Tips For A Healthy Life: Qi Energy And How To Let It Flow

Written by Maria Giglio

We all know that modern Medicine is about blades and stitches, but to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM} blood is not the only thing that flows in our body. Healing is rather a matter of mind-body and Qi (氣).

What is Qi?

Qi is the vital energy flowing in the Universe and its parts, including men. It doesn’t start or end, it eternally transforms.

Two opposites make one

Qi has a dual nature represented by Yin/Yang (陰陽) polarity. In other words, how could you know good without bad existing, or see the light if you had never experienced darkness?

Keep balance

Balance of the opposites is the key to keep Qi in harmony and live a healthy and happy life. As Ancient Greeks used to say, ‘Meden Agan’, nothing in excess.

Zen remedies to disharmony

Disharmony can reveal both in physical and emotional forms. For example, emotional stress and air pollution are similar causes of excess in Qi. TCM offers different ways to practice control of Qi and keep a steady mind, like breathing techniques, feng shui, acupuncture, or tai chi.

Mens sana in corpore sano

TCM doesn’t offer a cure but rather methods to take care of ourselves. Whether it is by directing furniture towards east or taking 5 minutes to lie on the floor, we have the power to shape life as we want it.

After all, don’t you think it is exciting to feel that we are more than just flesh and blood?

About Interact China

“A Social Enterprise in E-commerce Promoting Oriental Aesthetic Worldwide!”

Aileen & Norman co-founded Interact China in 2004 with specialization in fine Oriental Aesthetic products handmade by ethnic minorities & Han Chinese. Having direct partnerships with artisans, designers, craft masters and tailors, along with 13 years of solid experience in e-commerce via InteractChina.com, we are well positioned to bridge talented artisans in the East with the rest of the world, and directly bring you finely selected products that are of good quality and aesthetic taste.

So far we carry 3000+ goods covering Ladies Fashion via ChineseFashionStyle.com, Kungfu Fashion, Home Furnishings, Babies & Kids, Painting Arts, Textile Arts, Carving Arts, Tribal Jewelry Art, Wall Masks and Musical Instruments. Our team speak English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, and serve customers worldwide with passion and hearts.

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Qi And Chic: Feng Shui For A Life Full Of Energy

Written by Maria Giglio

Why moving furniture gives you thrills? Ask the Universe.

Feng Shui (风水, literally wind and water), the traditional Chinese geomancy, teaches how to set up our living space so to keep the Universal energy, Qi, in balance between its opposites Yin and Yang, and thus live better.

Want to know how? Here are some tips!

Take a compass

Suppose you have a compass. At the centre, you have Yin and Yang. Each direction instead represents an Earth element and an aspect of human life.

Colours matter

Colours channel energy. Want the sun to shine in your social life? Use bright colours like yellow to grant the right amount of Yang in your living room.

In bed instead, opt for darker tones to help you relax or use red to enhance passion.

The right spot

Want to get that promotion or have more love in your life? Put them in the right place!

Place your kitchen stove to South to Fire up your meals. Point your bedroom to Southwest to improve relationships.

Mirror, mirror…off the wall!

Mirrors reflect Qi energy and double it up, so they are perfect for hallways or small spaces. Don’t put a mirror in front of your front door: it would reject good luck.

In bedroom, avoid placing a mirror facing the bed. As it reflects the personal energy of the sleepers, it bothers their rest. Also, by doubling up love luck, it enhances the chance of infidelity between lovers.

Natural Decoration

Don’t take the use of plants for granted. As plants are full of Qi on their own, they can help or stop the correct flux in the house depending on their position.

If you enjoyed this very short guide about Feng Shui and want to learn more, here are some readings for you:

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Martial Arts Diet

Highlight: Everyone can live longer if they pay attention to their lifestyle and try to live as monks do.

People may have often heard that Buddhist monks on average live longer than others, and this is scientifically proven. However, the reason that monks can live longer is not because of their identity as monks, it is because of their lifestyle. Everyone can live longer if they pay attention to their lifestyle and try to live healthier. Apart from practicing martial arts, the secret of monks- some of the healthiest people on the earth- is eating healthy. Why is eating healthy important? Studies show that a healthy eating style can significantly lower the risk of having diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Also, for some people, eating healthy will lead to emotional health since they can feel good about themselves. Finally, for people who are interested in losing weight, there is nothing more effective and impactful than eating healthy.

How do you eat healthily? Many studies have shown that following a Mediterranean-style diet, also known as the martial arts diet, is good for us. In the martial arts world, a balance in what you eat impacts how you perform, hence it is an integral part of martial art practice. There are both traditional and modern types of martial arts diet-called Shaolin temple diet and Shaolin warrior monks’ diet.

Traditional Martial Art Diet: Shaolin Temple Diet

Shaolin temple diet is the eating style of Shaolin monks and it is a vegetarian diet that relates to Buddhism. This is because Buddhists do not kill animals. Alcohol as well as stimulating spices or odiferous food like ginger, onion and garlic are forbidden because they can excite emotions.  Let’s look at the example of the Shaolin Temple Diet:

Breakfast

In a Shaolin temple, all monks get up at around 5am and have porridge as breakfast. The most common porridge is called Eight Treasures, which contains red beans, pine nuts, walnuts, peanuts, rice, hawthorns, Chinese dates and millet. This breakfast is very good for organ health.

Lunch

Rice, tofu and five to six types of vegetables are normally served for lunch from 11:30 to 12:30 am. The food is either raw or steamed and as mentioned, no spices and odiferous food are added: the simpler the meal is made, the better. Water or tea is not served in order to improve digestion.

Dinner

Dinner is served around 5:30 pm and it is mainly high carb food such as noodles and bread make from black or yellow wheat. This is because carbs are the primary source of energy for our body. In fact, little to no carbohydrates will be stored as fat if we have enough exercise, according to a report from Columbia University.

Modern Martial Art Diet: Shaolin Warrior Monks’ Diet

Shaolin warrior monks are monks who practice martial arts but not Buddhism, and they eat meat because meat is high in many nutrients that can provide energu. If you want to follow martial art diet but do not want to stop eating meat, the shaolin warrior monks’ diet could be a great option.

Written by Bota @ InteractChina.com

Posted by Yuqing@ InteractChina.com

About Interact China

“A Social Enterprise in E-commerce Promoting Oriental Aesthetic Worldwide”

Aileen & Norman co-founded Interact China in 2004 with specialization in fine Oriental Aesthetic products handmade by ethnic minorities & Han Chinese. Having direct partnerships with artisans, designers, craft masters and tailors, along with 12 years of solid experience in e-commerce via InteractChina.com, we are well positioned to bridge talented artisans in the East with the rest of the world, and directly bring you finely selected products that are of good quality and aesthetic taste.

So far we carry 3000+ goods covering Ladies Fashion, Tailor Shop, Home Furnishings, Babies & Kids, Painting Arts, Textile Arts, Carving Arts, Tribal Jewelry Art, Wall Masks and Musical Instruments. Our team speak English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, and serve customers worldwide with passion and hearts.

P.S. We Need People with Similar Passion to Join Our Blogging Team!
If you have passion to write about Oriental Aesthetic in Fashion, Home Decor, Art & Crafts, Culture, Music, Books, and Charity, please contact us at bloggers@interactchina.com, we would love to hear from you!

Health benefits of Tai chi, the Most Popular Chinese Martial Art

Highlight: “No pain, big gains”, says Harvard Heath about Tai chi, as it is relatively inexpensive and requires little external input.

There are many disciplines of martial arts and each of them has different training system. However, the common goal of practicing martial arts is to improve ones’ health. Nowadays, martial arts has become an important practice in the fitness industry and it is practiced by more than 100 million people all over the world. Today, we are going to talk about the health benefits of one kind of Chinese martial art- Tai chi. Tai chi, as one of the most popular martial arts, has proved to be a very easy and effective way to improve ones’ physical as well as mental health.

Greater aerobic capacity and muscle strength

As one form of aerobic exercise, Tai chi can boost body strength. Research shows that people who practice Tai chi at least 3 times a week have higher strength and physical performance levels.

Flexibility

A range of movement in Tai chi can train and improve people’s flexibility. While undertaking Tai chi movements, muscles and joints should be relaxed to such a degree that all rigidity disappears.

Balance

A study found out that people who practice Tai Chi experience significantly improved gait and posture, and fewer falls. This is because Tai chi movements are slow and steady, which can help the core regain balance and reduce the risk of falling in elderly practitioners.

Self-defense

From the perspective of self-defense, Tai chi can also lower blood pressure and improve immune system, which can decrease the chance of heart diseases.

Better mood

People, especially older adults, who have weekly Tai chi exercise will have lower levels of depression and anxiety because of the increase of confidence. As studies suggest, it can even help people with Parkinson’s disease.

There are two basic concepts that Tai chi beginners need to know: Qi and Yin & Yang. Qi refers to the energy force that flow through our body and practicing Tai Chi helps to balance this energy and unblock it. Yin & Yang describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, yet they need to be kept in harmony. Tai chi is a way to keep the Yin & Yang balanced in people’s body.

“No pain, big gains”, says Harvard Heath about Tai chi, as it is relatively inexpensive and requires little external input. Even though Tai chi is a gentle activity, it is advised that people, especially older adults, should seek medical advice before starting and follow proper Tai Chi classes.

Written by Bota @ InteractChina.com

Posted by Yuqing@ InteractChina.com

About Interact China

“A Social Enterprise in E-commerce Promoting Oriental Aesthetic Worldwide”

Aileen & Norman co-founded Interact China in 2004 with specialization in fine Oriental Aesthetic products handmade by ethnic minorities & Han Chinese. Having direct partnerships with artisans, designers, craft masters and tailors, along with 12 years of solid experience in e-commerce via InteractChina.com, we are well positioned to bridge talented artisans in the East with the rest of the world, and directly bring you finely selected products that are of good quality and aesthetic taste.

Tai Chi and Health Keeping

Tai Chi, as an excellent way of keeping fit, originates from ancient Chinese arts of health preservation.

Ancient methods of maintaining health may be divided into two main categories: static and dynamic, the distinction being whether or not physical movements are involved.

As a form of wushu, tai chi assimilates the essence of both the static and dynamic exercises. Combining the features of ancient static and dynamic exercises, the tai chi movements are slow and gentle, without exerting force to the utmost, the purpose being to activate the organism, to promote the circulation of qi and blood, and to achieve harmony between yin and yang, mental equilibrium and spiritual peace.

Health benefits

Researchers have found that intensive tai chi practice shows some favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and has shown to reduce the risk of falls in both healthy elderly patients, and those recovering from chronic stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and fibromyalgia,. Tai chi’s gentle, low impact movements burn more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing.

A study also found that tai chi (compared to regular stretching) showed the ability to greatly reduce pain and improve overall physical and mental health in people over 60 with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. In addition, in a randomized trial of 66 patients with fibromyalgia, the tai chi intervention group did significantly better in terms of pain, fatigue, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.

Stress and mental health

A systematic review and meta-analysis, funded in part by the U.S. government, of the studies on the effects of practicing t’ai chi found that, “Twenty-one of 33 randomized and nonrandomized trials reported that 1 hour to 1 year of regular tai chi significantly increased psychological well-being including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, and enhanced mood in community-dwelling healthy participants and in patients with chronic conditions. Seven observational studies with relatively large sample sizes reinforced the beneficial association between t’ai chi practice and psychological health.”

There have also been indications that tai chi might have some effect on noradrenaline and cortisol production with an effect on mood and heart rate. In one study, t’ai chi has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 13 adolescents. The improvement in symptoms seems to persist after the t’ai chi sessions were terminated.

As a development of ancient static and dynamic exercises, tai chi has become a unique health-oriented system in its own right. It is a valuable asset belonging not only to the Chinese people; with its value gaining wider and wider appreciation; it will benefit more and more people in the rest of the world.

by Xiao Xiao xiaoxiao@interactchina.com

About Interact China

“A Social Enterprise in E-commerce Promoting Oriental Aesthetic Worldwide”

Aileen & Norman co-founded Interact China in 2004 with specialization in fine Oriental Aesthetic products handmade by ethnic minorities & Han Chinese. Having direct partnerships with artisans, designers, craft masters and tailors, along with 10 years solid experience in e-commerce via InteractChina.com, we position well to bridge talented artisans in the East with the rest of the world, and bring you direct finely selected products that are of good quality and aesthetic taste.

So far we carry 2000+ goods covering Ladies Fashion, Tailor Shop, Home Furnishings, Babies & Kids, Painting Arts, Textile Arts, Carving Arts, Tribal Jewelry Art, Wall Masks and Musical Instruments. Our team speak English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, and serve customers worldwide with passion and hearts.

The Benefits of Chinese Martial Arts

Health and Fitness

By health, we mean not only being free from illness, but the ability to sleep soundly, to work energetically, to think clearly, and to be calm yet alert. By fitness, we mean not just physical strength, but the ability to react quickly, to endure hard work, and to concentrate without mental fatigue.

Chinese Kungfu

Kung Fu is better than other forms of exercise for promoting health and fitness. In swimming, jogging, and karate, for example, the fitness acquired diminishes as one grows old, but in Kung Fu it is enhanced. This is because Kung Fu is more than physical exercise; it develops the inner faculties of vital energy and the mind. A Kung Fu practitioner will exhibit more zest and vitality in both work and play than an ordinary person, and have calmness of mind and clarity of thought even under demanding situations.

Character Training

Chinese Kungfu

Kung Fu teaching emphasizes moral development as well as physical training, stressing values like respect, courage, tolerance, and reverence for life. The very nature of Kung Fu training is a long process of character building. Wholesome qualities like endurance, perseverance, discipline, loyalty, and a calm disposition are prerequisites for progress, especially at higher levels. All these qualities, acquired through Kung Fu training, are transferable to daily life.

Self-Defense

Chinese Kungfu

Self-defense is the essence of Chinese martial arts. True Kung Fu teaching always instructs students to be tolerant and avoid fighting, but the ability to defend oneself is a valuable asset. It is only when we know that we can defend ourselves effectively that we gain self-confidence. In this way self-defense can be applied to non-combative situations, such as job interviews or school exams. In modern society, this need for psychological self-defense is perhaps more important than the need to actually fight.

by Xiao Xiao @ InteractChina.com

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