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Texas Holistic Arts Center offers kung fu, tai chi chuan, kickboxing, yoga, massage, Reiki and special workshops, including weaponry and Reiki instruction. www.texasholistics.com
You can tell by watching for about a minute that some martial arts are primarily for the young at heart, and more importantly for the young, strong, tough and flexible of body. These sport tend to attract mostly children and young people under about age 25. Some practitioners and masters in this field (e.g., Jhoon Rhee) can stay balanced and fit for a lifetime. In the sport arts, he and his cronies are the exception to the rule.
When choosing a martial arts style or school, think about what you want for your life, or for your children. If you want a sport karate or tae kwon do school that focuses on tournament competition, be sure to ask the right questions before enrolling, maybe about level of contact and how successful the students are at winning trophies.
If not, you may wish to find a holistic “jutsu”, or combat art school. The best of these schools combine traditional form and technique with progressive integration of new ideas. The ancient masters were very strong and limber, physically speaking, but also practiced internal exercises and a gradual form of strengthening and toughening that spared the joints, toned muscles and internal organs, and allowed the practitioner to engage in amazing physical, mental and spiritual endeavors throughout his/her lifetime.
People of all levels of physical fitness and ability can benefit from the practice of a balanced kung fu style. You don’t have to be Jet Li to practice martial arts. The style you choose should help you feel successful enough that you will not get frustrated and quit, but should challenge you enough to keep your interest. “Challenge” can mean physical, mental, emotional, or a combination of these. You also might want to have some fun! Your best bet is to visit any school you think might interest you to find your niche. All arts have merit, so find a place you can be comfortable learning and that will push you just enough.
For me, Nei Wai Chia has the best of everything.
Fighting arts at their root are thousands of years in the making, and modern schools are offshoots of these ancient traditions. Find the branch of this marvelous tree that best suits what you want, and then pour your heart and soul into its practice. You will find rewards beyond what you can imagine. Stay the course, earn your black belt, and see what rich traditions of study lie beyond. Years down the road you will look back, and you will not recognize yourself. You will be doing things you thought were impossible. And when you examine yourself and your life many years from now, you will still have the heart and soul of a martial artist, and you will like what you see.
Juli Hartmann
Master Instructor and Owner
Texas Holistic Arts Center / Sacred Source
For more information about martial arts classes, tai chi classes, kickboxing classes, kung fu classes, massage, Reiki and holistic healing in Leander, Texas, visit http://www.texasholistics.com, or feel free to call us at 512-778-5778
Texas Holistic Arts Center offers kung fu, tai chi chuan, kickboxing, yoga, massage, Reiki and special workshops, including weaponry and Reiki instruction. www.texasholistics.com
Copyright © Juli Hartmann 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Yoga – Is It for Pretzels Only?
Texas Holistic Arts Center offers kung fu, tai chi chuan, kickboxing, yoga, massage, Reiki and special workshops, including weaponry and Reiki instruction. www.texasholistics.com
Hatha Yoga has a reputation for tying people in knots and turning out contortionists. While there is value in the amazing flexibility that some people attain, it is not necessarily what Yoga is about.
“Hatha” (literally "sun-moon") simply refers to the physical practices of a much larger yogic tradition. And while yoga does cultivate physical strength and flexibility, it also cultivates internal strength through breathing techniques and calming the mind. Like many holistic practices, it may also improve your immune system functioning, help stabilize blood sugar and hormone balance, and alleviate some stress-induced illnesses/disorders. Most people want yoga to leave them feeling better, healthier.
I have dubbed my routine “Killer Yoga” because it supports a scholar-warrior path by incorporating safe, effective stretching practices plus challenging strengthening exercises, while clearing the mind and energizing the spirit. I incorporate an extensive repertoire of qigong (breath work) practices also, and of course, a good routine of Hatha poses. You may be looking for a routine that simply keeps you where you are and offers only traditional Hatha poses – no extra stretching or isometrics. Or you may want a practice that can whip you into shape, making you strong, supple and downright impressive! Most people could be stronger and more flexible – we tend to sit at desks and in cars quite a bit, or we work hard physically without paying enough attention to stretching. My students tend to say that the routine I teach is always challenging but not impossible, and before long they start to feel stronger and their flexibility improves. They become impressive! And they tend to feel energized afterward.
This is what a good routine should do – balance strength and flexibility and calm the mind, and give you a regular form of physical practice that supports your busy lifestyle, rather than making you too tired to do life. It should feel good!
This is what I was seeking when I embarked on this journey: something that addressed the whole human, without requiring super-human feats of contortion or religious references; a routine that left the person feeling energized, stronger, suppler, happier and healthier.
What are you seeking?
Juli is a certified instructor of Hatha and Kriya Yoga.
Get strong, limber and happy today! Call 512-778-5778 or 497-5660 to enroll
Juli Hartmann, Master Instructor and OwnerTexas Holistic Arts Center / Sacred Source
For more information about martial arts classes, tai chi classes, kickboxing classes, kung fu classes, massage, Reiki and holistic healing in Leander, Texas, visit http://www.texasholistics.com, or feel free to call us at 512-778-5778
Hatha Yoga has a reputation for tying people in knots and turning out contortionists. While there is value in the amazing flexibility that some people attain, it is not necessarily what Yoga is about.
“Hatha” (literally "sun-moon") simply refers to the physical practices of a much larger yogic tradition. And while yoga does cultivate physical strength and flexibility, it also cultivates internal strength through breathing techniques and calming the mind. Like many holistic practices, it may also improve your immune system functioning, help stabilize blood sugar and hormone balance, and alleviate some stress-induced illnesses/disorders. Most people want yoga to leave them feeling better, healthier.
I have dubbed my routine “Killer Yoga” because it supports a scholar-warrior path by incorporating safe, effective stretching practices plus challenging strengthening exercises, while clearing the mind and energizing the spirit. I incorporate an extensive repertoire of qigong (breath work) practices also, and of course, a good routine of Hatha poses. You may be looking for a routine that simply keeps you where you are and offers only traditional Hatha poses – no extra stretching or isometrics. Or you may want a practice that can whip you into shape, making you strong, supple and downright impressive! Most people could be stronger and more flexible – we tend to sit at desks and in cars quite a bit, or we work hard physically without paying enough attention to stretching. My students tend to say that the routine I teach is always challenging but not impossible, and before long they start to feel stronger and their flexibility improves. They become impressive! And they tend to feel energized afterward.
This is what a good routine should do – balance strength and flexibility and calm the mind, and give you a regular form of physical practice that supports your busy lifestyle, rather than making you too tired to do life. It should feel good!
This is what I was seeking when I embarked on this journey: something that addressed the whole human, without requiring super-human feats of contortion or religious references; a routine that left the person feeling energized, stronger, suppler, happier and healthier.
What are you seeking?
Juli is a certified instructor of Hatha and Kriya Yoga.
Get strong, limber and happy today! Call 512-778-5778 or 497-5660 to enroll
Juli Hartmann, Master Instructor and OwnerTexas Holistic Arts Center / Sacred Source
For more information about martial arts classes, tai chi classes, kickboxing classes, kung fu classes, massage, Reiki and holistic healing in Leander, Texas, visit http://www.texasholistics.com, or feel free to call us at 512-778-5778
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