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In this issue:
•Feature article -Tai Chi practice is like a beating heart
•Krisanna’s book – Save 25%
•Life Quote – All about love
•Question Period – getting to the “Follow Along” section in your 4 Minute Fitness DVD
•Tai Chi Seminar in California
•Food for thought – are you a salty dog?
•Wellness corner
Feature Article: Tai Chi practice is like a beating heart
Recently one of our Certification students sent in this comment/question. This observation is sooooo important to all of you practicing your Easy Tai Chi and 4 Minute Fitness. Please take a few minutes to understand the comment, and then read my response.
STUDENT COMMENT
“Let’s take Parting Horse’s Mane as an example. Throughout the move my shoulders are relaxed, and if you looked at me you might think that my whole body is relaxed and soft… but that isn’t the case. My torso feels like it’s doing a LOT of work going from the open to the closed position. I mean a LOT. Does that make sense? Is this the way it should be or should I feel very little resistance when I rotate my waist?”
ANSWER From KEITH
“Your explanation is detailed and from what I am reading, you appear to have experienced a key principle – looking soft and relaxed while creating and releasing tension in your core. All “waist” activity looks easy, but in reality you should feel as if you are winding up, as if a spring in your core is being tightened. Then as you continue the move, the core “spring” is released and your core is relaxed. In many ways, your tai chi practice mimics a beating heart. Work, release, work, release, work, etc.
If there is no tension, if it feels easy – then you are not getting any increase in flexibility. And there is little internal massage and stimulation of the immune system.
All that said – most tai chi practitioners do not feel that tension. They develop very little waist and back action and they do remain “soft” over the entire form. Sadly – they receive much less benefit. The ability to create this tension (unseen by the onlooker) represents a the beginnings of a higher skill level. Nicely done Lee!”
Tai chi practice can be done in a soft and meditative manner, creating a continuous sense of flowing from one posture to the next. Higher level practitioners have delightful flow with an overwhelming sense of peace, while at the same time “secretly” exercising the core and spine. We will spend lots of time on this at our upcoming Symposium (see below).
It always helps to review your DVDs from time to time to pick up some of the smaller but vital details you may have missed the first or second time.
Great Sex for Life Tool Kit – save 25%
Some people feel awkward around the word “sex”. Krisanna’s book/DVD/CD package is about improving the quality of not only sex, but of your relationships with your intimate partner and/or with yourself. Perhaps a less threatening name would have been “Creating Conscious and Loving Relationships”.
This package offers ideas and thoughts that allow people of ALL AGES to enhance their relationships. The Book is interactive and offers many exercises for one or two people designed to deepen relationships. The DVD is a live presentation and is informative and lots of fun. And the audio CD is based on self hypnosis techniques designed to produce confidence and deep relaxation.
One way or the other, people love this package and we are offering it at a discounted rate for the next week. To receive this 25% discount, click the link below and add the package to the Cart. Then insert the word “sex” into the “Coupon” box. Press the “Refresh” button to see your new discounted total.
www.greatsexforlifetoolkit.com
(given the above special discount, I thought these quotes were very appropriate)
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu
A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away.
Bill Keane
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.
Ingrid Bergman
A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years.
Rupert Brooke
Question Period – Negotiating Your 4 Minute Fitness DVD Menu
Q: My 4 Minute Fitness DVD doesn’t have a stop on the DVD menu for the short last complete 4 minute exercise–which is where I go every day by selecting the 5th exercise and fast forwarding through to the right starting spot for the 4 minute workout. Is this deliberate or an oversight?
A: Thanks for your email. The menu is an “old” style. When the menu comes up, look for an arrow on the lower right. Select that arrow, press OK or ENTER and that will take you to the second page of the menu. Then hit “follow along”. That will take you to where you want to be. Your initial written instructions mentioned that procedure, but people often miss it.
Tai Chi Symposium in Palm Springs, California
Nov. 11 (evening) – 14 , 2010
The date is set and we already have registrants from three countries. This session is not only designed to Certify teachers – it will help any Tai Chi practitioner improve their practice and increase benefits.
Some folks have attended six of these sessions over the years. They are exciting, fun, interesting and filled with terrific people. We’d love to see you this November.
Monday, Nov. 15 is an optional day for those interested in learning Easy Tai Chi FLOW – the new series of moves that follow Tai Chi for Busy People and Easy Tai Chi CORE. This series is gorgeous!
www.easytaichi.com/symposium.htm
Oh, by the way… Palm Springs receives about 350 days of sun each year. Bring you bathing suit, sunscreen, golf clubs, hiking boots, tennis racquet and a camera! And the Holiday Inn offers free shuttles from the airport to the hotel.
Food for Thought – becoming less of a Salty Dog
Kraft recently announced that it was reducing salt in its food by 10% over the next year or two. That means there will soon be 10 million pounds LESS salt in your Kraft processed foods each year. It also means that they have been putting 100,000,000 pounds in food annually up to this date. Now it will “just” be 90 million pounds.
Wow. Even with the reduction, that is one huge pile of salt getting into our bodies every year.
Exciting as this news is, there will still be way too much salt in these foods. Not good…
If you would like to reduce the salt you are eating and improve the quality of your diet dramatically, listen to our best selling CD – Easy Weight Loss for Busy People.
And – for the next two weeks – save 20%. Click the link below, add the CD to the Cart. Then insert the word “salt” into the “Coupon” box. Press the “Refresh” button to see your new total.
Wellness Corner and Additional products
1. Teacher Certification
I have the greatest job in the world. I get to teach people to move, breathe deeply and think positive thoughts. Want to join me? Start teaching in 2010!
We have many enthusiastic people in this program. No experience is necessary! Just $299.
Check it out:
www.easytaichi.com/teachers.htm
www.easytaichi.com/teacher-FAQ.htm
2. Easy Tai Chi CORE
Our newest Easy Tai Chi DVD. Designed as a stand alone form or the moves can be added to your current practice. Gorgeous, flowing moves that can dramatically help your back. The DVD is filled with lessons that can improve all movement.
3. NEW DVD! Love your 4 Minute Fitness? Learn even more!
Now – dramatically increase your benefits by ordering our new 4 Minute Fitness Seminar DVD.
Join in the fun and excitement of an actual seminar captured on DVD, and learn many of the smaller details that will make your daily four minutes even more spectacular. Just $19.97 + S&H.
www.4minutefitness.com/home-eventDVD.htm
4. Remarkably Effective Weight Loss Ideas
Practical and effective weight loss ideas from the practical perspective of a veterinarian. Interested?
5. Ten Free Gifts Our gifts to you.
Please feel free to send this link to anyone who might find benefit.
www.easytaichi.com/free-gifts.htm
Please contact me with any questions. If you do not wish to receive future lifestyle information, just let us know by return email.
If you know people who would benefit from this information, please feel free to forward this letter.
Enjoy every precious minute,
Keith Jeffery
For more information, please contact
Dr. Keith Jeffery at:
1836 Douglas Crescent, Nanoose Bay, B.C. V9P 9C7
Toll free – (866) 682-4244 after 9 am Pacific
Tel (250) 468-9950
fax (250) 468-9910
E-mail: keith@EasyTaiChi.com