Enhance your treatment by adding your choice of any the following to your massage therapy session (you can choose to add one, 2, 3, or all 4 to your session):
💠 EO Aromatherapy – your choice of Essential Oil Aromatherapy blend
💠 PRO Enhancement – scented Pain Relieving Oil or Cream
💠 Cupping – use silicone cups to create negative pressure to release tension
💠 DTR – Deep Tension Relief Percussive Theragun
Share the Wisdom! 🙏🏻
Referral Discounts: $20 Discount off 1 Month’s Membership Tuition fees for referring a new student to enroll in classes, and a $20 Discount to the new Student that you refer for their first month!
The referral discount also applies to massage services at Mace Martial Arts: our massage clients receive a $20 referral discount for their next massage service each time a new client schedules with us by their recommendation, and the referred client also gets a $20 referral discount for their first massage session! Also, Mace Martial Arts students are welcome to a $20 discount towards one massage service per month. Likewise, our massage clients are welcome to get the $20 referral discount for their first month of trying a Mace Martial Arts membership!
The $20 referral discount also applies to healing sessions with Tetana at Phoenix Rising PLLC — our martial arts students and massage clients receive a $20 referral discount for their first healing session with Tetana (* mental health counseling not included in referral discount), and her clients receive a $20 referral discount for their first month Membership, or private lesson, or massage session at Mace Martial Arts and Massage Therapy.
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.
Breathe Life into your Bagua Zhang Kung Fu Practice — in every aspect of training — the deeper and longer your breath the better! 🐉
This will enhance your focus and whole body awareness for more invigorating exercise, and encourage you to breathe more vitality into every aspect of your life, to be more aware, connected and fully engaged!
We often find that shallow breathing is both a result and cause of stress, tension, pain, withdrawal and fatigue.
I see this reflected in both martial arts and in my massage practice — most people have very shallow breathing, and as result are distracted and disconnected from their bodies and what’s going on around them.
This is why I encourage my massage clients to breathe deeper to release tension and pain, and inspire my martial arts students to to breathe deeper to be more present and aware, as well as to reveal their potential and empower them.
Consciously focused deeper breathing is the critical bridge that helps build our awareness of ourselves and taps our potential for healing, growth and creativity. Consciously focusing and coordinating your breathing with your movement is the most obvious and powerful secret hidden in plain sight, because it’s an aspect of life most people take for granted and ignore.
Some of the most essential lessons in training martial arts is enhancement of awareness and sensitivity, both of oneself, one’s environment and in relation to others.
Proprioception is the awareness of ourselves in relation to our surroundings.
This kinesthetic awareness is sometimes referred to as our “sixth sense.” Most of the physical training in martial arts — partner drills, basics and supplemental exercises, forms, equipment training and weapons practice — enhance our sense of proprioception. Distance, balance, timing (our timing and coordination with an opponent’s timing), reflexes and connection are all aspects of proprioception.
Interoception is our awareness of our inner processes.
Interoception encompasses all the physiological tissues that relay signals to the central nervous system about the state of the body. Disconnection from the body’s signals and internal states may be related to anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism and other disorders.
The internal training in martial arts — standing and sitting meditation, Qigong, silk-reeling exercises — moving from the inside — develops our sense of interception.
Our inner-awareness, or interoception, informs and enhances our sense of proprioception.
Deeper breathing invigorates us, increases our focus and awareness — linking our awareness of the inside and outside of our bodies — as well as our awareness of others and our surroundings.
An often overlooked aspect of “Internal” Martial Arts training is inner-work: meaning working on your emotional and mental health and well being. This is in fact one of the most important aspects of our training. Chinese medicine has long recognized the interconnected relationship between balanced emotional states and specific internal organs.
Mental and emotional trauma affect our bodies, just as physical trauma can affect our mental and emotional well-being.
We will be discussing this topic in more detail in future articles and classes, stay tuned!
New WuGuan Opening this Spring! 🐉
Work in progress — almost finished!
Classes returning at our new WuGuan opening this month, on Saturday, April 23rd!
Since moving last November, we’ve been busy settling into our new home and renovating our garage into our new WuGuan. Five busy months later, we are excited to return to training together!
Bagua Zhang Classes are held on
◊ Saturdays 11am-12:30pm
◊ Sundays 11am-12:30pm
◊ Thursdays 7pm-8pm
at:
Towns at Riverfront
(Please register for classes for address)
Everett, WA
United States
Please RSVP to all classes you plan to attend, to confirm location and schedule.
Space limited to 5 students per class for in-person training — please message ahead to confirm your spot!
For students joining remotely via Zoom, we can host classes for up to 100 participants on our Zoom account.
As the mask mandate from the COVID-19 Pandemic lifted on March 11th, masks will be optional for in-person classes. Students will have the option of wearing a mask in classes with the expectation that other’s choices will be responsible and respectful. Proof of vaccinations are strongly encouraged but no longer required for students with medical exceptions. 💉🦠😷
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.
Bagua Zhang training at the Mace Martial Arts Guan
Over the last 9 months, I’ve been grateful to continue teaching all our group Bagua Zhang Kung Fu classes remotely on Zoom, thanks to modern technology.
Though I miss teaching my students in person, and look forward to training with everyone again with in person classes, we’ve found some creative approaches to traditional training methods to be very constructive and practical in these challenging times.
Time honored practices for developing self-defense-specific fitness, attributes, capacity and skills — which are especially valuable now, while person to person contact is limited due to social distancing measures help to keep us safe from the highly communicable COVID-19 virus.
The various practice methods we have been focusing on include Forms, Basics, Supplemental Exercises, Qigong/meditation, Iron Palm/Iron Body, Weapons, and Strategy Training.
Forms practice — in traditional martial arts, forms are similar to shadow-boxing; forms are prearranged sequences of self-defense techniques, strung together to teach various combinations, principles and strategies. The self defense techniques are “coded” into the forms, like parables with layers of meaning and interpretation based on distance, timing and situations. Learning to decipher the techniques coded into traditional forms is both a skill and a riddle to solve.
Bagua Zhang forms practice has a slightly different goal than in many other martial arts. Where the solo forms of all traditional martial arts styles are catalogs of prearranged self defense techniques, Bagua Zhang has an emphasis on progressively developing principles and attributes that alter the efficacy of techniques as well as gradually transforming the health, ability, efficiency and vitality of the Bagua Zhang practitioner. Forms — Benefits and goals for Forms practice:
balance and structural alignment
Coordination, timing and dexterity
Mental focus and body awareness
Stamina, range of motion, strength and flexibility
Refinement of techniques and efficiency of movement
discovery of layers of self-defense techniques, dissecting movement by range and underlying principles, deciphering the parable of techniques
Basic techniques — drilling to refine and streamline the efficiency of techniques, as well as attributes of timing, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance.
Supplemental Calisthenic exercises — to develop principles and attributes to enhance self defense capability.
Qi Gong, Tao Yin, Yoga, meditation — clear and focus your mind, balance your emotions, cultivate your vitality and circulation to stimulate your strength and immune system.
Iron Palm, Iron Body — tempering your body safely and gradually to build your striking power and grappling effectiveness, as well as your resilience to pain and injury. Develops the capacity to realize Bagua Zhang’s full potential as an effective martial art.
Weapons Training — develops focus, strength, stamina, balance and coordination that enhance your ability to defend yourself with weapons, every day objects, and enhances bare-handed efficacy.
Strategy Work — in lieu of training partners, using hanging heavy bags and grappling dummies, by swinging them to develop footwork, distance and timing.
Beginners Bagua Zhang Kung Fu classes
We have a few spots available if you would like to start training Remote online with our Beginners Bagua Zhang Kung Fu class, held Saturdays at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm PST!
With all the uncertainty of the tumultuous times we are all living in, Bagua Zhang is an excellent practice to help you improve your health, increase your vitality and awareness, and develop self defense skills to meet the challenges we are facing with focus and confidence.
Once you get some of the basics down, you are welcome to join in our other regular group classes on Thursdays 7-8pm PST, and Sundays 11am-12:30pm PST.
The Remote Membership will give you the ability to continue training by following along with our regular group classes, and see us go through exercises, forms, applications and partner drills live. Since we are training Remotely via Zoom, you can join us from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a good internet connection. I will be available to answer questions after class from students via the discussion board on our members-only Mace Martial Arts private chat group.
The Remote Membership is only $50 per month, half the price of the in-person monthly Membership, but will still give you the ability to keep training with us live via Zoom and access to student resources at Mace Martial Arts. Also, we are in the process of creating instructional videos and workbooks to help you learn and grow with your practice!
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.
Please share with anyone you know that might be interested in joining our classes!
I wish you a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend with your family, as we honor those who have served our country and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, especially now in light of the unprecedented and unpredictable changes we are all facing this year.
The next step in gradually lifting social distancing restrictions for the pandemic may come in early June — When Phase 2 rolls out, we will resume in-person classes at Mace Martial Arts, as Washington Governor Inslee indicated that martial arts is part of the activities allowed for small gatherings. This will include private lessons as well as small group classes of up to five people.
I will confirm when in-person classes will resume when Governor Inslee gives the order to move into Phase 2 of the gradual lifting of the Pandemic quarantine measures.
But wait, there’s more: I will continue to broadcast the group classes live remotely on Zoom, so that students that are unable to come to class, are too far away, or don’t feel comfortable yet to attend in person, can still follow along online.
This Remote Membership will give you the ability to continue training by following along with our regular group classes, and see us go through exercises, forms, applications and partner drills live. Since I’ll be focused on teaching students that attend classes in person, instead of monitoring Zoom, I will be available to answer questions after class from both in-person and remote students via via the discussion board on our members-only Mace Martial Arts private chat group.
The Remote Membership will be half the price of the in-person monthly Membership, but will still give you the ability to keep training with us and access to student resources at Mace Martial Arts.
Kung Fu Theater Open Dojo & New Weeknight Classes at Mace Martial Arts!
Join us for the open house celebration of my new Guan (Dojo) in Shoreline, & I’m eager to add a weeknight class starting in September!
Kung Fu Theater Open Guan (Dojo) Double Feature!
Have you been wanting to check out our new training hall in Shoreline, or just have a fun, relaxing evening with the rest of us at Mace Martial Arts?
Join us for the open house celebration of my new Guan (Dojo) in Shoreline on my birthday, Saturday, August 17th, 2019, from 6pm-10pm!
I’m setting up the projection TV in the training hall, to play a Kung Fu Theater Double Feature:
Big Trouble in Little China, and Kung Fu Hustle!
All current, previous and new students are invited to the party — Please RSVP to this event here or to this email as space is limited!!
New Weeknight Classes:
For the last couple years, we’ve only had one weekly class on Sunday. I’m eager to expand availability in our new space to add a weeknight class, based on your demand, starting in September!
Are you interested? If you are, please let me know which day and time you prefer to attend:
either Wednesday or Thursday, from either 6-7pm, or 7-8pm.
Based on your feedback, I will confirm later this month with a follow up email which evening and class time we will start training on weeknights next month!
Update – Mace Martial Arts Dojo/Guan:
Since moving to Shoreline in November, we’ve transformed the 2-car garage into our new training hall. We have finished painting, have all the mats, some of the training equipment already, and planning to get training mirrors next!
We are holding Bagua Zhang classes in the new space on Sundays, 11am to 12:30pm, with a new weeknight class coming soon!
I’m teaching private lessons in the same space. It would be great to have you join in!
Rejuvenate your vitality with the Essential Energy Online Course starting next week — each Monday in January!
Essential Energy 4-Week Online Course
Over the last few months since Karen and I began sharing our Essential Energy Workshops, we’ve been flooded by the gratitude and rejuvenation of the participants –ranging from children to seniors — and that has been so rewarding for us!
We received invitations to teach in different parts of the world from people who are eager to learn this powerful and unique combination of vitality cultivation and certified pure therapeutic grade Essential Oils. Since we can’t make it to all of those places, we created an Online Essential Energy 4-Week Course — coming to your living room each Monday in January — starting next week!
The key to building your energy is consistency. Let us help you be more consistent!
In each of the 1 hour lessons, we will review and build on the basics we covered in the Essential Energy Live Workshops, as well as introduce new exercises and principles to help you create your own life-enhancing daily practice.
The class will be held via Zoom Video at 10-11am Pacific Standard Time.
If you are eager to learn, but can’t make the live class time — or if the live sessions are already reserved — we are offering access to a recording of the Essential Energy 4-Week Online Course, for a limited time.
Karen Atkins cultivates practices that help people take better care of themselves and find their optimal state of being on all levels. Through “Restore Your Soul”, an awareness based business, Karen supports lifestyle education and transformation through nourishment, Qi Gong, essential oils, BodyTalk, music, and other therapeutic methods. She has recently been featured on Ted Talks and Good Morning America.
* Dennis Mace – LMT, Yiliquan Kung Fu Black Belt, Formal Disciple of Yang Guotai
Shifu Dennis Mace has been training and teaching holistic Martial Arts and Qi-Gong since 1982. His thorough, hands on approach, emphasizing courtesy and ethics, and his commitment to cultivating each student’s authentic skills and improving their overall health and empowerment has contributed to his widespread popularity in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
When Karen Atkins & I started collaborating to create the Essential Energy Classes a couple months ago, we were both deeply inspired to share the integration of the Energy Cultivation of Qi-Gong traditions we’ve practiced for decades, with the naturally supportive qualities of Essential Oils — both of these ancient technologies have had a profound impact on our lives, and we know that these simple daily practices can improve the lives of millions of people, by restoring their vitality and youthful joy.
Since then, we’ve already taught Essential Energy Workshops from coast to coast:
Essential Energy Workshop Seattle 24Oct2015
from Arcata, CA and Seattle, WA,
Essential Energy Workshop in Bangor, ME 07N0v2015
Essential Energy Workshop in Bangor, ME 07N0v2015
to full capacity in Bangor, ME, New York City and upstate New York —
Essential Energy Workshop in Bangor, ME 07N0v2015
— in each event, Karen and I have loved to see the inspiration catch like wildfire in the attendees!
We are planning more Essential Energy Workshops and programs, so let us know if you’d like us to teach in your area, share with others that would enjoy these classes, and stay tuned for upcoming events!
Intro to Bagua – the Root of my Energy & Martial Arts Practice
The culmination and pinnacle of my training and teaching in Martial Arts and Energy work over the last 33 years, is the holistic and esoteric art of Bagua Zhang (“8 Trigrams Palm”), The Circular Art of Transformation.
Are you looking for holistic exercise with real world self-defense?
Bagua Zhang training focuses on core-strength, balanced alignment and maintaining a calm mind while moving from one’s center with continuous circular motion for enhanced awareness. You will learn how to increase energy, become more grounded, increase intuition and connection with patients and your environment, and build self-confidence through the spiral movements and coiling power of Bagua Zhang.
Discover your inner-power and evolve with the ancient wisdom of Bagua Zhang~ the Art of the Vortex! For children and adults, beginners and experienced practitioners welcome!
Next month, I will be teaching 2 Intro to Bagua Workshops:
Karen Atkins cultivates practices that help people take better care of themselves and find their optimal state of being on all levels. Through “Restore Your Soul”, an awareness based business, Karen supports lifestyle education and transformation through nourishment, Qi Gong, essential oils, BodyTalk, music, and other therapeutic methods. She has recently been featured on Ted Talks and Good Morning America.
Dennis Mace – Instructor, Owner of Mace Martial Arts
* Dennis Mace – LMT, Yiliquan Kung Fu Black Belt, Formal Disciple of Yang Guotai
Shifu Dennis Mace has been training and teaching holistic Martial Arts and Qi-Gong since 1982. His thorough, hands on approach, emphasizing courtesy and ethics, and his commitment to cultivating each student’s authentic skills and improving their overall health and empowerment has contributed to his widespread popularity in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
I’ve been dreaming of sharing this wisdom since I was introduced to energy building practices of Qi-Gong over 30 years ago.
Every day I hear people complain about “feeling old”, having low energy, low sex drive, weak immune systems and burdened with emotional overwhelm. I want to encourage all of them, and say “you know what? There’s another way. You don’t have to feel this way. You can reclaim your energy and feel vital again!”
Thank you to Karen Atkins of Restore Your Soul for helping to realize this dream and co-create this workshop that combines Energy Building and Essential Oils — 2 of the most powerful ways to start cultivating a culture of wellness.
Let’s take one step closer to living in a world filled with happy, healthy people!
I hope you can join us at one of these workshops — the first ones will be held in Seattle next week at Seattle Asian Medicine and Martial Arts, on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th.
Our next workshop will be in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, November 7th – if you’re in the area you can register here.
We’ve also been asked to do one in New York City on Tuesday, November 10th — if you want to attend, please let us know, and we’ll email/message you the location and times.
We are getting requests for teaching the workshop in other cities, so if you’d like to host an event in your area, let us know!
Start or deepen your martial arts training with Bagua Zhang!
Do you want to study a holistic martial art – Bagua Zhang, but don’t have a teacher in your area?
Here’s your chance to learn with a devoted instructor who cares about you, with live remote video classes!
Bagua Zhang Instructor Dennis Mace correcting a student’s posture in “Zhi Tian Cha Di”
While it may not be as personal or effective as learning in person with an instructor, it’s the next best thing, thanks to developments in technology. Here are
5 reasons why Live Online Video Classes are one of the best ways to learn:
Books are great insightful references, but the information may be difficult to decipher, and the author can’t respond to your questions. But with live online remote video classes, the teacher is right in front of you helping.
Recorded videos are great for getting the idea of a skill, but you can’t get corrections or feedback from the instructor in a recording — but with live remote online video classes, you get immediate feedback and insight from your instructor.
Online remote live video classes give you an opportunity to learn a style you want to learn – on a regular basis and from anywhere in the world –when the style or teacher you want to study from isn’t availablewhere you live. Let’s face it — it’s unrealistic for most people to move just to follow a teacher or a system, based on family and work obligations, travel visas and financial feasibility.
Remote Live online video classes allow you the convenience of training from home, on a regular basis, especially if you have moved away from your instructor and want to continue training with them. Giving you skills to work on in the meantime until you can travel to train with your instructor in person, or invite them to a workshop in your area for more personal training.
Remote Live Online training gives you the chance to learn under an instructor’s watchful eye, and correct errors or misalignments that you might be oblivious to in your own solo training; an experienced instructor will notice subtle differences that could save you years of mistakes and potential injuries from incorrect training, and accelerate your learning curve, with much more depth to boot.
Teaching Bagua Zhang Strategies
All you need to get started with remote online video classes is:
a high speed internet connection,
an account on Zoom.us ,
a space big enough to practice in front of your webcam, laptop, tablet or smart phone so I have visibility of what you’re doing,
a decent video camera and microphone that you can plug in to your computer (most laptops & tablets already have them built in!),
and you’re set!
Bagua Bridging Counter
Before we get started, here are
10 keys to enhance your online (or in person!) learning experience:
Be real (authentic) and courteous with your self and your instructor: keep your training realistic, honest, safe, and fun. Respect and honor yourself, your instructor, and the generations of practitioners before you that poured their blood, sweat and tears into cultivating this wellspring of wisdom that you are now a part of. Appreciate what you’re learning, and celebrate your growth and accomplishments!
Stay focused during lessons, and solo practice: pay attention to how you feel, think about what you’re learning, and what the movements mean — it is a path of discovery!
Commit to practicing at home at least 30-60 minutes a day what you’re learning in class: you’ll be surprised how fast you improve. If you practice only during classes, then you’ll waste class time trying to remember, instead of learning and progressing – take initiative for your growth! Use class time to refine your skills and learn new information. Mastery is a path, not a destination.
Be mindful of how the art you’re learning relates to all aspects of your life: Consider you are practicing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — constantly learning and growing.
Stay humble: what you’re learning can make you healthy, as well as powerful — but that power doesn’t entitle you to manipulate, bully, or use others to try out new skills — that’s what the classroom is for! Like the saying goes: “with great power comes great responsibility.” Martial Arts is about nurturing one’s self, and protecting the sanctity of life. Remember, keep a beginners mind — because there is always potential to grow!
Private Classes can include more than just yourself: a) invite up to 2 other people to join your private lesson, get feedback while training with each other, and split the tuition of $80 per hour. b) If you can get 3 or more people to join you during your private class, you can create your own weekly group class, at group class tuition – this is a win-win situation, because it’s cheaper for you and your classmates, more beneficial for your instructor, and you get more opportunities to learn and grow with classmates!
Try to join Group Classes: if you are taking private lessons, try to join one of the regularly scheduled group classes remotely, so you can see others train and get more feedback and learning opportunities.
Ask questions! Be thoughtful about your training, if there’s something you’re unsure about, don’t hesitate to ask — this is for your growth, and I’m here to help you!
Take notes after your lessons! This helps you remember material covered during class so you can practice on your own outside of class. Get a notebook dedicated to your martial arts classes, so you have your own convenient reference as you progress.
Invite a local school or several friends to join you and a) Sponsoryour instructor for a workshop where you live, or b) schedule times when you can come train in person with your instructor to get the hands on training you need to progress!
Bagua Zhang Throwing technique
So all that’s left is to sign up and schedule your classes – I’m looking forward to training with you soon! Register for Private Classes Online
Introducing new Package Programs at Mace Martial Arts!
Now offering 2 package programs — 6 month Essential Package, and full year Journey to Mastery Package — for students that want an immersive learning experience and are ready to commit to lifestyle change and certification, with more support and resources to help guide you to your goals. Each of these programs include all regular group classes, private lessons, half-off workshops, testing fees and membership fees all at a package discount.
We wish you a safe, liberating, joyful Summer, and we have some excellent workshops and classes coming up soon — and a special announcement about our rates — see below!
Let Freedom Ring!
Freedom.
As we come together this holiday weekend to celebrate the liberation of our nation, we want to extend to you our gratitude for entrusting us to help relieve your burdens in your pursuit of happiness.
Buddha once said that just as we can know the ocean because it always tastes of salt, we can recognize enlightenment because it always tastes of freedom.
Here in the Land of the Free, we often get caught up in the rat race, trapped by the work we do, overwhelmed by personal drama, or stuck in the clutter of our possessions. All of those clinging doubts, fears and obligations create tension in our minds and bodies. Actually, we have the power to choose joy over fear, and release our “shoulds”, “have to’s” and “cant’s”.
Massage Therapy is a powerful way to help release those burdens, and to free yourself in body, heart and mind. That release helps us to remember gratitude for all we have received, and find all the ways we can serve others.
As of August 1st, pricing for massage will increase to the following prices:
30 min $50
45 min $67
1 hour $84
1 hour 15 min $100
90 min $118
120 min $168
We know that a price increase is difficult for our clients but it’s necessary at this time to cover the steadily increasing costs of doing business.
However, you can lock in the current pricing by purchasing gift certificates now! We thank you for your continuing support!
The Eclectic Bodyworker — Head, Neck and Face
with Pam Foster, LMP and Kate Bromley, LMP Sunday, July 13, 2014, from 11:30am-8:30pm Price: $150.00 8 hours of instruction, 8CE
Come learn new strokes and points, and review important muscles and fascia for head, neck and face. Class is taught by Pam Foster and/or Kate Bromley to share the most effective, efficient techniques learned and utilized over a combined 45+ years of practice. Explore the effects of stress on the body and discuss some of the most common conditions found in this area. (Minimum of 6 students needed for class to run) Instructor Kate Bromley, LMP: Kate is a 24 year veteran massage therapist and educator. She was employed for years as an instructor at Seattle Massage School and Ashmead College and is currently teaching at Denton Massage School in Arlington as well as teaching a variety of continuing education and personal growth classes. She has previous experience working in a naturopathic clinic setting, chiropractic clinic and private practice and is currently seeing clients at Seattle Asian Medicine and Martial Arts, located in Lake City Way.
Her specialties are neuromuscular therapy, lymphatic drainage and Polarity therapy. She is a Registered Polarity Educator. Instructor Pam Foster, LMP: Pam has been a Licensed Massage Practitioner since 1990 and an instructor of massage, the Business of Massage and Ethics for the Massage Professional since 1997, initially with Seattle Massage School which eventually became Everest College. She currently teaches for Bluestone Academy in Ellensburg, Washington, with Seattle Reflexology and Massage Center in Seattle, and Denton Massage School in Arlington. Pam teaches continuing education hours of four or six hours in Ethics for the LMP. Her practice is in the Eastlake district of Seattle, as well as a secondary location in Mountlake Terrace. Although her focus is clinical treatment, she uses a fusion of techniques to treat the client’s needs.
TAO BASICS — A PRACTICE FOR LIVING
with Daniel Lee Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sat. (11am-5pm), Sun. (11:00-4:30pm)
Tao means “the Way,” not as a religion, but as an ancient Chinese philosophy and a way of life that is in harmony with nature.
In this workshop, you will learn practical ways to transform stress into vitality, calm the mind, and strengthen the body. We will practice Tao Yoga, Chi Kung,and Tao Meditation in a friendly environment.This workshop is for beginners or advanced practitioners who wish to deepen their practice. At the end of the workshop, you will have a simple practice to discover balance in your life, and find your own personal Tao or “Way.”
Standing Dynamic (moving) Qigong: Ba Duan Jin (8 Sections of Brocade)
Sitting Qigong (Tao Meditation): Inner Smile, 6 Healing Sounds, & Small Heavenly Circle (Microcosmic Orbit)
Tao Yin Qigong (Tao Yoga); movements while sitting or lying down.
Price: $160 ($135 with Early Registration — before July 4, 2014) Daniel Lee created the Being Balance System to integrate traditional Tao practice with our modern lives. He is a disciple of Sifu George Liew (Hong Kong Tai Chi Assoc., Cheng Tin Hung lineage), and a direct student of Taoist Master Mantak Chia, and the Country Coordinator for the Universal Healing Tao System in Austria. For more information, please see his website:www.beingbalance.com
The Eclectic Bodyworker — Shoulder Girdle to Fingertips
with Pam Foster, LMP and Kate Bromley, LMP Sunday, August 17, 2014, from 11:30am-8:30pm Price: $150.00 8 hours of instruction, 8CEWorkshop presents an eclectic approach to upper extremity work combining the most effective and efficient technique learned, taught and utilized over the instructors combined 45+ years of practice. Explore the effects of stress on the body and discuss the most common conditions found in this area.
(Minimum of 6 students needed for class to run, Instructor bios above, on July 13th Workshop)
Tonight is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, and you might feel a bit sleep deprived, with Holidays and the Year’s end upon us.
While the days are shorter and the nights are longer, do you find yourself wanting more sleep than usual? Maybe waking in the middle of the night and struggling to get back to sleep?
Rest assured, you probably don’t have a sleep disorder — I can certainly relate, and am looking forward to catching up on rest!
Sleep is necessary for us to “recharge our batteries” energetically, to “reset” and heal our body, mind and spirit. Good, restful sleep is deeply restorative in many ways:
keeps our mind sharp and alert
keeps our heart healthy with stress recovery
reduces weight gain by balancing metabolism and cortisol levels
keeps our nervous system functioning at the optimum level
increases vital energy — therefore boosts our immune system and pain threshold
boosts motivation and libido
improves mood and relationships
One of my Bagua Zhang instructors recommended waking up in the middle of the night to train and meditate because of the lack of distractions and optimal energy flux in our bodies’ natural cycles. There are ancient Taoist manuals that recommend practicing Qi-Gong around 2am because of this energetic circadian rhythm.
I remember when I was child waking up in the wee hours of the night and having profound moments of clarity and calm. I sometimes still do this, but because of our modern perception of what our sleep cycles “should be” (8 hour blocks), I wondered if I had a sleep disorder.
You might be surprised, as I was recently, to find out it was once common to have a bi-modal sleeping pattern, referred to as ‘first sleep‘ and ‘second sleep‘ before electric lighting in homes, where people would go to sleep around 8pm, wake up between 11pm and 1am to read or write for a couple hours before returning to sleep again… therefore the expression “burning the midnight oil.”
Apparently, bi-modal sleeping patterns are more natural, and our modern perception of sleep cycles are distorted and need some revision… This lends credence to the adage “early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise“…
Here’s a great article that challenges the myths of getting “a proper night’s sleep”:
Other research suggests sleeping more than 6 hours at once can be detrimental
to our muscles (due to inactivity),
to our use of nutrients (starving then stuffing your body), and
to our mind and perception (long periods of consciousness being separate from the body can lead to anxiety about physical reality, a sense of unnatural separation of the personality, causing a distorted view of the polarity of good vs. evil, etc).
A better solution could be sleeping in 4-6 hour blocks, and then taking a nap later on if necessary.
The truth is, we all have different individual needs that change season to season, and under different conditions. So, listen to your body’s needs, including following your own sleep patterns, and you’ll feel much better!
Wishing you and yours very Happy Holidays and a refreshingly restorative Winter!
In my previous article, I introduced two crucial deep breathing methods to reduce pain and increase your energy. Now, I’ll be taking you to the next level, to help you eliminate pain, get grounded, more connected and discover your inner-power!
“Inner-Power“, you ask?
Yep!
In Chinese, it’s called Qi (pronounced “chee“), and means “breath” and “energy”, interchangeably. Have you seen the Star Wars movies? “The Force” is the same ancient concept of connection and Vitality.
Using the Reverse Breathing method I shared in my previous article is a key to tap your inner-power, combining focus and imagination in this transformative healing aspect of Qi-Gong (“Breath/Energy Cultivation“), called “Microcosmic Orbit“.
Microcosmic Orbit
This practice connects the 2 main center-line Acupuncture Meridians*
in your body in a continuous loop.
These meridians flow naturally — as long as we’re alive. By practicing Microcosmic Orbit, you consciously open and “charge” this circuit for increased healing energy, circulation and awareness.
The key elements to practicing Microcosmic Orbit are:
As you start, focus on your body’s center of gravity, in the Lower Abdomen at your body’s core, for at least 4 full breaths. This grounds & centers you.
press the tip of your tongue up, as if through the roof of the mouth (like switch, or circuit breaker between the 2 Meridians),
imagine your body is standing like a tree. Extend feeling through your feet deep into the Earth, like the roots of a great tree. Extend your head upward (as described in the first article “A Simple Secret to Pain Relief“), like the branches and leaves of a tall, powerful oak.
As you inhale, grip the ground with your toes and heel, arch the bottom of your feet to create a pumping/suction feeling, and imagine drawing your breath & energy up through your feet, as if through a straw, up your legs, through your spine, to the crown of your head — like a tree drawing sap, rich in nutrients up from the roots through the whole tree.
As you exhale, press your feet flat into the ground and allow your breath and energy to sink with your weight, as if it were sunlight and fresh rain, washing through and nourishing the limbs, trunk and roots of your body, from head to feet.
when you conclude, focus again on your body’s center of gravity, in the Lower Abdomen at your body’s core, for at least 4 full breaths. This grounds & centers you, allowing your energy to safely, naturally “digest” throughout your body.
Practice this cycle for several breaths for the full effect. You may feel warmth, tingling, magnetic pressure, a rush of awareness, as well as physical healing and emotional clearing. You can practice while sitting, standing, and eventually even while walking!
Practicing Microcosmic Orbit will help correct your posture, boost and ground your energy, while helping you feel more open and connected at the same time!
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* the 2 main center-line Acupuncture Meridians in your body are:
Governing Vessel rises through the spine to the top of the head, then descends to the roof of the mouth,
Conception Vessel descends from the tongue through the throat, down the chest and abdomen to the perineum.
In my last post, I shared one of the most effective secrets to correct posture and reduce pain — deep breathing.
What results have you noticed from using the posture & deep breathing methods in my previous article?
To enhance the health benefits, here are 2 deep breathing methods that will help you feel more centered, grounded, and energized!
The key to both methods is to imagine drawing your breath deep into your belly, to your body’s center of gravity (below your navel 1-2 inches, at your body’s core).
Abdominal Breathing
Abdominal breathing is the relaxed breathing we naturally use when sleeping. This form of breathing soothes tension and anxiety, clears the mind and calms emotions.
In abdominal breathing, your abdomen naturally expands when you inhale, and contracts as you exhale.
Reverse Breathing
Reverse breathing is the breathing we naturally use when exerting to lift, pull or press something heavy. Referred to as “prenatal breathing” by Taoist Masters, as it is the “breath” used by infants still in the womb. For thousands of years, Qi-Gong (“breath/energy-work”) Masters have regarded this breathing method as a secret to vitality and longevity.
In Reverse Breathing, your abdomen contracts as you inhale, then your abdomen compresses and your lower back (around your kidneys) expands as you exhale. This creates a subtle, yet powerful internal pump that stimulates the endocrine system and energy flow throughout your body.
So, if you are feeling anxious or stressed, practice Abdominal Breathing to calm your mind and soothe tension, and to help wind down at the end of your day.
If you are feeling exhausted or scattered, practice Reverse Breathing to revive and get focused, or to start your day when you wake up — who needs coffee, right? 😉
More details on Reverse Breathing coming in my next article!
Stay tuned for my next article ~
I will share more to clarify and enhance the efficacy of the Reverse Breathing method…
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P.S.: If you’d like to learn more about these powerful healing methods hands on, come check out my classes ~ Announcing my first 8 week session of Moving Mediation – Bagua: The Circular Art of Transformation!
In these classes, you will learn how to
increase energy,
become more rooted/grounded,
increase intuition and connection,
and build self-confidence
through the spiral movements and coiling power of Bagua Zhang.
Classes are once a week, in 8 week sessions, starting in Seattle on Tuesday August 20th or Saturday, August 24th, and in Bothell on Thursday, August 22nd. Register for the 8 week session now!
Do you know a major cause of headaches, neck and back ache, and even numbness in the hands and feet?
I see it every day: poor posture.
The good news: one of the best solutions to correct posture is free!
If used correctly, this secret could save you hundreds — even thousands — of dollars in medical care…
The secret is actually deep breathing.
Try to take as deep a breath as you can with your back hunched, shoulders rotated inward and your head hanging forward… Does your breathing feel restricted?
Similarly, remember a time when you were injured or stressed out? Just thinking about it probably makes your breath shallow. Deep breathing not only helps correct your posture, it also reduces stress and pain. Click here to watch the video:
The keys to effective deep breathing are:
Lift your head as if it’s being hoisted up from the crown, and
push your head up, as if pushing your head through a tight turtle-neck shirt,
draw your chin in (not tilted back),
keep your hips slightly forward & tailbone tucked under, so the spine is “telescoping” straight (stretching from the top and bottom) without any hunching or swayback.
This will make your spine feel as if it is suspended, with all your bones stacked in alignment, and your entire body will feel lighter, almost weightless.
Extend spine upward and downward, and draw breath to your lower abdomen.
How long is a deep breath?
It’s relative. The idea is to gradually increase the depth and duration of your breath with practice. The best way, is to count your heartbeats — this allows you to listen to your body and get in touch instead of forcing it.
Start with 5 to 10 heartbeats per inhale, and just as long an exhale, at least 5 full breaths.
Practice everyday when you feel tense, in the morning when you wake up, and at night before you sleep. After a week, increase the depth of your breath by a few more heartbeats, to a point when you feel a stretch, but not so deep that you feel forced or more tense.
Gradual growth is the key ~ you’ll be amazed with the results!
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