Qigong for you!

Posted on by May 12, 2021
Qigong for You

 

What is Qigong?

“Although ancient in origin, Qigong is a new category of exercise called Meditative Movement. From a physiological standpoint, Qigong practice puts the body into a state of relaxation and regeneration. This state is achieved by eliciting the Relaxation Response, coined by Dr. Herbert Benson, Associate Professor of Medicine at The Harvard Medical School to describe the healing and stress reducing effects of a mind-body practice.”  – Qigong Institute

Qigong is for everyone

I love yoga, but in 2012, after a long history of back issues, I overdid it and had to stop. Sadly, I realized that my body just could not be comfortable with several yoga postures. I began looking for something that was better suited for me.

In early 2014 I began taking Qigong classes to help my ex-husband, who was very ill. He was having serious blood pressure issues and medication seemed to be making it worse. After several blood pressure medication changes caused dramatic spikes and drops, he looked awful. Finally, in February, I got him into the car and took him to our first Qigong class.
 

Qigong Lowered Blood Pressure Dramatically

Through March and April of 2014, his blood pressure came down quickly and became more regular. He kept a chart of his daily blood pressure readings. The numbers dropped weekly. On May 1, 2014, he was at 119/60, and on May 14 he wrote in his chart 123/71. His blood pressure remained low and very consistent doing Qigong 5 days a week. Read more here: https://mindbodythoughts.com/can-qigong-lower-blood-pressure/

Qigong brought me such calm and peace, that I became an instructor and worked to get my certification. Qigong is a mental, physical and emotional routine that uses breath and visualization similar to yoga. It helps move energy in ways that nourish and balance the body, mind and soul and can promote a healing response. Qigong can naturally and fluidly loosen your joints, improve the efficiency of movement, and generate energy.   It is gentle, yet powerful and effective.
 

What is in my Qigong class?

My classes are unique — I include a tapping and shaking exercise to stimulate and circulate the much-neglected lymph system.  You will literally shake things up!   For those with trouble sleeping, I offer a guided meditative routine that calms the mind and body and helps you sleep. You can do it all at once in 50 minutes a day, or break it up into a morning and evening routine. Each exercise can be done by itself in repetition, and there are over 50 exercises included in the full-length class.  You will have unlimited access to all videos for less than the cost of one qigong class! More videos will be uploaded periodically. Try a little each day for 5 days a week and see how you feel! 
 

Subscribe today! 

For $6.99 a month, you can have unlimited access to my Qigong classes and bring calm, balance and health back into your life.

Click here to subscribe: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/qigong4u

For more information: mikamar.net/qigong-with-marie-davino/   

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Mikamar.net

  • Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.
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Venting Emotions

Posted on by July 24, 2020
Venting emotions

 

“Venting: ”to give free expression to (a strong emotion).”

The good old days

I remember quite some time ago what social media (SM) looked like. Smiley faces, happy families, fun times, beautiful nature photos, and positive thinking memes filled every page. Someone once told me that it was deceiving. Just like airbrushed models who look perfect, SM was a phony airbrushed snapshot of most people’s lives. It fooled us into thinking that if we were not as happy as everyone else was, there was something wrong with us.

There is a belief that if we are not happy and positive all the time, that we are attracting negativity to ourselves. I do believe there is a truth to that, to a degree. It is sports psychology. It is important to me to look at the positive side, to see the good in people, to do things that change my mood if I am down. Listen to music, watch a lighter movie, dance, focus on work, read, play, laugh, love, sing.

It seems that in the last year or so SM has become VERY REAL. People are angry, hurt, sad, fearful, and venting. A lot. I dare say this is necessary.

Having spent many years not feeling safe to speak up, I know from experience the damage that can do to someone. To think that you have to be happy all the time, or something is wrong with you; that if you are sad even for a moment, you are broken, wrong, or weak, is not good. It is like shaking up a bottle of soda and not letting the pressure out. When opened, it will explode. I know how that feels, and I would explode when the pressure got incredibly intense. Usually once a year! Some criticized me for being “too happy” or for being sad. I was called a doormat, a tree hugger, etc. When I began to express my anger, I was called hypocritical because I talked about spreading love instead of hate. How dare I express my anger AND talk about spreading love? Is righteous anger hateful?

Anger is not hate

We all have these emotions. Emotions are only problematic when they HURT someone. Anger is an emotion just like the others. If we don’t allow ourselves to feel it, to embrace it, to vent it, we will explode, and it is not pretty.

I do not promote anger as any violent expression if it is hurtful or damaging to another person or people. I have experienced that too, and I am not suggesting abuse is OK … that is for another discussion.

Suppressing emotion can cause illness, just like stress. It takes more energy to suppress it than to release it, and over time can take its toll. We can get stuck in a merry go round of addiction, depression, alcoholism, or food disorders.

It is possible to vent, embrace anger, and still be kind and considerate to others. But we have not done this, and we are exploding all over social media and out in public. Although it is painful and sometimes downright dangerous, I understand why that is happening. As humans, we often are not allowed or taught how to embrace or release anger, pain, and sadness, or even feel it is OK. We have no idea what the heck to do with all of this pent up emotion. Add to that the unveiling of our world in crisis, injustice, disease, fear, and the realization (finally) that maybe the “good old days” were actually a façade. Maybe we have not really been OK. Maybe this has all been brewing under the surface, and we have been ignoring it, brushing it under the carpet, smiling away the pain, and medicating ourselves in a display of happy photos.

Releasing emotions safely

I began to learn a long time ago, from a group called Re-evaluation Counseling, about venting ALL of our emotions (including ANGER) in a safe, APPROPRIATE place. By doing so, we can emerge more confident, calm, peaceful, and can get back to being our true selves with all of our faults and imperfections and find real and lasting peace. We can think clearer. We can find our compassion again. I have experienced the peace and calm that follows a good venting session when someone is fully listening to us without judgment. Is it easy? No. Is it comfortable? Hell no. At first, it felt like broken glass coming out of my mouth. But it is worth it. Because without feeling the so-called negative emotions, we cannot truly feel love, joy, peace, and calm. We also may not truly feel compassion or listen to others who do not agree with our views.

How do you vent anger safely? First and most important, NEVER vent to a person about that person. Find someone neutral to vent with who can listen. Second, physical anger should be expressed through work with safe objects and with physical exercise. NEVER vent to a person who can be intimidated or hurt. You may have seen it and laughed about it; hitting and screaming into pillows. Yes, that is one way. I have hit boxes with a baseball bat, screamed underwater, worked with resistance bands, used Qigong, and best of all, I work with a professional who understands anger/emotional work and how to release it safely.

Times change and so do we

I am in a new and wonderful relationship with a man who encourages me to speak my mind. I am still uncomfortable with that. In beginning to speak up, I told him, please be aware it may come out weird and awkward, and you may get angry with me. It did and still is coming out awkward at times, because it is learning something new, which will cause a lot of mistakes. I am so grateful to friends and family who have encouraged me to express myself without judging me. As I go along, I get more confident, and it is coming out a little less awkward each time. Believe it or not, as challenging as our times are right now, I feel happier than I ever have before. But I am not done. It is a process, and I am (and will continue to) speak up. I have a lot of anger about what is happening in the world. I am finding my safe spaces to vent, and it is a good thing.

So, find a safe place to vent without hurting anyone. Speak up. Get angry. Righteous anger is not hatred. Fight for what is right. Use your voice for good. Cry. Feel. Laugh. Safely, embrace your emotions so you can find balance, peace, and joy. It is human, not weak. If you do not feel relief, a professional can help. If it comes out awkward  and someone is offended, there is a lovely phrase – “I’m sorry.” There is peace on the other side.

“I’m not a perfect person, there’s many things I wish I didn’t do. But I continue learning.” The Reason by Hoobastank

 

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Mikamar.net

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Mile Marker Zero and 2019

Posted on by January 15, 2019

2019 and Mile Marker Zero

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind?” Katy Perry

A time for change

For many years I struggled with depression, weight gain, extreme fatigue, and a variety of other frustrating symptoms. Running agility with my dogs was becoming more difficult. It was a daily fight to keep my energy up during the day. I had a lot of achy muscles, back pain, and foot pain. My body felt inflamed and sluggish. The traditional methods of dealing with these symptoms were not helping at all.  I was told I was getting older, and that was just the way it was. Thankfully I am too stubborn to accept those answers! I always look for alternative ways to achieve better health.

In October of 2016, I began to work with Jim Fazio and Unified Therapy. The changes I felt were immense. The single, most dramatic change I felt was a confidence that I had not experienced in years. I was working towards a deep emotional detox, beginning to find renewed strength and find my voice, literally and figuratively.

Another door “opens”

When October of 2017 rolled in, I made another life-altering decision to change my eating habits for good. I set out on an herbal detox program that slowly but surely ended most of those frustrating health challenges. I cut out dairy, eggs and gluten, and grains of all kinds. My goal each day is to eat 7-10 cups of raw fruits and vegetables in addition to a variety of nuts and seeds. The first couple of months were very difficult and I had to work hard.  As time went on it became easier and I really began to enjoy it. I slowly and steadily dropped 45 pounds.

March arrived and brought with it some unexpected life changes.  I was hit hard,  my whole life turned upside down. My husband of 31 years announced that he was leaving me on March 28th, 2018. Read about that day here. In spite of the turmoil and stress that I faced, I was determined to stick to my detox and new eating plan. I reached a full year of this detox in October of 2018 and then gradually weaned off of the herbs. My diet will remain this way for now.

Endings lead to new beginnings

It is January 2019. Quite amazing. I feel great. I find that I can “cheat” with an amazing variety of vegan, healthy food and I feel happy, full and satisfied. My energy is better than ever as I run with my dogs. I rarely have any aches or pains, digestive upset or fatigue. When I do, I know it is because I am eating foods I normally do not, and I feel the effect immediately. In the past, holiday eating would cause huge weight gain and fatigue. It would take me months to find my way back to eating healthy again. This year, I only gained a couple of pounds, I am finding it is much easier to get back on track, and I feel great.

As I let the life-altering events of 2018 pass, I begin with new adventures and continue to progress with other changes that have served me well. A new year, new choices, new friends; I am reconnecting with many old friends in an amazing way. While I was in Key West with my new friends and my dogs, I ended up at the southernmost point of the US, and at Mile Marker Zero. It could not have been a more symbolic expression of my life at that moment. The end and the beginning; and I wrote this poem the next day.

Mile Marker Zero  by Marie Davino

Done with the grieving I have learned to know
Endless fear I am letting you go
Done with goodbyes burning tears in my eyes
Breathing deeply, releasing the sighs

Done with the sadness of living alone
So much of life lived under a stone
Done with regrets, and “what have I done?”
Put aside, left behind, giving all to just one

Done with the pain of all that was said
Grateful to loved ones that held up my head
Saying goodbye for the very last time
Accepting new love that forever is mine

Out with the old, in with the new
Beginnings are real at my ending with you
Done with the marshland, stagnant and still
It is time to look forward, keep moving until

The Sun shines its light so bright on my face
The sea washes fully, returns me to grace
Grateful to angels protecting me so
Time to move forward
Time to let go

More than a New Year’s Resolution

I continue to detox my body and mind from years of emotional stagnancy and years of accumulated environmental toxins. Patience has paid off.  I am amazed at the progress I have made and how great my body feels. I feel a new balance, passion, and love for myself and others that had been missing before. There is an enjoyment of everything I love in a deeper way. It is funny how you can be so unaware when you are in the midst of turmoil, but looking back, things are so much clearer.

Are you at Mile Marker Zero?

“After a hurricane comes a rainbow” Katy Perry

 

Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Mikamar.net

  • Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.
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