Shoalin, I know you don't get onto the forum much, but here goes...
Shoalin, Chi is alive. It isn't mind over matter. According to the Teachings of Agni Yoga; Chi, Prana, 'universal energy' are the collective of what they refer to as The Fires of Space. Every star radiates itself into space into all directions. This influence includes physical light and all the radiatory influence up the spectrum from each star. These subtle plasmas fill space. When we choose to address these energies while we breathe, we draw them into our body and then we receive the benefits of their influence in our chemistry. Sungazing will also help us in a similar way. I choose to sungaze with closed eyes, because I don't necessarily have the opportunity to do it as the sun rises. The bright light comes into the eyes, and through the optic nerves, saturates the brain and then the nerves. This boost is free to the participant. I don't feel the sunlight into our eyes is a choice, though the breathing of the energy seems to be. We walk around all day long with sunlight coming into our eyes, and therefore we are benefitting from it without realizing the fact. Its ok to acknowledge the influence anyway.
Chi, breathe it and let it into your body as often as you can acknowledge its existence.
I'm into the 61 year, and arthritis is creeping in. In my youth I practiced 100 day indirect iron palm. Really powerful striking method, but I had to stop the practice because I found that agressive action "out" by slapping the gravel bag, led to the same agressive energy coming back into my life, so I chose to learn how to deliver the loving touch instead. What goes around comes around. I got invloved with baguazhang because there wasn't 'striking' per se; but a tremendous amount of catching incoming energy into a spiraling movement and spinning it back into the opponent. Kam Yuen taught me some Shoalin forms back in the late 80s. Very aerobic, but impractical for older folks, though Kam is still 10 years older than myself as of his birthday yesterday. He has really honest bones in his body and is easy to like.
He is the Grand Master of 7 Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu now.
I take SAMe for the joint aches, and some Bayer. I order the SAMe from the Puritan Pride website, in the 100mg tablets, and I also include from the same site the CoQ10 100mg gelcaps, which I take 8 of those a day. The combo really helps me. I also keep liniments around from the orientalherb site I listed in the info box above. Combined with the chigong exercises and the breathing, my joints stay fairly flexible. Give up the striking martial arts, and embrace the redirecting martial arts. Better timing results and easier on your joints. Sure Baguazhang has stikes at the end of their movements but your opponent is almost always off balance by the time you strike him. gravy.
Drink warm water when you drink water. maybe a quart a day. the color of your urine will tell you how much is enough. When it is clear, you're drinking enough water.
get off of wheat and gluten foods, and just keep those foods out for awhile. Eat low glycemic carbs, leafy greens cut into soups made from lean meat and beans. It'll cut your food bill down and it'll help you feel good. We get 4 meals from a typical pot roast because we pull greens and tomatoes from the garden for soups for the following 3 days after the pot roast meal. If I eat gluten I pay dearly with joint aches and bad blood pressure.
You wanted my opinion. Look into the Fascia Fitness information. It will help you reprogram the fascia in your limbs so you don't injure yourself from stiffness as often. once maybe twice a week at most at first. I'd say first 3 months once a week, based on my 60 year old tissues responses from it.
Bruce Frantzis good place to start for redirection martial arts, also John Painter. Painter has a set of videos on baguazhang for street combat, and it is loaded with easy practical application movements. I guarantee you'll love the change in movement philosophy.
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