October 2004

Do You Need Qi Gong?

Do you need more energy?

If the answer is yes, then you need Qi Gong.

The most common complaint I hear from new clients: "I am too tired to enjoy my life."

For this, I have a solution. Not only do I have a solution, I have a cure!

Here's how I found it.

Three years ago, I went to a doctor for a regular check-up. I remember feeling particularly smug at the time, expecting to be given a "healthiest person on the face of the earth" award.

To my shock, the doctor told me I had hepatitis.

Even though my health habits put me in the top 99th percentile, he said, I had a virus.

The diagnosis was even more disturbing because my cousin, just a year older than me, had also been diagnosed with hepatitis and had just received a liver transplant.

Here is where our paths diverged.

My cousin followed the traditional medical route. His sister gave him part of her liver. The operation cost more than the value of his home, and he is now on permanent disability.

I treated my illness with alternative medicine.

At the time, I was too tired to do traditional exercise. But being the Total Fitness person I am, I knew there would be a kind of exercise I could do that would build my energy, heal me and make me feel better.

I began practicing Qi Gong, a Chinese martial art.

The word "Qi" means life energy. The word "Gong" means work.

When you are practicing Qi Gong, you are literally building your energy. At the time I began practicing, medical tests showed my total cortisol level for an entire day was 8, which in practical terms means that I had 25 percent of the energy of a normal person - and I do not have a desk job!

Today, my energy is back to normal. My liver is strong and healthy. Unlike my cousin, who can not work, I not only work, I work at a job that requires a lot of energy - working out with clients, counseling nutrition and healing.

Many times clients have sat in my office and wept when they got their own medical tests back showing scientifically just how exhausted they are.

They come to realize they have sabotaged their own metabolisms, and that the only way to feel better, be thinner and have normal hormonal function is to change the ways they have been eating, working and exercising.

"You CAN increase your energy!" I tell them.

Not only does Qi Gong increase your energy, helping you overcome fatigue, this energy can be used for healing of any organ system in the body. My students can see a video I have of doctors in China treating a tumor with Qi Gong.

Dr. Andrew Weil talked about Qi Gong in the September 2004 newsletter, Self Healing: "Research in Asia suggests that practicing Qi Gong regularly can lower blood pressure, reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, promote the healing of ulcers, reduce arthritis pain and even enhance immunity. In China, Qi Gong is recommended to cancer patients to reduce fatigue and other side effects of conventional cancer treatments."

Qi Gong is also great, gentle aerobic exercise.

Many people get bored with aerobics classes or have too many back, knee or hip problems to do high impact cardio like jogging.

Qi Gong helps with eye-hand coordination, balance, flexibility and is surprisingly relaxing while giving you a great workout at the same time.

Our Qi Gong class meets every Wednesday at 5:30 at 1951 Northside Drive.

We practice outdoors by the flowers and trees. This is part of the great blessing of the class - to exercise in a beautiful area, drawing in the benefit of fresh air. We finish the class with deep relaxation and meditation.

Serey Andree, one of our regular Qi Gong participants, has this to say:

"I have really enjoyed our Qi Gong class for several reasons.You are a very good instructor. Our class is so non-stressful (Duh!). I've also enjoyed getting to know Tom, Ellie (better), and our other, occassional, participants.

"I find myself doing Qi Gong moves during the day. When I have a minute or two, I may 'Look at the Moon' or 'Gather water from the sea' or just breathe! I have also tried to be more calm in stressful situations, and it's helped.

 "I have a long way to go before I master some of these bad habits, but I feel the Qi Gong is a good path, one that may lead me to where I want to be."

To join our class, please call me at 404-350-8581 or email me at Daylilly@aol.com.

Pot Luck Yoga: Sunday, Oct. 17

Join us on Sunday, Oct. 17 for pot luck yoga. We'll meet at the Total Fitness office at 1951 Northside Drive (please visit our website, http://www.totalfitness.net/ for a map with directions) and practice yoga outside in a nearby park. Afterwards, we'll have a pot luck dinner. Admission: Bring something for dinner!

Client Success: Dr. Charlene Bayer, Ph.D.

I have so much compassion for Charlene Bayer, Ph.D., a research scientist at a local technical university.

Like me and many other women, Charlene taught aerobics many years ago.

We were all trying to be thin in those days, little knowing then how excessive aerobic exercise and the unhealthy mental attitudes that went with that particularly industry were undermining our metabolism.

Unfortunately, Charlene had worked for an Atlanta-based chain of aerobics centers that required surprise weigh-ins. If she was carrying more than 103 lbs. on her 5-foot-4-inch frame at that time, she would have been barred from teaching.

I feel that Charlene's current metabolic challenges could be traced to those years, when she was starving herself to stay employed and doing hours and hours of aerobics every week. She literally trained herself to survive on very little food.

I wish every woman who has tried to keep her weight under control this way could learn from Charlene's example!

I asked her a few questions for the benefit of our readers.

1. What was it like for you in the past when you tried to diet or lose weight? I have lost weight in the past, but have always gained it back. In the last few years, my weight loss efforts have pretty much been unsuccessful.

2. How has the Total Fitness approach helped with your cravings? The Total Fitness approach has significantly helped my cravings. Particularly the last two or three years, every time that I tried to lose weight, the sugar cravings always won. I have very few cravings with the Total Fitness approach and most of those are fleeting thoughts.

3. How has your energy level improved? My energy level is improving as weight is coming off, but I do find myself sleeping more and being ready to go to bed. Until I started this program, I never got more than four hours of sleep and many nights less than that.

4. How much weight has been lost? To date, I have lost 13 pounds and three inches off my hips.

5. Is there any advice you would offer other people who are considering working with Catherine? Catherine is great! She is showing me a healthy lifestyle rather than focusing on weight loss.

Client Success: Lowering Cholesterol

My client G.E., who asked me not to use her full name, was dubious that I could help lower her cholesterol. After all, her cholesterol was 304. Her husband, a medical doctor, did not believe that any nutritional advice I could give her would make a difference. The only other option was drugs.

In less than three months, G.E.'s cholesterol has dropped more than 70 points to 231 without any medication. Keep up the great work, G.E.!

Great Recipe: Fresh "Pizza"

OK. This is not Domino's - but you may even like this better than Domino's! It is certainly more healthy - has fewer carbohydrates, lots of enzymes and vitamins and minerals. And you won't feel bloated or regreful after eating it.

Crust

Ezekial tortilla. This is a sprouted-grain tortilla. Find them in the frozen section of your health food store.

Sauce

Be creative. I use different kinds of home-made or store-bought hummus or gaucamole. Spread the hummus or gaucamole on the tortilla and load with fresh, live-food toppings.

Toppings

Fresh organic sunflower sprouts, cilantro, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts. Surprise your taste buds wiith dried blueberries or cranberries.

If you have the ingredients on hand, you can throw together a fresh, live pizza in a matter of minutes. Even my husband, who is a weekly consumer of Domino's, loves Fresh "Pizza."

Classes

Yoga Class: Join us every Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30-9 p.m., 4465 Northside Drive at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in McDonough Hall. For a map with directions, visit http://www.totalfitness.net/.

Qi Gong Class: Join us Wednesdays at 5:30 for Qi Gong, 1951 Northside Drive.

For more information about how you can be totally fit, please visit http://www.totalfitness.net/, or email us at Daylilly@aol.com.