A Wee Bit of Alchemy with Rick Barrett #98
Channel: Rick Barrett
Date: 20/04/2022

Rick Barrett presents "A Wee Bit of Alchemy". Some helpful tips for getting the most from Taijiquan, Qigong, and meditation.  

00:00- 04: 50 Exercise: Releasing muscular tension in the hamstrings. (Sharon and Richard share an exercise.)
 04:55- 13:00  Releasing butt tension by strengthening anterior quad muscles. Tense butt muscles block Qi and make Song Kua difficult. It also puts strain on knees and back. 
13:10- 18:20  Exercise: Song Kua with Chair. Uncertainty about leg support triggers a primitive stress response that creates unconscious muscular tension. Using the support of a chair allows one to focus on toning the vastus medialus and let go of butt and back tension. 
Disentangling the Sympathetic Nervous System from the Stress Response. There are pockets of tension in the body that go unnoticed by the conscious mind. Often this is symptomatic of deeply held stress responses. Bringing them to awareness can reduce epigenetic noise and enhance health and martial power. 

09:50- 12:38  Song means to release muscular tension to rely on the support of the intrinsic structure of the body. It depends on confidence in the stability of the structure. Weak legs make the upper body tense. 
Much of our unconscious tension locks up the hips and buttocks. This inhibits Qi flow and fluid, efficient movement. It makes Song Kua impossible. Weak anterior thigh muscles, particularly the vastus medialis, shift much of the load into the back and butt. 
12:28- 18:22  Song Kua with Chair Exercise: Review. This exercise strengthens the legs in a way that releases that tension. Emphasis is on using the support of the anterior thigh muscles, pivoting from the hip joint, and relaxing butt and back muscles. This is a remedial exercise to tonify muscles that are not given enough attention in our normal life.
26:17- 36:00  Getting unstick from habits, in Gongfu and in life. We can feel reassured by habitual behaviors, but we can get stuck in them. Novelty is essential for health. Create new neural pathways very day. "Do something weird every day!"
36:00- 53:20 Progress and Process support each other. A healthy relationship with progress is essential to Gongfu as well as mental and physical well-being. 

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Rick Barrett teaches Tai Chi and offers Energy Healing in New York City.

He is the author of two books:

Finding You in a World of It (www.amazon.com/finding-You-world-Rick-Barrett/dp/0996058850)

Taijiquan, Through the Western Gate (www.amazon.com/Taijiquan-Through-Western-Rick-Barrett/dp/1583941398)

For more info please visit rickbarrett.net

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