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May 2008

A true inspiration: Charlene Brewer, 75 years young, practicing Kung Fu at the Blue Dragon School of Martial Arts.

You... An Inspiration

Over the past few weeks I was able to see my two fathers. That's right, two; my biological father who raised me and will be 71 this year, and my martial arts father, or teacher, who will be 66 this year. Quite the contrast I must say, although their ages are so close.

My father has had trouble with his knees and back for years. He is to the point that he has to go down a staircase backwards, taking each step with the same foot, gradually, one step at a time. He walks slowly, slightly hunched and crooked on flat ground.

He tells me how stiff and achy he is and how tired he feels and although I've tried to help him countless times over the years, he has never followed my advice.

I said to him, “What do you think happens to your body if you sit in a couch all day and watch TV?” His answer, “I don't always sit, I usually lay down.” He’s always been funny, but suffering isn’t fun.
My teacher on the other hand has practiced martial arts since he was a kid.

He has always followed a regimen of a morning meditation and stretching at least a few times a day. If it wasn't for the gray hair and the years in his face, you'd never know he was any more than his 20s or 30s if you were behind him and he was walking ahead of you. He stands straight and moves smoothly with grace in his step. A lifetime of practice makes him such an inspiration.

		Learning From Others By paying attention, we can learn from the results of others, both positive and negative. If someone doesn't have the kind of life, health, and attitude you want, why would you do what they've done, act as they act, or follow their advice? With consistent effort over time, the results are automatic. No one can guarantee longevity, but if you take care of how you think, how you eat, and how you move I guarantee you'll be much better off than if you don't. It's quality of life that matters most, not quantity.
So Many Ways To Be Inspired		"With consistent effort over time, the results are automatic." Shifu Ahles

There Is No Easy Way
One of my favorite quotes that I believe came from the Dalai Lama says, “The easy way is the hard way; the hard way is the easy way.” In other words, be lazy, and you will suffer; do what needs to be done, and you can better enjoy your life. This can be exercise, healthy eating, or purposely spending quality time with the people you love. What you do consistently leads to the results you get.

Relating To Others’ Suffering
Why is it that when tragedy and failure occur people suddenly want to open up and share? They like to get together in support of the failure or suffering. Support groups are formed and people dwell in the suffering of each other. We relate better to the pain of others than to their success and happiness, even to the point of jealousy.

 In the U.S., 4 out of 5 people, or 84% of 6000 surveyed by Harris Interactive, said that they are not happy with their current job. Respondents said they “want to enjoy their work experience, apply their talents and feel like they're making an impact. Having fun at work was the most important attribute of a dream job for 39 percent of workers, which heavily outweighed the 12 percent who said salary was most important." says Richard Castellini, VP, Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com.

		Are you in your “Dream Job”? Is what you're doing these days consistent with how you saw your future self when you were younger? Stress is considered the root cause of 70-90% of doctor visits. Maybe it's because most people are so busy making a living that they forget about making a life. If you're not doing what you love to do everyday then it is very difficult to be positive on a consistent basis. Learn to love and be grateful for what you do, regardless of what it is, because it does allow you to make your living. Your only other alternative is to or stop wasting your irreplaceable time and energy and find a way to
Another Day, Another Dollar		do something else. It's the inner complaining and unhappiness that steals your life away.

A Letter From England

The Blue Dragon School has been on my mind of late especially after an incident where a Reiki student and I were discussing some of the basics of chi flow, and my question to her was how do you develop your “chi pump”? What ensued was both funny and interesting as she could not explain in any detail.

She had bad posture and admitted to daily tension headaches. After I showed her the Kung Fu Bar Stretching routine and used some Amma techniques on her neck, her boyfriend became a little concerned and wished to fight me! I did not give him the satisfaction.

“I remember in a lesson you stated that I need to be
more aware of what's going on around me …
On reflection, I did sense something, but ignored it.”

I remember in a lesson you stated that I need to be more aware of what's going on around me and not be totally lost in the moment (blinkered). On reflection, I did sense something, but ignored it. I now take all what I'm sensing with a little more importance without getting overwhelmed. I wish you and all the students of the Blue Dragon School the best of fortune.

Best Regards,
Student, Michael Clarke

Q: With so many things to practice and limited time, how do I know what to practice when I have a chance?

A: The first thing you have to consider is what are you trying to accomplish? Is it improved fitness and better health or skills for personal safety? Each person's answer is their own.

For those who’s main goal is improved fitness and health, I’ll cover that this month.

Let's say you only have 30 minutes. First, make sure to loosen up your body everyday. Take your joints through their full range of motion at least once a day, if not more, because it is important to remember that your body will adapt to whatever demands you put on it. Your range of motion will continue to shrink if you don't use it fully.

Our 13 Exercises warm-up is a great way to do this. Make it a daily habit just like brushing your teeth.

To increase stamina and overall strength, the legs are a great place to start since those are the bigger muscles which will challenge your cardiovascular system and increase circulation. Besides, the first to go as we age is the legs!

That's about 20 minutes so far.

Lastly, since stress is known to cause from 70-90% of doctor visits, sit quietly for at least 5 minutes every morning.

Result: total health & fitness in under 30 minutes a day!   

Qi Gong (Chi Kung) and Meditation Classes For Stress Management:
Learn excellent methods believed to Lower High Blood Pressure, Slow the Aging Process, Improve Balance & Coordination, Benefit the Cardiovascular System, and Reduce the Incidence of Depression, Anxiety, and other Emotional Disturbances. Relax and energize yourself. Call 201-385-3130 for our schedule and your Free Trial. There is no charge for our weekly Meditation Class.

Kung Fu & Chi Kung Demo! Come see us at the Family Festival Fund Raiser in
Englewood, NJ, Sat., May 17, 2008 For details please call Suzanne at 201-385-3130.

Absolute Fitness For The Body & Mind

Our Beginner’s Kung Fu classes are designed specifically for those out of shape individuals who are ready to get stronger, looser, and burn off that excess weight. Look and feel your absolute best this summer! Have fun getting in shape while learning practical self defense. Your Introductory Lesson won’t cost you anything (but we guarantee it’ll be jam-packed with powerful information you can use immediately.) Find out if this is the workout you’ve been looking for.

Take That First Step To A New You
And Make The Call Now! 201-385-3130

Meditation Class—Every Thursday at 8:30pm

"When I came to the Blue Dragon School I heard about the weekly meditation class and figured I would check it out. That was 3 years ago and I've been attending ever since. Having had the opportunity to listen to Shifu Ahles share his insights and experiences has not only facilitated my understanding of the practice but has altered my perspective on handling the challenges life has to offer. "Change your thinking; change your life." Funny thing is...it's actually true. I can honestly say I live a healthier and happier life as a result. I think that if more people knew what they were missing…fewer people actually would."
Laura Ahern, Oradell, age 42

For Non-Students To Attend, Call 201-385-3130
and let us know you’re coming. There is no charge.