How to Reduce Stress and Be Happy 

Anything taken too much is bad for the health. A little stress is actually good, as it could serve to help you function at your best. However, stress that seems a little too much could take a physical, as well as mental, toll to your body. Stress today is a leading cause of heart disease and is often linked to cancer. Using Yin Qigong practice, you should be able to managed depression or anxiety from stress.

So how should you do it then? The following are tips and advice to help manage stress.

Write it out, schedule it out.

It is best to write down everything that seems to be overwhelming. You will find a things-to-do-list much easier to manage than having errands all crumpled up in your head. Writing down the tasks, and putting a specific schedule and time to do them, helps anyone manage activities one chunk at a time. Crossing out an activity that has already been accomplished is very rewarding and could actually help you feel more relaxed when doing the other tasks at hand.

One at a time works.

Focus and put all your attention specifically on one task at one time. It does not help to feel panicky about the other undone or to-do tasks. Thinking about them only adds unnecessary stress and could even hamper in doing the task you are attempting to accomplish at present.

Relax and take it slow.

At least, try not to expend too much energy on activities that are currently not priorities. This is in order for your energy to be not easily expended on the tasks that are not that important, at least for now.

Delegate, delegate, delegate.

You need not do everything all at once, and you need not do everything on your own. Ask for help, get help, or pay for help. When there is a feeling of being overwhelmed that is cropping up, hire someone to mow the lawn or get a sitter for your children. The feeling of being pressed to finish something on time will somehow be eliminated if tasks are delegated. It takes a load off unnecessary worry and anxiety. Moreover, it is easier checking up on how things are, than worrying yourself sick doing everything on your own, all at once.

Give yourself a reward.

You deserve it. Acknowledging your accomplishments, no matter how big or small, is an effort that is necessary before getting on to the next tasks and activities. It reduces stress and could even make you happier in doing the next task.

                                                            Give yourself a break.

You need it to be more productive. A ten to fifteen minute break during your work is necessary. Do a Qi Gong break, take a quick brisk walk, or do anything to put your mind off work, at least for a while. This is necessary to refresh and recharge. Believe it or not, you can also stay in your work and sit with your eyes closed as you visualize a peaceful landscape or a relaxing scene. This frees the stress from your muscles and your mind.
Relax and be cool. Doing so makes you healthier, happier, and a lot more productive.

Fly-fishing for breast cancer survivors and Yin Qigong's

TRIPLE BRACELETS ENCIRCLING the MOON

    Some medical discoveries are very simple and until “verified” remain on the outskirts of medical acumen. Ten years ago a physician in the Northwest of the US realized that the motions of fly-fishing have a therapeutic effect on breast cancer survivors, especially those suffering from lymphedema. Lymphedema is a side effect of breast cancer, a painful swelling in the arms and upper body that can lead to permanent loss of mobility. About one in five women who’ve had breast cancer will get lymphedema, but exercise is one way to prevent it or lessen its impact.

    Fay McGrew has been teaching various forms of Qigong at the Cancer Institute in North County San Diego. She has reported that many cancer patients in chemo therapy have been able to have the amount of toxic chemicals used reduce since taking some of her classes. Currently she is working on getting a grant to do more scientific research to confirm these patient reports. The connection between stress reduction and simple exercise is very important in facilitating these necessary body invasive treatments.

    The arm movements of fly-fishing and Yin Qigong's TRIPLE BRACELETS ENCIRCLING the MOON are very similar. The difference being the ability to do Yin Qigong at home or in a class while fly-fishing requires travel, equipment and wading boots to practice. The secret to Yin Qigong or any Qigong is continual practice and exercise. The ability to exercise on a daily or weekly basis is important to any therapy especially one involving the functions of the lymphatic system.

    Yin Qigong is now being offered in various locations through out San Diego county by Fay McGrew. Women interested in improving their health and well being are invited to attend these classes. You can get more information concerning Yin Qigong and other forms of Qigong by contacting her at info@qigongwithfaymcgrew.com.

Yoga & Meditation = QiGong

                            The majority of people who practice both Yoga and meditation often misunderstand how QiGong is a combination of ingredients taking the best of both practices.  Yoga tends to be more strenuous and physical where Qi Gong which uses fluid body movement in gentle and slower  pace. Meditation is the practice of the mind and relaxing the body usually without any movement. QiGong merges the two practices together allowing the practitioner
the ability to move the body's energy by using the mind.

                  What is more important is that Yin QiGong focuses movement for  the key energy pathways and centers of the woman's body; including the heart, breasts and sexual organs. Modern medicine is increasingly "discovering" the need for today's women to find ways to take care of these neglected portions of their bodies. They know the medical reasons for this but not the energetic  for these important needs.  The increase in heart disease, breast cancer, and depression are the pathological signs of lack of energy focus by women today.

                   Yin QiGong  few simple and elegant exercises to draw the Qi into these energy centers.  Most Yoga,
although practiced mostly by women, is fundamentally based upon the neutral or male energy body.  The need for proper energy flow in the woman's body is exasperated by male oriented exercises.  The foundation of Yin QiGong is to  nurture a woman's physical and energetic body so health can be maintained and flourish.  Women who have started to practice Yin QiGong report feelings of positive energy and renewed vitality in both their heart center and sexual organs.  The reason why is the energy flow being created is specifically designed for a woman's body providing what her body needs in manner that is in harmony with the universe and herself.

7 Habits of Successful Qigong Practice

1. Practice everyday.  Set aside sometime time for yourself.  
2. Confirm your intention that Qigong is important to your health and well being.
3. Find a space that you like and feel comfortable in to do your practice.
4. Select a form or group of forms that you like and resonates with you.
5. Keep a journal of your experiences what you feel before and after the practice
6. Qigong Masters stress practicing a form for 100 days in a row. You will eventually not have to think of your movements just flow with them.
7. Stay in touch with your teacher and breath deeply and relax.
   
   

These classes are the result of sixteen years of study by Fay McGrew and involve practices developed in China over three thousand years ago.

Fay McGrew, M.A., State Certified Qigong Instructor, Adjunct Faculty Palomar College with over 30 years experience studying various ancient mind body meditation practices with Masters from the Orient, Fay effectively conveys their modern meaning to Westerners. For over a decade, she has introduced Qigong to San Diegoeans, initiating classes at Scripps: Center for Community Health & Advocacy, Center for Integrative Medicine; University of California San Diego Medical Center and Medical School, and San Diego Cancer Center Research Institute. Fay has studied Qigong, Women's Qigong, Tai Chi, Taoism and Zen for over 16 years in the United States, Japan and China.  Fay has a M.A. from the New School University, New York, and worked as a professional media archivist and curator at major museums, universities, and production companies before devoting herself full time to the teaching of Qigong.  She has a studio in North County San Diego.

Yin Qigong what it is

Qigong is a clinically proven modern health exercise and meditation practice

based on centuries old Chinese longevity techniques. In the US, Qigong is

regarded as a branch of Chinese Medicine which includes acupuncture,

acupressure, herbology, therapeutic massage (tuina), and nutrition. With its

simple emphasis on stress reduction, gentle exercises, and natural deep

breathing, one's core health improves: immune system strengthens,

circulation increases, and healing process quickens. The simple fluid

exercises may be done standing and/or seated in chair; no floorwork like in

yoga.

There are different kinds of Qigong. Most are familiar with Tai Chi, which

is martial Qigong. Other kinds are very physical, some are more meditative,

and others are used like physical therapy for specific health challenges.

Qigong, like most other mind body practices, is presented in a male or

gender neutral way.

There are several classical Qigong systems created by women masters for

women recently revealed. A portion of the practice is regular Qigong for

overall health, and specific exercises for gynecological and breast health

resulting in:

• regular menstrual cycle

• peri-menopause without hot flashes, night sweats, and hormona adventures

• menopause energy rejuvenation for a juicy new you

• increase libido

• recovery from health challenges of the reproduction system includingbreast & ovarian cancer, and hysterectomies

Women's Qigong cultivates the unique female energy body, centered around the

reproductive system no matter where she is in her life cycle. Exercises bring more blood into

her lower abdomen and breasts, open key meridians of vital energy supporting women’s health,

and meditations cultivate the heart center of feminine inner alchemy.

      According to the ancient classic texts on Nudan (women's inner alchemy), the breasts and

      heart area is the feminine energy center. It is interesting to note the 2 major health

     challenges facing women today in the US are heart disease and breast cancer; Women's Qigong

     is ancient remedy to this modern problem.

     Examples of women's Qigong:

• NUZI QIGONG a clinically proven system created by Dr. Liu Yafei, Medical Director of the Medical Qigong Clinic in Beidaihe, China which she based on the ancient Nudan (women's inner alchemy practice).

• TRIPLE BRACELETS ENCIRCLING the MOON exercise to slender the waist, spinal health, weight reduction, & stimulate lymphatic system.

• WILD GOOSE (Dayan Qigong) a 1600 year old practice of graceful movements introduced to the public in 1987 by 27th Generation female Grand Master, Madame Yang Mei-Jun.

• WHITE TIGRESS FEMALE CULTIVATION includes breast & ovarian self massage,techniques to improve libido, and specific meditations for women from the classical White Tigress practice.

All women benefit from Women's Qigong, for those who are already practicing yoga, tai chi, qigong, meditation, etc. Women looking to add the missing attention to the unique feminine inner alchemy. Those looking for a simple easy to learn mind body practice addressing women's health. Women recovering from serious illness wanting to live a long, healthy, juicy life!

Taught by Fay McGrew, MA, QTP (Medical Qigong), Certifed Qigong Teacher.

Website  www.yinqigong.com or email info@qiqongwithfaymcgrew.com