Butterfly Dreams

  Eight years into my Massage therapy career, I moved to a worker owned rustic hot springs retreat center , on 160 acres in Oregon's Cascade mountains.  The suggestions I gave my city clients for self care - eating mindfully, finding a movement practice, slowing DOWN, and drinking a bit more water were suddenly much easier to follow - for me as well! Their biggest choice after their Qigong class, or 60-90 minute massage session was - whether to head to the Lodge for a meal (the bell would tell them when), walk to the tubs or sauna, to the library or their cabin for a nap, or maybe take a short hike on a trail through the old growth forest.....  If I saw guests in the dining hall for their last lunch (organic vegetarian fare, lovingly prepared) they would often sigh, saying, "well, back to the real world now..." And I'd remind them - "No, THIS is the real world! This is how humans have lived, time out of mind! Take some of this with you - and come home, soon. ...

 In the 60s, Star Trek was one of my favorite shows, and Spoc's Vulcan Salute, Live Long and Prosper 🖖 a greeting I loved to offer! What joy to discover this clip on his childhood experience with this  blessing !  My daughter's European doctor has a deep interest in practices and foods that support general health and longevity. Several areas around the world are known for these, including parts of Japan. In this  video , Sachiaki Takamiya talks about different ways we can protect our gut health, which in turn enhances our general health.  Picked garlic, cilantro, Miso, Kim chi, tofu Many of these concepts are familiar and  ones I already incorporate into my life.  Living on the West Coast, I have enjoyed rice, Miso (and yes, tofu!) for decades.  Moderate movement  - for lifelong benefit, it's ideal if your practices are both enjoyable and not overly strenuous! I do 3-6 minutes of  Japanese morning exercises several times a week....

  Do you have a favorite movement practice? When I studied massage in the early '80s, my mentor taught the importance of using good ergonomics as we worked. With that in mind, she recommended we take Tai Chi, and a couple of us did so that fall. My teacher Maria Liu had come from China, and learned Tai Chi and Qigong as a little girl, at her father's side.  I had opportunity to teach Tai Chi at our retreat center, and studied several forms over the years.   In the early 2000s, I took 'Soaring Crane Qigong.' A benefit of qigong is its focus on INTERNAL movement; while practicing the form, one's mind is on vitality (qi or chi) & the movement. Dawn Redwood at Linfield Master Zhao, Jin-xiang began teaching his form in 1980, & it was brought to the US by professor Chen, Hui-xian. My teacher JoAnne learned it from Prof. Chen, at the Oriental Medicine College (OCOM) in Portland Oregon. Master Zhao had pleurisy & tuberculosis, & was sent to a sanatorium in 1...