The Benefits of Fasting

                         Affecting our Physical, Mental, emotional and spiritual needs

Can the benefits of fasting really be so broad? Yes, they can, and they are. We are so much more than a physical body and fasting affects every part of our being.

When we cease the over-indulgence that has become so common in our modern world, even for a short while, our lives and our priorities become clearer. Do these "short while"s occasionally, and you have a tool that will greatly add to your life.

The information here is for your own perusal, gathered from my own experiences and other sources, before beginning a fast, consult your own G.P. and google "who can fast" dont just take my word for it, Research! If it feels right it usually is!

Fasting will:

1. rest the digestive system
2. allow for cleansing and detoxification of the body
3. create a break in eating patterns, while shining a spotlight on them
4. promote greater mental clarity
5. cleanse and heal "stuck" emotional patterns
6. lead to a feeling of physical lightness, increasing energy level
7. promote an inner stillness, enhancing spiritual connection

 

These benefits of fasting are not limited to just traditional fasts like water or juice but can be attained through cleansing diets as well, although the effects will be less pronounced, as they occur over a longer time frame. But they will be there.

                                          Physical effects of fasting

                               "Fasting is the greatest remedy - the physician within."

                                                              Paracelsus

Fasting has been called the "miracle cure" because the list of physical conditions improved by fasting is long and varied. Cited most often are allergies, arthritis, digestive disorders of all kinds, skin conditions, cardiovascular disease, and asthma.

 

Because fasting initiates the body's own healing mechanisms, any ailment may show improvement.

Fasting frees up energy so healing can begin

Fasting is a wonderful antidote for our usual over-indulgences. There's nothing wrong with enjoying our food, but excess food on a continuous basis does create a burden for the body. When it must handle more than is comfortable and appropriate for it, it will suffer.

Imagine at work how you feel when you're handed a huge work load--more than you can handle in your 8-10 hour day, more than is comfortable and appropriate for your job title (or salary level). You're under duress. But you WILL cope. You MUST cope. You must make decisions. You attend to the most important and urgent of matters and set aside those that can wait for another day.

This is what our bodies do when they're overworked; they tuck things away for another day. Whatever tasks can be postponed will be. And more work is dumped on them at every meal- or snack-time, whether they're ready or not. This is why fasting is a beautiful gift you give to yourself. A vacation for your weary, overworked, under-appreciated body.

During fasting, we rest our system from the constant onslaught of food stuffs. We usually think of food as giving us energy, so it can be a new way of thinking to understand how the food we eat actually requires energy. Digesting, assimilating and metabolizing--these activities require a great deal of energy

. It is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive organs after a heavy meal.

 

 

                        
                                                            Some benefits of fasting

Antiaging effects
Better attitude
Better resistance to disease
Better sleep
Change of habits
Clearer planning
Clearer skin
Creativity
Diet changes
Drug detoxification
Improved senses
(vision, hearing, taste)
Inspiration
More clarity
(mentally and emotionally)
More energy
More relaxation
New ideas
Purification
Reduction of allergies
Rejuvenation
Rest for digestive organs
Revitalization
Right use of will
Spiritual awareness
Weight loss
 

Free up this energy and it can be diverted to healing and recuperation. It can detox and repair cells, tissues and organs, eliminating foreign toxins as well as the natural metabolic wastes (which are also toxins) produced even by our healthy cells.

And this is what the body will do during a fast. It will take advantage of that time and energy to do some housecleaning. The overloaded, overworked system, unable to properly handle all the toxins, has been storing any excesses in the tissues where they can be dealt with later. This is one of the great health benefits of fasting in that it offers this opportunity to play "catch up".

Fasting itself isn't necessarily a "cure" for anything. What it does is "set the stage" or create the environment in which healing can occur. Our bodies know how to heal themselves. We just have to "get out of the way", and this means on all levels of our being. Fasting has a way of rebalancing us on all those levels.

Physically, fasting is of high benefit to the chronic degenerative diseases that are plaguing our population and that modern medicine is at a loss to cure.

Losing Weight

Losing weight is, for many of us, one of the greatest benefits of fasting. Due to differences in metabolism and/or body chemistry (or mental patterns), exact results will vary from person to person.

Using fasting to lose weight can create many opportunities to gain insights into your patterns with food and for making changes to your habits and lifestyle much easier to accomplish.

Professionally supervised fasts may be the best for serious obesity. They offer both medical and psychological support during the process and guidance toward healthier eating habbits after the fast.

Those who have the best luck "going it alone" are usually fasting to "get healthy" rather than to "lose weight". The change in mentality can be the trick.

Sometimes a short 3-day fast is used to "jump start" a new healthy diet plan, because fasting will change your tastes toward more natural and wholesome foods. It will also give you a new perspective on your relationship to food; why and when you eat what you do, what your mental and emotional attachments are, and Will offer an opportunity to heal these issues.

Fasting WILL give you more energy

When you've progressed past the stage of dealing with detox symptoms, a fast will have you feeling lighter, more energetic, more enthusiastic, and requiring less sleep.

Mental and emotional benefits of fasting

Because fasting improves mental clarity and focus, it can become a tool in your life to give you greater freedom, flexibility, and energy to get done the things and projects that are important to you.

Many experienced fasters find it helpful to fast whenever they need an additional boost for a major project or deadline, e.g. writing a paper, preparing for a big presentation, getting ready for a long trip. Artists and writers often talk of foregoing food during great creative inspiration; that it helps to keep the momentum going. (Although, beginners must be warned that this won't be the case at first. Don't fast for a big event until you are more knowledgeable about your fasting reactions, and you're sure you won't get a "detox headache" or such.)

Emotionally, you will feel calmer, clearer and happier. Fasters often report that depression lifts, goals begin to feel more obtainable as obstacles are put into proper focus. Doctors have reported patients experiencing improved concentration, less anxiety, sleeping better and waking more refreshed.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between our emotional and mental aspects, where one begins and the other ends . Am I sad because I had this thought? Or did I have the thought because I've been feeling sad? Fasting has a way of clarifying those issues. Your awareness can focus in more accurately and determine the source of some unpleasantness, that then snowballed into a mess. Once the source is identified, it's easy to see how overblown everything else was that came after.

In other words, you see things from a clearer, more appropriate perspective.

Spiritual benefits of fasting

And let's not forget the powerful effects of fasting on our spiritual connection. Another one of the benefits of fasting is that it promotes we take our attention inward, that we listen, become quiet. And that quiet quality time, you with you, will also allow, if you are willing, a greater sense of kinship with your Inner Being.

Without the continual addition of heavy foods into the system (and after any major detox symptoms have passed), the body takes on a lighter, less dense, feeling. This helps to create a subtle separation from ordinary physical reality and all its worldly things, and instead you begin to sense the presense and power of things beyond this world.

Meditation or prayer become clearer, higher states easier to attain, messages or guidance from higher realms clearer. Knowing you are loved and supported every minute of your day and of your life is something you begin to intuitively feel. Recognition that there truly is a higher plan or purpose will become more real as it is intuitively experienced rather than just intellectually understood.

Your experiences will be deeply personal and unique. Sometimes, subtle too. You have to pay attention to the little things, you have to be quiet enough internally to pick up the nuances in a changed attitude or perception.

Begin to experience the benefits of fasting

You can start with simple, short-term fasting). Even short fasts will help you enjoy the many benefits of fasting, allowing the body, digestive tract and organs a chance to rest and repair and heal, and you to begin the process of rebuilding your inner connection to your physical body, as well as your inner spirit.

The benefits of fasting reach into all areas of our lives. And whether you want to fast for increased health, or increased mental clarity, you will get them both--only maybe not all in the first day. Fasting is an ongoing practice, that grows and deepens over time, delivering more and more meaningful benefits.








 

The work contained herein is not all my own and has been gathered from various sources for your information.

 

 

 

Tai Chi in the Park

Sunday 24th June will see a fantastic event that is suitable for the whole family!


TAI CHI IN THE PARK

STANLEY PARK, BLACKPOOL

SUNDAY 24TH JUNE - 10am - 11:30am

Meeting at the Clock Tower for 9:40am

Suggested donation is £4.50 but give what you can!

Suitable for all abilities, beginners and experienced, young or young at heart alike!

Everybody who attends will be awarded a certificate of completion for their 90mins of Taiji for a good cause as a way of thank you!!!

For Details please contact: Paul on 01253 319406 or 07400 336 669

All money raised will be going to ANTHONY NOLAN TRUST!
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Once a month 2 Taiji Schools in the Blackpool area hold a free hour long Tai Chi event within the Tennis courts at Stanley Park, Blackpool.

These, over the last 14 months  have been very well attended and as a result we decided to ask for a donation, a minimal amount that we can give to UK charities that are vital for the lives and well being of others
In Aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust, the U.K.'s Register for Bone marrow and stem cell donation


This event will be no different in the way the Tai Chi class is organised, however what will be different is that we expect many many people to attend and help out by raising money for a vital lifeline!

On the morning we will be offering Tea, Cakes and biscuits for anyone and again these have all been donated and any money raised will go straight to the charity!Also, individuals will be on hand with Ipads to help people sign up to the Anthony Nolan Register, if they so wish!

Please see the Anthony Nolan Website for details!

Behind the scenes people are working very very hard to make sure the smooth running of this already successful event. We have an add in the Blackpool Gazette tomorrow 14/6/12 page 7 which outlines details of the event!

All we ask is that you tell as many people as is possible about our event and come and meet the Taiji team!

There will be Tai Chi coaches and experienced students on hand for the hour and a half to guide you in a lesson, to answer any questions you may have about classes and taiji in general and to inform you about the charitable work we do.

If you would like any further information then please contact me ASAP

landline 01253 319406  mobile 07400 336 669

What is Family?

The last few weeks have just been so, so busy for many of us bringing happy times and also some challenging times. I have been deeply inspired by people's positive and supportive reactions in times of challenge. 2012 started off an excellent year for many of us, full of opportunities and new and exciting adventures offering hope, inspiration and purpose. I myself have had so many opportunities this year, it’s almost like some of us have become a magnet for new beginnings.

Whether new beginnings, opportunities or rallying round to support those close to us it has led to think about the people who have come into my life through tai chi and martial arts over the past 3 years. These people have changed my life, my outlook and my future.

Within whichever form of martial arts I have been involved I have at one time or another felt the camaraderie between myself and my fellow practitioners. Why is this and is this the same with any activity that you take part in? For me this is testament to how training in martial arts enables us to truly transcend the “class system” and social barriers that we may experience in everyday life. Have you noticed when you are training how many different individuals are in your class, how individually you know and understand the strengths of each and every member of your martial arts family just as in your own family at home?

My Taiji Family: One of our regular Charity events "Taiji in the park"

What I like about my Martial Arts Family is the eclectic mix of individuals who come together. We come together to train, we pull together in times of difficulty for members of the ‘family’, we are happy for them in times of success and come together outside of training to strengthen our bonds.

I use the word family because, in life, the people we have in our close proximity, the people we see everyday are our family, our friends form part of our family. People we know will support us no matter what and be there for us through thick and thin. One thing that has been evident throughout has been the solidarity within the “Family”.

L to R: Chief Instructor Wu Xing Chen Taijiquan: Paul Miller, Co Founder Chenjiagou Taijiquan GB: Davidine Siaw Voon Sim, Head Instructor Chen Taiji Blackpool: Lee Davis Conchie

 Knowing when a member is happy, upset, unsure, confident, unconfident or concerned is a natural part of understanding others. Walk down the street today and we will pass many people all from different walks of life really not paying attention to anyone else other than their own worries and woes. This has definitely been me over the past few years. Too much going on sometimes to look out at the world. My tai chi family has taught me to look up and out at the world and see what is truly going on for other people and not just myself. By focussing on others rather than only my own woes my life has transformed into something that feels positive and full of hope.

Last year for me was a very tempestuous one with many challenges and difficulties and at the turn of the new year led me to believe that this year, was a new beginning. We are all a year older and wiser as the saying goes but I think what has made this year different is the experiences that we as a Family have shared. We have shared tears of sadness but also have experienced laughter and joy.  Our experiences have drawn us closer again, and from our experiences we are all being pulled together again for our own Teacher. We can pull together because we are a family and we care for each individual within the tai chi family.

We are lucky to have this bond, some people are unfortunate to have lost family members or have no one they can call family.

Next time you are training, take a look around, ask yourself "who here, do I consider family"? or "who can rely on ME in a time of need"?

The feelings these thoughts evoke are both warm and embracing.

Are these not the feelings we should feel for everyone?

Some members from my "Taiji Family"

L to R
 Adrian Barry, Sharon Welsh, Linda Hargreaves, Master Chen Ziqiang, Lee Davis Conchie, Paul Miller and Matthew Barrow.

For up to date info on Paul and his classes please log onto www.chentaiji.co.uk

Be like Water!

A question many of us martial artists ask ourselves is whether we are "any good" at our chosen field. Are we truly improving and how do we decide when it’s the right time to try something new? Or, do we stick with the current flow?
 You see, my reason for writing this is that, during a recent seminar I was awarded a Black Belt under very unexpected circumstances and in the presence of a number of talented Martial artists which left me that day questioning “do I deserve this”?  or “am I even worthy”?

Over the years I have had the opportunity to train with some of the most influential martial artists in their field, believing that, if you are to be the best, seek out the best. In suggesting this, I’m not actually saying that someone who earns 7 Black belts in 6 years isn’t worth their salt, I’m just trying to question how much understanding they have, and how much is passed on to their predecessors.  

I have trained in around 10 styles, would I like to master any of them? Yes, naturally has to be the answer because I would like to feel that I am competent at whatever style I am using at that time.

So why do we practice martial arts? I do it to better myself, to break through the barriers of what I feel is possible and to see what I am genuinely capable of. I train in Martial Arts to “express myself” just as others use their voice, a musical instrument or dance to express themselves. I like to express myself through movement within martial arts. I feel comfortable and relaxed in the grace of movement.

 When I train in a technique I like to have grace, and to be able to flow which brings me back to the question of am I “any good?”


 Bruce Lee said “Be like water, water can either flow or it can crash”.

 I prefer to flow which requires hard work and discipline in any chosen martial art field. Once we are ‘good’ at our chosen art the movements will flow and will be one with our body, naturally flowing rather than a crashing movement that is unnatural and unpractised.

We all like to see a return on our hard work. We train hard to run races and if we have worked hard enough we may win a medal, we diet and we lose weight, we study we gain a qualification. We feel that all of these things show us if our hard work has paid off.  What if, in Martial Arts today there was no grading system, how would we know if we were progressing?

If you’re anything like me it always feels difficult to judge yourself. In fact I err on the side of thinking that I’m not good enough hence the surprise at receiving a black belt.  A good friend of mine who had been learning tai chi a little longer than me and almost double my age sadly passed away recently. Her movement certainly flowed and she was graceful within in her form. She gave me an important piece of advice which was to “never underestimate how good you are.”

For years I’ve questioned myself, and so I looked at the meaning behind this piece of advice and have come to the conclusion that, it doesn’t matter how others perceive me. It’s about putting the work in, enjoying my training and keeping a positive and focussed mind. Through thinking constantly that we’re not good enough we are undermining our training. If we listen to our teachers and improve where necessary then we will improve.

Perhaps some people look at a range of martial arts and see a violent past time but most martial artists know that in essence it’s about using a combination of the heart and the head whilst training.

The head in order to master and use the correct techniques and then feeling it in your heart so that, as Bruce Lee says, your movements flow rather than crash.

I have accumulated almost 30 years of martial arts experience from age four to present day and in that time I have earned 2 Black belts, by others standards that’s not much of a time to reward ratio. What do I take from this?

 For me I have recently realised that what holds the most importance for me is that I am mastering myself. When I train within a style I believe I am overcoming my difficulties and trying to better what I already know, using what is useful and leaving behind what I know to be useless.

 It’s all up to us. In our hearts do we have the determination to succeed, to achieve, not for materialistic gains but simply for the love of our art and to know that we are all that we can be!

Paul Miller in a Traditional Chen Dan Jian posture.