Tag Archives: Jackie Davies

Culture

Ancient Energy- Art Of Tai Chi Is Growing Fitness Trend

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What will the next fitness trend be? Has it already arrived? 

Master Moy Lin shin

 

According to Bruce Frantzis, it is Tai Chi. Frantzis, called one of the Westʼs greatest living masters, holds authentic lineages in Taoist energy arts.

He calls Tai Chi an über-exercise because you can do it for health, healing, martial arts and meditation. In China they say, “Tai chi (a Qigong form) can be done by anyone, male and female, young and old, strong and weak, intelligent and slow, healthy or ill.”

An über-exercise for everyone.

Studies show that Tai Chi Qigong reduces stress, heals illnesses, increases mental and physical performance, and is an effective tool for aging well. This is of particular interest to Baby Boomers as they enter their 60s. It enables them to heal or prevent the aching joints, sore muscles, memory lapses, and many other issues that come after middle age.

This evidence is what is powering the surge of interest in the Chi arts. In my own experience, typical aches and pains related to aging disappeared when I resumed my Tai Chi practice after a lapse of years: achy sore knees are almost restored to normal; lower back pain is easily managed; migraines are rarer and deflected in minutes; sleep is deeper; eating properly is easier; and I have more energy. In fact, I have almost no physical complaints at all, and when something minor does arise I am more effective at self-healing.

Shoot-Hawk-with-Bow- the author demonstrating Tai Chi

These things are significant; but, even more important to me is the pure joy I feel from the movement, the rhythm, the flow, as I practice my set. And the fun and satisfaction I get in teaching others.

Many people try Tai Chi, enjoy it, but quit in frustration complaining that it is complex and hard to remember. It is complex. There are many subtle skills to remember and perform all at the same time: slow, relaxed, smooth, continuous, movements performed in a state of mental relaxation with slow, deep breathing; careful attention to the alignment of all joints; proper foot placement and and weight shifting; outer and inner focus.

In traditional teaching the student tries their best to follow along with the teacher, soaking up like a sponge all that the teacher has to offer. The teacherʼs curriculum is more important than students goals and needs. For some people this ‘teacher led’ style works well. But for many it does not.

As Tai Chi enters the mainstream this method is giving way to new learner friendly approaches. Older students respond with enthusiasm to methods which take into account their life experience and individual needs. Trained teachers are developing systematic ways to teach these subtle skills so that students know exactly what they are aiming for and when they achieve it. Students gain competency sooner and nearly every one notices benefits even from their first class. For the Silo, Jackie Davies. 

 

Culture

Small House Living Is Bliss

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From our Facebook page:

Hi ‘Silo’,

Here are some quick shots I did of our place. For us, the challenge is to use every possible space and yet achieve a feeling of spaciousness. I just did a count of all the space saving/creating measures we have made over the years – about 25 – not counting replacing, enlarging and adding windows and doors – from simple shelves to complex projects involving cutting into walls and making a new room.
It has taken us more than 20 years to do this. We purchased the place and a barren 3/4 acres in 1986 for $20,000. And, it has turned out even better than we dreamed possible.
Even in this tiny space, we can lose each other. David Wells, my partner in all this, has a blog in which he talks about our life here. You may be interested:
http://DavesBackPorch.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

OUR SMALL HOUSE

EXTERIOR FRONT

INTERIOR – FRONT

INTERIOR FRONT

‘HALL’ FROM FRONT DOOR TO KITCHEN

MIRROR IN ‘HALL’ TO REFLECT MORE LIGHT

OFFICE/COMPUTER (to the immediate right of above ‘hall’)

KITCHEN STORAGE AND TABLE  (other side of office above)

KITCHEN – small but functional. As a former professional
cook, I have found ways to scale equipment way down,
and use my creativity to produce nutritious, interesting meals.

NEW KITCHEN DOOR ENTRY – STAIRS TO JEWELLERY STUDIO AT RIGHT

JEWELLERY STUDIO – PREVIOUS ENTRY

NEW BACK ENTRY

BEDROOM (7′ X 11′)

CLOSET – DVD STORAGE – behind door

BATHROOM w CLAWFOOT TUB – AND WINDOW LOOKING
OUT TO ‘WOODLET’ (A Spa at Home)

BATHROOM VANITY WITH BEACH GLASS MOSAIC INTERIOR WINDOW
TO LET LIGHT INTO CENTRE OF HOUSE

BEACH GLASS MOSAIC WINDOW

DAVE’S MUSIC STUDIO

DAVE’S BACK PORCH – entry to his music studio

Culture

Letters To Silo- Concern Over Canada-China Treaty Agreement

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Hello Silo, I think this is a very, very important non-partisan political issue.
I believe it is imperative to get the word out to all Canadians.
I hope The Silo will give it some publicity.
It is about the Canada-China Treaty Agreement.
This is a letter I got from Elizabeth May after I sent an eletter to Mr Harper.

“Thank you for your interest in the Canada-China Investment Treaty. Although Stephen Harper prefers to keep Canadians in the dark about this Agreement’s grave implications for our sovereignty, security, and democracy, I am hopeful that we can force the issue into daylight. Your letter proves that you recognize the seriousness and urgency of what is about to take place behind our backs.
While the Canada-China Investment Treaty will likely be our most significant treaty since NAFTA, Stephen Harper plans to sign it into law as early as November 2nd, 2012, without any public consultation, any consultation with First Nations, any Parliamentary debate, or even a single vote in the House of Commons. I do not accept such blatant disrespect for either the will of Canadians or for our democratic institutions.
Sadly, in addition to the anti-democratic process to approve this Agreement, it is the actual content of this investment deal with which I am most concerned. For the first time in Canadian history, the Canada-China Investment Treaty will allow investors (including Chinese state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC or Sinopec), to claim damages against the Canadian government in secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages.

Realizing what the Conservatives were attempting to do, in secret and without debate, and realizing that we will be bound by this destructive Agreement for up to 31 years once it is ratified, on October 1st, 2012, I made a request in the House of Commons for an Emergency Debate to allow Canada’s democratically elected Members of Parliament to study the implications of the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Although my request for an Emergency Debate was regrettably denied, we have not given up and are continuing to pursue all available options to stop the treaty’s approval. Given what is at stake, we hope that you will join us.

In addition to the tools found on our Canada-China Investment Treaty campaign site at http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout, I urge you to push back against this sell-out of our sovereignty, security, and democracy, and help to educate Canadians by talking to your friends and neighbours, writing letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, calling in to talk radio shows, and filling up the comment boards of news website.

Crucially, this is not a partisan issue, and it is only by coming together to stand up for Canada that we will succeed in stopping this agreement.

Stand up against the sellout to China | Green Party of Canada
www.greenparty.ca
On September 9th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed an agreement with China, theCanada-ChinaInvestment Treaty. The agreement was kept from the Canadian public and Parliament until September 26th, 2012, when it was quietly made public, tabled in the House of Commons. No press release. No technical…. Jackie Davies

Follow-up Letter from Mrs. Davies

The Canada-China Investment Treaty is a threat to our national integrity, environmental values, and our autonomy.
And, it is now legal for it to happen without any debate in our nation’s Parliament.

It is the biggest trade deal since NAFTA (1994).

What it will allow is this: Chinese companies (including state-owned enterprises) will be able to sue Canada over decisions that can limit or reduce their expectation of profits. China could claim damages against Canada for decisions at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level. Even decisions of our courts can give rise to damages.

It contains the same damaging clauses as NAFTA which are right at this very moment eroding away our Canadian resources and autonomy.

In an email she sent out, Elizabeth May says:
“On November 15th, US-incorporated firm Lone Pine Resources announced its intentions of suing the Government of Canada under the North American Free-Trade Agreement’s infamous Chapter 11. Over what? Quebec’s decision to impose a moratorium on all oil and gas exploration activities in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
By announcing the moratorium, Quebec not only made the right decision (the GPC is the only federal party calling for a moratorium on any oil and gas exploration and/or development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence), but it set the standard for every other province. The decision was made by elected officials and with overwhelming support in the population. Every Quebecer still had the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in mind. Lone Pine argues the decision was “arbitrary”. I say it was not.”

And so do I and thousands upon thousands of other Canadians.

This is not theoretical. This is happening right now with private US corporations. I shudder to think what would happen if Chinese Communist Party-controlled enterprises had this kind of power over our democratic processes.

For more information on what you can do about the Canada-China Investment Treaty
go to this link http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout/action

By the way, Green Leader Elizabeth May won top honours at tonight’s 2012 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards, an annual event organised by Macleans’ and L’Actualité. The MPs themselves voted in eight categories to select the winners.

“I am so honoured to receive such an enormous award from my colleagues in the House.” She is the first woman and first Green Party member to win the award.

Jackie Davies

 

*The Silo is a non-partisan online and print publication. The opinions expressed in Letters to the Silo are not necessarily those of the Silo/Mith Media. We welcome all input and encourage informed debate