- Friedrich Nietzsche

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- Bertolt Brecht

How many faces can you count?

- Henry David Thoreau

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By Ling Meng

These two easy Feng Shui tips are special because they have the ability to heighten the positive energy in your living spaces now and into the future for all who enter and spend time there.

It’s true, “zesting” isn’t a bonafide word in the English language, but I chose it for this title because of the meaning of the root word “zest” which essentially means having a heightened or spirited enjoyment, or a consuming/wholehearted interest in any given subject.

To be truly engaged in your home or office surroundings…when you experience sizzling positive energy within these spaces that you’re creating with your own personal flair…this is something that most people never get an opportunity to experience!

So let’s get to it and identify these two Feng Shui tips you can take and implement right away that will help raise the positive energy quotient of your surroundings:

1. Walk through the space and perform a “Chi” check. This is one of the first things you can do for a single room, your entire home or office space. If you’re familiar withy Chi, or qi as it is sometimes spelled, you know that this is the energy that flows in and through all spaces. According to Feng Shui teachings, Chi wants to flow gently around objects and through spaces. Think of a meandering path where the Chi flows calmly around furniture and other objects.

For example, if you enter your home through the front door and a large couch is too close or positioned incorrectly and blocking the entrance, this blockage is going to inhibit the flow of energy into the home. A wall that is in too close proximity to the entrance can also create a block which could result in problems such as slow career growth or an inability to flow money into the space.

Picture the Chi as a relaxed meandering stream through the space you are assessing. is there a straight path from the front door into the room that goes directly toward another door that is serving as an exit? If so, the Chi is “rushing” out the second door, and never finds its way into the space, resulting in a lack of nourishment for the space. In this case, you’ll want to place objects that help direct the flow of Chi in and around the rest of the room (without blocking it altogether).

2. Remove or cover sharp corners or objects and replace as required. This goes along with Chi enhancement for your spaces. Sharp corners on furniture, sharp angles jutting into the room or even a plant such as a cactus (sharp needles) need to be addressed with a Feng Shui solution or replaced. If it is not practical to replace a coffee table or desk with sharp corners, you will want to “soften” these corners in some way.

There are a number of Feng Shui cures that provide solid answers to these energetic problems.

For example, you could drape an attractive fabric or throw over sharp table corners, or position a health living plant, statue or other artwork in front of sharp wall corners that will lessen the negative energy caused by the sharp angles or “poison arrows” as they are often called.

Poison arrows are something you’ll want to become more conscious of and take action on, as they can negatively impact your space in ways that you may never completely understand. In other words, you could be experiencing undesirable results in your life which could be originating from the negative energy poison arrows are inflicting on your space!

For a cactus or a plant that has sharp looking leaves, Feng Shui suggests replacing these with plants such as a jade (which also attracts money). Any plant that appeals to you that also has innocuous rounded leaves would work well. A cactus is best kept outdoors, where it can serve the property in more of a sentinel or guard capacity, warding off unwelcome elements and influences.

Taking the time to implement these two Feng Shui tips…enhancing the flow of Chi and neutralizing the negative effects of poison arrows will do wonders for “zesting” your living spaces. Try to keep these tips in mind whenever you renovate or redecorate your space!

- Phillips Brooks

By Arthur Foreman

Zhan zhuang translates as “standing like a tree” and is an ancient Chinese practice for cultivating internal energy. Originally used for developing the minds and spirits of martial artists, it was also found to be profoundly beneficial for general health and well-being, and a wonderful relaxation aid. Nowadays, zhan zhuang is used both by practitioners of the Chinese martial arts and by people wishing to dissolve away the stresses of 21st century living.

One of the most well-known teachers of zhan zhuang is Master Lam Kam Chuen. He teaches a wide range of qigong practices, enabling the absolute beginner to benefit from simple standing meditation exercises. The following five techniques form the foundation of zhan zhuang and can be used daily to relax body and mind.

First Posture – Wu Ji

All zhan zhuang exercises begin with this important posture, designed to relax and prepare the body and mind. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and arms hanging down by your sides. Relax the shoulders and neck, holding the head as if suspended from above. Keep the knees relaxed and unlocked, and tuck in the bottom; do not let the belly or bottom stick out during practice. Breathe deeply and gently, inhaling and exhaling through the nose. The mouth should be closed but not tightly clenched. Continue to hold this position and let your mind wander around your body looking for tension. Each time tension is found, consciously relax that part and continue. Practise this until you can do so easily for five minutes.

Second Posture – Holding the Ball

This and the following positions should be practised with the same calmness of mind, with the head feeling lightly held from above, and with all the limbs feeling heavy but relaxed. The second posture is called “holding the ball” and involves lifting the arms up the front of the body so that the hands are at chest height with the wrists separated by a shoulder width, palms facing toward the chest, fingers relaxed, and elbows sunk below the hands. Hold this posture for five minutes while going through the same mental checklist, looking for and relaxing any tension.

Third Posture – Holding Your Belly

For this exercise imagine that you have an enormous belly. Raise your arms from the beginning Wu Ji posture, so that they are held level with the abdomen, palms open and relaxed, fingers gently spread apart. Sink the weight slightly (about two inches) by bending the knees. Relax your arms, forming a long sweeping arc from each shoulder, down the arms to the hands. The fingers of each hand should be pointing towards the opposite knee. It should feel like you are lightly holding that enormous belly. As your practice continues over time and your endurance grows, you should aim to hold the positions for longer periods of time.

Fourth Posture – Standing in a Stream

Sink your weight from the Wu Ji position by four inches, and imagine you are standing in a stream that is flowing towards you. Reach your hands out to either side, palms down at waist height. Imagine little balls held under your palms and the flow of the stream trying to wash them away; mentally prevent this by gently pressing down on them. Do not let the shoulders raise or tense during this exercise. Let your mind find and release any tension, and hold the posture for five minutes to start with and then gradually increase the practice time.

Fifth Posture – Holding the Ball in Front of Your Face

This is by far the most challenging exercise. From the Wu Ji position, sink your weight as low as you can, but do not let your knees move forward past your toes. Lift your arms so that the hands are shoulder width apart and held at face height, palms facing forwards. You should imagine a ball in front of your face and you are gently guiding it forwards. Do not allow any tension in your arms. Keep your back straight and do not lean forward. You may only be able to hold this position for short periods of time to start off with, but persistence will pay dividends. Try to hold for up to five minutes.

Once you have built up your endurance and can perform all the five postures without creating any tension in your body, you can move onto the full cycle: hold each position for five minutes, starting from the First Posture, then Second, then Fifth, then Fourth, then Third, and finally finish with another five minutes in the First Posture.

Zhan Zhuang is a wonderful low impact form of cardiovascular exercise, and if you stick with it, you will find that – in the words of Lam Kam Chuen – you can stand still and be fit!