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  • Sifu's Blog: Shaolin Nordic Finland

    Dear family & visitors,






    This blog contains regularly published articles by Sifu Markus Kahila on various topics such as health, well-being, fitness, martial arts and mental as well as spiritual cultivation.




    Welcome!




    Best wishes,
    Markus Kahila
    Shaolin Nordic Finland

    www.shaolin-nordic.com


  • #2
    Blog 20.8.2011: Fitness vs. Health

    The first Sifu's blog at the Shaolin Nordic website is now online:





    Best wishes,
    Markus Kahila
    Shaolin Nordic Finland

    www.shaolin-nordic.com

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Si-Hing Marcus,

      Congradulations on the Blog, it is nicely laid out and easy to read.

      Thank you Sifu, once again for your wisdom on a popular topic. It is a good reminder, I will use some of the content to promote Chi Kung in some advertising I am doing.

      Best Wishes,
      Steve.

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks for your comments, Steve! Feel free to use the material; however, I don't own the copyrights to the picture.

        All the best,

        Markus
        Markus Kahila
        Shaolin Nordic Finland

        www.shaolin-nordic.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Thank you, Siheng, that was a great read. It's a good thing we have the saying "urheilija ei tervettä päivää näe" to balance things out. (Literal translation: "an athlete sees no healthy day" – could someone tell me if there's an English equivalent, please?)

          I follow ice hockey quite a lot, and this summer brought some sad news: two NHL players lost their lives rather suddenly (on separate occasions). They were 27 and 28 years old and they both played very physical hockey: they hit a lot, fought a lot and suffered from concussions. Incidentally, they both also suffered from depression and ultimately took their own lives. The damage caused by "no pain, no gain" attitude can be so much more than just physical damage.

          On another note, I just bumped into this French study which conludes that Sports-related sudden death in the general population is considerably more common than previously suspected. Luckily it's still not very common at all.

          Smiling from the Heart,
          Tapio

          Comment


          • #6
            Thanks for the kind comments & the links, Tapio - great points!


            Best wishes,
            Markus Kahila
            Shaolin Nordic Finland

            www.shaolin-nordic.com

            Comment


            • #7
              Dear Sifu Markus.

              Congratulations on the blog, i will be following your articles with great interest.

              I enjoyed the recent one, I hope it finds its way to those in need of this advice.

              Thanks again.

              Best wishes,

              Nick

              Comment


              • #8
                Dear Tapio Siheng,

                I'm sorry to hear of the young men who took their lives.

                This is very sad.

                It is tragic that the sport which must have given them so much pleasure when growing up could become such a massive burden.

                Kindest regards,

                Nick

                Comment


                • #9
                  As an Ex-athlete by myself I can agree with Tapio's and Markus' accounts.

                  First off one must seperate between fitness and good health as rightly pointed out in the blog.

                  Many athletes are full of fitness, extremely well trained and skillful and they are some of the best in their chosen specialised sport. But of course high level sports, anyone knows may bring some harmful sideffects, physically often also emotionally and mentally. At the end some of the top athletes at least earn money to provide their living. Some of them are very succesful, most of them will not earn enough to have a joyful life after quiting.

                  It's well known that in any country there is more than one example of a former succesful athlete and after quiting they ended up in a bad condition or life situation.

                  Often the same also counts for hobby sports practitioners. Most of them can be regarded as really fit, but often they lack of health and vitality cause of the constant overtraining of organs. And they expose themselves often to serious injuries.

                  As a further example: there are many so called hobby football players who just play football for fun taking part at some tournaments.

                  Needless to say that many often don't prepare well for touraments. Yet they take part and suddenly they find themeselves faced with serious ligament, sinew or other injuries.

                  They may play football for fitness purposes or just for fun, but they even would expect injuries.

                  The same goes for example for Volleyball: many people regard it as part of their fitness training and further as a provider for their life enjoyment. Yet many of those players have serious injuries resulting and still continue as part of their addiction.

                  Three weeks ago I met one of my school students not beeing able taking part at the final examn cause of an oparation of a injuried joint. It's worth to say that she is trained to be a therapist yet she injuried badly. I told her well, now as you don't earn any income with your hobby it's time to question if it's worth to get such injuries. The answer was shocking but expected, meaning she will for sure continue. The more shocking answer is that most even hobby performers of sports expect a certain amount of injuries and some of them seem to be even proud of it.

                  Best regards
                  "From formless to form, from form to formless"

                  26.08.17-28.08.17: Qi Gong Festival with 6 courses in Bern:
                  Qiflow-Triple Stretch Method-12 Sinewmetamorphisis-Bone Marrow Cleansing-Zen Mind in Qi Gong

                  Website: www.enerqi.ch

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    The more shocking answer is that most even hobby performers of sports expect a certain amount of injuries and some of them seem to be even proud of it.
                    - This, I think, hits the nail in the head. It boggles the mind how many hurt themselves for recreation. I've done it myself in my previous martial arts training, I just thought that it "comes with the territory", and also took pride in my injuries. Took me a couple years of chi kung to get rid of all the health problems and blockages I'd accumulated.


                    What a waste of time and effort.


                    Best wishes,
                    Markus Kahila
                    Shaolin Nordic Finland

                    www.shaolin-nordic.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: enjoy!

                      I remember Sifu Roland telling us at summer camp..

                      'When he arrived at Wahnam, Sifu Wong said he looked 'empty'. Despite being strong in the athletic sense.'

                      I can relate to this also, and the description 'empty' is a very simple yet concise way of describing my condition upon starting chi kung.

                      One I'm sure I will reference again at some point or another (thank you for that Sipak!).

                      I was very tense, emotional and weak in spirit following several years of heavy training. I also had two operations to replace the cruciate ligaments in my knees.

                      I know for sure I would not have regained any sort of 'balance' with 'gentle, enjoyable exercise' or with most methods of physiotherapy. At this point, the blockages where too deep.

                      Like many amateurs and professional 'addicts' out there, practicing hi level chi kung is really the only way to properly sort things out.. especially if your really screwed up and carry any serious injuries.

                      However, for those looking for health and vitality from their recreation, who are not already 'in too deep', the guidance of enjoying their practice, with the aim of feeling more energised afterwards is really really useful guidance.

                      Especially for those that have little experience in a world where everyone is an expert.

                      My mother and father, in their early 60's are both in denial regarding the effectiveness and legitimacy of my practice, however, they themselves feel an importance to 'get fit' or 'stay fit'.

                      They ask my advice regarding their 'training', as they are aware I spent a reasonable part of my youth in the pursuit of athletic achievement. I am very carefull about mentioning chi kung now, as I don't want to provoke any further reaction.. at the same time I don't want them damaging themselves, so feel like i should give some advice to their 'get fit' questions.

                      The advice 'enjoy your training'... and the simple check,

                      'do you feel more energised after your training, more alert, more vital'..

                      This is really useful advice for me to pass on to them. And to others.

                      I'll keep having good thoughts that eventually they will come around to SWCK..

                      Until then, if i'm asked again which is better, 'a stepper' or 'a rower',
                      I will be prepared with an effective counter!


                      Thanks again.

                      Kindest,

                      Nick

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Blog 29.8: Mind and Mindlessness

                        Dear Nick,


                        Thanks for your account! Excellent stuff, very inspiring...I'm happy that my blog resonates with people.


                        So, here we go with another installment:






                        Best wishes,
                        Markus Kahila
                        Shaolin Nordic Finland

                        www.shaolin-nordic.com

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Great post, Sihing.
                          I thought the following was interesting:
                          Instead of calming the mind, we try to find shortcuts to relaxation through television or a glass of wine after work, hoping that this might trick the mind to quiet down. In practice, by doing this we merely substitute one work with another.
                          There are people who say "work hard, play hard", which is definitely substituting one type of work for another.
                          The idea of "letting off steam" by substituting one kind of work for another is a really pervasive one our culture. Being stressed at work by "letting off steam" playing competitive sports, video games, or working out is very common.
                          While less common, I also think there is potential for people to engage in activities after work that really do allow them to slip into a calmer, more focused state of mind---not quite like qigong, but it is the closest some people get. I think a classic example is calligraphy, which almost demands that a person relax and focus. Others might include wood working or playing music. Those sorts of hobbies are probably less common among certain groups than others.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Blog 12.10.2011: Nutritional Science for the Everyman

                            New Shaolin Nordic Sifu's blog is up! Click the below link to read it:






                            Best wishes,
                            Markus Kahila
                            Shaolin Nordic Finland

                            www.shaolin-nordic.com

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wonderful articles Markus!

                              Thank you
                              Daniel Pérez
                              http://www.shaolinbcn.es

                              Comment

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