Tree Hugging is Good For You

Aikido Founder and Grand Master, Morihei Ueshiba, (1883-1969)
Tree Hugger

"Aikido is the principle of nonresistance.
Because it is nonresistant, it is victorious from the beginning.
Those with the evil intentions or contentious thoughts are instantly vanquished."

"Move like a beam of light;
Fly like lightning;
Strike like thunder;
Whirl in circles around
A stable center."
- Morihei Ueshiba


Dr. Andrew Weil is also a tree hugger.

Cortes Ecoforestry Society Calendar

So, what are YOU waiting for? Hug a tree today.

Best Yang Style DVDs and Videos

I get five or six emails a week asking me to recommend the best Yang style tai chi chuan instructional DVD or videotape.

I have listed dozens of instructional DVDs and videotapes in my webpage on the Yang Style Taijiquan 108 Long Form. I even give you a few recommendations about DVDs or videotapes that I have enjoyed using.

My problem is that I cannot afford to purchase many of these products, and the producers or distributors do not send me products to review (which I would be quite pleased to do). Consequently, I cannot compare these instructional DVDs or videotapes.

Wild Goose Qigong

"Dayan Qigong is from the Taoist Kunlun systems and was originally developed in the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234), but for many years remained a closely guarded secret. Legend has it that before one was allowed to teach this system they had to study for many years and could not teach it until they reached the age of 70 years. ... Dayan Qigong is a Chinese internal system of two sets of 64 movements which are designed to boost the Qi energy system, clear negative energy, increase mental clarity and thereby and leave the practitioner feeling revitalised, refreshed and both mentally and physically stimulated. Regular practice helps to stimulate the health Qi flow through the meridians whilst helping to clear negative or stagnant Qi. It contains a number of beautiful bird-like movements which are easy to learn and delightful to perform." Ronnie Robinson, Persistence and Grace of the Wild Goose.

Wild Goose Qigong: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes.
By Mike Garofalo. 100Kb.

The Arrow's Already Gone Past

Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings.
By Andy Ferguson. Foreword by Reb Anderson.
Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2000. Glossaries, name lists, bibliography, index, 518 pages. ISBN: 0861711637.


A monk asked, "What is Tongan's arrow?"
Daopi said, "Look behind you."
The monk asked, "What's back there?"
Daopi said, "It's gone past already."
- Zen's Chinese Heritage, p. 257



I started reading the literature of Zen when I was fifteen. Forty five years later, I still can sit up straight after grappling with a clever retort, a puzzling non-sequitur, a zany twist on some allusion, a bold example, an illogical brain-lock, or a slap of cold water on the face provided by a confident Zen man. I still like to smile when pondering the mystery of whatever "It" is. I treasure the Chan playfulness, practicality, humor, and seriousness.

Anyone studying Taijiquan and Qigong will quickly come into contact with the legends and lore of Taoism and Chan Buddhism (Zen). A quick look at the sidebar on this blog points to some of my own studies in these areas.

Taijiquan Words of Advice

Words of Experience
By Tung Ying Chieh
Translated by Albert Tang

"1. Tai Chi Chuan is an internal martial art exercise. Strength is produced in the bones. Power is reserved at the muscles. It does not require one to have tough skin or thick muscles, but sunken “chi” and strong bones are required. Therefore, learners have no suffering of broken bones and hurt muscles, and the tiredness of jumping, but just move naturally to find the potential of power of origin. It is an exercise to develop the your original power.

8. Everytime when you pratcice the form, there are at least three things you must do. The first one is to relax your muscle. The second one is to adjust your postures. The third one is to concentrate more on intentions and spiritual styles. When you can master all the movements, then the spiritual style will appear when you move. When you reach this stage your improvement will be better and quicker.

14. The principles of Tai Chi Chuan: The root is on the feet; enforced from the legs; controlled by the waist; and expressed by the fingers. These are the principles of enforcing power: never let the knees come over the toes; never stretch the hands over your nose; never raise over your eyebrows; and don’t press down below the center of the chest. All these are traditional rules. If you break these rules, then the power will not be as good. The variation is controlled by the waist. For example: If you push someone to the left with your right hand sideways, and your hand is over your nose, then the power will not be there. But if you let your left chest withdraw backward a little bit, and turn your waist to the left a little bit, then the power is there again. So this variation is on the chest, and controlled by the waist, and finally shows on you fingers, If the whole body is relaxed and sensitive, then strong power will show on the fingers.

16. Before learning Tai Chi Chuan, The strength might be dull strength. After learning Tai Chi Chuan the whole body is relaxed, and with good circulation of the “chi” and blood. But you must get rid of all the nervous tension, and keep the original dull strength. Because when you are relaxed, dull strength can be turned into real power. An example of dull strength is what some people call shoulder power, as the strength is held at the shoulder, and is not controlled by the waist and shown on the fingers. Therefore, dull power is the capital. Relaxation is the Method. If you know the method, then even small capital can achieve great success. if you don’t know the method, then even with big capital you cannot be successful. That’s why if you understand the principle of Tai Chi Chuan, it will benefit you for all kinds of sports."

Vote in a New Way

I am tired of the supporting all the Republicans and Democrats on a killing spree around the world, daily preaching crisis and encouraging fear, uncertain and wrong again and again about the facts, pushing their right wing Christian "moral" agenda on everyone, and leading us on to failure after failure. Here is a webpage with many anti-war quotes to confirm what you already know. Vote in a new way next month in America! I'm leaning to going Green.

A Plan of Action

"Kata is central to good Karate training. Karate kata have existed for hundreds of years and have their origins within the Chinese fighting systems.

There is no direct translation of the term Kata into English. The best we can come up with is form or pattern. Kata is a predefined sequence of movements performed in a special order to maximize your practice time.

Kata teach you about body movement, weight distribution, angles, turning, awareness and how to deal with a variety of situations. Kata are composed of martial-type movements that help you learn certain skills.

Karate kata comes from a time where few people knew how to read or write. Information was passed down from the previous generation in the form of song, dance, ritual, poetry and stories. The human mind works with imagery and feeling, not lists of facts and figures. Using enjoyable playful learning tools like these are the most natural and efficient way to learn and remember things."
- Stephen Irwin, What is the Purpose of Kata Training

All of the mind-body arts use a "predefined sequence of movements performed in a special order." Yoga uses carefully defined postures (Aanas) and sequences of postures (e.g., Sun Salutations). Each style of Tai Chi Chuan has a specific sequence of postures and movements (Forms), unique to its style, that can sometimes take up to 25 minutes to perform.

Strength Training

Lately, I have been placing more emphasis upon personal strength training. "Pumping Iron" is becoming a passion of mine. I now teach six classes a week at the Tehama Family Fitness Center (4 yoga, 1 tai chi, and 1 spin cycling); therefore, I'm in the gym quite frequently. The TFFC has a complete range of strength training equipment, including a large free weight room.

I've done strength training with weights since I was 13 years old. My physique was ectomorphic in my youth, but decades of weight training have put quite a bit of muscle mass on my body. I would recommend a strenth training program for all older persons in good health.

Ten Buddhist Precepts

I vow not to kill.
By not killing life, the Buddha seed grows. Transmit the life of Buddha and do not kill.

I vow not to take what is not given.
The self and objects are such, two yet one. The gate of liberation stands open.

I vow not to misuse sexuality.
Let the three wheels of self, objects, and action be pure. With nothing to desire, one goes along together with the Buddhas.

I vow to refrain from false speech.
The Dharma Wheel turns from the beginning. There is neither surplus nor lack. The sweet dew saturates all and harvests the truth.

I vow not to sell the wine of delusion.
Originally pure, don't defile. This is the great awareness.

I vow not to slander.
In the Buddha Dharma, go together, appreciate, realize, and actualize together. Don't permit fault-finding. Don't permit haphazard talk. Do not corrupt the way.

I vow not to praise self at the expense of others.
Buddhas and Ancestors realize the vast sky and the great earth. When they manifest the noble body, there is neither inside nor outside in emptiness. When they manifest the Dharma body, there is not even a bit of earth on the ground.

I vow not to be avaricious.
One phrase, one verse--that is the ten thousand things and one hundred grasses. One dharma, one realization--is all Buddhas and Ancestors. Therefore, from the beginning, there has been no stinginess at all.

I vow not to harbor ill will.
Not negative, not positive, neither real nor unreal. There is an ocean of illuminated clouds and an ocean of ornamented clouds.

I vow not to abuse the three treasures.
To expound the Dharma with this body is foremost. Virtue returns to the ocean of reality. It is unfathomable--we just accept it with respect and gratitude.

Berkeley Zen Center, Buddhist Texts

The Ethical Precepts of Zen Buddhism: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes. By Mike Garofalo.

The Bodhisattva Warriors. The Origin, Inner Philosophy, History and Symbolism of the Buddhist Martial Art within India and China. By Shifu Nagaboshi Tomio (Terence Dukes). Boston, MA, Weiser Books, 1994. Index, bibliography, extensive notes, 527 pages. ISBN: 0877287856.

The Spiritual Legacy of the Shaolin Temple: Buddhism, Daoism, and the Energetic Arts. By Andy James. Foreword by Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson. Summerville, MA, Wisdom Publications, 2004. 179 pages. I SBN: 0861713524.

Bohr Effect

"Hello, I am not trying to be rude ..however--- I suggest you study your physiology...namely the BOHR effect before making claims about O2 and CO2. Carbon dioxide is vital to our body's ability to use oxygen and deep breathing is NOT good for you as breathing off too much C02 means a tightening of the haemoglobin and oxygen bond, making oxygenation of the tissues very difficult."
- Marlene Jantzi-Bauman

Marlene,

Thank you for the comments on the Bohr effect. I will do some studying on the matter.

What webpage of mine where you referring to? I don't recall making claims about O2 and CO2; but, I do recall recommending that people to breathe freely and deeply while exercising to avoid the Valsalva Maneuver.

The dozens of books and scores of articles I have read on breathing and exercise have never mentioned the Bohr effect in the context of Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, or other mind-body practices. These practices do recommend deep and steady breathing, focused and active use of the diaphram, rectus abdominis, intercostals, and transverse abdominals while breathing, and the use of the breath as an anchor or focus point of concentration during meditation.

Again, I will research the matter. We do need to learn more each day. Thanks!

Breathing
Techniques, Practices, Exercises, Theory, Lore:
T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Qigong, Yoga, Meditation, Fitness

Marlene wrote back to me on 9/29/06:

"Hello Mike,

You know--I am no longer sure which page I viewed but I believe it had to do with stress. I am working on a research project on breathing and health, and as a health professional I get frustrated when people are misinformed about the function of CO2 and O2. Many people also confuse diaphragmatic breathing and deep breathing also. Enjoy your research on the matter... the BOHR effect can be found in any medical textbook.
I also recommend a breathing technique that works well for many conditions which is named after a Russian MD, Dr. Buteyko. There are many websites on Buteyko Techniques as well as valid research. Check out www.buteyko.co.nz, the focus of this practitioner is mainly asthma , however there are many reasons to learn this technique other than for asthma alone. there's a nice overview of the gas exchange on this site.

Hope this helps
Marlene"

Slow Down and See

"Qigong and form are slow for a reason: you need to return to yourself.

Only through being slow can we begin to notice what is around us; the nuances, subtleties and details. A hurried person is careless and never appreciates the depth of substance, the texture of reality, the incredible complexity of it.

It is like magnification. If you started out in space, looking at the planet and then moved in, going smaller and smaller and smaller... Reality would expand indefinitely and you would see more and more.

This is what slowness is like."

Dynamic Balancing Tai Chi

Health and Fitness Studies

I attended the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) workshop on Personal Fitness Trainer this past weekend. The knowledgeable and interesting workshop trainer, Ms. J. Bale, kept us very busy studying and learning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for over 21 hours. I had read a couple of assigned AFAA textbooks before the training session. On Sunday, we took a 2 hour written exam and a 20 minute practical exam. I believe I passed, but will need to wait for 5 weeks for the results and certificate. The three day workshop was held in Yuba City, California.

I'm sure all the health and fitness information I learned and memorized will help me in my work for the Tehama Family Fitness Center and Valley Spirit Center as a certified yoga, tai chi, qigong, pilates, and spin cycling instructor. Hopefully, by January 1st, 2007, I will be certified by both AFAA and ACE (American Council on Exercise) as a Personal Fitness Trainer.

Kind Words

"So many gods
So many creeds
This wind, that wind.
While just the art
Of being kind
Is all the sad world needs."
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox


"Wise sayings often fall
on barren ground;
but a kind word
is never thrown away."
- Sir Arthur Helps

Precious Mirror Samadhi Sutra

Song of the Precious Mirror SamadhiBy Dongshan Liangjie (807-869)

The Dharma of Thusness
is intimately transmitted by Buddhas and ancestors.
Now you have it;
preserve it well.

A silver bowl filled with snow,
a heron hidden in the moon.
Taken as similar, they are not the same;
Not distinguished, their places are known.

The meaning does not reside in the words,
but a pivotal moment brings it forth.
Move and you are trapped,
miss and you fall into doubt and vacillation.

Turning away and touching are both wrong,
for it is like a massive fire.
Just to portray it in literary form
is to stain it with defilement.

In darkest night it is perfectly clear;
in the light of dawn it is hidden.
It is a standard for all things;
its use removes all suffering.

Although it is not constructed,
it is not beyond words.
Like facing a precious mirror;
form and reflection behold each other.

You are not it,
but in truth it is you.
Like a newborn child,
it is fully endowed with five aspects.

No going, no coming, no arising, no abiding;
“Monkey Mind”– is anything said or not?
In the end it says nothing,
for the words are not yet right.

In the hexagram “double fire,”
when main and subsidiary lines are transposed,
Piled up they become three;
the permutations make five.

Like the taste of the five-flavored herb,
like the five-pronged vajra.
Wondrously embraced within the complete,
drumming and singing begin together.

Penetrate the source and travel the pathways,
embrace the territory and treasure the roads.
You would do well to respect this;
do not neglect it.

Natural and wondrous,
it is not a matter of delusion or enlightenment.
Within causes and conditions, time and season,
it is serene and illuminating.

So minute it enters where there is no gap,
so vast it transcends dimension.
A hairsbreadth’s deviation,
and you are out tune.

Now there are sudden and gradual,
in which teachings and approaches arise.
With teachings and approaches distinguished,
each has its standard.

Whether teachings and approaches are mastered or not,
reality constantly flows.
Outside still and inside trembling,
like tethered colts or cowering rats.

The ancient sages grieved for them,
and offered them the dharma.
Led by their inverted views,
they take black for white.

When inverted thinking stops,
the affirming mind naturally accords.
If you want to follow in the ancient tracks,
please observe the sages of the past.

One on the verge of realizing the Buddha Way
contemplated a tree for ten kalpas.
Like a battle-scarred tiger,
like a horse with shanks gone grey.

Because some are vulgar,
jeweled tables and ornate robes.
Because others are wide-eyed,
cats and white oxen.

With his archer’s skill,
Yi hit the mark at a hundred paces.
But when arrows meet head-on,
how could it be a matter of skill?

The wooden man starts to sing,
the stone woman gets up dancing.
It is not reached by feelings or consciousness,
how could it involve deliberation?

Ministers serve their lords,
children obey their parents.
Not obeying is not filial,
Failure to serve is no help.

With practice hidden, function secretly,
like a fool, like an idiot.
Just to continue in this way
is call the host within the host.

- Dongshan Liangjie (807-869 CE, China), Tozan Ryokai Daiosho (Jap.)

HO

Valley Spirit Center

Valley Spirit Center
Michael Garofalo and Karen Garofalo
23005 Kilkenny Lane
Red Bluff, California
530-200-3465
E-mail

Website: http://www.egreenway.com/VSC/index.htm

Private Instruction and Services in:

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Qigong

Yoga

Reiki

Sacred Circles

Massage

The Concept of the Valley Spirit (Gu Shen)



Directions to the Valley Spirit Center, Red Bluff, California;

The Valley Spirit Center is located 7 miles south of downtown Red Bluff. From Main Street (Highway 99 West) and Antelope Blvd. (Highway 99 East), in downtown Red Bluff, drive south on South Main Street (Highway 99 West) for seven miles until you reach Kilkenny Lane, turn right, and drive .3 miles to 23005 Kilkenny Lane. Kilkenny Lane is 1.7 miles south of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and .3 miles north of the Proberta Post Office at the corner of Highway 99 West and Flores Avenue. The Valley Spirit Center is 5.4 miles south of the Tehama Family Fitness Center. There is an Interstate 5 Freeway off ramp at both Flores Avenue and at South Main Street (Highway 99 West).

Accomodations and Attractions in Red Bluff, California