For billions of people Chi is a very real and personal entity. But what is Chi. Simply put it’s the life force that surrounds us and abides within us. Chi is a concept found primarily in Asian spiritualism. It relates directly to such concepts as martial arts, Chinese medicine, and Feng Shui.
In Chinese medicine the thought is that an imbalance of Chi within the body leads to different illnesses. The healer will address the area that has a Chi blockage and prescribe various remedies to open that area back up, restoring spiritual as well as physical health. There are 7 major Chi points on the body each corresponding to a different color and element.
With regards to martial arts such as kung fu and karate, Chi is an inner power that is focused during combat. A practitioner will concentrate his Chi and release it through a punch of kick. The thinking is that this extra energy being expended results in greater physical power. For Chi to be effectively used in combat the martial artist must be calm and focused.
What is probably the most common expression of Chi for westerners resides in the concepts of Feng Shui. Feng Shui concerns itself with the lay out of homes and buildings. Since Chi energy flows around and through everything it’s important that it have a natural path to follow. There are very specific guidelines for setting up living areas so that Chi stays balanced. These include sleeping with a bathroom door closed so Chi won’t flow out through the drains and using rounded edged furniture to keep the Chi fro being cut or damaged.
What’s important to remember is that Chi is a living energy that helps us be the people we are. Without it we would just be shells. It is Chi that gives us our lives
Zeolite isn’t the typical gem stone type crystal. Instead it’s a type of volcanic ash that when mixed with a base PH water forms a lattice crystal structure. Zeolites have been very popular recently for research projects, even being grown in space. They form fairly rapidly making them excellent choices for scientific research. The term zeolite refers to an entire family of crystals and shouldn’t be confused with a singular entity such as a diamond or emerald.
Zeolites are used in all sorts of commercial industries as well as for alternative healing.
In western medicine zeolites are used to help remove impurities from oxygen. This lets normal ambient air be concentrated and the oxygen content boosted. One of their most important usages though has been as a coagulating agent. If you’ve seen any war documentaries where a soldier gets a powder poured into a bullet wound, that’s zeolite. It quickly stops the bleeding and helps improve battle field injury survivability.
Some of the other industries that zeolites are used in are petrochemical, nuclear, and even agriculture.
The most popular home usage though is in commercial odor removers. The zeolites can trap and bind odor particles. It’s a much healthier way to keep your home odor free than relying on harsh chemicals.
In alternative medicine zeolites have been used mainly for heavy metal chelation. This is a process of removing heavy metals from the body. The greatest benefit to this system is that the zeolite is emulsified into a suspension and then taken orally. The particles can then bind with the heavy metals and allow them to be naturally flushed from the body.
Whether you’re looking to deodorize your home naturally or just need a cleansing it’s worthwhile to look into the zeolite family. These naturally occurring minerals have thousands of uses.
There’s nothing more relaxing than a good massage. It’s a great way to pamper yourself after a grueling work out or just as part of a weekend get away spa package.
There are all sorts of different massage therapies out there from deep tissue to Shiatsu. One of the most popular types of massage is a Swedish massage. If you still aren’t sure if a Swedish massage is what you’re looking for don’t worry, here’s a guide to Swedish massage.
There are a few things that make Swedish massage a little different from other types. They are
Type of stroke: The masseuse will use less pressure and work down the length of the body part being massaged in a long fluid motion. This releases tension throughout the entire muscle.
Muscle group: A Swedish massage practitioner will concentrate on a single muscle or muscle group at a time. They’ll work it until you feel like jelly.
Intensity: Swedish massage is a more gentle massage technique than deep tissue or sports therapy. It isn’t meant for rehabilitation or lactic acid release instead it’s a light to moderate pressure meant for relaxation.
Heat: A warm muscle is less likely to be injured. It’s why we warm up before working out. The same is true with massage. The masseuse will rub the muscle down to create friction heat. By warming the area the massage is much more effective.
Vibration: Swedish massage uses vibration to help loosen up the muscles as well. This is normally accomplished by rapidly tapping the muscle with quick medium to heavy thumps with the edge of the hand.
Hopefully this guide to Swedish massage gives you a good idea of what to expect when you book a spa appointment. You’ll come out of a Swedish massage feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
I think most of us have read The Diary of Anne Frank and if you haven’t it is probably worth your while getting a copy.
It’s the true story of a young girl in Germany who is forced to go into hiding along with her family to escape the persecution inflicted upon them during World War 2.
The Anne Frank House has just released the only existing film of Anne Frank as she is leaning out of a window watching a neighbours wedding.