Valley Spirit
Journal

Daily Reflections, Activities, Reading, Notes, Quotations, Comments, Links, References
Notes and Observations about Fitness and Well Being: Gardening, Walking, Taijiquan, Yoga, Qigong
About This and That - Ku Shen Journal - A Daily Journal/Blog

March 2005

Index to the Valley Spirit Journal

By
  
Michael P. Garofalo
Living in the Rural North Sacramento Valley, Red Bluff, California
A Brief Biography of the Author

 


Michael P. Garofalo - Qigong Instructor

Michael P. Garofalo
Big Bear Turns to the Left Side and Back - Eight Section Brocade Qigong

 

 

 

 

April 2005 Valley Spirit Journal

February 2005 Valley Spirit Journal

Index to the Valley Spirit Journal

 

 

 

 

March 1, Tuesday, 2005


"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude
from achieving his goal."
-   Thomas Jefferson

 

"If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply
to learn how to breathe correctly."
-   Andrew Weil, M.D., 2001  


Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing District Technology Plan,
managing grants, and supervising employees.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Pull downs, tricep and shoulder pull downs, 
leg curls and reverse leg curls.  Yoga class with Gudrin Volpat as our 
teacher from 5:30-6:45 pm. at TFFC.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Updated some Qigong Links and Breathing.

I enjoyed just attending yoga class as a student, not as a teacher.  I was able 
to enjoy my own feelings more and concentrate on my own development more.
I actually touched my own toes during seated forward fold - a rarity.    

 

 

March 2,  Wednesday, 2005

 

"The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all
the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art."
-  William Morris

 "Water is the only drink for a wise man."
-   Henry David Thoreau


Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing District Technology Plan and 
managing grants, supervising employees.   

A beautiful, warm, clear afternoon.  A few clouds crossed Mt. Shasta and the 
other peaks in the area.  All the earth is covered with green grass.  

Karen and I drove up to Redding for dinner and a bookstore visit.  A relaxing 
and enjoyable evening.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Updated some Yoga links.  

 

 

mustard greens
in bloom -
muddy ditch

 

long shadows
of daybreak disappear -
dissipating fog

 

 

March 3,  Thursday, 2005


"When the great swing has taken an individual into the world of symbolic mysteries, 
nothing comes of it, nothing can come of it, unless it has been associated with the 
earth, unless it has happened when that individual was in the body...  And so 
individuation can only take place if you first return to the body, to your earth, 
only then does it become true."
-   Carl Jung

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing and managing grants, supervising 
employees.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Bench press, squats, dumbell curls.  I felt pretty 
strong today after a day of rest.  
I taught the Yoga class from 5:30-6:45 pm at the Tehama Family Fitness Center.  
I felt pretty good about my efforts and had some nice talks with some of the
students aftewards.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Added another movement to the Eight Section Brocade.

 

Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening.  
By Fran Sorin.  Warner Books, 2004.  224 pages.  ISBN: 0446531669.

Updated the webpage on Readings on Gardening and Spirituality.

 

 

March 4,  Friday, 2005


"When you argue with reality, you lose - but only 100% of the time."
-  Byron Katie

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  

A gentle rain fell this morning.  Very energizing!  

Reading the following two books:

The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani: 58 Movements for Eternal Youth from
Ancient Tibet.  By Asanaro.  Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2003.  210 pages.
ISBN:  158542241X.  MGC.    

The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal 
Power.  By Christopher S. Kilham.   Healing Art Press, 1994.  96 pages.  MGC. 
ISBN: 0892814500.

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Reading posts from the Yahoo Group: Taoist Tradition

 

"The religious practices of Taoism emerged from these ancient philosophies and 
from Chinese shamanistic tradition; by the 2nd century A.D., it constituted an organized 
religion. Longevity and immortality were sought through regulating the energies of the 
body through breathing exercises, meditation, and use of medicinal plants, talismans, 
and magical formulas. A cult of immortals, including the divinized Lao-tzu, also developed.
Influenced by Buddhism, Taoists organized monastic orders. Temple worship and forms 
of divination, including the I ching, were practiced."
-   Taoism

Philosophical Taoism

Tango Zen by Chan Park

Emei Qigong

Ba Gua Links

A beautiful afternoon for gardening activity: watering potted plants, mowing lawns, sweeping,
raking, and clipping edges.  I spent the afternoon hours gardening.  

 

 

 

March 5,  Saturday, 2005


"A person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between 
work and play, between labor and leisure, between love and religion.  They hardly 
know which is which; to them, they are always doing both." 
-  Author Unknown  

Teach Qigong and Taiji from 10-11 am, and Yoga from 11-12:15 am 
at the Tehama Family Fitness Center.  I taught 10 students this morning.

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Some internet and writing work after yoga class.  Gardening in the afternoon - a 
beautifu, clear skied, and warm afternoon.  Karen and I weeded the west side of the
vegetable garden.  Wheat straw had grown into wheat grass over twenty inches high.
We cut out all the wheat grass and added to the compost pile.  We planted many potted
plants.  A beautiful afternoon and dramatic colorful sunset.  

Many of our fruit trees and shrubs are in bloom and just starting to leaf out.  The white 
plum tree blossoms are especially dramatic and quite fragrant.  

Added quotes to the Flower Quotes webpage.

 

 

 

 

March 6,  Sunday, 2005


"There are two kinds of habits: promoting habits and demoting habits.
Demoting habits make you unhappy physically, mentally and spiritually.
Promoting habits make you happy physically, mentally and spiritually.  In
your life, if your have all the habits which are promoting habits, you will
end up as a liberated, divine person.  If you have demoting habits, you 
will always end up as a physical wreck, mentally insane, and/or spiritually
defunct."
-   Yogi Bhajan

 

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  
200 rope skips.  Dumbell arm workout in home garage.  

Gardening in the yard: planting shrubs, weeding the vegetable garden, getting
the riding mower working and mowing, clean up, empty trash.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Updated links and references in BaGuaZhang: 8 Palms Circle Internal Martial Art.

 

 

 

March 7,  Monday, 2005

"There is now time like now to get started."
-   Robert C. Atkins

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  
200 rope skips.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Teach yoga and qigong to continuation high school students at Salisbury High 
School from 1 pm - 3 pm.  

Weightlifting for 55 minutes: Bench press, upright rows, dumbbell shrubs, incline squats,
forearm dumbell curls.  Spin bicycling class with Nichole from 5:30-6 pm at TFFC.  

Added information to the Eight Section Brocade.  Did some graphic arts work with
Fireworks.  

ZenLP Quotes and Stories   17Kb.  

"The Eight Pieces of Brocade (八段錦, Ba Duan Jin). The Eight Pieces of Brocade is a 
Wai Dan Medical Qigong exercise set.  It is actually two sets of eight simple exercises 
each (a sitting set and a standing set) that can maintain your health and increase your 
energy reserves if you are healthy, and speed your recovery if you are ill.  This set was 
created by Marshal Yue Fei (1103-1141 A.D.) in the Song dynasty to keep his soldiers 
strong and healthy.  The Eight Pieces of Brocade leads the beginner to the door of 
understanding Qigong."
Yang Jwing-Ming's Martial Arts Academy

 

"The Five Animal Sports Qigong (五禽戲, Wu Qin Xi).  The Five Animal Sports is a well 
known medical Qigong set created by the famous Chinese medical doctor Hua Tuo (華陀 ) 
during the East Han and Three Kingdom period (東漢﹐ 三國)(25-420 A.D.). This set of medical 
Qigong imitates the natural movements of five animals. These animals are the Tiger, Deer, 
Bear, Ape, and Bird. For nearly two thousand years, this set has proven very effective for 
maintaining health, and for healing various illnesses."
-   Yang Jwing-Ming's Martial Arts Academy

 

 

"Ba Duan Jing consists of eight different movements, each one of which is simple, short, and 
effective. Since time or location does not restrict one's practice, it is quite popular, and consists 
of two styles. The Wen or sedentary style adopts a sitting position with concentrated mind and 
attention to one's breathing. This particular type incorporates knocking teeth, shaking head, 
gargling throat, massaging the kidney area, swaying shoulder, pressing the scalp, stretching 
the sole of the foot, etc. In contrast, the Wu or active style adopts a standing position emphasizing 
body movement. These movements are called "Upholding the heaven and regulating Sanjiao," 
"Stretching the bow with both sides," "Regulating the spleen and stomach," "Looking backwards," 
"Swaying the head and tail," "Tapping at the back," "Holding fist and staring," "Stretching to 
both soles," etc."
-   Ming Qi Natural Healtcare Center

 

Dan Tien (丹田)

 

 

March 8,  Tuesday, 2005


"The difference between fiction and reality?  Fiction has to make sense."
-   Tom Clancy


Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing EETT Round 3 grant application,
and supervising employees.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Pull downs, tricep and shoulder pull downs, 
leg curls and reverse leg curls.  Yoga class with Gudrin Volpat as our 
teacher from 5:30-6:45 pm. at TFFC.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

Updated resources in the webpage on Self-Massage.

 

The Essence of Internal Martial Arts: Esoteric Fighting Techniques and Healing Methods.
By Jerry Alan Johnson.  Pacific Grove, California, Ching Lien Healing Arts Center, 1994.
Appendix, glossary, 316 pages. ISBN: 1885246005.  MGC.  

 

"All power comes from the legs.  Through the correct training of stepping, the martial artist
will be able to make quick and agile transitions during combat.  Victory in fighting depends
on the proper use of footwork.  There is an old Chinese martial arts proverb that states:
"To practice boxing without training the legs is a foolish and hazardous venture."  It is 
very important to develop the power and energy of the legs; only then can true martial
power be cultivated."
-   Jerry Alan Johnson, The Essence of Internal Martial Arts, p. 21.  

 

March 9,  Wednesday, 2005


"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
-   Philip K. Dick

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing EETT Round 3 grant application,
supervising employees, attend District Board meeting from 6:30-7:30.  

Attend CUESD School Board meeting from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.  Technology Plan 
Grant application discussed and approved.  

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

 

 

March 10,  Thursday, 2005


"The problem is not desire.  It's that your desires are too small."
-  Sir Nisargadatta

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 1:00 pm.  Writing and managing grants, supervising 
employees.  

Mowed lawns and did yardwork this beautiful warm winter day.  

Taught the Yoga class from 5:30-6:40 pm at the Tehama Family Fitness Center.  
Tonight I emphasized soft, easy, gentle, no sweat, 70% effort or less, moon, water, yin yoga. 
I emphasized feeling the breath coming in and out from the nostrils - awareness of 
feeling the breath, feeling the nostrils.  It took a lot of effort for me to do this yin yoga.
My natural inclination was to be more active, move the workout through more vigorous
asanas, climb the mountain.  I got some positive feedback from five of the students. 
I did not lift weights before the workout to keep calm, keep relaxed, not sweat, 
focus on being soft, relaxed, open, calm.  It was a challenge for me to approach the
yoga workout in this way.  

I encouraged my fellow practioners to do yin style for 20-30 minutes on days after
a more vigorous workout - yoga, aerobics, weightlifting, sports, etc..   

Reading David Coulter's Anatomy of Yoga and the Bhagavad-Gita in preparation
for upcoming YogaFit workshop.  

 

March 11,  Friday, 2005


"The intelligent want self-control; children want candy."
-   Mevlana Rumi

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  

Drove to Chico for lunch and used bookstore browsing.  Drove to Sacramento down
Highway 99 West.  A beautiful, warm late winter day.  Numerous plum trees were in 
bloom.  Almonds had leafed out.  Mustard greens covered all the fields with their
yellow flowers.  Checked into the Red Lion Motel at Northgate and Interstate 80.
Relaxed and read some of the used books I purchased.

Went to the Healthy Habits Yoga Studio on J Street in downtown Sacramento. 
About 20 yoga instructors began a three day YogaFit Level III workshop conducted
by the master trainer, Stuart Rice.  We worked quite hard from 5-9 pm.  We began
with introductions and orientations.  Then we did a very hard 100 minute yoga workout
in a hot and humid small room.  Finally, we dicussed Yamas and Niyamas.  

I was very very tired at night, yet I did some assigned reading and answered
some questions.  

 

Nei Jia Quan: Internal Martial Arts Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan and 
Ba Gua Zhang.  By Jess O'Brien.  North Atlantic Books, 2004.  300 pages.
ISBN: 1556435061.   Description.    


Taoism Directory

"I also read somewhere else that the original character for qi was wu
over li, meaning 'no fire'. Implying qi is present where there are no
extremes. Later though it was changed to steam excaping a rice pot,
meaning qi was something that could be felt and measured only through
it's affect on other things. Something not directly seen or
experianced, but rather obviously there on the edge of preception.
Just what I read. I find qi is a little more tangible than that after
years of practice, but I still basically agree with that translation.
In mundane terms is refers to anything you can see or feel only by
it's affect on things. Like wind(blwoing), light(heating),
food(providing energy to your body), etc."
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/TaoistTradition/message/5668

 

"The Eight Silk Brocades is the standard power-up exercise performed just before
performing Zhan Zhuang. Many YiQuan and LiuHoPaFa practitioners do it this way.
The Eight Brocades of Silk practice is neither a Fire nor Water method. It is a
method to accumulate Chi.  As I understand it, the Fire method and the Water 
method refer to ways by which the Chi is made to move within one's body.  The 
principle behind the Fire method is to use the Yi to lead the accumulated Chi.
On the other hand, the principle behind the Water method is to dissolve the
energy blocks so that the body's Chi will move naturally among the energy
pathways."
Ed Ramirez

 

 

March 12,  Saturday, 2005


"Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season.
It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year.
It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow.
Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes 
the harvest and the playtime."
-   W. E. B. DuBois

 

Studied yoga workbooks and textbooks in the morning.  

Attended YogaFit Workshop, Level III, led by Stuart Rice, from 12-5 pm.

What are my reasons for taking this class?  I am taking the class for my personal development, 
for expanding my knowledge about hatha yoga priciples and methods, for enhancing my 
personal spiritual practices, and for learning from kowledgeable practitioners and teachers.

YogaFit Teacher Training Manual Level 3; Lifestyle: Mind Body Fitness.  California, 2004.
112 pages.  

 

 

 

March 13,  Sunday, 2005



"Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not 
yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot 
be in touch with life."
-  Thich Nhat Hanh

Attended YogaFit Workshop, Level III, led by Stuart Rice, from 8-5 pm.  

Drove home by Interstate 5 to Red Bluff.  

 

 

 

March 14,  Monday, 2005


"In the American metaphysic, reality is always material reality, hard, resistant, 
unformed, impenetrable, and unpleasant."
-  Lionel Trilling

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  
Skipped rope.  

Worked on Social Security issues and typed a report for other TCCoA
subcommittee members.  Dropped it off at Community Center.  

Teach yoga and qigong to continuation high school students at Salisbury High 
School from 1 pm - 3 pm.  

Weightlifting for 55 minutes: Bench press, upright rows, dumbbell shrubs, incline squats,
forearm dumbell curls.  Spin bicycling class with Nichole from 5:30-6 pm at TFFC.  

 

Essential Tibetan Buddhism.  Robert A. F. Thurman.  Edison, New Jersey, Castle Books,
1997.  Notes, 317 pages.  ISBN: 0785808728.  MGC.  

18 Buddha Hands Qigong: A Medical I Ching Exploration.  By Larry Johnson, O.M.D., L. Ac..
Creston, Colorado, White Elephant Monastery.  Index, 291 pages.  ISBN: 0924071990.  MGC.
A very detailed study of the I Ching.  Includes a few photographs.  

The Shambhala Dictionary of Taoism.  By Ingrid Fischer-Schreiber.  Translated by 
Werner Wunsche.  Boston, Shambhala, 1996.  Bibliography, 235 pages.  MGC.
ISBN: 1570622035.  

Added references to Qigong Bibliography.

 

 

 

March 15,  Tuesday, 2005


"To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events.  It is to 
perceive the essential nature of things.  The best-informed man is not necessarily 
the wisest.  Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge 
he will lose sight of what is essential.  But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently 
trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things.  And so the wise 
man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without 
becoming dependent upon this knowledge.  To recognize the significant in the 
factual is wisdom."
-  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Writing EETT Round 3 grant application,
and supervising employees.  Fundraiser at Olive View school.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Pull downs, tricep and shoulder pull downs, 
leg curls and reverse leg curls.  Yoga class with Gudrin Vopat as our 
teacher from 5:30-6:45 pm. at TFFC.  

Mick and April arrive from Portland this afternoon for a visit.  They are finalizing
their plans for their wedding in the Spring, around Memorial Day.  

 

Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Spiritual Life from Scratch.  By Lama Surya Das.
New York, Broadway Books, 1999.   382 pages.  MGC.  ISBN: 0767902750.   

Body Learning: How the Mind Learns from the Body: A Practical Approach.  By Ginny Whitelaw, Ph.D.
New York, Perigee Book, Berkley Publishing Co., 1998.  ISBN: 0399524061.   

Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class.  By Bikram Choudhury.  With Bonnie Jones Reynolds.  Photographs
by Guy Webster.  New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher/ Putnam Books, 1978.  211 pages.  MGC.  
ISBN: 0874770823.  

 

"The followers of Tao compare the void to a valley. A valley is void,
yet it is productive and positive. The emptiness of the valley
permits water to accumulate for plants. It allows life-giving
sunlight to flood its surface. Its openness gives comfort to people
and animals alike. The void should not be frightening. Rather, it
contains all possibilities. Peer into it, call out, not just with
your voice, but with your whole being. If your cry is deep and
sincere, an echo is sure to return. This is the affirmation of our
existence, the affirmation that we are on the right path. With that
encouragement, we can continue our lives and our explorations. Then
the void is not frightening, but a constant companion."
-  Staci Doctor, Taoist Traditions 974, 3/15/2005

I spoke with Carol Purdy tonight at TFFC.  She has been stuggling to 
send her cancer into remission for six years.  I met her at Kevin Weaver's
Taiji class a number of times.  We talked about Guo Lin's Walking Qigong
for cancer patients. 

Readers should refer to my webpage notes on Guo Lin's Walking Qigong.

 

 

"Thank you for your web site. It's wonderful.  Might you know of any Chi-Lel
Qigong teachers in the Bay Area (Marin) you may have heard of?  I'm looking
for a teacher whom I can work with.  Warmly, Cynthia Stringer."

Cynthia, I don't know of any qigong teachers of this style in your area.
However, Marin County seems to have people with all kinds
of unique talents, and I'm sure you could find someone with
a background in the style. I suggest going to the Chi-Lel website: 
http://www.chilel-qigong.com/
   E-mail and/or call the people at the 
Chi-Lel training center for information and leads.


 

March 16,  Wednesday, 2005


"My will shall shape the future.  Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my 
own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. 
My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny."
-   Elain Maxwell

 

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 2:00 pm.  Writing reports and proposals.  
Fundraiser at Olive View school.  

My son and I take a trip up to Redding, visit the Bridge, shop and have dinner.  

The Way of Qigong.  By Ken Cohen.  5 audiocassettes, 6 hours.  Boulder, Colorado, Sounds True,
1993.  ISBN: 1564552578.  MGC.    

Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times.   By Judith Lasater, Ph.D., P.T.  Introduction
by Mary Pullig Schatz.  Illustrated by Halstead Hannah.  Rodmell Press, 1985.  ISBN: 0962713848.
MGC.  

Refer to my notes in Relaxation - Sung.

Added some information to my Thirteen Treasures Walking Qigong webpage.

Complementary and Alternative Healing University

 

 

March 17,  Thursday, 2005


"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, 
fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that 
everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is 
always tomorrow."
-   Dorothy Thompson


Karen's birthday.  Mick and April visiting with us at our home.  St. Patrick's Day.

Refer to my remarks for closing my yoga class today.  

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  
Skipped rope.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Bench press, squats, dumbell curls, shrugs, tricep kickbacks.  
I taught the Yoga class from 5:30-6:45 pm at the Tehama Family Fitness Center.

 

My uncle Bob, cousin Marlene and her husband Russ came by for dinner, and 
slept in their motorhome on our lot.  

Mick and April prepared a wonderful meal: cantrel soup, fresh salad, pork loin sutffed
with fruit, beautiful presentation over yams and beans, cream puffs, and all kinds of
homemade deliciacies.  A first class dinner by my chef son, and his lovely and talented
assistant.  We enjoyed a great meal and conversation.  

  

"One of the legends of Tibet revolves around Tibetan yogis of old, who were said
to be capable of fast-walking dozens of miles each day while moving with such 
speed that their legs were literally so far above the ground that they appeared
to be flying.  Alexandra David-Neel, a French explorer, who traveled in Tibet
extensively at the turn of the twentieth century, said that she personally witnessed
such fast-walking yogis perform their energy practice.  In Tibet this is called
"Lung Gom" (Breath-Energy Meditation) or "Fast Feet.""
-   Lama Surya Das, Awakening to the Sacred, p. 238

Refer to my notes on walking qigong.

 

 

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your field
And, until we meet again, may God hold
you in the palm of his hand. 
-  An Irish blessing

 

 


March 18,  Friday, 2005

 

"We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, 
and not in another; unevenly.  We grow partially.  We are relative.  We are mature in 
one realm, childish in another.  The past, present, and future mingle and pull us 
backward, forward, or fix us in the present.  We are made up of layers, cells, 
constellations."
-  Anais Nin

Lifted weights at TFFC from 7:45-8:20, attended spin class led by Tanya from
8:30-9:20.  

Work around the house on chores.  Mick and April leave to return to Portland.  
Prepared property for a coming rain this weekend: put up tools, scattered fertilizer,
mowed, worked on equipment.  

 

 

March 19,  Saturday, 2005


"The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time."
-  Abraham Lincoln

 

"Hi Mike, my name is Karen Lendman and I'm doing a master's paper on concrete poetry.  
I came across your website and it interests me, but I'm not really sure how to analyze it.  
Can you give me some helpful hints on your visual-concrete poetry, or some clarification?  
Anything will be helpful.  Thanks!"  

Karen, 
I'm not so "sure" about "concrete poetry" myself. 
 
I use letters, words, and sentences in graphical displays to, hopefully,
convey some additional meaning by their combinations.  The alphabetical
structures sometimes can be seen as a outline or sketch or
representation of an object; in other cases, this is not so.  Sometimes
both the meaning of the words and the object represented are
related in meaning.  Anyway, the complexity of the graphical and
semantical levels combined provides a new level of understanding;
sometimes, not.  Since I'm not very good at the task, the effort
sometimes does not work from either the artistic or semantic
levels.  Neveretheless, these creative efforts are fun, whether or
not they are "good."

"If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to hear it, does it
make any sound?"

 

 

 

Sounds in the Forest.   A concrete poem by Michael P. Garofalo.

 

 

 

Taught Qigong/Taiji from 10-11, and yoga from 11-12:15 at TFFC.  

Gentle rain last night and most of today.  A very heavy rain in the morning 
hours.  Worked on riding lawn mower in the garage.  Karen and I went to
Redding to purchase and set up garage door opener system.  Browsed
at Cal's boostore.

Meditation: A Simple Eight Point Program for Translating Spiritual Ideals into
Daily Life.   By Eknath Easwaran (1909-1999).  Nilgiri Press, 2nd Edition, 1991.
252 pages.  ISBN: 0915132664.  MGC.  

The Bhagavad Gita.  Translated for the modern reader by Eknath Easwaran.  
Chapter introductions by Diana Morrison.  Petaluma, California, Nigili Press, 1985.  
Glossary, 237 pages.  ISBN: 0915132354.   MGC.  

 

 

 

March 20,  Sunday, 2005


"I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it."
-   Garrison Keillor

Light rain all day.  A cool and lovely day in the Green World.

 

Today is the first day of spring, the vernal equinox, Ostara.  

"Spring has finally arrived for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Take some time 
today to look around and appreciate the gift of nature and life: the perfect petals of 
blooming flowers; the rich hues of grass, bark and foliage; the blue of the sky and 
the white of the clouds; and the oncoming warmer temperatures that make us want 
to be outside and barefoot! Think of all the small, simple steps you can take to 
protect and enhance the environment around you this year, too. Throughout this 
year, try to experience the same joy and inspiration that the first day of this season 
offers to us all, no matter where we live."
-   Dr. Andrew Weill

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  

Greg and I worked on the Yang longform.  

I started listening to Kenneth Cohen's "Way of Qigong" audiotapes.  This is a six hour
training program.   I will listen while walking.   Springtime is the period for working on
the liver organ.  

 

The Secrets of Chinese Meditation: Self-Cultivation by Mind Control as Taught in
the Ch'an, Mahayana and Taoist Schools in China.  By K'uan Lu Yu, and translated
by Charles Luk.  Weiser Books, 1991, Reprint.  240 pages.   ISBN: 0877280665.

Taoist Yoga: Alchemy and Immortality.   By Charles Luk.   Weiser Books, 1999.  
206 pages.  ISBN: 0877280673.


Celtic Taoism
.  Frank Allen.  Wu Tang PCA, Metal Tiger Technology, 2005.  


Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought
.
By Geogre Lakoff and Mark Johnson.  Basic Books, Perseu Books, 1999.  Index,
bibliography, 624 pages.  ISBN: 0465056741.   MGC.  "The mind is inherently
bebodied.  Thought is mostly unconscious.  Abstract concepts are largely
metaphorical."  

 

 

What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.  
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
 
 

March 21,  Monday, 2005


"Practice without improvement is meaningless."
-   Chuck Knox


I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

Teach Taijiquan at Salisbury High School from 1-3 pm.  

Weightlifting at gym (bench press, incline squats, traps, arms) and then spin 
cycling from 5:30-6 pm.  

Started writing the Thirteen Treasures Walking Qigong webpage.  Completed 
basic writeup of Treasures 1 and 2.  

Start practicing string figures for 30 minutes each day.  

Start reading ACE Fitness manual for 60 minutes each day.  

 

 

Yoga for the Young at Heart: Gentle Stretching Exercises for Seniors.
By Susan Winter Ward and John Sirois.  Capra Press, 1994.  103 pages.
ISBN: 0884963764.

Gentle Yoga: A Guide to Low-Impact Exercise.   By Eudora Seyfer and 
Lorna Bell.  Celestial Arts, 1982.  144 pages.  ISBN: 0890876363.

Full-Body Flexibility.   By Jay Blahnik.  Human Kinetics Pub., 2003.  216 pages.
ISBN: 0736041508.

Fitness Stretching.  By Fitness Magazine, Julie Coblentz, and Karen Andes.
Three Rivers Press, 1999.  208 pages.  ISBN: 0609801600.

Essential Stretch: Gentle Movements for Stress Relief, Flexibility, and Overall
Well-Being.  By Michelle Lemay and Cory Everson.  Perigree Books, 2003.
256 pages.  ISBN: 0399528938.

Relax Into Stretch; Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension.  By Pavel
Tsatsouline.  Dragon Door Publications, Vitalics., 2001.  152 pages.  
ISBN: 0938045288.

Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training.  By Thomas Kurz.  
4th Revised Edition.  Stadion Pub. Co., 2003.  214 pages.  ISBN: 0940149451.

Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts.  
By Sang H. Kim.  Turtle Press, 2004.  304 pages.  ISBN: 1880336839.

Stretching and Flexibility.   By Kit Laughlin.  Simon and Schuster, 2000.
280 pages.   ISBN: 0743200691.  

Updated the Flexibility and Stretching webpage.

Updated the Aging and Fitness webpage.

 

 

 

March 22,  Tuesday, 2005


"Set up as an ideal the facing of reality as honestly and as cheerfully as possible."
-  Karl Menninger


Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Finished writing and preparation of EETT Round 3
grant, supervised employees, and presented at Discover United-streaming meeting 
after school.  Feeling very tired all day.  

Unfortunately, the sore throat and earache I have be annoyed with the last three days really
flared up today.  I used all the home remedies for this kind of problem.  I slept from 5 pm to
6 am.  


Each day, I get many nice e-mail message from people all around the world about 
my websites.  Here are a examples from today's email in-box:  

 

"Michael may I present my compliments on the site I stumbled across whilest
I was searching for a sonnet or quotation.   Squeals of delight!!  Thank you!
I have sent the site to my friends.  We are  very enthusiastic gardeners here in 
New Zealand, Christchurch is regarded as the Garden City of New Zealand.
Along with our fresh air sunshine and flower festivals it is indeed a very
pleasant place to visit.  May you bring your wife and family here.
Once again, I surely will enjoy your web site.  I visit China on a regular
basis, and in 1987 I discovered Qi Gong."
-   Diane G, New Zealand, 3/22/05

 

"I just wanted to tell you that I love the quotes on your website. 
They are excellent and they can brighten up a day. Thank you."
-  Sarah Ward, 3/22/05

 

"I've been enjoying your website for quite a while.  You have done a 
terriffic job.  I'm looking for some orchid poems, any ideas?"
-  Martha Barrand, 3/22/05

 


 

 

March 23,  Wednesday, 2005


"Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it."
-  Gustave Flaubert

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4:00 pm.  Follow up on United Streaming, work on the
Reading First Grant, library matters, cataloging new materials.  

Practice string figures for 30 minutes today, and read ACE Fitness book and manual for 
60 minutes today.  

Rest at home in the evening.  No exercise.  Taking home remedies to overcome
sore throat, sinus infection, cold symptoms.  

 

"When we practice walking, we might be aware that we have strong feet. Our feet are strong enough for us to 
enjoy running and walking. That is one condition for happiness that is available. When I breathe in and I become 
aware of my eyes, I encounter another condition for my happiness. Breathing in, I am aware of my eyes. Breathing 
out, I smile to my eyes. This is an exercise, a very simple exercise to help you realize that you have eyes which 
are still in good condition. You need only to open your eyes to see the blue sky, the white cloud, the luxurious 
vegetation. You can see all kinds of forms and colors just because you have eyes still in good condition. Your 
eyes are another condition for your happiness. We have so many conditions like that for our happiness and yet 
we are still unhappy. We still want to run away from the present moment, hoping we'll find some happiness 
in the future."
Thich Nhat Hanh

 

 

March 24,  Thursday, 2005


"People are not evil; they are schlemiels."    
-   Abraham Maslow

 

While driving to work I noticed that some of the olive orchards in Corning were completely covered
with hailstones.  Very unusual!   Coworkers talked about the hailstorm in Corning last night.  

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 2:00 pm.  Finished writing and preparation of EETT Round 3
grant, and supervised employees.  Half day at school, everyone got to leave early because
it was the start of spring break.  

 I taught the Yoga class TFFC from 5:30-6:45 pm.  I thought I did quite well but was disappointed
by the low attendance.  

Practice string figures for 30 minutes today, and read ACE Fitness book and manual for 
60 minutes today.  

 

The New Ourselves, Growing Older:  Women Aging with Knowledge and Power.  
A Book for Women Over Forty.  By Paula D. Soress-Worters and Diana Laskin Stegal.
Illustrations by Roselaine Perkis.  New York, A Touchstone Book, Simon and Schuster,
1994.  Index, extensive resources guides, 531 pages.  MGC.  ISBN: 0671872974.
In cooperation with the Boston Women's Health Book Collective.  

Be an Outrageous Older Woman.   By Ruth H. Jacobs.  Perennial Books, 1997.
Revised edition.  320 pages.  ISBN: 0060952539.


When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple
.   By Sandra Martz.  Papier-Mache
Press, 4th Edition, 2003.  312 pages.  ISBN: 1576010783.


Not Your Mother's Midlife: A Ten-Step Guide to Fearless Aging.  By Nancy
Alspaugh and Marilyn Kentz.  Andrews McMeel Pub., 2003.  240 pages.
ISBN: 0740735241.     


Inventing the Rest of Our Lives: Women in Second Adulthood.  By Suzanne
Levine.  Viking Adult Press, 2004.  272 pages.  ISBN: 0670033111.


Updated the Aging and Fitness webpage.

Finished work on the Eight Section Brocade Standing Qigong.

 

"I  usually don't respond to peoples requests on web sites for feedback , but I just I had to say that your work 
on Tai Chi is awesome.  When I needed information on learning the 24 posture Yang short form your web site 
was wonderful in helping me get all the knowledge I would ever need. I plan on exploring your other web pages 
and learning more about Chen style Tai Chi and eastern philosophy.  Thanks again ."
-   Jim Evans

 

 

March 25,  Friday, 2005


“...what is impossible becomes possible only when you understand that 
there is no tomorrow at all, psychologically speaking.” 
- J. Krishnamurti

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

Practice string figures for 30 minutes today, and read ACE Fitness book and manual for 
60 minutes today.  

Worked on the lawn mower for a number of hours and outdoor chores.  

 

Tibetan Energy Yoga.  By Lama Durya Das.  VHS instructional videotape.  
Tapeworm Video Prod., 2000.  ASIN:  B00004TFK5.  Breath control exercises
while in a seated meditation position.  Each of eight exercises involve deep 
breaths, holding the breath for long periods, and then releasing the breath:
filling, holding, grounding.   .


The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani: 58 Movements for Eternal Youth from
Ancient Tibet.  By Asanaro.  Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2003.  210 pages.
ISBN:  158542241X.    


The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power.
By Christopher S. Kilham.   Healing Art Press, 1994.  96 pages.  ISBN: 0892814500.


Healing with Form, Energy and Light: The Five Elements in Tibetan Shamanism, 
Tantra, and Dzogchen.  By Tenzin Wangyal and Mark Dahlby.  Snow Lion
Publications, 2002.  157 pages.  ISBN: 1559391766.


The Tibetan Book of Yoga: Ancient Buddhist Teachings on the Philosophy and 
Practice of Yoga.  By Geshe Michael Roach.  Doubleday, 2004.  128 pages.
ISBN: 0385508379.

 

 

 

March 26,  Saturday, 2005


"As long as I have you there is just one other thing I'll always need — 
tremendous self control."
-   Ashleight Brilliant


I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

We had a TFFC instructor's workshop from 9:30 - 11 and learned of new developments.
I taught yoga from 11-12:15 at TFFC.  

Gardening work projects all afternoon.  

 

 

 

March 27,  Sunday, 2005


"Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition. 
The habit of persistence is the habit of victory."
-   Herbert Kaufman


I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

Gardening work projects in the morning and afternoon.  I was rather tired from an
ongoing problem with an upper respiratory infection - sinus.  We were busy this 
Easter Sunday with home chores.  I was able to get all the gardening equipment 
running properly.   We double dug part of the vegetable garden and planted many
tomatoes.  

 

 

Be humble, for you
are made of 
beans and seeds.
Be noble for you
are made of 
rivers and sunshine.
Be kind, for you
are made of
Xiwangmu's peaches.


While double digging dry soil,
and pulling weeds - meditating.
Suddenly, visions were unearthed,
from deep deep down,
my past lives bubbled up,
flooding memory:

Once, carried the immortal,
Zhang Guo Lao, for years and years and years,
as he rode, smiling, seated backwards,
on my white donkey back.

Once, slimed my snail's way
day by day
up the side of Mt. Meru.

Once, was a knarled old olive
in bloom
in the garden at Gesthemani.  

Once, flopped on the deck of a fishing boat,
tossing back and forth,
gasping, gasping ...
eyes open, and died.

Once, awoke as a man
                     surprised!
Shoveling in the sun,
smelling dung,
meditation done.  

Above the Fog

 

Daoist Immortals

 

 

March 28,  Monday, 2005


"The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all
the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art."
-  William Morris

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

We worked around the house and yard on chores.  I went to Dr. Plett to seek help with
a very bad sinus infection that has gotten worse during the last 10 days.  

Reading about and researching I Ching hexagrams and trigrams.  Like the Tarot,
this method links meaning to symbols in creative ways to stimulate the imagination.

 

 

 

March 29,  Tuesday, 2005


Don Miguel Ruiz's " Four Agreements":
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don't take anything personally.
3. Don't make assumptions.
4. Always do your best. 

 

Walked for 40 minutes in the morning.  Rested, read and slept most of the day.
Really feeling down with this sinus infection.  

"Mike, I'm writing you to see if you can help me.  I drove through your beautiful area yesterday on my way 
back from Oregon.  Just north of Red Bluff there is a miles long stretch of I5 that goes right through what 
I would describe as a oak woodland forest.  I was hoping to try to identify the type or types of oaks that 
were growing there.  I was wondering if they were blue oaks and others?  Can you answer or maybe 
give me some direction as to who may be able to answer in your area? 
Thanks, David, Ukiah, CA  

David, The deciduous oaks in that area are 'Quercus douglasii" and
are often called "blue oaks" because the small leaves in the
dry summer air take on a blue-grey cast, rather than green.
The volcanic foothills north of Red Bluff to Redding are a vast area
of blue oak woodlands. 
 
The best book on the subject I have read is:
"Oaks of California," by Park, Muick, Johnson, and Popper.
Cachuma Press, 1991. 
 


 

 

March 30,  Wednesday, 2005


"The goal is the discovery one one's true nature, a transformation of one's view
of the world, an enhanced wisdom, and an authentic, loving connection to all
of life and to some larger universal power."
-  Kathleen A. Brehoney, Awakening at Midlife

 

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

Enjoyed a massage from Lori at Dr. Webber's chiropractic clinic this afternoon.  

More of a focus on action rather than thinking is needed by me.  I need to spend
far less time thinking and writing that taking physcial actions.  

A beautiful spring day in the 60's, light wind, clear skies.  Snow still on all the 
higher peaks.  

Robert Creeley, from the Black Mountain Poets era, author of 60 books of poetry,
died today in Odessa, Texas.  

 

 

 

March 31,  Thursday, 2005


"I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand."
-   Confucius

 

I did my Morning Exercise Program for 60 minutes: Walking, Qigong, and Taijiquan.
Learning and practicing the Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong 64 Movement Form.  Listened
to Ken Cohen's "The Way of Chi Kung."

I focused on doing our federal and state taxes today, and preparing for the upcoming
string figures program for the GATE students.

Spent the morning writing two sections for a grant for our Maywood School.  Finished
the grant application.  Got copies of the grant and string handouts.  

Weightlifting for 45 minutes: Bench press, squats, dumbell curls, shrugs, tricep kickbacks.  
I taught the Yoga class from 5:30-6:45 pm at the Tehama Family Fitness Center.


 

 

A New Weekly Workout Plan

Monday      
Beat around the bush
Lift myself up by the bootsraps
Make mountains out of mole hills
Jump to conclusions
Climb the walls

Tuesday
Drag my heels
Make my point
Push my luck
Pull my own load
Hit the nail on the head

Wednesday      
Bend over backwards
Jump on the Band Wagon
Grab all I can get
Run around in circles
Shoulder my share of responsibility

Thursday    
Shop till I drop
Hang loose
Grind to a halt
Rest and recuperate

Friday      
Push it to the limit
Pull out all the stops
Add fuel to the fire
Pave the roadway to hell
Throw it all away

Saturday
Open a can of worms
Put my foot in my mouth
Start the ball rolling
Go over the edge

Sunday
Pick up the pieces.
Wade through the morning paper
Lift my spirits
Toot my own horn


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Michael P. Garofalo's E-Mail

 

© Michael P. Garofalo, 2005, All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Zen Poetry

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Alphabetical Subject Index

 

Cloud Hands Website
   
Taijiquan, Qigong, Taoism, Classics, Weapons: Sword and Staff


Fitness and Well Being Website

      Gardening, Meditation, Walking, Yoga, Strength Training,
      Fitness for Older Persons, Aerobics, Relaxation  


The Spirit of Gardening

   
2,700 Quotes Arranged by 130 Topics, History, Guides,
     Psycho-Spiritual Aspects of Gardening 

 

Green Way Research
   
Online Publishing, Research, Indexing, and Services
     By Michael P. Garofalo
     Red Bluff, California 

 



Web Guides, Bibliographies, Links, Directories, Quotes, Notes

 


Alphabetical Subject Index

 

Above the Fog  -  Zen Poems   

Aging Well   

Alphabetical Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Website   

Ancient Goddesses - Quotations, Poems, Sayings, Prayers, Songs

Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi): Tiger, Bear, Crane, Deer, and Monkey

Arthritis Therapy - Exercise: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung      

Bear, Standing Bear, Level 1 Ranking, Valley Spirit Taijiquan

The Bear: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)    

Bibliography - Ch'i Kung

Bibliography - Taijiquan     

Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)

Blog - Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo     

Book of Changes (I Ching) and Qigong (Dao-yin)

Breathing and Taijiquan     

Breathing and Yoga    

Breathing Practices: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotes    

Breathwork

Buddhism and Martial Arts    

Buddhist Ethics

California (Northern) T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information

Charkas (Energy Centers of the Subtle Body)

Chan Ssu Chin - Silk Reeling    

Cheng Man-Ch'ing  (1901-1975)    

Chen Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan     

Ch'i - Breathwork  

Chih - Taiji Ruler

Ch'i or Qi

Ch'i Kung: Bibliography and Links    

Ch'i Kung Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California   

Chinese Massage

Ch'i or Qi and Taijiquan     

Classes, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Instructional Program

Classics of T'ai Chi Ch'uan     

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Ch'i Kung     

Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan Journal     

Concrete and Visual Poetry     

Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu)  (551 - 479 BCE)    

Contemplation

Crane - Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)

Crane, Soaring Crane, Intermediate Program, Level 3, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan   

Cuttings: Short Poems by Michael P. Garofalo  

Cuttings: Above the Fog  

Dance and Taijiquan       

Dao-yin (Qigong, Chi Kung)

Dayan - Wild Goose Qigong

The Deer: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)    

Diabetes Therapy - Exercise: Taijiquan and Qigong   

Direction of Movements in Taijiquan and Qigong

Disclaimer of the Cloud Hands Website  

Eight Rivers Qigong

Eight Section Brocade Ch'i Kung       

Eight Silken Treasures Qigong    

Eight Trigrams of the I Ching

Eight Trigrams and Taijiquan          

Embrace the One - Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree

Emptiness in Full Bloom    

Entering Tranquility (Ru Jing) Meditation      

Exercise - Diabetes Therapy - Taijiquan and Qigong   

Feedback, Kudos and Reviews for the Cloud Hand's Website     

Fitness and Well Being    

Fitness for Older Persons     

Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi): Tiger, Bear, Crane, Deer, and Monkey

Five Precepts of Buddhism     

Five Elements (Wu-Xing) and Taijiquan   

Five Stepping Movements of Taijiquan    

Flexibility and Stretching     

Five Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Metal)

Flowers

Flowers in the Sky     

Gardening: Quotes, Poems, History, Sayings

Gardening: Quips and Maxims by Michael P. Garofalo

The Four Gates: Grasping the Sparrow's Tail    

Michael P. Garofalo's Biography

Michael P. Garofalo's T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Practice    

The Goddess - Quotations, Poems, Sayings, Prayers, Songs    

Goose - Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)  

Goose - Wild Goose Qigong             

Grasping the Sparrow's Tail          

Green Way Research        

Green Way Research - Taijiquan and Qigong       

Green Wizard 

Gu Shen Taijiquan Journal     

Gu Shen (Valley Spirit) Taijiquan Instructional Program

Haiku and Short Poems     

Hatha Yoga

Health and Fitness - T'ai Chi Ch'uan    

Hexagrams and Trigrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes)

Hidden Tiger, Beginning Program, Level 2, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan   

I Ching (Book of Changes) and Taijiquan and Qigong

Index to the Cloud Hands Website

Instructional Program, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan    

Journal - Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo

Kriya Yoga    

Kudos for the Cloud Hands Website

Kundalini (Coiled Serpent) Energy

Kwang Ping Taijiquan of Kuo Lien Ying     

Labyrinths and Mazes   

Learning and Teaching Taijiquan, Qigong and Yoga

Links and Bibliography: Qigong    

Links and Bibliography: Taijiquan       

Long Form 108 Yang Style Taijiquan     

Massage

Master Chang San-Feng  (circa 1350)       

Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing  (1901 - 1975)    

Master Han Shan  (circa 750)    

Master Kuo Lien Ying   (1895-1984)     

Master Sun Lu-Tang  (1861-1932)   

Master Yang Cheng-Fu  (1883-1936)   

Mastery, Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Will Power, Strength of Character

Meditation - General

Meditation and Breathing

Meditation and Walking    

Meditation Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California        

Meditation Methods and Techniques  

Meditation Quotations    

Meditation - Standing Like A Tree  

Meditation - Wu Ji - The Edge of Emptiness     

Michael P. Garofalo - Brief Biography        

Michael P. Garofalo - Internal Martial Arts Practice History      

Michael P. Garofalo - Resume     

Michael P. Garofalo -  T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Practice    

Minding the Breath

Months of the Year: Quotes, Poems, Links     

Movement Direction Instructions for Taijiquan and Qigong Forms

Moving Hands Like Clouds:  T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong    

Northern California T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information

Nature Mysticism   

Nine Movement Temple Ch'i Kung Exercise Set

Oak Tree in the Courtyard    

Old Cloud Hands Website

Older Persons Exercise and Wellness Programs   

Oregon T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information   

Original Cloud Hands URL    

Original Waving Hands Like Clouds URL    

Photography - Valley Spirit Photography Gallery    

Pilates: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes

Pranayama: Breathing Techniques from Yoga     

Private Instruction by Michael P. Garofalo, Instructional Programs

Pulling Onions: The Quips and Maxims of a Gardener

Push Hands - T'ui Shou   

Qigong: Bibliography and Links    

Qigong - Breathwork

Qigong, Ch'i Kung - Chinese Mind-Body Exercises

Qigong Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California        

Qigong-Yoga Exercise Cycle

Qigong Ruler - Taiji Chih

Qigong Walking      

Qi or Ch'i and Taijiquan     

Raja Yoga

Red Bluff, Valley Spirit Taijiquan Instructional Program    

Red Bluff, California, Qigong Classes

Red Bluff, California, Yoga Classes     

Relaxation and Taijiquan     

Resolve, Will. Willpower, Self Control, Self Discipline   

Resume of Michael P. Garofalo

Reviews of the Cloud Hand's Website     

Ruler - T'ai Chi

Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Will Power    

Self-Massage

Senior Citizens Fitness Programs  

Senior Fitness - Red Bluff, CA

Sensing Hands: Push Hands - T'ui Shou   

Shoong, Sung, Song  - Loose, Relaxed, Open, Yielding, Responsive     

Short Form, Yang Style, Beijing Simplified 24

Silk Reeling    

Simplified 24 From, Yang Style       

Soaring Crane, Intermediate Program, Level 3, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Soulful Gardening

Speaking to the Spirit Meditation

The Spirit of Gardening    

Staff Weapons: Jo, Bo, Can, Staff, Spear    

Standing Bear, Level 1 Ranking, Valley Spirit Taijiquan

Standing Like A Tree - Zhan Zhuang

Standing Meditation (Wu Ji)

Sticking Hands - T'ui Shou   

Stork - Bird - Five Animal Frolics

Strength Training    

Stretching and Flexibility

Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Website

Sun Lu-Tang   

Sun Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan     

Swordsmanship and T'ai Chi Ch'uan     

T'ai Ch'i Classics      

Tai Chi for Arthritis

Tai Chi for Diabetes

T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Bibliography and Links     

T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information, Workshops      
Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California      

T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Red Bluff, CA  

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Short Form, Beijing Simplified 24, Yang Style     

T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Links and Bibliography      

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Staff     

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Sword (Jian)     

T'ai Chi Ruler - Chih

Taijiquan: Bibliography and Links      

Taijiquan - Breathwork

Taijiquan Classics      

Taijiquan For Good Health, Fitness and Vitality         

Taijiquan Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California        

Taijiquan Jian (Sword)     

Tantric Yoga

Taoism, Nature Mysticism, Alchemy      

Teaching and Learning Taijiquan, Qigong and Yoga

Temple Qigong - A Nine Movement Exercise Set     

Thirteen Postures: 8 Gates and 5 Steps                  

Thirteen Treasures Walking Qigong       

The 300 Missing Poems of Han Shan      

The Tiger: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)    

Tiger, Hidden Tiger, Beginning Program, Level 2, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Tree Qigong - Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree   

Trees - Quotations, Poems, Lore, Wisdom  

Trees - Lore, Magick, Myths, Magick    

Trigrams and Hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes)

24 From, Yang Style, Standard       

Valley Spirit Fitness and Well Being Website   

Valley Spirit Idea

Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo     

Valley Spirit Labyrinths  

Valley Spirit Photography Gallery    

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Club        

Valley Spirit Taijiquan Instructional Program

Valley Spirit Taijiquan and Qigong Journal by Michael P. Garofalo       

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Qigong, and Yoga    

Valley Spirit - Tao Te Ching

Vancouver, B.C., T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools     

Virtues in the Martial Arts

Vitality, Health and Qigong   

Walking and Labyrinths

Walking and Taijiquan     

Walking - General Fitness Exercise

Walking - Quotations     

Washington T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information 

Waving Hands Like Clouds:  T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong    

Wild Goose Qigong

Will Power, Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Strength of Character   

Wizards

Wu Ji - Standing Meditation   

Yoga Class, TFFC, Red Bluff, CA

Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form 108 Movements     

Yang Style Taijiquan Short Form 24 Movements       

Yin-Yang Sensitivity Training: Sticking Hands - T'ui Shou   

Yoga   

Yoga Class, Red Bluff, CA - Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo

Yoga - Breathwork   

Yoga - Hatha   

Yoga - Kriya     

Yogalates: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes    

Yoga - Red Bluff, CA

Yoga -Tantric

Yoga-Taiji Index

Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree

Zen/Chan Buddhist  Poetry       

Zen Buddhist Quotations   

 

 

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Club


Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, Northern California, U.S.A.
Cities and small towns in the area: Oroville, Paradise, Durham, Chico, Hamilton City,
Corning, Rancho Tehama, Los Molinos, Vina, Tehama, Proberta, Gerber, 
Manton, Cottonwood, Olinda, Cloverdale, Dairyville, Bend, Centerville, Summit City
Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, Igo, Ono, Redding, Shasta, Colusa, Willows,
Richfield, Fall River, Montgomery Creek, Alturas, McCloud, Dunsmuir, Yreka, Happy Camp,
Shingletown, Burney, Mt. Shasta City, Weaverville, Williams, Chester, Orland,
Susanville, Weed, Gridley, Marysville, Yuba City, NorCalifia, CA, California.

 

April 1, 2005

 

Green Way Research   

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Ch'i Kung