Looking ahead, we’re offering several special workshops:  Face Reading on 8/19 and something new?Feng Shui?on Sept. 6; plus ball-room dancing lessons Friday evenings.  In addition, Chris will be teaching a series of FREE lectures based on his new book.   Mark your calendars now–and be sure to click on the link below to reserve your place!

• Monday, 8/19, 7:30-9pm-Chinese Face Reading–  Learn what the tips and corners of the mouth, eyebrows, and nose can tell you about a person. (Instructor: Chris Shelton; $45 in advance, $55 at the door)

• Friday, 9/6, 6-7:30pm- Feng Shui Basics– Learn to diagnose and improve the energy of your home; make sure your home’s Qi is supporting you not working against you! (Instructor: Martha Dahlen; $35 in advance, $40 at the door)

•  Friday, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 6-7:30pm-Tango & Salsa Lessons – Learn how to do the Tango and the Salsa.  Prepare yourself for cruise ship ballroom dancing, weddings, vacations, parties, corporate holiday functions, and social dance clubs! (Instructor: Hayes Koles; Single class, single person: $20; Single class, couple: $35; All 4 classes, single person $60; All 4 classes, couple: $100

• Sunday, 9/22, 1-4pm-Finding your Fulfilling Tribe – Are you doing what makes you feel happy? This workshop will prepare you for harmonious, happy relationship with yourself! (Instructor: Amber DeAnn & Nanci Tudish; $35 in advance, $40 at the door)

FREE SERIES with Chris Shelton:

• Saturday, 9/14, 12:15-1:30pm- Qigong for Health & Vitality – Experience a powerful and effective way to increase your health, vitality, and athletic performance.

• Saturday, 9/21, 12:15-1:30pm- Tai Chi for Posture and Alignment – Learn how small adjustments in your posture can bring huge changes your power.

• Saturday, 10/12, 12:15-1:30pm-Nutrition According to Your Constitution– Five Element diagnosis can help you understand how to nourish your body for optimum health.  Get a glimpse of nutritional theory according to Chinese Medicine.

• Saturday, 10/26, 12:13-1:30pm- Personality Assessment with Face Reading– Have insight into a person’s character the moment you meet.

Chris Shelton’s new book Qigong for Self-Refinement

is guaranteed to bring balance in your life!

Saturday, August 3, 5-7pm.

Join us for refreshments, and an introduction to our new classes! Mark your calendar, plan to come celebrate with us!

RSVP by clicking here!

www.qigongforselfrefinement.com

We hope you are well.  There is so so much we want to share with you.  We’ve been buzzzzzing (even more that usual). The past few weeks have taught us how to be more like water.  Our trip to Tampa, FL was canceled less than 24 hours before we were leaving.  We had been preparing for months. Chris was suppose to give 4 talks to ~500 health & fitness professionals from around the world.  It was our motivation for finishing the book. We were shocked to find out it was canceled.  But after we got over the initial disappointment, we decided to take a small vacation to the central coast. You’ll be glad to hear that we’re taking some time to refresh, regroup, refuel.  We’re excited to tell you about all the new and cutting edge programs we will be presenting!

PS. We want to acknowledge that last week we pre-maturely hit the send key on our newsletter.  If you noticed errors, that is why.  If you didn’t notice, even better. 🙂

What is Qigong? Simple practice -> Profound Results

Qigong is the Chinese art of working with the body’s energy system.  It includes meditative practices and physical exercises.  It is “Chinese” because it is based on Chinese ideas of how energy flows in the body; these same theories are at the basis of Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, and also other Chinese arts, such as feng shui.  What makes this book different from many other Qigong books is the same thing that makes Chris’ teaching different from other Qigong masters. It acknowledges and provides exercises for addressing the emotional component in our modern diseases. In the past, people’s problems mainly started on the physical level: poor hygiene, danger, infectious diseases, accidents. But today, in our relatively safe, clean environment, more of our diseases begin on the emotional level. A dear friend dies, you lose your job, you are abused, or a good friend betrays you…. Strong experiences generate emotional energy. If we don’t process this energy appropriately– if we don’t digest it, just as we digest food, allowing it to transform– then it unbalances our entire system. These imbalances or blockages are not corrected, they get worse and eventually become physical symptoms.   At that point, if you eliminate the physical symptom but not the underlying subtle energy disturbance, then the symptom will come back-or you will get a new symptom somewhere else in the body (Just like with the plumbing in your house, if you stop water flow, the pipe will burst somewhere along the way).   Because Qigong harmonizes the subtle energy flow in the body, when it corrects imbalances at those levels it can eliminate both the physical symptoms and the emotional symptoms which caused them.   The problem really goes away.  This may seem like a miracle, but each success just proves that the Chinese theories are true.   Join a class, read the book, try the exercises—and see for yourself!

Chris & Parisa Shelton
Morning Crane Healing Arts & Fitness Center

Total Health with the 5 Elements Qigong for Self-Refinement

written and illustrated by Chris Shelton

Click here to order the first copies!  Upon check out type promo code 1111 and receive 10% off before July 9!

Or come by Morning Crane to pre-order your copy today!

Simple yet effective, the practices in this book will help you get your energies humming. Beginning with a clear explanation of the fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine, the book presents simple meditations and traditional physical exercises based on this theory.  Regularly practicing these exercises will lead you into greater awareness of your body, and gradually restore your health from the inside out.  The Five Element Questionnaire will help you know your personal Element type so you can target your exercise program to your own needs.

Summer Heat = Heart Fire

Summer time relates to the Fire Element, represented in the body particularly by the Heart and its related organs. The Fire Element is about activity; movement from the sheer pleasure of being alive. Think fireworks! The great danger during this time is excess Fire. Yin-Yang theory tells us that “yin at its extreme becomes yang, and yang at its extreme becomes yin.” We all know the truth of this particularly with Fire: Strenuous activity (yang) leads to exhaus tion (yin). With our strong sun, summer heat, and the irresistible temptation of summer sports, we must be careful to keep our Fire in check.     1) Stay hydrated. Water controls Fire, bot h in the Five Element chart and in our bodies! Sip, rather than gulp, what you drink. A dilute solution of honey, lemon and a pinch of sea salt will help supply your body with liquid as well as sugars and electrolytes.   2) Eat appropriately for the season. Smaller meals, especially during the heat of the day, will be easier to digest. Fruits of the melon family (cucumber, zucchini, water melon, cantaloupe) will help your body stay hydrated naturally. Include the bitter flavor in your diet. Bitter flavor stimulates the Fire Element; bitter foods include certain lettuces, and, in particular, bitter melon. Available in Asian groceries, this nubbly green melon is particularly consumed at this time of year to help the body deal with heat (stir-fry with beef and black bean sauce, or curry it). 3) Pay attention to your body, especially for signs of excess heat. If you feel your heart racing, which could be one sign of heat exhaustion, immediately get in the shade, lie down, and massage the tips of your pinky fingers. This stimulates a point on the Heart meridian that will help normalize heart rate.

Chris & Parisa Shelton
Morning Crane Healing Arts & Fitness Center