Move a muscle change a thought

Move a muscle change a thought. Not the other way around!

I was just thinking that in no other time of my life have I had such a specific view of not only how important my health is, but how it is everything. I am hoping that this crisis has alerted the world to this very thought as well as to start making proactive and constructive choices.

 

I want to talk a little about movement here. Not just exercise, which is critical, but movement in and of itself. Along with breath, and mindful thoughts, all integrated at the same time to bring about some new form of consciousness.

 

I have often stated and maintain that at its inception, Acupuncture and its contemporaries, we’re not about treatment, alleviation of symptoms, or even cure anything, but rather to raise awareness. And this is so that one can participate more fully and a joyous relationship in their own lives and with others. Very simple.

 

But if I look at Acupuncture on a physical level, the goal is simply movement. Movement of blood, fluids, and this thing called Qi.(pronounced Chi)
Try to think of Qi has an invisible yet vital, sort of secondary nervous system of its own design, that parallels in integrates with the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system‘s of the body.

 

It’s something that’s very difficult to quantify, but it is very observable. It has a true tangible experience when there are movements being created through acupuncture and movement, with the integration of all the rest of the systems. When all of the systems, the physiological, the central nervous system, and the acupuncture systems are integrated. One truly experiences this feeling of sustained energy, creativity, inspiration, and gratitude.

 

Not to mention strong immune response, deep sleep, powerful gut health, and potent wound healing.

 

As opposed to feelings of lethargy, self-pity, despair, pain, anger and the like. Which, unfortunately has become what has been expected as a normal state of being, and when the pain is great enough I look for the magic genie to tap me on the head with his magic wand and fix me.

(wouldn’t that be great!… Or would it?)

 

I’m afraid if there were such a magic genie, it would keep me unconscious, and limited in my life experience.

 

But without getting too far off the track what I wanted to talk about was not so much of what the skilled acupuncturist is able to help acquire in an individual, but how an individual can do some very simple things that are extremely proactive in sustaining what the acupuncturist can provide.

Which when all is said and done is the ability to see interference as a gift and direction.

 

If I don’t feel like exercising,moving, creating balance and harmony through my joints, tendons, bones, ligaments, connective tissue, fibers, vessels, and cells in my systems, I have to understand that there is some sort of mental illness going on with me.

 

So what is the solution here?

Do the opposite!!

 

For me it’s a simple as making a commitment first thing in the morning to at least 20 minutes of some kind of movement that I “do not want to do”.

They are generally some kind of simple calisthenic type of compound exercises like squats, push-ups, sit ups, that integrate all aspects of the body allowing an inner movement, and most importantly proffering healthy thoughts.

In a short amount of time, I see what was preventing me from wanting to do this was my own mind playing tricks on me trying to keep me in the comfort zone.

If I am disturbed, it’s a fixed idea that’s in my thinking… Get up and move!

 

Also, the trick for me with these things it’s not just “do them, but I must maintain a degree of consciousness by keeping a certain flow of breast that is on labored and a positioning of my body that suggests confidence and space rather than defense in self-pity like a beaten dog.

For people reading this it really doesn’t matter what you do. My God, there are literally an inexhaustible supply of all kinds of exercises on YouTube alone that could be done in the area of a twin size bed.

 

For example one of the things I particularly do not like doing is running. Which tells me… I need to be running!.

 

Note to enhance the experience and take it a level further, I wear a weighted 10 pound best and sometimes hold an additional five or 10 pounds of hand-weights which forces me into proper posture and breath, lest I begin to experience pain and fatigue, the very symbols that I am being defeated, Signaling I am doing something incorrect.

 

Now this is just something that works particularly well with me and understanding my own body. I would tell anyone if something is truly painful or objectionable, do not do it! Although movement should be challenging, it should not be a hardship or be antagonistic.

 

And most of all, which I think is of high importance for me is to remember the fact that I am EVEN able to exercise and experience movement at all!

 

I think of all the people that are in firmed, unable to have any kind of movement due to all kinds of physiological restrictions, or even severe mental incapacity. I try to remember that I am indeed blessed and owe a debt of gratitude to the universe and a power greater than myself by honoring the one vessel that propels me through the world in order to serve others through the joy of movement.

 

And besides, I once heard that it’s much wiser for me to choose a little pain, inconvenience, and challenge, rather than suffering come and find me.

As ever, Dr. Philip Trigiani