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Meditation is a phenomenal way to improve mental hygiene. Medicinal Martial Arts uses mindfulness meditation to foster a rest, digest, and recover state of the nervous system, which improves health physically and mentally. Meditation is not the same as chilling out, it requires focus and mental energy. Its ultimate benefits come when combined with abdominalContinue reading “Meditation”

So much more than competitive stretching in expensive tights, yoga is a way to target muscles that need to be stretched in a safe and time tested manner. Medicinal Martial Arts approaches yoga in a manner that stresses the importance of alignment principals, not flexibility. MMA tweaks the common yoga postures to emphasize correct alignment,Continue reading “Yoga”

Iso means the same, and metric means measurement, so isometric exercises are ones where the joints do not change the degree of their angles. A common example is the plank. Before weight lifting took hold of the fitness world, isometrics were a common way to strengthen muscles. Also called muscle control, they are a typeContinue reading “Isometrics”

Calisthenics are not jumping jacks! Far from what you remember from gym class, calisthenics are incredibly powerful tools to strengthen the body and bring it back into balance. Their name is from the ancient Greek for strength and beauty. They are compound, body weight exercises, which means they incorporate multiple joints and muscle groups inContinue reading “Calisthenics”

Qigong (“chee gong”) means qi work. (For more on qi, see the articles section.) It is any simple movement that oscillates with inhalation and exhalation. A series of these movements are grouped together to form a set, which can be tailored to address specific health problems. Its essential nature is the same as that of tai chi, but itContinue reading “Qigong”

Tai Chi is something different for everyone. It means “grand ultimate,” from Grand Ultimate Map, which is the Chinese name for the yin-yang symbol. It is a kinesthetic approach to yin and yang theory, the study of the interaction of mutually engendering opposites. With its emphasis on breath and gentle movement, it produces a parasympatheticContinue reading “Tai Chi”

Five Animal Frolics Qigong This series of movements was purportedly developed about two thousand years ago. It was conceived of, or popularized by, a physician named Hua Tou, who was also an accomplished martial artist. In acupuncture, the acu-points on either side of the spine are called the Hua Tou Family of Points. From thisContinue reading “Qigong Curriculum”

It’s well established that stress denigrates the immune system, so while in isolation it’s imperative to regulate your autonomic nervous system, which is either in “fight or flight”, or “rest and digest”. Deep, relaxed abdominal breathing regulates the autonomic nervous system via the Vegas nerve. Deep breathing whenever you remember to do it is ideal.Continue reading “Stress and the Immune System”