blockage Wheel (see below) in order to help students figure out where they might be blocked.  I’ve identified 12 blockages that students commonly run into. I’ll explain each blockage below.

The idea is that the wheel should roll as smoothly as possible. Here’s a perfect Blockage Wheel. In other words, this person has no major blockages in any of the 12 major areas.

In the picture above, all 12 areas are completely even, making for a very smooth ride on the wheel.  This is what you want.

But your Blockage Wheel probably looks more like this:

If you’re like most people, then some areas are better than others. Maybe you eat well and exercise, but you don’t rest enough.

The end result is the same — your ride is bumpier than it should be.

Let’s take a closer look at each blockage.

1. Emotional Health

Are your emotions flowing, or stuck?  In Chinese medicine (including qigong), all physical ailments have an emotional component. Each of the 12 Primary Meridians have emotions directly associated with them. For example, if you are fearful, then there may be a blockage in your Kidney Meridian, and this blockage may be contributing to your back pain.

Suggestions: Focus on Purifying the Qi. Neuro Emotional Technique is also wonderful.  There are many other methods out there as well. If it works, use it.

2. Physical Body

How is your posture? If you are mildly kyphotic or lordotic, then your energy is not flowing smoothly.  In Chinese there’s a saying that “you need not worry about getting old so long as your spine is straight.”

Sometimes, this is referred to as a person’s “structure”.  If your structure is off, if you are hunched over, then this blockage needs to be corrected. 

Physical strength and flexibility (or a lack thereof) are also factors that can affect your structure and your health.

Suggestions: Strength and flexibility can be built holistically with proper qigong and tai chi exercises. Focus on Aligning the Qi. Another option is the Alexander Technique.

3. Sexual Fulfillment

Humans are sexual beings. Sexual energy is part of being alive. If your sexual energy is blocked, then it can cause all kinds of problems, especially with hormone production.

I should mention that there are qigong techniques that can help to circulate sexual energy even if you don’t have a partner. This is how the Shaolin monks and nuns remained celibate for years without going crazy.

Suggestions: Read my article entitled 17 Ways to Unblock Your Sexual Energy.

4. Spirituality

Are you connected to something bigger than yourself? Sometimes, the blockage is deep in the spirit.

For example, I believe that my own depression was a crisis of the spirit.  For the atheists out there — don’t forget about nature and the cosmos. Are you connected to those things? If not, then this may be what’s blocking you from healing.

Suggestions: Focus on Unifying The Qi. Or you can go deeper into your own spiritual tradition. Go to your church or temple, and try to connect with something bigger than yourself. Personally, I’m also fond of communing with the church of nature.

5. Creativity

Creativity is not just for artists. Humans are creative animals. If there is absolutely no creative outlet in your life, then this could be what’s blocking you.

Suggestions: Sign up for an art class. Learn to dance. Try a musical instrument. Start a journal. There are plenty of creative outlets out there for you to choose from. Personally, I also enjoy practicing qigong as a form of creativity.

6. Environment

Your house, your work place, the climate where you live — these things have a profound affect on your health.  This is an entire subject of study called Feng Shui.

I once heard a qigong teacher tell a student to move out of his apartment because the Feng Shui was so bad. I’ve heard that in some houses, the air quality is worse inside than it is in some major cities, like LA or NYC.

Suggestions: Focus on Discovering the Qi in your environment. Read books on Feng Shui if you like, or just use your common sense. How does your house or apartment feel? Is it clean? Is there enough natural lighting for a plant to grow? Is your bedroom dark enough for you to sleep at night, or is there ambient light from outside? How is your bed?

7. Your Mission

Are you clear about your life purpose? Are you fulfilling it?

If your work is pure drudgery, if there is no time during the week where you feel that you are making strides in your mission, then this could be a blockage.

Suggestions: Spend time figuring out what you want to do with your life. This worksheet is a good place to start.

8.  Rest

Just a guess here, but you probably don’t sleep enough. You probably stay up too late, and get up too early. You probably don’t take naps. And even when you do sleep, you probably don’t sleep deeply.

Am I right?

Sleep is one of the ways your body replenishes and restores itself. A lot of theories suggest that we should be getting 8-10 hours of quality sleep every night. If you’ve been getting 5 hours of restless sleep for years, then that could be part of the problem.

Suggestions:  Go to sleep earlier. Do a 30-day experiment with going to sleep 1 hour earlier than normal.  Or experiment with cat naps (10-20 minutes).

9. Money

I see this blockage all the time in students. On a practical level, if you can’t afford my online courses, then money is literally blocking you from healing yourself.

Or if you’re constantly stressed out by your finances, then this is a big stress on your energy. Many people just cannot relax into working on their health until they fix some of their financial problems.

Suggestions: Learn Prosperity Qigong if you can. If not, then practice lots and lots of gratitude. It seems like a paradox, but if you practice feeling grateful for what you do have, then your financial stress will start to dissipate.   There are also many ways to get healthier on a budget, which you can try to implement.

10.  Tribe

Humans are social animals. We all need a community. It could be a group at church. It could be a sports team. It could be a book club.

Why is this important? Research has shown that belonging to a community has a profound effect on your overall health and longevity. In fact, one study said that a sense of community is more influential than whether or not you smoke.  In other words, loneliness is worse for your health than smoking!

Suggestions: Join our amazing Facebook group. Seriously. It’s such a great group of people. Even if you hate Facebook, create a dummy account just for that group. It’s worth it.

Or find another community that you enjoy spending time with. Check Meetup.com or Facebook events or other sources. And then spend time with your tribe at least 2 times per week!

11. Diet

This is a big subject and one that I usually try to stay out of.  It’s gotten to the point in America where it’s virtually impossible to have an intelligent discussion about diet.

People often have dogmatic views about nutritin, and are thus easily offended. 

But if you’re blocked in this area, then you might need to open your mind and make some changes. And the first change may be to open your mind.

Suggestions: Start with Michael Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food” (here’s my affiliate link). This is one of the sanest and most even-handed books about nutrition that I’ve ever read.

12. Mental Health

Your thoughts and your beliefs affect your health, your energy. If you haven’t yet read it, I highly recommend that you read The Biology of Belief.  (That’s another affiliate link, by the way.)

This book, written by a Western scientist, explains the fascinating world of epigenetics — a world where your thoughts and beliefs can change the expression of your genes! Everyone should read this book!

Mental health can also refer to your clarity of mind. If your mind is dull, if you can’t concentrate, then this will block you from learning the things you need to learn to fix your health.

Suggestions: Learn how to control your thoughts, rather than letting them control you.  Qigong is a wonderful way to do this, but there are many meditation methods that also work well.

Got questions about anything above?  Go ahead and post them below.  I’m happy to answer them as best as I can. 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 12 Things Blocking You From Healing with Qigong appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Note:  I wrote this post yesterday, but didn’t get a chance to publish it until today.  And that’s so totally and completely appropriate for this post.  Read on to find out why.

“Sifu, what do you do all day?” a student recently asked me.  “After all, you only teach a few hours in the evenings.  Do you have another job?”

I’m sure she meant well.  But I actually laughed out loud in response.  If I had been sipping a glass of milk, I would have surely snarfed it up.

You see, the question sounds so preposterous to a small business owner that it’s hard to know where to begin.

It’s true.  I teach in the evenings.  I currently teach 10 classes per week (not including my monthly 101 workshop, or my other workshops).  Not long ago, I taught 16 classes per week, but thanks to my wonderful assistant instructors, I’ve dropped down to 10.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking.  Even 16 classes per week probably doesn’t seem like a lot to you.   That’s only 16 hours per week!  So what’s the big deal?

Well, if teaching were the only thing I did all day, then it wouldn’t be a big deal!  Teaching every evening is the most rewarding part of my job.  It’s why I do what I do.  But teaching is only about 20% of what I do.

I wish I could just show up, teach, and then go home.  That would be AWESOME.  But being a small business owner is much more complicated than that.  It’s complicated even if you run an Internet business, let alone a brick-and-mortar business like mine.

(For those who’ve never been to my studio, you should know that my wife and I have a shared business.  Her acupuncture clinic is directly connected to the Flowing Zen studio.  So it’s really 2 businesses.)

Click here to see more pictures of our beautiful studio.

A Small-Business Kind Of Morning

So what the heck do I do all day?  Well, here’s a typical example.  Before noon today, I….

• …spoke with the accountant about the P&L (Profit and Loss)
• …called the property manager about a roof leak in our building;
• …spoke with the bookkeeper about our payroll taxes;
• …rushed to the studio to handle a septic issue  (yuck!);
• …called the property manager to talk about the septic issue;
• …drove to the bank;
• …answered 8 emails from active students (I type fast, thankfully);
• …fixed a student account problem in our computer system;
• …called technical support to get help with our online inventory system;
• …updated my website;
• …updated my wife’s website;
• …spoke with the landlord about our lease renewal;
• …went to look at a new commercial lease (just in case);
• …answered a call from a prospective student;
• …posted my daily updates for Facebook and Twitter;
• …wrote this blog post.

That’s just between 9am and 12pm.  And that doesn’t include personal stuff, like walking the dogs or practicing Qigong (is that business or personal?). Of course, I’ll be busy with lord-only-knows-what this afternoon before I start teaching at 5pm. I’ll get home around 8pm, eat dinner, spend some time with my wife and the dogs, and hopefully do a little work on my blog.  Maybe I’ll even get a chance to read a little.  But I’ll probably answer a few emails before bed, just to get a jump on tomorrow.

Save Your Community

Why do I, and so many other small business owners work so hard?  The answer might surprise you.  You probably think we do it because we get to be our own boss (that has advantages and disadvantages), or because we get to share in the profits if the business is successful (or the losses if it’s not).

But that’s not what motivates us.  I think I probably speak for most small business owners when I say that what motivates us through all the long days and nights is a sense of community.

My wife and I are known in the community as  healers.  That’s our mission — to empower people to heal their own bodies and minds.  We’ve had a big impact on countless lives.

But did you also know that we have a big impact on the community?  The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics found that locally owned businesses generate 70 percent more local economic impact per square foot than chain stores.  Take that, McDonalds!

Small Businesses Matter

Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy. If you don’t understand how that works, please allow me explain it to you because it’s important.

Those mysterious job creators that you often hear about in politics?  That’s us.  Small businesses create real jobs for real people.  My wife and I employ 6 people, not including us.  Actually, we provide 8 total jobs for the community because, rather than take 2 jobs away from others, my wife and I created jobs for ourselves.

(By the way, if 6 employees doesn’t sound like a lot — well then you wouldn’t mind taking care of payroll next month, would you!)

The money that you spend at our business gets recirculated right back into the community. And not only through the jobs that we’ve created. We also spend a lot of our money (both personal and professional) in the community — on bookkeepers, restaurants, accountants, local farmers, etc.  Because we value small businesses, we choose to spend our money on them.

That recirculation of money is hugely important.  It’s what keeps local communities thriving.  It’s what keeps YOUR community thriving.

Support Small Business Owners…with Hugs

So the next time you see me in class and wonder what I do all day, and why I do it  — well, now you have a clearer picture.  And the same goes for my wife.  And for all the small business owners in your local community.  In fact, the next time you see a small business owner, why don’t you just give them a hug?

Seriously.  They deserve it. And they probably need it.

Most Americans don’t know the first thing about how small businesses work, or why they’re so important.  And that’s okay.  Most of the time.

But a hug never hurts.

Do you own a small business?  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.  Don’t be shy.  We’re all family here.

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post A Day in the Life of Sifu Anthony (or any Small Business Owner) appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Times may be tough, but that doesn’t mean you need to neglect your health. In fact, being on a budget has the potential to make you healthier than ever!

Here’s the secret that Big Pharma and the medical establishment don’t want you to know: many of the most powerful forms of healing are inexpensive or free. Here are a few ideas for getting healthy on a budget:

1. Learn Qigong (Chi Kung)

OK, this is a blog about Qigong and Tai Chi, so you can’t really blame me for putting this at the top of the list.  In my mind, there is nothing better that you can do for your health than practicing Qigong.  Look at the incredible results that my students get.

Once you learn Qigong, you can effectively manage your health for the rest of your life.  The cost?  Negligible.  Qigong will quickly pay for itself.  And if you’re committed, it’s easy to find ways to afford lessons that won’t cost you an extra dime.

You can start learning qigong for free right now.

2. Practice Gratitude

Meditation is great, but unless you have a good teacher, you’d probably get better results if you would simply practice gratitude for 5-10 minutes a day instead.  A study at UC Davis showed that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism, higher energy levels. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly, and made more progress toward personal goals.

In my classes, I often teach a simple gratitude visualization.  You can try it yourself:

• Stand upright.
• Relax from head to toe.  (Try my free audio if you don’t know how.)
• Think of something or someone that sparks a feeling of gratitude.
• Feel the gratitude in your body and breathe gratefully.

If you don’t feel it, then you’re not doing it right.  It doesn’t matter what you use to spark the feeling.  What are you grateful for?  A pair of shoes?  A TV show?  A food or beverage?  Start there.

3. Practice Forgiveness

Even the Mayo Clinic recognizes the connection between health and forgiveness.  If you cling to resentment and anger, then you are affecting your energy, your biochemistry, and your health.  In other words, you’re just hurting yourself with that stuff.

It is critical to understand that forgiving someone doesn’t mean that you condone what they did.  That’s not what forgiveness means.  We can forgive someone and still hold them responsible.  In fact, if they weren’t responsible, you probably wouldn’t need to forgive them in the first place.

In my experience, the best way to practice forgiveness is to do it in a state of meditation.  Try my free audio lesson if you want to see what that’s like.  Once you’re in a meditative state, it’s easier to let go.

It also helps if you take baby steps. Don’t try to forgive 100% in one session.  Just do 1%.  That’s enough for today.

Also, the person that you may need to forgive most may be yourself.  I’ve seen this in a lot of students.  They don’t feel much when asked to forgive others, but the moment I tell them to forgive themselves, they break down in tears.  You may be one of them.

4. Walk

If Americans would simply walk outdoors for 30 minutes a day, we would save billions in health care costs. Dr. Mike Evans asked a great question in a video that went viral a while back: Can you limit your sitting and sleeping to just 23.5 hours per day?

If you think that you should go running, think again. It turns out that walking may be healthier than running.  This is consistent with ancient Chinese philosophy, which says that elevating your heart rate too high for too long is bad for your health.  Sprinting briefly is okay, but only if it is followed by a period of recovery and relaxation.  This follows the Chinese principle of Yin and Yang harmony.

My wife and I walk our dog, Sgt. Pepper, for 20-30 minutes every morning (in addition to our regular Tai Chi and Qigong practice).  Obviously, I’m a dog lover, so I recommend getting a dog.  Or if you have a dog — walk him or her more!

Look for opportunities to walk instead of avoiding them.  I’ve seen people circling around the parking lot looking for a spot closer to the gym.  I’m not joking.  Here’s a better idea:  Get in the habit of parking as far away as possible.  If you live in Florida like I do, this means you can also find more shady spots, which is always nice.

5. Eat Real Food

What is real food?  I like this joke:  Buy organic food, or as your grandmother called it — food. 

Some people think that organic food is expensive.  I think disease is expensive.   Some people think that $3.99/pound for tomatoes is expensive, but are happy to pay $399/month for prescription meds.  I’m not one of those people.

Here are some simple tips to help you find real food:

• Real food is the stuff that was recently alive, in the ground, or on a tree.
• Real food is found in the the outer aisles of the grocery store, not in the middle isles.
• Real food will spoil in weeks even if you put it in the fridge; it certainly won’t last months if you don’t.
• Real food usually doesn’t have a label at all.
• If it has a label, real food contains stuff that you can pronounce.

My wife and I spend a lot of money at the grocery store and farmer’s markets.  That’s where our priorities lie.  When we shop, we do a loop around the outer aisles of the supermarket. We hardly get any items from the middle. If you want to save a ton of money, then go to a local farmer’s market.  The food will be much cheaper and much fresher.

Also, by supporting local farmers, you are helping to save the world and taking a stance against Big Agriculture like Monsanto.

6. Get Acupuncture

Is acupuncture expensive?  Again, it depends on your perspective.   Average the total cost of prescription meds — including doctor visits, health insurance, blood tests, and the prescription itself.  Is it higher or lower than the weekly cost of acupuncture?

Now consider that most prescription meds just manage disease indefinitely. Big Pharma isn’t interested in curing you.  They are interested in keeping you medicated.  Lipitor is the best selling drug in the history of…well…history.  Pfizer wants to keep selling it.

Of course, I’m biased because my wife is an acupuncturist (and an awesome one at that).  But I’ve seen the results that she gets, and they’re absolutely amazing. She gets to the bottom of pain and illness.  This is a key feature of Chinese Medicine (of which Qigong is a branch).  You have to get to the root of the problem, and not just treat symptoms.   My wife does this — without nasty side effects — for $50 a visit.   Expensive, or a bargain?  You decide.

7. Stop Drinking Soda!

Let’s just cut through all the denial and admit it — you’re addicted.  And please don’t try to argue that Diet Coke is okay because it doesn’t have sugar.  Soda is bad, with our without sugar.

My wife has to deal with addicted patients all the time.  It’s amazing how many patients will clutch to their soda consumption with a death grip, all the while denying that they’re addicted.  Meanwhile, phosphoric acid interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium, neutralizes the acid in your stomach, and causes kidney stones; heavy doses of sugar wreak havoc on your insulin levels; aspartame is a neuro-toxin that has 92 associated health side effects including brain tumors, birth defects, and seizures.

Just stop.  I haven’t had a soda in years, just like I haven’t smoked a cigarette in years.  Once you make the decision to quit, it’s no big deal.   You’ll break the addiction in a matter of weeks.  If you need something bubbly, try Perrier.

8. Laugh

In case you didn’t get the memo, laughter is good for your health.  “The old saying that ‘laughter is the best medicine,’ definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart,” says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.  Although Western medicine is still baffled why laughter is good for the heart, Chinese medicine explained it 5000 years ago.  The explanation is that laughter is a form of energy, and this energy is associated with the heart.  Duh.

Laughter has been shown to be good for a variety of things.  It relaxes the entire body, stimulates the diaphragm and the internal organs, boosts the immune system, reduces stress, and relieves pain.  It also stimulates the production of endorphins, which promote a sense of well being.

So watch some comedies, read some funny books (I’m a fan of Dave Barry), or watch some stand-up comedy.  Get your laugh on, and get healthier.

9. Sleep

Many Americans are chronically sleep deprived.  As a society, we drink too much caffeine, eat too much sugar, and watch too much TV.  How often do you stay up late doing absolutely nothing productive?  Was it really necessary to watch the late show last night?

One of the best things that you can do for yourself and your health is to get more sleep.   And it’s not just the quantity, but the quality that matters.  Do you wake up feeling rested?

Practicing Qigong works wonders on sleep quality.  Students regularly tell me that they sleep better than they have in years, even decades, after learning Qigong. A good habit that anyone can try, even if you haven’t learned Qigong yet, is to do the 2-Minute Drill before bed.  Actually, you can even do it while lying in bed.  The rhythmic movement and breathing puts many people to sleep like a baby.  Try it, and see if it works for you.

10. Nap

Studies have shown that napping is good for your heart, can help improve your mood, can  increase your concentration, and it can even help with jet lag.  Personally, I nap every day.  But I typically teach in the evenings, so I’m lucky in to have that freedom.

If you work 9-5, it’s not easy to squeeze in a nap.  So start with the weekends. Nap on Saturdays and Sundays.  Or, if you can arrange your schedule so that you can take a siesta in the middle of the day, even better.

Another trick is an exercise called Nourishing the Spirit.  While sitting in a chair, do the head-to-toe relaxation (listen to my free audio lesson if you don’t know it). Keep your back straight, and don’t lean back in the chair.  Then finish with the closing sequence.  It’s not as good as a nap, but it works surprisingly well.  Try it.

11. Tan

These days, everyone is talking about Vitamin D. Suddenly, it’s the wonder cure.  Research shows that Vitamin D can help regulate the immune system, reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, maintain brain function later in life, maintain a healthy body weight, ease symptoms of asthma, reduce the risk of arthritis, and reduce the risk of cancer. Holy Wonder Drug, Batman!

Now if only there were a way to get this wonder drug Vitamin D for free.  Wouldn’t that be something!

Humans were meant to get lots of sunlight, both direct and indirect.  Our distant ancestors spent most of their time outdoors.  Even our great grandparents spent more time outside.  It’s only in the past few decades that humans have gotten so little sunlight. Thanks to a lot of misinformation, many people are even afraid of the sunlight.

Let me clearly state my opinion:  sunlight is good for you.  What about all this talk about skin cancer?  Well, since I believe that cancer is, first and foremost, a deficiency of the immune system, the sun is irrelevant.  A healthy immune system will have no problem dealing with the sun.  And of course, getting sun is part of a healthy immune system.

Here are some tips to help you get sun in a healthy way.  First of all, don’t get burned.  Not ever.  Our ancestors didn’t get burned because they were outside all of the time.  Getting sunburned is to be avoided at all costs.

Second — and this one is weird — try not to wash yourself with soap for 48 hours after getting sun.  Okay, that’s not going to happen, so instead, only use soap on your armpits and your unmentionables.  Vitamin D3 is an oil-soluble hormone formed when sunlight hits your skin.  If you wash your skin with soap, then the Vitamin D won’t penetrate the bloodstream, and you won’t get the benefits.

A note to those practicing Tai Chi and Qigong:  don’t practice in direct sunlight unless it’s at dawn.  When you practice Tai Chi and Qigong,  your body is in a heightened meditative state.  When we’re in this state, the energy from the sun can be too strong for us, disturbing our energy system.

12. Read

We live in the information age, and there is a lot of it out there.  Of course, some of it is bad, but some of it is also good.  If you look hard enough, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

This blog is a great place to start for information about qigong and tai chi. Check out the “Start Here” page if you haven’t already seen it.

A word of advice. Whether you realize it or not, the current medical establishment is dominated by Big Pharma.  As I hinted earlier, they are not interested in prevention.  Why?  Because prevention would cut their profits.

Do you honestly think that Pfizer, with billions in annual Lipitor revenue, is going to give that up easily?  Or are they going to try to stifle the competition?  That’s what they did in Europe when they outlawed hundreds of herbal remedies.

Yep, natural herbs are illegal, but dangerous prescriptions drugs like opioids are perfectly legal.

When doing your research, don’t be surprised if the monied interests try to divert you away from simple and cheap healing modalities.  If Big Pharma can’t patent it, they will try to crush it.  The information is out there, but you have to think critically when examining it.

Closing

I am fiercely independent.  I like to take things into my own hands.  Taking my health into my own hands was one of the best things I ever did.  I hope that this article will help you realize that you don’t need a lot of money to be healthy.  What you need most is a desire to change, and the discipline to follow through. 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 12 Ways to Get Healthier on a Budget appeared first on Flowing Zen.

To be clear, I’m not talking about the amazing health benefits; I’m talking about cold hard cash.

You should never be concerned with the money that you spend on learning this art because, one way or another, it’s going to come right back to you.

Here are 22 common ways that the art of qigong pays for itself (and then some).

1. Lower Prescription Drug Costs.

How much would you save if you got off all of your prescription drugs? What if you just eliminated one of them? Some of my students have saved hundreds of dollars — per month! Wow!

2. Lower OTC Medication Costs.

You probably spend more than you think on over-the-counter drugs.  Add up the annual cost of all those painkillers, allergy medications, cold and sinus pills, Preparation-H, sleeping pills, etc.

Go ahead. Do the math. Is your annual expense over or under $500? How much qigong instruction could that buy you?

3. Fewer Visits to the Doctor.

Staying healthy means fewer visits to doctors and specialists, and also fewer of those expensive tests. One student told me that she saved over $2000 in doctors bills and tests in one year alone! That’s a lot of qigong!

4. Lower Chiropractic Costs.

Qigong keeps the spine healthy, which means that chiropractic adjustments are needed less often. Many students have been able to cut their chiropractic costs in half after learning qigong.

5. Lower Psychotherapy Costs.

I can’t tell you how many students suddenly have breakthroughs in their psychotherapy sessions once they start learning qigong. Many of them are able to cut down their visits from once a week to once a month, saving them thousands every year!

6. Decreased Need for Alcohol.

People who drink alcohol to relax or escape often find that, after learning qigong, they need less and less. One student told me that he went from spending $80 per month on alcohol to only $20 per month. This happened naturally, without any major effort or discipline.

6. Lower Cigarette Costs.

I used qigong to help me quit smoking, but even if you don’t quit for a while, you’ll probably save a lot of money. Many students spontaneously cut down after learning qigong. I know I did.

7. Improved Concentration.

Students tell me that they are able get much more work done in less time, thanks to qigong. As a result, many are able to earn more money, or qualify for a raise.

8. Increased Creativity.

I teach a lot of writers, painters, photographers, and musicians. They tell me that, after practicing qigong for a few months, their creativity gets a huge boost. How much is creativity worth to you?

9. More Energy.

It’s a running joke among my students that two weeks after learning qigong, your garage is going to be cleaner than ever.  With all the extra energy, students become much more productive at home and also at work. (Listen up, employers! You should be paying for employees to learn qigong.)

10. Increased Charisma.

For those in management roles, charisma is essential.  If you’re stressed, unhappy, or irritable, you won’t be well liked by your employees. Managers tell me that they get along much better with their workers after learning qigong. Do you think it’s the workers who changed, or the manager?

11. Fewer Sick Days.

If you own your own business, then you don’t get paid for sick days. One student, who is a medical doctor, told me that she saves thousands per year because she hardly gets sick now that she practices qigong.

12. Better Stress Management

Let’s face it — stress is everywhere, and it’s impossible to avoid.  Qigong teaches students to better cope with the stress in their life. By relieving stress, you’ll be preventing a laundry list of medical issues.

13. Better Relationships

If qigong helps you to avoid a divorce, how much will it save you and your spouse? Many students tell me that qigong is the best form of couples’ therapy on the planet because it reduces stress and smooths out the emotions.  It also helps to open up the energy in the Heart Meridian, making you more loving and forgiving.

14. More Courage

A student told me that, thanks to qigong, he suddenly had the courage to go after a big business opportunity. The opportunity had been there for a while, but he was too afraid to go after it.   Practicing qigong opened up his Gallbladder Meridian, allowing his courage to flow more freely. Did I mention that this opportunity ended up being worth over $200,000 dollars?

15. Increased Healing Abilities

Acupuncturists, chiropractors, and massage therapists regularly report that practicing qigong makes them better healers. The healthier the doctor, the healthier the patient, and the healthier the business!

16. Increased Stamina

Qigong increases the circulation of both energy and blood, giving you more stamina.  For professional athletes, this is obviously a big benefit, but it is also valuable to soldiers, laborers, postal workers, firefighters, policemen, salesmen, bartenders, nurses, doctors, and anyone who works on their feet. 

17. Lower Beauty Costs

Do you spend a fortune on products to keep you looking good?  Trust me, the anti-aging and health benefits of qigong work better.  People who practice Qigong look younger, healthier, and happier — naturally.

18. Lower Food Costs

How much do you spend each month on comfort food?  What if you got that “comfort” from something else?  Qigong harmonizes the metabolism, regulates the hormones, and smooths emotional cravings.  As a result, your potato chip and chocolate expenses will drop.

19. More Happiness

For me, getting rid of my depression years ago was a lifesaver.  But being happy also earns me money. I love what I do, and people say that my enthusiasm is infectious. One student told me that she signed up for my workshop specifically because I was bouncing with joy, and she wanted the same for herself.

20. Less pain

If you were 100% pain free, would you be better at your job?  Would you earn more money somehow?  Many of my students are 100% pain free, thanks to Qigong.

21. Better sleep.

Do you wake up exhausted, dreading the day ahead?  If you slept better, would you be more productive?  A student once told me that, after his first Flowing Zen workshop, he slept better than he had in 20 years.  This is actually very common among my students.

22. More Zest for Life

Many students tell me that food tastes better, colors look brighter, sex is more enjoyable, and simply being alive is a joy after learning qigong. How does this make us more money? Who cares? Without these benefits, what’s the point of all that money anyway? 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 22 Ways Qigong Pays for Itself appeared first on Flowing Zen.