Benefits of Smiling A smile is simple, effective and free. In Taoist philosophy the smile is seen as the gateway to health, happiness and longevity. The foundation practice of the inner smile draws on the simplicity of smiling into the internal body as a way to cleanse and balance the body. Read more about the…
Tai Chi and Hypermobility Joint Syndrome As a Tai Chi Instructor I live with hypermobility. The good news is that Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Meditation are all recommended ways to help manage the symptoms of this connective tissue disorder. This article explores Tai Chi and hypermobility joint syndrome and the health benefits of using…
Why Smile to our Organs How much attention do you pay your face, hair and body each day? How many times do you look in a mirror a day? Do you know where your organs are in your body or what they look like? In a Western world obsessed with looks, appearance and the exterior…
Taoist Six Healing Sounds Further to the article on the meditation of the inner smile, we can extend the practice into the Taoist Six Healing Sounds. This ancient practice helps expel negative emotions from the organs, cleanse the organs and transforms them into positive emotions. This can be a stand-alone meditation or done at the…
Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a non curable medical condition/syndrome that causes chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue in the muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is often misunderstood by the health service here in the UK, and effective treatment outside of long term pain relief medication is lacking. There is a natural approach to try,…
Microcosmic Orbit Meditation This article explores the modernised new-age version of the microcosmic orbit. This is something I no longer teach as I explore the traditional practice with my teacher Dr Michael Smith over the coming years.  I encourage you to take care with this practice as it does not have roots in traditional Taoism and can…
Meditation of the Inner Smile PART TWO Taoist Wisdom for Wellbeing. The inner smile is a meditation practice using the five transformational energies: wood, fire, earth, water and metal, known as the five elements from the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This second part of the blog series looks at the mid line and back…
Recommending Homeopathy Healing Introducing Eileen Scullion As an advocate for natural health, I would like to share with you my experience and recommendation of Dublin based Homeopath, Eileen Scullion of Homeopathy Healing. Eileen also provides online/SKYPE consultations that are available globally. Find her youtube channel here. Eileen helped me combat and manage the symptoms or…
Tai Chi for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) An auto-immune disease causing inflammation of the spine, vertebrae, sacrum and can also affect other major joints. The connective tissues; tendons and ligaments harden (ankylosing) where they attach to the bone.  At the later stages of progression, the spine can fuse together. This article will explore Tai Chi for…
Tai Chi for Pregnancy Tai Chi and Qi Gong combine a well aligned posture with graceful powerful movement and deep breathing. Often referred to as meditation in motion, Tai Chi and Qi Gong can be practiced by everyone no matter age, fitness level or physical condition. Everyone can benefit from regular practice including mums to…
Tai Chi Boosts Immune System In 2007, UCLA and the University of California, San Diego carried out medical research on adults over a 25 week period. The findings at the end showed that those participants who practiced Tai Chi three times per week had double the immune system response than the others. Science Daily published…
Help Reduce Stress Do you have a spare 5, 10 or 15 minutes today? What are you doing whilst the kettle is boiling? Can you grab 15 minutes of privacy? Whilst the dinner is in the oven can you take 10 minutes ‘me time’? You don’t always have to dedicate 1 hour to your daily…
Parasympathetic System and Tai Chi Learn how to activate the relaxation response and the vagus nerve with deep breathing, slow connected whole body movements and applied relaxation. First let’s look at the mechanics of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Together they are known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Stress = activation of the…
Tai Chi for Better Health A method of slow movement that uses aligned body mechanics, applied relaxation and body awareness to help the functions of the body to work better. There are many health and wellbeing benefits that come with regular Tai Chi and Qigong practice. Collated here are a number of resources I have…
Tai Chi for Seniors How Tai Chi and Qigong practice can improve quality of life for senior citizens. Tai Chi and Qigong are physical health exercises suited to any age, young or old. There are many health and wellbeing benefits that can help our seniors and the elderly. This article explores why it is appropriate and…