In Progress

Sir Francis Bacon: Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

I've finished a couple more books that need to be reviewed and am currently reading The Mindful Woman by Sue Patton Thoele. I'm reading this one slowly as it is not the kind of book to read whole. I think of Bacon often as I'm reading (not just this book) because so many of the books I read are simply swallowed for entertainment but others, especially nonfiction, require a slower and more thoughtful approach.

I'm about half way through this one and am enjoying it and trying to take the time for the exercises. Thoele places great emphasis on breath and begins many of the exercises with the idea of paying attention to breath. This is a concept with which I entirely agree after nearly 8 years of tai chi & qiqong and a mere 6 weeks in yoga.

Being conscious of your breathing, taking the time to draw deep breaths into your belly, using your breath to calm and center yourself are huge elements in tai chi & qiqong; after tai chi classes I was always so relaxed and so alert ( wonderful combination) as a result of conscious breathing. I'm finding a similar effect in yoga.

When Thoele talks about taking cleansing breaths before beginning her exercises, she is preparing the ground by encouraging the awareness of breath and its calming effects.

This book is tailored to women, but is simply a good guide for finding balance and a sense of calm for anyone who is interested. And mindfulness is something I very much want for myself. On my other blog, I've mentioned my desire for mindfulness several times, so when this book was offered, it seemed like perfect timing--that wonderful sychronicity that life frequently offers.

"Sue Patton Thoele is a psychotherapist, former hospice chaplain, and bereavement group leader. She is author of eleven other books, including The Courage To Be Yourself, The Woman's Book of Soul, Growing Hope, Freedoms After 50, and The Woman's Book of Courage." Her website is http://suepattonthoele.com

I'm not sure when I'll finish, but even after finishing, I intend to go over these daily practices. They fit nicely into some of the lessons from Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be by Lama Surya Das.

Qigong Links and Videos

Dark Orpheus had expressed an interest in tai chi, and since this is one of my favorite subjects, I'm going to mention this site with information about a PBS special on qigong, which is such a large part of tai chi practice.

On my other blog I listed some sites with information about the medical studies done on tai chi and health, and I'll repeat them here. The Journal of the American Medical Association has listed a number of articles relating to the benefits of tai chi/ qigong. This site also lists some of the benefits of qigong on the heart.

The exercises are a form of standing meditation, and the following video is a good instructional introduction qigong and mentions the different kinds of breathing and its effects.

Here are links to Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

This video shows another form of qigong in practice, but the crucial part is in the breathing, one long, slow breath for each movement.


The following video may seem a bit strange, but is from the PBS documentary and studies qigong as it is practiced in China.



Although the Chinese discovered and put to use the connection of physical movement, breath control, and emotional state before anyone else, there have been a number of scientific studies over the years that also make the link, with or without a connection to tai chi/ qi gong. Certain postures communicate emotion, but they also can determine your emotional state.

And here is a video of Vivian in Houston as she competes for the Grand Championship of that tournament. The video was uploaded to youtube by Tom Gohring.