| Many people are involved in the martial arts but | | | | - Now you want to focus in on your different muscle |
| believe it or not most of them are not there to learn | | | | groups. Take one set of muscles such as the ones in |
| self defense. They are there to their health, | | | | your shoulders and tense them up for a few seconds |
| physically and spiritually. All that moving around gives | | | | and then relax them. Once you've worked one body |
| you an aerobic workout, the stretching makes you | | | | group, you can begin with another. Continue doing |
| much more flexible, and the various muscle-building | | | | this until your whole body is fully relaxed. Move on to |
| exercises build lean, healthy body tissue for you, as | | | | another area until your body is fully relaxed. |
| well. However, what many of us don't realize is that | | | | - Now you will get rid of all those stressful thoughts |
| the most beneficial gain in health from martial arts | | | | from your mind completely. Concentrate on the |
| comes from the practice of chi development. | | | | rhythm and movements of your body. Try to feel |
| Chi development is shown to be a highly effective | | | | your blood flow, listen to your breathing, and empty |
| way of improving overall health and a cure for a wide | | | | all thoughts in order to truly feel the natural rhythm |
| array of illnesses. It is also the reason why experts in | | | | of your body. Empty your mind of stressful thoughts |
| the martial artists can perform physically impossible | | | | and concentrate on the rhythm of your body. |
| feats generate incredible inner power and speed with | | | | - Now picture in your mind a string or rope attached |
| little or no apparent effort. Here are a few steps to | | | | to your inner being. Imagine that rope slowly pulling |
| help you find your inner chi through martial arts and | | | | your spirit upwards to the top of your head. |
| meditating: | | | | - Back to working on your breathing in this step. |
| - As you start, you will need to become aware of | | | | Concentrate on your deep breathing and lower it to |
| your chi. Do this through meditation. Chi is the inner | | | | about an area three inches below the navel and two |
| power you hold and is what gives you the strength | | | | inches inward. This is known as the the tan t'ien and |
| to accomplish feats such as breaking boards with | | | | is the center of your chi. |
| your bare hands. Chi also helps your confidence. | | | | - Now that you know how to meditate, you'll want |
| - In order to meditate and find your chi, you will need | | | | to do this every single day. I find that early morning |
| a quiet setting where you can sit comfortably with | | | | works best for me. Once, you've become more |
| no outside interruptions. Aim for about twenty | | | | comfortable in these breathing exercises, you'll notice |
| minutes or so of no outside interference. Meditating | | | | that you can sense that rhythm of internal energy |
| involves breathing deeply from your diaphragm, | | | | without much thought going into it. |
| inhaling and exhaling. As you are doing this, visualize all | | | | - Now that you have found you chi, let your mind it |
| stress and tension leaving your body as you exhale | | | | throughout your body. As you do so, you'll begin to |
| and with every inhale fresh air and positive energy | | | | feel the increased awareness and energy that comes |
| enters you. | | | | with as well. |