24May2008
Posted by Jeff under: Uncategorized.
Our Desire for Balance
and the Process of Finding it
The term “finding balance” is used extensively in books and magazine articles ranging from exercise to self help to business. Finding balance in our lives sounds great and occasionally we even make time to do the things that we believe can help us to achieve a greater sense of it. We consider changes we can make in our lives in our efforts to realize greater balance, but too often the weeks pass without action and we find ourselves back at square one.
The problem is not our intent, we do want a greater sense of balance in our lives. What we need to understand, however, is that balance does not come from external actions or simply making lists of things we intend to change. Balance originates in our mental and spiritual foundation. When we make changes here at the foundation a greater sense of balance manifests as an expression of who we are and what we hold to be most important. True balance comes when our external actions are in harmony with our core values, our spiritual beliefs and our fundamental view of life. The final step in this process is, tying these beliefs into our vision of the life that we desire, and understanding that we are both capable and worthy of our vision.
Having a program that can assist us physically, mentally and even spiritually in finding and maintaining balance is something we all desire, but meeting all of these needs is a pretty tall order. In the past we have used prayer, meditation, yoga, tai chi, running and various other routines. All of these programs have unique benefits, but there is a new kind of program available which combines these benefits. Actually it is really not new in fact it is centuries old, this program is called Chi Kung. Some sources use old world spelling thus Chi Kung is written Qigong.
Although Chi Kung is just now becoming known there are already numerous programs in the market. The most powerful and thus beneficial programs, according to the Kung Fu Masters that teach them, are programs based in Shaolin Temple traditions. Until very recently these Shaolin practices were well kept secrets, so why release this information to the public at this time? In one well known case, one of the most powerful and respected Masters in the Martial Arts decided to share his powerful Chi Kung with the general public for the first time in over three centuries. The student allowed to bring this information to the public, Sifu Jeff Larson, explains “it is simple, the world needs the benefits that this Chi Kung can provide, and it was Grand Master Yee’s love for humanity and his desire to help people, reduce stress, find peace of mind, improve their health and live better, fuller lives that lead to the Grand Masters decision. to release this information after centuries of secrecy”.
Traditionally these Chi Kung programs were long and often complicated, so Sifu Jeff Larson developed shorter programs that can fit into the busy lives and hectic schedules of most Americans. When a person has more time they can do the practice for longer periods, but consistency is the key to losing weight, reducing stress, toning and firming up the body and achieving a sense of abundant energy. We were careful to design programs to help people to experience these and many other benefits.
Author Sifu Jeff Larson is a 30 year practitioner of Kung Fu and has trained with Grand Master Yee for over 20 years. He is the President of Floating Monk and Chi for Health. Visit “chiforhealth.com” for additional information.
24May2008
Posted by Jeff under: Chi Kung and Medicine.
Buyer BEWARE!!!!!
Who’s your Sifu?
I address this subject lightly, but the issue is one that is becoming more and more relevant. New video clips of Chi Kung practitioners and instructors are rolling out daily on You Tube, My Space, Face Book and numerous other web sites, with links to purchase DVDs that teach you mystical, magical Chi Kung powers that we have only dreamed of.
The first of the three groups I will address here are the ones I call the look at me gang. The ‘first’ rule among true, dedicated martial artists is to clearly acknowledge your Sifu by name, to tell how long you have trained and to state your respect and dedication to your Sifu. Trained Martial Artists will recognize when other Martial Artists fail to identify their Sifu as their source and strength. In the world of Martial Arts, this lack of respect makes apparent the Artist’s self-serving agenda to seek the light himself rather than paying homage to the teacher who brought him to this place.
Such an Artist falls short of the standards of century old traditions. As I research the sites of these individuals offering to share their vast wealth of knowledge I frequently see no mention of their Sifu, how long they trained, or how long they’ve been a teacher if in fact they are a certified teacher or have even ever taught at all. This group fails to fulfill in one of the most revered unwritten rules of the martial arts, which is to give credit to your Sifu and in doing so become little more than pretenders!
There are two other groups of pretenders that I call 1) the smoke and mirror gang and 2) the inside out gang.
The smoke and mirror gang have one line that identifies them IMMEDIATELY. That line is “has studied a variety of”. There’s no need to go further once you come across this statement. Basically this group of individuals is doing what is often referred to as ‘Chop Suey’, they have a little bit of knowledge from numerous sources and no real or deep knowledge of any of them. The worst thing about this group is that they try to make a case for all the little pieces. Most often they will say things like, ‘has brought together the best of this system and the best of that system’, etc. In most cases, this group did not have the discipline to stick with any one system or teacher long enough to learn it well. They usually leave as soon as the training gets difficult. To turn around and try to sell this to the unsuspecting public is an insult, plain and simple.
The inside out gang take a little more effort to identify. What this group does is train or study one program or system and then turn around and use the names of other systems, usually to try and sell whatever topic is hot at the time. For example, I recently viewed a web site selling DVDs promising to teach on the Secret Internal Chi Kung Power of Kung Fu.
The problem here was that the professed teacher had studied yoga for years and capped it off with a brief period of Tai Chi, where is the Kung Fu? Where is the Chi Kung secret power that is rooted in this Kung Fu that they never trained? The fact was that the person selling this product had studied neither Chi Kung nor Kung Fu.
Most disciplined, dedicated long time practitioners and teachers of any system can appreciate what I have written here, however, it is really intended to aid the unsuspecting buyer who enters into our world with good intentions, hoping to learn something of value that they can incorporate into their lives, only to come across the pretenders in the three groups I have mentioned.
To you, the well meaning group, I would simply suggest that you avoid the groups I have mentioned above.
Remember, all true practitioners of the Martial Arts, ALWAYS pay homage and respect to their Sifu. Check the instructors biography and training history to see if they are qualified to be marketing the expertise they suggest, and don’t be afraid to ask the question, ‘Who’s your Sifu?” before you buy!
17March2008
Posted by Jeff under: Our Products; Sitting Chi Kung; Standing Chi Kung; Stretching Chi Kung.
We are finally on Amazon.com. Check out our three 10-minute programs at Amazon.com site
Chi for Health: Chi Kung Level I
In this DVD, we describe Standing Chi Kung, Stretching Chi Kung and Sitting Chi Kung programs. We take pride in our program Shaolin-based Chi Kung program and claim that it is the easiest and most beneficial program of its kind. We strived to achieve simple to understand and easy to perform programs that suit all age groups. Experience it for yourself and let us know what you think. We will be consistently providing practical and theoretical explanations here at floatingmonk.com to assist you with understanding and benefiting from our Chi Kung programs. We welcome your questions and appreciate your comments!
Sifu Jeff on behalf of the entire staff at chiforhealth.com.
9March2008
Posted by Jeff under: Our Products.
We have uploaded samples of our Chi for Health: Chi Kung Level I videos to youtube.com. Right now we have just three of them (keep tuned):
1. Chi Kung benefits,
2. Chi Kung basics,
3. Chi Kung testimonials.
4March2008
Posted by Jeff under: Anti aging; Chi Kung and Medicine.
Modern Medicine and numerous external approaches via magic cremes, drinks and vitamins have been attempting to address, suspend or reverse the aging process for decades. Selling a chemical fix is a great way to profit from a concern so many individuals, women especially think about and often obsess over. Ponce de Leon sought it as did the Romans, who followed the advice of the doctors of their day and drank mercury and applied other toxic substances to their skin in an effort to retain their youth.
What was lost in this arduous pursuit was the possibility that the fountain of youth was much nearer than anyone thought. Chi Kung, often written Qigong or Chi Gong is a program of breathing that has been a part of Chinese medical treatment and internal (power) Kung Fu training for over 3,000 years. I am writing this article as a practitioner and instructor of Chi Kung. I have trained Kung Fu for over 30 years and Chi Kung for over 20 years and have won gold medals in Chi Kung in international competition. I am the student of a Grand Master, his name is Henry Poo Yee and his web site is CKFA.com.
I simply state my back ground to give the reader a point of reference as I go on to share my personal knowledge, as well as stories recent and ancient regarding the benefits that people have realized by training a real Chi Kung program. In future articles I will incorporate quotes and testimonials as well as information from numerous studies into the benefits of Chi Kung. Here is a general description about the way Chi Kung programs that I have learned and taught for more than two decades provides so much benefit. The over all health of our bodies, especially the health and vitality of our internal organs has a direct reflection in our external appearance. This point has largely been lost or neglected in our western approach to health, anti aging and long life in general. The Western approach uses what I call an “outside in” approach, meaning the application of cremes, the use of surgery, consuming pills and beverages. The Chi Kung approach is to cleanse and oxygenate the internal body (internal organs) as well as the muscles, tendons and skin. Practicing a real Chi Kung program utilizes what I call a “health from the inside out” approach. We have numerous programs, some that are performed while standing while others can be practiced in a sitting position. In each of these Chi Kung programs specific breathing patterns and gentle, relaxed movement are the core. After ten minutes or so of breathing and movement, which cleanses and strengthens the vital organs, we then gently massage the outside of the body, including massaging the kidneys and adrenal glands. The full compliment of internal and external cleansing and massage produce a benefit greater than virtually any other program. Understand that I am not dismissing any program that can provide benefit and improve health, however, I am suggesting that Chi Kung, especially the “Chi for Health”(c) program I have been so fortunate to learn directly from the systems Grand Master provides health and anti aging benefits that most programs do not provide, especially in so comprehensive a fashion.
I look forward to continuing to share the history and benefits of “Chi for Health” Chi Kung in the many articles to follow.
Sincerely
Sifu Jeff Larson
“chiforhealth.com“