Si vous n'ĂȘtes pas Ă l'aise avec l'anglais, utilisez ceci :
Cet outil vous fournit une traduction automatisée en français.
More Chi
< < < Mindfulness Meditation
The following is an excerpt from the book The Shaolin Workout
by Sifu Shi Yan Ming
Published by Rodale; May 2006;$29.95US/$39.95CAN; 1-59486-400-4
Copyright © 2006 Sifu Shi Yan Ming
More chi! Train harder!
Sifu often encourages his students with the cheer "More chi! Train harder!"
What does this mean?
Chi (also spelled qi) is often translated as "life force." It is similar to what we in the West mean by "energy," but it's much more than that. Chi is the vital force that flows through all things -- humans, animals, plants, rocks, microbes, mountains. Chi connects us to all other things in the universe. It is the source of all spiritual, mental, and physical energy and health. It is dynamic, circulating in us like our blood. It has been compared to electricity flowing through circuits, and to the force flowing around magnetic poles.
When our minds, hearts, and bodies are in harmony and in balance, the chi flows freely, helping us to live beautiful lives. When our lives are out of balance, the chi may be blocked or depleted. Stimulating the correct flow of chi can heal us when we are sick and invigorate us when we are tired.
Chi is the force that gives kung fu masters like Sifu their incredible power. It is through stimulating and guiding the flow of chi that we train and push our bodies to actions we might never have known we could do before. This is why we constantly cheer one another on with the cry "More chi! Train harder!" The more chi you put into your exercises and movements, the harder you are able to train. The harder you train, the more you master your body and its movements, and the more chi you'll have.
Some beginners fear that they'll never be able to master certain stretches or movements. It's not unusual to experience some muscle pain when first performing certain exercises and stretches. A "pulled muscle" is a muscle that's not used to being stretched and worked. In the modern world, we use our legs for so little. We sit all day in our cars, at our desks, on the sofa, watching TV. Now you're suddenly asking your muscles to do some work. It's no wonder they're sore!
The wrong way to respond to that sore muscle is to tense up, physically or mentally. Tension will only block the flow of chi to that muscle.
The right way to respond is to relax your body and your mind, extend your body and your mind, and train harder. Athletes have that saying, "No pain, no gain." That's what "Train harder!" means as well. Don't back away from the work, don't tense up, and certainly don't give up. If you give up on your exercises, you give up on yourself. Have faith and confidence in yourself, and tomorrow the stretch you found difficult will feel easier. The next day, it will be easier still.
Today, think about how you can apply this warrior's attitude to your whole life. The more chi you put into your life, the more you'll get out of your life. When you feel like you just can't face another day of washing and folding the kids' laundry . . . when your boss drops an extra stack of paperwork on your desk an hour before quitting time . . . when you get home exhausted after fighting rush hour and plop down on the sofa, and your son asks you to help him with his math homework. Whatever chores, problems, or responsibilities you face today, don't flinch from them, don't avoid them, don't feel defeated by them. Tackle them head-on. Put more chi into it and get it done. Train harder!
Reprinted from: The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way by Sifu Shi Yan Ming © 2006 Rodale Inc. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com.
Author
Sifu Shi Yan Ming, a 34th-generation Shaolin warrior monk, is respected not only in the martial arts world but also in the entertainment world by stars like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, and the Wu-Tang Clan. His kung fu classes have been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, New York Daily News, and Entertainment Weekly. Brian Gray of Inside Kung Fu magazine has called him a "living treasure of China." He has also appeared on the Discovery Channel, MTV, and CNBC, among other major networks. Sifu Shi Yan Ming lives in New York City.
< < < Mindfulness Meditation
BONUS : Title:
Muscle Relaxants Developing Addictions
Word Count:
582
Summary:
Muscle relaxants and pain killers serve similar purposes and have similar side effects. While muscle relaxants are necessary for those with pain-related ailments, these drugs must be carefully regulated to prevent or minimize cases of substance abuse.
Keywords:
muscle relaxant
Article Body:
The battle against illegal drug abuse has taken a new turn with the growing number of cases involving the use of muscle relaxant medications. The fact is, muscle relaxant medications do have ingredients and effects that are considered habit-forming. These drugs, similar to some narcotics, target some areas of the central nervous system to reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain. Users of the medication may experience aslight Âbuzz that may be likened to the Âhigh effects of certain narcotic substances. In particular, the sensation has sometimes been compared to morphine, which is also used to control pain. Morphine is classified as a pain killer and it does have a muscle relaxant effect. Both drugs target the central nervous system by inhibiting the production or flow of certain chemical transmitters. In the case of morphine, the drug temporarily disables the neurotransmitters that signal the body to feel pain in certain afflicted areas. In the case of a muscle relaxant, the drug actually also works to control the amount of activity involving the chemical receptors and transmitters. Also, the morphine is used to remove the sensation of pain to prevent the patient from recognizing that physical damage is occurring, whereas a muscle relaxant is designed to help prevent damage to muscle tissue.
The latest statistics show that muscle relaxant addiction is still far from being considered a rampant social problem. But if not addressed properly, it can be a serious concern in the not-to-distant future. While there are some pain killing drugs available in the market, these are thought to be too mild to generate the addictive Âbuzz that addicts crave for. According to some reports, there are some more potent muscle relaxant drugs being tested out that might be made available without a doctor's prescription. If that is the case, then the number might increase.
Another factor to consider might be that some people addicted to pain killers might actually be unaware that they are developing an addiction, or are actually hooked on drugs. Denial is actually one of the strongest characteristics among people with substance abuse problems. Persons addicted to narcotics or prescription medication slide down gradually, only to find themselves emotionally, psychologically, and physically bound to excessive drug use.
Since these medications can be used either on a regular basis or whenever the patient needs them, it can be difficult to determine if someone is using them irregularly or has developed a dependency. The easiest way to tell would be to know doses taken each day. The larger the doses taken regularly, the faster that a user can develop dose tolerance which can lead to a progressively larger intake of the drug.
Substance abuse, including the unregulated intake of pain killers, is a problem that should concern everyone. If left unattended, it can be next major problem for law enforcement. Fortunately, majority of pain killers are still prescription drugs that cannot be obtained without approval from a doctor or licensed pain therapist. Still, adequate attention must be made on just how many patients are prescribed with pain killing products, how much is now being consumed in the market, and by whom. The right to maintain privacy when it comes to receiving medication is important. However, taking steps to prevent a good thing, such as the availability of drugs to help patients in great pain, to turn into a negative thing that turns these very same drugs into substances that actually control instead of bringing more pain over the long haul.
Muscle Relaxants Developing Addictions
Word Count:
582
Summary:
Muscle relaxants and pain killers serve similar purposes and have similar side effects. While muscle relaxants are necessary for those with pain-related ailments, these drugs must be carefully regulated to prevent or minimize cases of substance abuse.
Keywords:
muscle relaxant
Article Body:
The battle against illegal drug abuse has taken a new turn with the growing number of cases involving the use of muscle relaxant medications. The fact is, muscle relaxant medications do have ingredients and effects that are considered habit-forming. These drugs, similar to some narcotics, target some areas of the central nervous system to reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain. Users of the medication may experience aslight Âbuzz that may be likened to the Âhigh effects of certain narcotic substances. In particular, the sensation has sometimes been compared to morphine, which is also used to control pain. Morphine is classified as a pain killer and it does have a muscle relaxant effect. Both drugs target the central nervous system by inhibiting the production or flow of certain chemical transmitters. In the case of morphine, the drug temporarily disables the neurotransmitters that signal the body to feel pain in certain afflicted areas. In the case of a muscle relaxant, the drug actually also works to control the amount of activity involving the chemical receptors and transmitters. Also, the morphine is used to remove the sensation of pain to prevent the patient from recognizing that physical damage is occurring, whereas a muscle relaxant is designed to help prevent damage to muscle tissue.
The latest statistics show that muscle relaxant addiction is still far from being considered a rampant social problem. But if not addressed properly, it can be a serious concern in the not-to-distant future. While there are some pain killing drugs available in the market, these are thought to be too mild to generate the addictive Âbuzz that addicts crave for. According to some reports, there are some more potent muscle relaxant drugs being tested out that might be made available without a doctor's prescription. If that is the case, then the number might increase.
Another factor to consider might be that some people addicted to pain killers might actually be unaware that they are developing an addiction, or are actually hooked on drugs. Denial is actually one of the strongest characteristics among people with substance abuse problems. Persons addicted to narcotics or prescription medication slide down gradually, only to find themselves emotionally, psychologically, and physically bound to excessive drug use.
Since these medications can be used either on a regular basis or whenever the patient needs them, it can be difficult to determine if someone is using them irregularly or has developed a dependency. The easiest way to tell would be to know doses taken each day. The larger the doses taken regularly, the faster that a user can develop dose tolerance which can lead to a progressively larger intake of the drug.
Substance abuse, including the unregulated intake of pain killers, is a problem that should concern everyone. If left unattended, it can be next major problem for law enforcement. Fortunately, majority of pain killers are still prescription drugs that cannot be obtained without approval from a doctor or licensed pain therapist. Still, adequate attention must be made on just how many patients are prescribed with pain killing products, how much is now being consumed in the market, and by whom. The right to maintain privacy when it comes to receiving medication is important. However, taking steps to prevent a good thing, such as the availability of drugs to help patients in great pain, to turn into a negative thing that turns these very same drugs into substances that actually control instead of bringing more pain over the long haul.
