Qigong and other interesting things
My YouTube channel now contains brand new videos showcasing Qigong (Chi Gung) routines as well as other interesting things such as the Makko Ho stretches routine below:
Makko Ho Stretches (otherwise known as Meridian Stretches) were developed as a way of stimulating and energising the energy lines around the body (known as Meridians). There are 6 yoga-like stretches that correspond to the 6 pairs of meridians according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and regular practice of this routine can help to promote a sense of greater wellbeing as well as allowing students of traditions such as Shiatsu to connect with the Meridians in an engaging and dynamic way.
You can access the videos by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/user/markbarwell
For more information about how you can learn Shiatsu for yourself, please visit: http://www.shiatsucollege.co.uk
New Website Re-Design
I am pleased to announce that my website has been completely redesigned and is now live at the usual address: http://www.markbarwell.co.uk
The new site features an information bar at the right hand side of the page, including: a Forthcoming Events box, an Alternative Medicine news feed, summaries of my Blog posts, Twitter feed and links to my resources that include a Facebook Page, LinkedIn profile, Twitter page and Flickr stream.
Site contents are accessible via a drop-down menu at the top of the page or via the Home Page by moving the cursor over an image of the Heart Chakra that radiates out across 8 spokes.
The focus is still on my healing work and empowering courses: treatments in Reiki Healing, Shamanic Healing, Shiatsu and Tarot Reading as well as the opportunities to learn Shamanism, learn Tarot Reading and learn Reiki Healing for yourself. I am able to travel around the wider Southend area as well as working from venues around town.
You also have the opportunity to sign up for email updates. These regular bulletins will contain information about all forthcoming events from myself and fellow therapists as well as an interesting events and information that comes my way. Until the end of January I will also be running a monthly competition for all those who sign up to updates or subscribe to my blog. Details to follow!
So please check out the new site and let me know what you think
Do-In: a self-energising routine
Do-In is the name of a group of methods that promote a healthy flow of bodily energy (Chi, Qi, Prana). These include yoga-like meridian stretches (to be covered in a later blog post), breathing exercises and the focus of this post: a self-Shiatsu style routine. This can be done anywhere where you have a few couple of minutes and (preferably) a quiet space.
Simply use your hands - fingers, knuckles and palms - to tap, rub and squeeze around your body. The following video illustrates a simplified version of this process:
- With relaxed wrists and fingers, begin to tap the head from the corner of the eyebrows over the head and to the base of the skull.
- You can repeat this as many times as you like.
- I like to tap around the cheekbones and the jaw and then down the side of the neck.
- Hold on to one elbow and tap across the top of the shoulder.
- Then repeat on the other side.
- With loose fists you can tap your chest, Tarzan -style, and then down the inside of one arm and up the outside.
- Swap hands. Come across the chest if you like.
- Tap down the inside of that arm and up the outside.
- Brushing down the front of the body, just rub the hands around the belly, first one way and then the other.
- Then if your shoulders are ok to do so, take your hands behind you and tap underneath the shoulder blades and down to the kidneys where you can flatten your hands.
- Place your hands over the kidneys, imagining warmth coming through the palms of your hands into your body.
- Tap down the back of the pelvis, the gluteal muscles, down the sides of the legs, up the inside and repeat.
- Then you can generally brush off to finish the exercise.
The video was produced by myself for the Shiatsu College from a script developed by Annie Cryar, principal of the Shiatsu College Hastings. The video forms a part of the Shiatsu College's online anatomy training that is available as a stand-alone module to provide additional training for anyone working therapeutically (or indeed anyone with such an interest!). This module can also be taken as part of the 3-year Shiatsu Practitioner's Diploma course. For more details, please visit http://www.shiatsucollege.co.uk
A bit about me and my work
Now that we've got the admin stuff out of the way, I suppose I should tell you a bit about myself so you have a better idea of where I'm coming from. My spiritual path started when I was at University and becoming increasingly disillusioned by the direction my life was taking. So I turned on, tuned in and dropped out, leaning my studies behind and embarking on a journey of discovery that would take me from the profound guidance of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior and The Celestine Prophecy to some deeply introspective musings on my soul's purpose and nature!
It was around this time (13 years ago) that I began to explore shamanism and this has been the bedrock of my practice ever since, blending my love of nature and its energies with a practical sensibility. 5 years ago I furthered my knowledge by studying for a Diploma of Classical and Cross-Cultural Shamanic Studies with Ross Heaven and the Four Gates Foundation and I am a registered practitioner with them as a result. I offer shamanic healing sessions as well as courses in shamanic development, spirit exploration and practical craft-work such as making shamanic frame drums.
In 2003 I received several synchronous messages that led me to studying Reiki, a form of energy healing that originated in Japan, first through the first degree of the system of Tera Mai, then to traditional Western Usui (Usui Shiki Ryoho) and also to the Japanese style of Usui Reiki Ryoho which closely replicates and honours the teachings of the founder. I am a Master/teacher in these two "traditional" styles and am pleased to offer treatments and classes as well as development sessions to explore the energies and practices of this wonderful healing system.
At the moment I am continuing my journey into the field of Eastern medicine and energy work, studying for a 3-year Shiatsu Practitioner's Course with the Shiatsu College London so I expect I will be blogging about related subjects in due course! I will also be writing specifically about the aspects of my life that relate to faith and spirituality in future posts so keep an eye out for those - I am always happy to engage in discussions about such subjects and I hope that you will take the time to engage with me in this.
There's so much more to everyone than a simple "bio" and I'm the same - if you want to find out more about myself or my work, please visit my website: www.MarkBarwell.co.uk or why not get in touch, make contact, share your views, discuss, laugh, love, and breathe into life with me!
Mark
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About Me
Mark BarwellPractitioner of Reiki and Shamanic Healing offering treatments and courses in healing, self-development and energy exploration. Also a student of Shiatsu!
I welcome comments and discussions about the topic in this blog so subscribe and start adding your opinion! :)
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