Hollow back

An alternative to upper back fat can be a serious lack of muscular development between the shoulder blades. This is the outcome of neglect. The back looks hollow and sunken. 

Fatty deposits

People who don't use their scapula in a healthy manner can develop extensive fatty deposits between the shoulder blades. This is essentially a large slab of fat located on the upper back.

Shoulders & neck

Shoulder and neck tension can occur from stooping, leaning the head forward/craning the neck and from exerting with the arms. (There are no doubt other reasons too).

Computers and TVs have flickering, hypnotic screens. Craning forward forces your shoulders to compensate for the weight of your head.

The risk of heart failure was more than double for men who sat for at least five hours a day outside of work and didn't exercise very much, compared with men who were physically active and sat for less than two hours a day.

(Dr. Deborah Rohm) 

Stop

Resting is not the same as relaxing. To rest is to stop all activity. If you make the time to rest properly your spine will widen and lengthen quite naturally.

Weight

The weight of your head and ribcage should be supported by the spine and by the strong muscles of the lower torso.

If the muscles are weak and the skeleton slumps forward, the weight of the bones/muscles/internal organs are supported by a slouched spine.

Only a spine that is upright and maintaining its natural curves can handle the weight of your upper body.

Slouching

Computers, driving the car, sitting and poor day-to-day standing can lead people to stoop and slouch. Modern technology does not help.

Naivety

Poor alignment, unrealistic ambitions and a failure to warm-up thoroughly enough result in back problems.

Many people go to the gym, lift heavy weights and then suffer from injuries, or run with an unhealthy, unbalanced, tension-filled technique.

Would-be martial artists do no training all week and yet expect to engage in challenging combat uninjured...

Losing the natural curvature

Instead of relaxing the lower back and allowing the pelvis to remain neutral, many people shorten the lower back.

The spine loses its natural curvature and becomes weaker; more vulnerable to injury. They are typically unaware of this habit because it is 'familiar' and seems 'normal' to them.

Releasing the lower back is easy. However, you need to monitor it repeatedly throughout the day until it becomes an established habit.

Seek out the calm

Finding quiet places requires some degree of effort. They may be subject to time, day or season. You might need to get up very early or stay up very late. These places can be found.

In order to find these places, you must slow down. You must want to step off the treadmill, into the shade and find peace.

Outdoors

There are quiet places to be found in every city and every town. You just have to seek them out. Lost places, where people seldom go. Leaves overgrown the streets and wildflowers are abundant.

Nature flourishes. The air is cleaner and there are no cars and few people.

A bubble of stimulation

Most people exist in a bubble. They wake in their own home, get into their car and then go to work/shops/wherever. There is seldom any time spent being calm.

Homes, cars and public places are usually filled with noise and stimulation. Visual images, flickering screens, twittering voices, gossip... Where is the peace in your life? The stillness?

 Adapt, conserving your efforts.

 (I Ching)

 Cord: Who are you?

Blind shepherd: Whoever you think I am or want me to be, I am.

(The Silent Flute)

Does your martial art work?

That is a good question.

The effectiveness of the martial art depends upon the person doing it and appropriateness of their actions when assaulted. It has nothing to do with strength, speed, gender or experience; it is your ability to keep a cool head and apply the art with awareness and skill.

Sifu Waller trains students to respond in a manner that feels right to the individual. Although everyone adheres to the tai chi principles of body usage, movement and relationship, the application of the material differs according to the person.

Edward De Bono:

A carpenter can use all the tools of carpentry but at any one moment uses the tool that seems appropriate for the situation.

Our next induction course is Monday 7th September.

New starters are welcome!

The Old Ways

Yoga has been practiced since the dawn of recorded history. So has qigong. The principles and precepts of tai chi are ancient... These methods have been proved over millennia.

Freedom from chit-chat

Talking is considered to be a form of restlessness, of agitation. Curious? Only when the mind is both silent and still can deeper thought take place, unimpeded by chit-chat.

The mind must settle. Relax. Stop.

Ceaseless activity

People seek to feel vital and alive as they grow older. They engage in vigorous activities and work hard to keep their thoughts continually occupied.

Hurrying around, taking on new commitments, watching the news, playing with technology, gossiping, getting upset about political issues...

This is not rejuvenation. It is a recipe for mental health issues, a heart attack or a stroke.

The 70% rule

If you remain well within your limits at all times there is less risk of injury.

Most people exceed their natural range of safe movement frequently throughout the day without realising it.

The 70% rule encourages them to be aware of their natural range.

In self defence, over-commitment is a serious flaw because you have little room for failure.

Holding 30% in reserve is a useful safety precaution.