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WEEKEND BALANCE

Lifting the Sky is one of the best qi gong exercises to do and is considered one of the single most important exercises in the art form. Simply put, it changes bodies and lives.

It is the first exercise in two of the most well-known qi gong practice sets: The 18 Lohan Hands, taught by the honorable Bodhidharma, and the 8 Pieces of Brocade taught by the great General Yue Fe.

It is, therefore, probably the most widely practiced qi gong exercise in the world. Qi gong and tai chi should be taught by an experienced teacher as there are small nuances with the breath, movement, and alignment that will only be seen by the eye of an expert. However, Lifting the Sky is something so simple, it can be tried and experienced without much effort or help at all.

Warm-Up: In qi gong, warming up your body is very important. It helps to get centered in your body, but also prevents injury. Standing with the outer edges of your feet parallel (it will feel as though you are slightly pigeon-toed) and feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, bend your knees slightly, and gently bounce and shake to settle in your body. With your arms relaxed down by your sides, start rotating your hips and shoulders from one side to the next. Your arms will naturally gain momentum and gently hit your body. The place where the arms land is naturally on energy lines in the body and promotes chi and blood flow to the area. Complete the warm-up with slow gentle circles of all the joints.

Phase 1

Bring the feet close together and parallel.

Open your mouth ever so slightly (relax your jaw).

The tip of the tongue rests lightly on the roof of the mouth (to complete the microcosmic orbit).

Arms are “alive”, but relaxed down by your sides.

Posture is upright, yet relaxed with your heart center open.

Gaze is on the horizon.

Phase 2

Palms face down toward the ground.

Point your fingertips toward the center of the body (with a little space between each finger).

Arms are as straight (with ease and a micro bend to the elbow).

Head tilts down a bit (as if to look at the hands).

Shoulders should be relaxed.

Phase 3

Inhaling, raise/arc your arms up overhead.

Slowly lift your head up to look at your hands as they reach up to the sky.

Once your hands reach the top, lift slightly up on the heels.

Palms toward the sky fingertips toward each other.

Breathe gently through the nose as you arc upward.

Phase 4

Exhaling slowly through the mouth, move your arms softly and slowly down back by your sides (like you are flapping your wings).

Gracefully return your head back to its normal position.

Repeat the entire sequence 5-15 times.

Although this exercise is broken up into 4 phases, there is no stopping in the exercise. They are a continuous movements (with a few pauses), moving with the breath. The entire exercise should feel good and never strenuous.

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CRYSTAL OF THE DAY

THE WEEKEND POSITIVE NEWS ROUNDUP

1. A Paralyzed Man Walks Again Using Device that Connects His Thoughts to His Spinal Cord…

It has long been hypothesized that implants could link prosthesis to the brain in a way that causes electrical signals to stimulate directives from the neurological system.

Given that one man who is paralyzed from the hips down can walk alone, even up stairs, thanks to such electrical nerve stimulation, this concept is now closer than ever to meaningful implementation.

Gert-Jan Oskam, the patient, had a spinal cord damage in a motorcycle accident and is now completely paralyzed from the waist down. Oskam participated in a proof of concept study to potentially make more advancements after using a precursor technology to regain some mobility.

2. $25 Million Donation Launches Largest Coral Restoration Project in Hawaii to Renew 120 Miles of Reef…

The largest coral reef restoration in the history of the island chain is about to begin thanks to the cooperation of scientists and Hawaiian culture protectors.

The Kohala Center, a cultural organization, will work on land to teach people about how terrestrial activities effect the corals that give Hawaiian oceans their incredibly diverse life while scientists labor below to propagate and research the corals.

Named ʻĀkoʻakoʻa (pronounced ah kō-a kō-a), the effort shares a dual meaning: “to assemble” and “coral,” and is characteristic of the native Hawaiian involvement.

All the contributions from these community leaders, cultural practitioners, ecologists, data scientists, and global information systems experts have been made possible by a total donation of $25 million from the Dorrance family and Dorrance Family Foundation, combined with collaborative funding from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz’s office, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and ASU. The effort aims to significantly increase restorative work on Hawaii's coral reefs and coasts.

3. South Korea Created A Program that Reuses 90% of the Country’s Food Scraps–to Grow Crops Instead of Landfills

Very few of the many kilograms of food waste produced annually in South Korea will ever be dumped in a landfill. This is due to two factors: first, it has been prohibited since 2005, and second, they may have the most advanced infrastructure in the world for disposing of food waste.

Even while it puts a heavy strain on the economy, the disposal of food waste nonetheless yields plenty of animal feed, fertilizer, and biogas that heats thousands of houses.

South Korean cuisine tends to encourage the creation of food scraps because many staple dishes come with anywhere from a few to a few dozen sides, as the New York Times' John Yoo and Chang Lee reported from Seoul.

LEARN SANSKRIT

Prajna (prugh -nah)

Prajna, in Buddhism, is the highest comprehension of the true character of presence and reality. Prajna is a state of individual consciousness that encompasses worldly concepts or belief systems that might obstruct perfect wisdom; it is a Sanskrit word derived from the word pra, meaning "beginning" or "premium," and jna, meaning "consciousness" or "understanding." To achieve enlightenment is regarded as direct foresight into the truth learned from the Buddha's teachings. Many people engage in asanas and meditation as part of spiritual yoga practice to reflect inward and progress toward prajna.

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MEME

Weeke