Merlian News August 2020 Newsletter
Dear Readers: Missed an article? Here’s a quick round up of some of our favorites from this month! As always, we look forward to presenting you with up to date news and information about holistic events, health and well being from both the scientific and the spiritual perspectives, nutrition, vegan lifestyles, and more.
This Month’s Recommended Merlian News Articles:
Merryn’s Musings by Merryn Jose
The Art of Chi-Flow: My Experience Studying with Master Mantak Chia
Merryn writes about Master Mantak Chia and her own experience learning, as a student, various methods created by Mantak Chia that safely works with the body’s chi-flow. ”Mantak Chia was taught Kundalini Yoga and the Buddhist Palm, which enabled him to eliminate blockages of flow of life force in his internal organs. However, he felt that Kundalini Yoga produced too much heat, and could be dangerous, so he later combined it with elements of Taoist practice, which had cooling effects.”
Liminal Moments by Cheryl Shainmark
Are We There Yet?
Ok, I have to say it: I’ve about had it with this whole pandemic thing. This week will mark five months since we went into lock down, and, for me at least, this whole “hunkering down” zeitgeist is getting old. Lately, it seems the extended sleep-over, roughing it at camp, take one for the team mood has gotten depressing. I miss the early lock down days, when we could distract ourselves with laying in dried beans, hoarding toilet paper, or judging our colleague’s home work space on Zoom conferences. Even the threat of murder hornets provided a good laugh, in a what next? sort of way.
Eye Health
How to Take Care of Your Eyes by Marc Grossman, OD LAc
Dr. Grossman writes, “Headaches, squinting and eyes that burn, ache, water or tire easily are indications that the visual system needs help. Most people are born with the potential for good eyes and sight. Vision, however, is learned. And the way you use and care for your visual system directly affects your enjoyment of play, school or work. Your visual system can undergo tremendous stress.”
Nutrition
Jazzed Up Couscous
This flavorful “jazzed up” couscous can be served as a vegetarian side dish, or as an entree with the addition of chicken sausage sliced into coins, or shredded chicken, lamb or pork. You can keep it vegetarian by adding crisp cubes of tofu, and make it vegan by omitting the butter and using oil. The leftovers are delicious, and can be served reheated, or at room temperature.
Meditation
MBSR: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a method of using meditation and yoga to cultivate awareness and reduce stress. Of course, many of us having been doing this for years, but did you know it had a name? First developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn (video) in 1979, MBSR is based on the ancient practice of mindfulness, which is about waking up and being present in the richness of each moment of our lives. Within this awakening, we gain access to our deepest inner resources for living, healing, and coping with stress.
Website of the Month
www.holdenqigong.com
Qi Gong
Can’t Get Out? Learn Qi Gong at Home with Lee Holden
For over 25 years Lee Holden has devoted his career to helping others learn the powerful principles of Qi Gong. Working in collaboration with Grand Master Mantak Chia, a Qi Gong expert, he has worked to bring the ancient Taoist practice to western culture. Lee Holden is an instructor in Qi Gong, meditation, and Tai Chi, and is a licensed acupuncturist. In addition to his international teaching and private practice, he works as a stress management consultant to several corporations, including Apple and 3Com.
Thank you once more, for your positive feed back and support!
Merryn Jose – Editor In Chief & Publisher
Cheryl Shainmark – Senior Editor