"Grasp Sparrow's Tail" & "Hold 2 Moons" loop, left side view - 05/28/08 (Spring)
This is another compact, continuous "loop" combination which I like to do while watching TV, or while watching videos on my computer monitor.
It's an old Yang style tai chi variation of the "Grasp Sparrow's Tail" sequence which includes:
- Ward-Off, Right (Hold Chi Ball)
- Roll-Back
- Press
- Push
- Hold Two Moons
Similar to my "Raise Each Leg V-feet" tai chi form
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x1-oAZU9_ys
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M8oQW2fITRY
this exercise involves raising the knee of each leg until the thigh is parallel to the ground.
I find that this action of lifting each leg until the thigh is parallel to the ground approximates the physiological effects of climbing stairs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yrNoktwGuHM
namely:
- my heart beats faster the faster I raise each leg
- my breathing speeds up to circulate more oxygen throughout my body
- when the large muscles of the legs, and lower back (kua) are exercised, calories are burned
- I break into a sweat if I do this repetitive movement for several minutes, non-stop
Furthermore,
- good posture (an upright spine) is maintained throughout all the movements
- all the major joints are exercised and utilized ("use them or lose them")
- deep abdominal breathing circulates chi smoothly throughout the entire body
- standing regularly on one leg promotes good balance. Balance is something that begins to fail as people get older, leading to accidental falls, fractured bones, frailty. Doing this exercise regularly helps maintain a keen sense of balance as one gets older.
- very little space is required - - just enough to take one step forward, then one step back.
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It's important to have a set of exercises that can be done EVERY DAY, regardless of weather. So there is no excuse NOT to exercise on a particular day!
Exercises that can be done indoors, or outdoors. Exercises that don't require any special clothing, equipment, or special setting.
One should have a set of core exercises which can be done indoors, and outdoors in all kinds of weather, during every season.
One doesn't need a lot of different types of exercises, just some one knows how to do very well, almost without thinking. Just keep doing them, over and over, as a regular habit, during every season, indoors and outdoors. Not just during good weather. During bad weather also. Helps acclimatize the body to all sorts of weather changes. Strengthens body's endurance, and ability to adapt to all types of external weather conditions.
Stale indoor air, full of carbon dioxide, can make one sleepy. It's important to "air out the body" regularly by exercising outdoors and breathing fresh air.
I always feel better, "more alive," after I exercise - - especially outdoors, in fresh air.
I began doing some of these exercises when I was a teenager. I've continued doing many of these deep-breathing, chi circulating (Chi Kung type) exercises, on a daily basis, for 40+ years now. I turned 57 at the end of April 2008.
These daily exercises continue to help keep me healthy, flexible, and full of energy.
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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