Tactile

I've had similarish issues with my healt about 2 years ago and I can tell you what worked for me (I'm not a specialist so take my words with a grain of salt). I skipped vegetarianism and cut off carbs (meaning pasta rice bread potatoes).. vegetables are good, of course, although you should avoid too much raw stuff. At least for me eating proper fat seems very beneficial as it gives off energy slowly and doesn't raise blood sugar level, which is an issue if you have spleen/stomach deficiency. Check this http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/index.html . For me easily obtainable good fats I use a lot are butter, cream and coconut oil (the last is sooo good with lentils). Proper food can definately help lots.. but we're all individuals so what's good for me might not be good for you so listen to your body. Also if you feel you're eating well and still feeling like crap, why not consult some knowing people (a MD and a TCM practitioner) and start some kind of cultivation. Spring forest qiqong is popular here for home study, I think, and if you're poor, it can be obtained without cost, too.. (did I say Demonoid? No, I think I didn't) All the best

I went to the Shaolin Wahnam summer camp in July and had three courses there. Overall the experience was definately positive and I benefited much from it. The excercises and the ideas behind them I found proper and good, and they are all simple. So simple that somebody might feel getting ripped off (SW courses tend to be a bit expensive), but I didn't. OTOH, I'm not sure if I would pay ALL that money again (especially with that very interesting looking KAP program around . . . ) but then, that's not how it goes, really I DO know more now. If you have more questions, then do ask..

I suffered from similar problems than Pranaman and one thing that really helped FOR ME was changing my diet to more low carb (and I started eating meat again a little). My diet includes liberal use of cream&butter (in addition to good natural oils like virgin olive oil, coconut oil and virgin sesame oil) and I feel that at least my body and digestion thrives on proper, natural fat (in addition to other good stuff, of course). I don't advocate to uncritically increase your fat intake, but this might be something very useful to experiment with. Of course your body knows best, so learn what makes YOU feel good & stable (and I agree that chilled or too much raw food won't most probably be the answer).

Yeah the symptoms sound somewhat like early diabetes :/ I'd go and see a doctor (a TCM one wouldn't hurt either) as it might get worse if you don't do anything about it. Also even if you have it, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to live the rest of your life hooked up on insulin if you eat well (no bad carbs as someone said) and cultivate. I hope you get better!

I read an interesting article in the local newspaper today on the situation. One point of it was that the cheap production possibilities of China have decreased inflation in the western countries (because we ship all our stuff from there) and therefore the banks have lent money at low interest rates & people have borrowed it. Also the amount of reasonable investment targets have been low in comparison to the amount of money being lent out so the investors have been investing in poor targets hoping that someone else will invest with even worse prospects and this has turned economy into a giant pyramid scheme. And now it's crumbling as we can all see. Also in the article was noted that China has no notable debt and that they have around 1700bn dollars (can it be that much?!) to use and that they are able to make some sweet company purchases in the near future..

There's definately more than a little of the spark of the divine in this man's playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NllPZ5_Tw40 (really out there) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR9ixWP-P9I...feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ywkpVJ624...feature=related (more in the vein of beautiful) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZs4lbo5mQ...feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojI90tOvNRU...feature=related (more late-coltrane material)

Looks interesting. Must look further into the project, thanks The dot is orangish red now (!)

I'm from Finland too (and have done alexander technique) so I think I gotta say terve here I also do chi kung/kung fu in this school http://www.shaolin-wahnam.fi/ The beginner's course has lasted for two months now and I can say I've been happy with it. I'm also going to Sifu Wong's summer intensive in Brighton (that's in July, though so maybe not for you..) His teachings are supposed to be very good. Maybe I'll report on that when I get back.. But.. good luck with your search of chi kung. This place is a good resource for that definately! Juho

Alexander technique and Feldenkrais method are good. I don't have any problems with my body, but I use Alexander when I practise music. Improved posture and bodily use and tension relief are the primary benefits you get with them. They are very soft (but efficient) methods, so there is no risk of injury. You should search for teachers in your area as hand-on guidance is almost necessary. www.alexandertechnique.com has information. I have personal experience only with Alexander tech, but what I've gathered about Feldenkrais is that they are quite similar so I doubt you can go wrong with either of them. A good teacher makes a difference, of course. Oh, also you mentioned pain.. this book explained a lot to me, with 13$ it's really a bargain: http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therap...3514&sr=8-1

Welcome! As you've probably noticed, it's a nice place. I'm mostly lurking in the shadows, but as a fellow scandinavian (I'm from Finland), I though I'd say hi. Juho

HBO's Angels in America anyone? It's a four part mini-TV series.. great art and really fun. Also in anime Cowboy Bebop is seriously hip.

Well.. If you're looking for a qigong system with a living master attached to it I recommend you check out sifu Wong Kiew Kit and his Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung. http://www.wongkiewkit.com/ People speak highly of him (at least what I've read so far) and from his claims I'd say SCCK would be ideal of someone with your kind of chronic disease. Sifu Wong has a book out on chi kung: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Chi-Kung-Making-...1043&sr=8-1 and it's worth the money definately, but you can't really learn this from the book. Absolutely the best way would be learn from the Sifu himself. He has intensive chi kung courses all around the world constantly and while they might seem a bit expensive, I've yet to read negative feedback. They offer a money back guarantee too. I'm not able to give yet a first hand account of learning from him, but I will be after june (hopefully) when I'm going to one of his chi kung intensives in Brighton. For now I've been sticking with only the book and practicing by myself, and I've got no complaints. Juho

I have one name for you: John Coltrane. In case someone doesn't know, he was a jazz saxophonist influencing in the 50s and 60s. Early in his life he was massively into drugs but then but then quit them all (exept psychedelics, I think) cold turkey after he found faith. This is heard very clearly in his music, too.. his first recordings are a good listen, but it was only after his enlightenment he shaped his own language and found all the marvellous melodies, harmonies and colours you can hear in his later playing. Love supreme is his most famous album (and one of the most famous in all jazz history) and it's tributed to god and his faith. A must listen for any music lover, obviously. Personally, I think second track on "Live at Birdland" titled "I want to talk about you", is probably the most beautiful thing I've heard. But then, I'm a jazz musician (or at least trying to be one) so your tastes may vary. Also I think his later albums (1965 onward) have an intense spiritual vibe.. not for the faint of heart, though. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_coltrane)

Hello.. I made an introductionary post a while ago (found here http://www.thetaobums.com/Hello-t3495.html).. but before I'm going to start posting I decided my nick still needed to change. So here it is, the new and improved me. J