thelerner

Beware running advice from a non runner - such as myself. I have two non traditional running books. Chi Running by Danny Dreyer, a relatively new book. Dreyer is an ultra marathoner who has studied running through the eyes, advice and training of Tai Chi masters. Body, Mind & Sport by John Douillard is a triathlete looking at running and sports through the eyes of Ayurvedic Physicians. Both say the average American is doing something very wrong. Chi Running find the solution in better posture. His running posture has a tilt starting at the ankle not the waist. To get a feeling for it stand a foot and a half from a wall, keep your body straight and lean so your head is against the wall. Your feet 'catch' you instead of acting partly as brakes as in traditional running. Your feet do a small roundish march, never getting much in front of the body. Two practices from the book are 1. Jog in place for 15 seconds. next just raise your feet up and down. Raising your feet is much easier isn't it? You're also landing flat not with your heel, which he feels is safer. To get a feeling for the small rounded marching you imagine you have a pole sticking out from your ankles. You have to step over it. Other things, keep a cadence of 80 to 90 steps a minutes, expand your length to go faster. Posture and relaxation first, then distance, speed work comes last. Body, Mind and Sport wants to turn you into the Ultimate Athlete. He pretty guarantees you will get drastically WORSE for the first few months of training. Why because its based on a simple premise. Go as far and as fast as you can while keeping your heart beat at 50% of its max and using slow breaths through the nose. Most athletes find themselves going way over there 50% max heart beat in the few minutes of a run. Many are absolutely pavlovian in the way there heart rates jump the moment they start. Using Doullard's method requires a heart rate monitor and the acceptance of going back to squaire one. But after a few months the magic (so he says happens), effortlessness. Running becomes a high, your body is never building up oxygen or lactic acid debts. There is no grind just effortlessness. Being from an Indian heritage he is a great believer in doing the sun salutation before any exercise. Dreyer is a big believer in 'draining' the legs after a run to make them fresh again. You lie down by a wall, bent at the waist w/ your feet resting up against it. Message from the calves to the thighs, 'wringing' out the stale blood. Relax in that position for about 3 minutes. He claims this will give you fresh legs much sooner. Doullard is a great believer in long slow, 'Darth Vader' breaths. Dreyer says don't be afraid of letting the breath get heavy, its natural. Both books are very good. Chi Running is more running based, Body Mind Sport has a long description of body types so chapter 2-12 are optional. I told Yoda I'd mail him the Chi Running book, then got into re-reading it, then couldn't find it. How many books do I have? Too many. Yoda I have both books & will send them to you. Both should resonate well w/ your bare foot style. I recommend anyone into running to look into them. Against wifes wishes went to the huge tented Brandeis book fair. Only got 6 books. Top book so far, Margot Anand's Sexual Magic, an interesting combintation of being very explicit(in a Dr. Lin way) while bringing a sacred element to sexual affairs. Peace Michael Michael

Agree w/ Falk, people w/ mullets find speculation and report it as solid fact. In fact I think its no exageration to say All mullet people stretch the truth. Down w/ the mullets. or am I being to mulletant? Peas Michael Its always either the dawn of the NEW AGE or the Apocalypse.

Two things. Decades ago one of my neighbors, died from going from a hot sauna to a cold pool, heart attack. 3 years I went to an old fashion European/German spa and they had a hot tub right next to a deep frigid one. You went from one to the other. I did, very invigorating. It takes your breath away and gets the heart pounding. The Ki Society in St. Louis has New Years Misogi. Two days of heavy duty Aikido practice and meditation (including very old warrior Chanting), then a dip in a nearby river. This is in the first weekend of the New Year. The first time I did it we had to knock ice away from the side of the moving river(6 or 7 degrees). Then we strip off our gi's. Walk calmly into the water. Hold onto to smaller members so they don't wash away. Dunk a few times, Kiaie a few times. Walk out, get dressed w/ numb hands and walk a mile or so to the B&B for lunch. Very invigorating. It really brings on an altered state. Its a 6 or 7 hour drive to St. Louis from Chicago. On the way back. My posture and attention are perfect. No radio, no mind clatter no impatience or extraneous thoughts. Just fully on. Peace Michael

Trying the Noni experimentally, On day 3 I'm still pretty acidic. I'm trying to hit it on several levels w/ licorice pills, Keifir yogurt and smaller meals & Noni. Peace Michael

Many happy Peas Michael

One of the wonder cures claimed for Noni is for frequent heartburn. Two years ago I graduated from frequent tums to Prilosec/Nexium which I've been taking daily. I've stopped taking the Prilosec. This is the end of day two. Yesterday went pretty well, today is o.k. I took one tums, even now my stomach feels acidic. I'll down some Kefir yogurt and have two Licorice tablets. Maybe my system needs time to find its equilibrium. Peace Michael As a dealer, what do you think about the Pure Noni vs. the Premixed w/ Juice. When I take an Ounce and mix it w/ some water and juice don't I end up w/ more Nonites then someone taking the mix and isn't that better?

In Ki-Aikido, there is the Long breathing technique. You sit w/ the group in formal seiza. The leader claps, everybody breaths out -for a long time- about 25 to 30 seconds. As you breath out the body shifts slightly forward and you vocalize a long Haaahhhh. Then another clap - and you breath in through the nose - for about 25 or so seconds. Slightly moving your body up. The full breath cycle is close to a minute. With an audible Hhaaaahhh sound on exhaling. It took me months to get. Peace Michael

Here is one piece I surfed to from an above mentioned site, BEGINS "So...how did you learn to do it?" "I didn't learn. It just happened to me. You and D---- gave it to me by...by transmission, i guess. Remember back in the seventies when you all came to visit and we were driving along the cliffs above Lake Austin? Well, we were in the car...and we were rounding a curve... and i asked how you could learn to do that and D---- said, 'Just relax your abdominal muscles, breathe slowly, and stay conscious.' "It was like...a blinding flash of light. Like Zen satori. The moment he said it, i knew what he meant. I...I felt it...inside myself...like something turning. I knew exactly what he meant. And i could hardly wait to get back home and try it with A---." Why did i tell such a long, personal story to answer this question? Well, if hearing those simple instructions worked for my friend, maybe they will work for you. THE REALITY BEHIND THE REVELATION When i showed the above piece to Barry, he had the following commentary to add: The incident cat describes is true but maybe not as mystical as it sounds. What happened is that I suddenly saw how what [her lover] said connected with things I already understood. As part of fitness training, I had lifted weights and done some yoga-style stretching. In the process I had learned a bit about how breathing worked to manage the tension and relaxation of muscles. The build-up to orgasm involves a progressive increase in muscular tension. I realized that if I was more aware of where I was tensing, I could relax those muscles and maybe slow the process. I noticed that along with my abdomen, my lower back and thighs would tense up as I approched orgasm. During sex I practiced relaxing those areas while holding on to the sensation I call the glow. One part of learning to relax was to keep breathing slowly and deeply, not holding my breath when orgasmic tension would start to build. I found that I could difuse the tension by taking shallower in-breaths and deeper out-breaths. One woman teased me about "blowing out birthday candles one by one." Sometimes the moment that control turned out to be the most important for me was when I first entered my partner, especially if I was nervous or the whole thing was just too exciting. At those times, in addition to simple relaxation and breathing, I found that by wiggling my fingers or toes for a moment I could cue myself to loosen up if I was getting too tightly wound. From the standpoint of maintaining control for an extended period, I think some positions are better than others. A position that has partners lying on their sides may work better than the so-called missionary or man-on-top position, since supporting your body push-up style makes it harder to stay loose. Woman-on-top gives you, the man, a good opportunity to stay loose, while your partner may enjoy the chance to be more active. Another big help in maintaining relaxation is communication with your partner. Even with someone you don't know well, a few words about what you're trying to do gets you both on the same page. Likewise she may have some things she wants you to know. Two brief stories illustrate how all this applies in real life: At one time I was involved with a modest woman who often took a long time to come. She said that she liked sex, but for her it usually wasn't about orgasms. When we were able to take it slow, I could sometimes enjoy a couple of small peaks along the way, building the glow and backing off, as we worked our way to a big peak together. In another stage of my life, I met a woman who was very comfortable with her body and was open about sex in general. We were able to talk about various sexual issues. For example, she had worked to control the contraction of her vaginal muscles and before long she took an interest in controlling her own orgasm response too. During sex we tried to maintain eye contact and we would signal as we got near our peaks. Sometimes we'd build and drop back together. Sometimes she'd go to orgasm while I'd hang back, and then we'd build again and both go over the edge. There is no one right way to develop ejaculatory control, but by experimenting with a combination of relaxing key muscles, breathing, using certain positions, and maintaining communication, you can develop a style that works for you. So there is one man's story -- and i thank him very much for taking the time to tell it. "RELAX, JUST RELAX" ==end of quote Seemed pretty interesting to me. Peace Michael

I think we're both using the same Tahiatian Noni brand. At Whole Foods I had a choice of the 'mixed w/ juice' mostly grape, and the organic 100% Noni. I chose the 100%. As my wife said, "If this stuff was old and stale could you tell?" No not the taste. Likewise if it was mixed w/ goose shit. But w/ a bit of water and juice its not half bad. Peace Michael

I've drank worse but not by much Peace Michael p.s. I see you're online at 12 pm

At your recommendation I just bought some organic Tahaitian Noni $32. Wow is it bitter. Angustura has nothing on it. Ofcourse in a sugar coated world maybe bitter is exactly what we need. Took an ounce or so tonite. Tomorrow I'll probably water it down somewhat. I bought the 100% pure stull, not the mixed w/ grape juice. Peace Michael

I've spent hours making love, but usually only half an hour or less in actual coitous(to be honest 5 to 15 minutes usually). I don't particularly think the penis is the ideal tool for getting woman to orgasm. There's thrusting techniques and changes in rhythm, but its still lacks the sensitivity and flexibility for bringing out the best in female orgasm IMHO. By the time I 'insert' my lover/wife is usually at or near orgasm. An exception being when I do yin/yan technique like 'Praying monk holds butterfly'. Where you shift from usual missionary w/ man on top to seiza kneeling position(helps to have sobakawa pillow strategically placed). I find it the ideal position for long term coitous. The penile position is more stimulating for woman then the man, and the man has the ideal position for massaging the womans clitorous w/ his wet thumbs. Peace Michael

I had a choice of films to take my mom to, HUstle or Sin City. We picked Sin City which was great, Ultraviolent film noir. I'll catch KOng Fu Hustle later, I rented Shaolin Soccer a few weeks ago, it pretty funny. Peace Michael

Sometimes the heavy steak eating is to get cattle processed steroids. Really, eat enough steak and you eat what they ate, steroids. You get bigger more aggressive and shouldn't expect a real long life. Peas Michael

I liked it. Good descriptions, characterisations. Kind of reminded me of "The Cave mans Valentine". Keep it up Peace Michael

Only a foolish man would disagree w/ the Buddha's Suttra's, and I am that man! I'm thinking of Harry Pains Buddhist advice of using images of bodies decaying as an antidote to sexual desire. To me it seems like overkill. If success meant having a mental image of gross decay everytime you saw an attractive woman, it would be loss of beauty to ones life. Beauty should be a source of pleasure, energy and contemplation. Kudos for Osho's method, sit with it, see its roots, transform it. Peace Michael

I'm reminded that at the time he wrote Walden, Thoreau was led womans group in spiritual/hikes around the forrests. One critic called him the high priest w/ a gaggle of woman. Peace Michael

I'll have a glass of wine or a beer most days for dinner. I tend to think 1 is healthy, 3 becomes a bit drug like where I get a mild euphoric buzz and lessening of thoughts. At that level there may be a level bodily abuse, toward liver and mind so I don't do that more then 1 or twice a month. I'll get pretty loaded once or twice a year and somewhat revel in the numb peace and altered state it provides. I offered Michael Winn some wine at campfire at Tao Mountain. He declined saying he didn't like what it did for his Chi. One drink doesn't seem to interfere w/ my meditational abilities. But everyone is different. And when you're dealing w/ mind altering drugs it is easy to fool yourself. Peace Michael

Here is the ultimate short crash course in comparative religion: ;* Taoism: Shit happens. Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens." Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit. Zen Buddhism: Shit is, and is not. Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of shit happening? Hinduism: This shit has happened before. Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah. Islam #2: If shit happens, kill the person responsible. Islam #3: If shit happens, blame Israel. Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it. Protestantism: Let shit happen to someone else. Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen. Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it. Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it. Congregationalist: Shit that happens to one person is just as good as shit that happens to another. Unitarian: Shit that happens to one person is just as bad as shit that happens to another. Lutheran: If shit happens, don't talk about it. Fundamentalism: If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!) Fundamentalism #2: If shit happens to a televangelist, it's okay. Fundamentalism #3: Shit must be born again. Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us? Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work. Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday. Creationism: God made all shit. Secular Humanism: Shit evolves. Christian Science: When shit happens, don't call a doctor - pray! Christian Science #2: Shit happening is all in your mind. Unitarianism: Come let us reason together about this shit. Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit. Utopianism: This shit does not stink. Darwinism: This shit was once food. Capitalism: That's MY shit. Communism: It's everybody's shit. Feminism: Men are shit. Chauvinism: We may be shit, but you can't live without us... Commercialism: Let's package this shit. Impressionism: From a distance, shit looks like a garden. Idolism: Let's bronze this shit. Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS. Existentialism #2: What is shit, anyway? Stoicism: This shit is good for me. Hedonism: There is nothing like a good shit happening! Mormonism: God sent us this shit. Mormonism #2: This shit is going to happen again. Wiccan: An it harm none, let shit happen. Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p.157. Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock< Shit happens. Jehovah's Witnesses #2: May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our shit? Jehovah's Witnesses #3: Shit has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening. Moonies: Only really happy shit happens. Hare Krishna: Shit happens, rama rama. Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit! Zoroastrianism: Shit happens half on the time. Church of SubGenius: BoB shits. Practical: Deal with shit one day at a time. Agnostic: Shit might have happened; then again, maybe not. Agnostic #2: Did someone shit? Agnostic #3: What is this shit? Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS. Atheism: What shit? Atheism #2: I can't believe this shit! Nihilism: No shit. And of course we must add...Alcoholics Anonymous: Shit happens-one day at a time! Peas Michael

I've done an isolation tanks twice. I wasn't the meditator then as I am now. Nor the claim 'a weeks vacation in an hour!'. I didn't have any great experiences I should try it again. The 2nd time was at a high end, new age place. The isolation tank, (popularized by Lilly) the second time had a built in two way speaker. I spent the first 20 minutes asking for music, changing my mind, asking for another album etc. Its amazing they didn't cut off my air. The place also had a crystaline water bed that acted like a giant vibrating speaker, very neat. Unfortunately it went bankrupt ten years ago. I studied dolphins a long time ago. Lilly was a bit infatuated. They are wonderous, friendly, spiritual, sexual beings. Wild dolphins really have rescued drowning sailors dating back to Greek times. But there intelligence is on par or a bit below chimps. As the long time dolphin trainer who trained Flipper said, "I know they're saying, they saying, 'Give me more fish, its time to play'." Watch for there escape in "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" Peace Michael

Try this site www.bronzebowpublishing.com , John Peterson was highly influenced by Combat Conditioning. His take is softer sell, good explanations of Hindu Squatts and pushups, has intelligent isometrics and is much less commercial. It also has a great forum. The sites claim hindu squatts help repair the knees. I don't know. I'd certainly start out slow and cautious. I don't go down quite so low and I keep my feet flat on the ground. Peace Michael

The book 'Chi Running' is all about running 'safer'. The author has a different style and posture of running. The body is straight but angled forward. The foot movements are rounder/ more elliptical. You hit the ground flat footed. I'm not a runner, but the book intrigued me enough to buy it. Peace Michael

Hmmn, Lymphology, the science and study on Lymphs. Never heard of it Peas Michael

Stuff I do <sometimes> before I leave bed. I'll try to recall my dreams. I'll do 'digital' drawings. Breath from my little toe to my crown, then down to hara. Then the next toe and repeat til I'm at the big toe. Then start at my pinkie, breath up to crown then down til hara. Then next finger etc til breathing up my thumb. I also have my handy dandy collection of guided meditations by my bed. I'll listen to Minke de Vos's energy meditations from sexual to fusion to breathing. Or Anne Wise's from Deep Relaxation to Coming to Clarity. Robins Rice's Shamanic Drumming meditation, or Kaishan's Longevity Meditation. The meditations take no physical effort and since your mind tends to be more easily focused in the morning making it an ideal time. Before I get up, I'll circle my feet at the ankles and sometimes use one foot to give the other a pressure point massage. Peace Michael

Not that I know of. What are they like? Please describe them. Peace Michael