My Journey to the Original Makkō-Hō Exercises

 "Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead."

Morehei Ueshiba (1883 - 1969), founder of Aikido, author of The Art of Peace

As a Shiatsu Practitioner my job is to study health and the human experience. Ueshiba Sensei's statement rings true in my observation. The healthiest people are those who actively learn. People who constantly expand their movement vocabulary and refine their habits are actively engaged with Life. Modern science might say they are exercising neuroplasticity.

Conversely, people who hold onto old patterns despite diminished return for effort, resist refining their movements and learning new movement allow their mobility to narrow. With narrowed range of motion it is no surprise pain conditions become part of daily life.

I have a specific case to back up this claim: that of Wataru Nagai, inventor of the Makkō-Hō exercises. 

The story of Mr. Wataru Nagai (1889 to 1967) of Japan:* In younger life he devoted all of his time and energy to building financial security and ignored his body. As a result he suffered a stroke at the age of 42. Paralyzed on his left side, doctors considered his condition incurable and told him that he would henceforth be disabled.

Rather than accept this prognosis he determined to regain his body. 

Inspired by the deep devotional bowing practices of Buddhism and common resting positions observed in children Mr. Nagai developed four specific exercises.

Here is a brief demonstration of correct form in an ad.

Having only this to focus on, Nagai practiced these exercises twice daily with precise form and breathing. According to the book his son Haruka Nagai wrote in 1972, progress was difficult and slow. With three years of perseverance and commitment to regular practice he was able to regain his health and vastly increase his mobility. With such remarkable results, Mr. Nagai knew he had discovered something important. The exercise method he designed stimulates blood flow, stretches the nerves, strengthens atrophied muscle groups and thus accelerates cell metabolism.

He dedicated the remainder of his life to teaching this amazing restorative system. He died at age of 78 in a car accident.

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How I came to know about the Makkō-Hō system.

Through Shiatsu: At the Boston Shiatsu School (1996-7) we began every class with the "Makkō-Hō meridian stretches." I did not hear the name nor learn the system of Wataru Nagai the entire time of my Shiatsu training. I was taught that Shizuto Masunaga (1925 - 1981), founder of Zen Shiatsu, had developed a series of meridian stretches to compliment his Shiatsu training. My teacher was one of Masunaga Sensei's students.

In subsequent years of Shiatsu study I've seen the meridian stretches taught in different ways. Each style has its own emphasis, but all stay true to Masunaga's method.

Through Aikido: I arrived in Boulder, CO, began my Shiatsu practice in 1999 and joined the Boulder Ki-Aikido dojo the following year. Every aikido class started with a martial arts version of four of the "Makkō-Hō meridian stretches" I had learned. Now I know that the four stretches are those of Nagai's original set. I could see that the dojo method was not focussed on the meridians but rather a general hip, back and leg warm-up. 

Over the course of years I saw that the pre-training stretches prevented injuries and helped students maintain adequate flexibility to advance their aikido practice.

Through research for my class: I taught the meridian stretches learned in Shiatsu school a few times. In 2020 I gave a 6-class series called "Makkō-Hō, Meridian Stretches and Basic Self-Care." I even made follow-up videos for my students during Pandemic Lockdown.

In the Summer of 2021 I started researching the material to prepare for another series. I wanted to know how Zen Shiatsu Students and Ki-Aikido students had learned this stretching system in such different ways.

I found two books. Makkō-Hō: Five Minutes' Physical Fitness by Haruka Nagai, out of print, and John Dixon's The Original MAKKŌ-HŌ: Regain Youth and Flexibility with Five Minutes Exercises from Japan, both pictured below. John Dixon revamped and streamlined the original material, staying true to the spirit of Haruka Nagai's writing.

Once I read the books three things happened:

First, I started doing the exercises correctly every morning before breakfast. It was different, I felt sore in the beginning as new muscle patterns were developing, but I found that the correct method produced a more satisfying stretch than either the meridian stretch or aikido versions had. My daily yoga asana practice began to deepen and I started noticing old hip and knee concerns fading away.

Second, I introduced the correct movements to members of my dojo. They shrugged and continued with what they had been doing. It seemed to them out of place to trade in the warm-up movements for therapeutic exercises.

Third, I now teach the original system in my class. For people who haven't been practicing any mobility exercises this system is deceptively challenging. For people who already have a stretching routine it's great! People who practiced the exercises even a few times between classes make notable progress in both mobility and physical comfort.

*     *     *     *     *

Nagai discovered a rejuvenating sequence of movement, breath and spiritual focus that has the potential to restore robust quality of life. In the preface of his book, Nagai's son commented that his father spent 10 years actively promoting and teaching these four exercises. As with my experience, some individuals picked up the practice, but he was largely met with indifference because the exercises "are too simple and they cost nothing." His statement, published in 1972, addressed the modern misconception that only costly and complex methods have value.

Additionally, I have found that people lack persistence if they do not have an immediate need to improve their mobility.

Mr. Nagai's case exemplifies a dire need. After a health crisis that left him partially paralyzed he had nothing but time to practice twice-daily, slowly regaining full capacity over the course of three years. Because this was his need he struggled with precise form and breathing, and endured the temporary phases of soreness that came from rejuvenating his body.

Obviously Mr. Nagai's determination to teach his system had enough influence that his contemporaries Shizuto Masunaga and Ueshiba Sensei heard about it and made use of the general forms for their own purposes.

I am deeply grateful for this discovery, both for my own growth and for the quality of life improvement that can come to those who learn this exercise system. The Western Medical model does so very little to help people take control of their own wellbeing. As we see through the example of Wataru Nagai, it is up to each of us to find methods that help us grow, thus engage with the spirit of Life. 

Wishing you all the best in your wellbeing,

Christian

* Makkō-Hō: Five Minutes' Physical Fitness by Haruka Nagai, 1972 Japan Publications, Inc., Japan Publications Trading Company, San Francisco.

Highlights of my Advanced Training & Education of the past 8 years

The most profound teacher I've had to date is the late Kikuko "Kiku" Zutrau-Miyazaki, Head Master and owner of the Boston Shiatsu School, where I received my primary education. I met her at age 24, she was 73. The pearls of wisdom she imparted were multitude. One of them is the reason for this blog:

This primary education is a place to start your practice. Continue to study Shiatsu, add to your tool kit and develop yourself as a practitioner. 

Through my credentialling organization, the American Organization of Body Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) I learned that Zen Shiatsu Chicago was holding it's first Shiatsu Symposium in 2013. What a joy it was to attend that 6 day event! For the first time since my graduation I was in a LARGE group of fellow Shiatsu practitioners! At this event a different teacher lead the activities of each day so we could get a sample of new technique, suppervised practice, and deeper understanding of the fundamental theories and culture of our practice.

The next Symposium I was able to attend was 2017. The focus was changed, each of three teachers lead a two-day workshop. Three advanced practitioners deepened our understanding of the interconnected meridian structure, the body as an integrated whole, and Sotai, which I will mention again later. 

The last Shiatsu Symposium that took place was in 2019. This one stretched into more subtle realms of self-awareness for the practitioner. Seiki Shiatsu, necessitating the practitioner to keep complete presence and trust in her intuition, was the first section. The deeply accomplished Carrola Beresford-Cook followed with a profound view of Shiatsu beyond technique. (I hope to learn directly from her whenever travel to Wales is more safe.) Then we worked within the subcutaneous and peritoneal layers to unlock injury patters that hold deeper layers out of balance.

One of the teachers from the first Symposium, Winter Jade Forest has stayed connected with Zen Shiatsu. I was fortunate to attend some of her advanced training in Joint Healing, Visceral Manipulation & Lymphatic Drainage, and Energy Field integration.

Sotai is a technique I learned at Boston Shiatsu School, so when I saw it at the 2017 Symposium was happy for a more in-depth look at it. The technique is mind-bogglingly simple. Using the direction of most comfort, the practitioner helps the receiver reconnect uncomfortable movement patterns with the experience of ease. The client has to "do work" by way of moving their own body through ranges of motion, give feedback about sensations along the route, and actively re-check the range of motion. The practitioner helps determine the movement of greatest ease, provides a slight resistance to engage the nerves along the pathway, guides the body into a comfortable position to relax completely. Sotai can be done without a practitioner, which requires the receiver to learn the basic philosophy and take initiative to do it outside the treatment space. In my experience this technique works with one out of 10 receivers, as it requires the receiver to actively engage with the session. In other words, Unless a person has chosen to do this technique deliberately, I have noticed that most Western bodywork receivers do not prefer to do their own work.

Bob Quinn and Jeffery Dann were the Sotai teachers at the Shiatsu Symposium. They presented subtle and effective sequences of movement to help release tension patterns all along the spine. The following year I attended a two-day event in Boulder, CO, where an expanded group of Sotai practitioners presented a deeper layer of training. 

Those who have received my Barefoot Shiatsu technique have several teachers to thank. Working with the feet is common to Shiatsu and Thai Yoga bodywork. As these modalities dovetail so nicely, I've taken every opportunity to learn more Barefoot technique. Randy Cummins, one of the Shiatsu teachers at the 2013 Symposium, has developed an extensive meridian-oriented format using a support pole. The workshop I took from him in 2017 in a small city near Dallas, TX, notched-up my Barefoot game, and I continue to enjoy the easeful effectiveness in practice.

On the level of subtle energetics, Core Synchronism is an utterly brilliant merging of Cranial Osteopathy and Polarity Therapy. Teacher/creator Robert Stevens taught my teacher, Alyssa Gillespie. I was blessed to take levels 1 and 2 (twice each!) from her and level 3 from Mr. Stevens himself, all here in Boulder, CO! (There are 7 levels altogether, so I am by no means finished with this study.) This work recognizes the impact life has on the body, the features and systems therein, and offers an avenue to re-harmonize/Synchronize these parts with the flow of the Core Current (aka Cranio-Sacral rhythm). Within the network of recognized features are the bones, organs, lymphatic & glandular systems, chakras, internal & external energetic networks, and brain/nervous system, all of which stabilize mental and emotional patterns. Receivers who are available for the depth of release possible with this method could have life-changing shifts away from injury and trauma. 

Breema workshops in Boulder, CO, have had a special place in my development as a mat therapist. This is a unique practice that places greater focus on the giver than the receiver. Taught in short sequences of self-Breema and partner exercises, this modality has impacted me with the importance of being relaxed and in my own natural flow as the giver, and using the receiver's body to my own benefit. Pure Breema practitioners string together several of these short sequences to compose a 30 to 45 minute session, with little regard to whatever "symptoms" the receiver has to be treated. I have taken several of the formats from Breema as transitions and opening movements.

Western Body Eastern Mind 100 hour anatomy and physiology coursework came to me through the AOBTA. Teacher/creator Debby Valentine Smith offers this online self-paced course to satisfy the anatomy & physiology requirements for Asian Body Therapy training curricula, and for those of us who need to freshen up our understanding of Chinese Medical Theory. The entire course took me more than 3 years to complete (which I did on July 4th of last year), and it was without a doubt the most valuable investment I've made to my career.

Over the past year I have nurtured my interest in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, a practice I've developed actively since 2017. As I began deepening my study of yogic traditions I became aware that Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor are holding their month-long Teachers' Intensive in Boulder this year. Starting the second week of July I will be taking the in-person training curriculum to become an Ashtanga teacher! I am so excited for this opportunity, and inflow of new information about movement, breathing and the union of consciousness within the body.

Thank you to all of the clients and colleagues, who have supported my bodywork practice and development through these years! I hope this post has been informative and given you ideas that you may not have thought about before. I especially want this post to emphasize how many different approaches to full-being health there are to explore.

Please feel free to ask questions or comment on anything you've read.

Wishing you radiant health as the Summer progresses,

Christian 

My Breakthrough Covid Experience - Act 3

I am in the functional recovery stage of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Click here for my blog about the beginning of this infection.

Click here for my blog about the middle part of this infection.

In both of the above posts I mentioned that I have been doing a candida cleanse based on Ann Boroch's 90-day protocol for more than a month and was able to maintain the cleanse for the entire time of my quarantine.

Here is a very general re-cap of the candida cleansing diet:

• Completely cut out sugar, gluten, dairy, fungus, fermentation, acidic food and drinks, preservatives, additives, refined vinegars and oils.
• Fruits: One a day of fresh (not dried), extremely low sugar varieties such as a handful of blueberries, grapefruit and green apples. Lemon juice is alright as a flavoring. Avocados are fine in addition to the one fresh fruit per day.
• Vegetables: all except corn, peas, mushrooms and potatoes. Limit or cut yams, squash, and nightshades.
• Grains: the ones that are actually seeds (quinoa, millet, amaranth), brown rice and buckwheat.
• Nuts and seed: avoid cashews, peanuts and pistachios.
• Meat: red meat, poultry, eggs, fish.

For anyone interested, Boroch's The Candida Cure Cookbook has a summary of all relevant information about symptoms of candida overgrowth. I have enjoyed making the cleanse-friendly soda and Paleo bread recipes, and have gotten great entree ideas.

Even without the supplement and herbal teas included in Boroch's 3-month protocol, anyone who adheres to the above diet for 3 months will without question experience health benefits. I mention this because I attribute the lack of inflammation in my intestines as the main reason I had a short phase of mucous congestion and discharge (Days 3 - 5). 

Progression of my infection:

Monday (Memorial Day): woke feeling cool & rested with some awareness of tonsil pressure. Coughed out some thick phlegm. Hungry for breakfast. After morning routine noticed a very slight temperature at forehead and back of neck. half or less the increase of previous day.

• Treatment: followed the impulse to eat a "stronger" breakfast with eggs. All tea preparations included restorative/nutritive herbs. Continued with taking capsules of essential oils. Spent hours in the kitchen making roast chicken and vegetables. More stretching to move lymph in the evening.
• Response: Nasal sound and throat clearing, coughing produced clear or yellowish phlegm. I heated up and sweat in the evening, changed pajamas during the night.

Tuesday: again cool in the morning, still felt some pressure in tonsils. Productive coughing, but less than on Monday. Still aware of fullness in tonsils. Practiced yoga which felt great.

Test # 4, a clear negative!

• Day 11 test: clear negative antigen test!
• Treatment: continued with all supplements, herbal preparations, essential oils and did a bodywork session!
• Response: Nasal sound and throat clearing during the day. Not a hacking cough, just one productive cough at a time. While working I sweat easily. Again heated up and sweat in the evening and at night enough to change my shirt.

Wednesday: woke somewhat tired, still productive coughing and still the tonsil thing! Short yoga practice due to an early appointment.

• Treatment: all supplements, herbs and essential oils the same as Tuesday. Work and some biking around town.
• Response: good appetite for dinner. Throat and voice cleared up some during the day. Sweat easily during work and sweat at night, but not enough to soak my shirt.

Thursday: Still with the tonsils! Very good yoga practice which produced a normal amount of sweat.

Negative. Ready for yoga in a group.

• Day 13 test: clear negative antigen test.
• Treatment: nutritive supplements and herbal teas. Changing tactic on essential oils, I started an anti-parasitic blend (previously was using anti-fungal/anti-microbial oils). Continuing with large quantities of restorative herbal tea.
• Result: continued reduction of the sensation in my throat, but not completely cleared. Still sweating easily when I do bodywork, and sweat during the night.

Friday: This tonsil thing is getting old. Practicing yoga at pre-sickness capacity. The infection has had no impact at all on my cardiovascular strength or breathing capacity.

• Treatment: switched herbal tea to a single restorative/nutritive one, continuing with the anti-parasite protocol as it is an optional part of the Candida Cure. I remembered a specific essential oil that cleared a lymphatic concern a few years ago, so applied it topically to my lymph nodes and took a gel-cap full at night.
• Result: sweating at work and still some sweat during the night. My neck smelled good.

Note about my work:

I do mat bodywork, which is an Asian-style therapy done on a futon. The client is fully clothed, allowing me to move their joints freely as well as lever them into stretches. Since I am close to the ground, and using correct body mechanics, I can lift around 30% of a person's bodyweight for decompression stretches or to traction joints. I move and change positions constantly in the course of a session. I have always generated heat while working, but for the first 5 days back from my Covid Quarantine I sweat much more than usual.

**For the record, all clients who received sessions from me this week were fully informed of my Covid infection and when I got the first negative antigen test. They chose to keep their appointments. I have returned to wearing a mask while working, and will maintain this through next week.

How did I get all those rapid antigen tests?

The first two came from my state. I ordered a box months ago when the FDA Emergency Use Authorization dropped a bunch of iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Tests on the states. Two tests per box, I received Test Set 1. These both gave positive results (Days 2 & 6). 

My housemate has access to tests at her workplace. She brought home two "on/go one" Covid-19 Antigen Home Tests so we would have a stash. I used one of them to get my "almost negative" result on Day 9. 

The owner of my office location has a stash of Binax NOW Covid-19 Antigen Self Tests onsite, so I used one of those for the first negative result on Day 11.

When I was reporting my results from the first two positive tests I noticed that the CDC has a link for people to receive 8 free tests, which FDA had released to the Post Office for distribution at the end of last year I believe. I ordered them on Day 2 or 3 and they (2 packages with 4 test each) arrived on Wednesday (Day 12). This provided me with a different test (Test Set 2) to use for the negative result on Day 13.

So what now? Is this persistent tonsil thing my version of "lingering symptoms"?

Starting on Friday, which would be Day 14, I have been continuing to anoint my neck/lymph nodes twice a day with the lymph decongesting essential oil, and take 10 - 15 drops internally twice per day. I notice a decrease in the enlargement of my tonsils every day, which seems to peak in mid-afternoon. They feel the most normal upon rising and just before bed.

I am willing to concede that the sweating at night could be a symptom of pre-menopause. However I believe it is distinctly related with the tonsil enlargement, as this was not happening before my Covid infection. This tells me that there is still a bacteria engaging my secondary lymphoid organs which is interesting because Covid is a virus.

I plan to keep using the lymph decongesting essential oil and start diffusing anti-bacterial essential oils for this week. I don't know what will work, but neither of these things will hurt.

Please feel free to pass on any of my blogs if you know someone who might benefit from this account of my experience. I have not used any synthetic drugs to alleviate symptoms. All herbs, supplements and essential oils were either in my possession or easy to come by at a natural food store. During the quarantine phase I received 2 fresh food drops from friends who offered to deliver groceries.

May we all enjoy abundant health,

Christian

My Breakthrough Covid Experience - the Saga Continues

 I'm on Day 9 of a mild, symptomatic case of SARS-CoV-2

Picking up where I left off in the last post --

A note about daily routines: almost 1 liter or water directly after waking. Teas and supplements consistent with the Candida Cure protocol mentioned in previous blog. Gentle stretching, then foam rolling to support lymphatic drainage and brief breathing exercises in the morning. Up until Thursday I also repeated an easy stretching sequence in the evening before bed. Beginning Thursday I started doing a salt water nasal flush in the morning.

A note about diet: all food is consistent with Candida Cure protocol, and I've been sure to eat smaller or larger meals, as some of the cleanse supplements need to be taken after food.

Progression of my case:

Wednesday: Plenty of mucous discharge, productive cough, sore throat gone. Still the "virus-y" sensation in my sinuses and throat.

• Treatment: tea with expectorant and warming herbs. I had the hot water bottle heated up and on my body at all times during the day. It felt most soothing to lay with it under my upper chest or directly on my chest, also neck and side of head. 
• Response: Presumably the hot water bottle and warming herbs generated enough heat to keep my sinuses and throat clear. At the end of the day I no longer wanted the hot water bottle.

Thursday: Notably dizzy upon getting out of bed. Coughing and discharge in the morning, more energy than any previous day. "Virus-y" sensation still present.  Good appetite for breakfast but after felt a power-down.

This is the test of Day 2, but it looked the same on Day 6.

• Day 6 Test: Rapid antigen results positive.
• Treatment: slept mid-day and sweat, seems to be a low fever. after drinking nearly 1 gallon of tea (same herb combo as Wed.) and water, I wrapped up in socks, slippers, a hat and put a hoody on over my pajamas and got into bed. About 2 hours later I had completely sweated through everything. Changed clothes, ate a small dinner, went to the bathroom and laid down to repeat the process. By the early hours of Friday morning I had sweated through 4 shirts and three pajama bottoms.
• Response: My throat/nose was improved.

Friday: Full-body dizziness upon rising. "Virus-y" sensation present but reduced. My appetite for breakfast was stronger, and I had an impression that I would need to eat more food that day.

• Treatment: once breakfast was over I washed and dried clothes from previous night and proceeded to drink the same amount of the herbal tea combo as the previous day and water. At around 2pm I started feeling heat rising from my chest so I got into bed all dressed in hoodie, socks and hat. 1.5 hours later got up to change clothes, ate a dinner (added hot sauce, why not?) and went back to bet around 6:30pm to repeat the cycle until around 11pm.
• Response: Again, throat/nose improved.

Saturday: Woke feeling grounded in my body. Still noticed sensation in throat, but the entire feeling in my nasal passage was remarkably improved. 

• Treatment: Morning stretches felt very good and breakfast provided more energy. Noticed that my throat was clear enough to do yoga breathing. Finished the laundry from the night before and got as much food into me as felt comfortable before beginning the sweat-through process. Between changes 2 and 3 I was aware that I would need more electrolytes and nutritionally dense foods.
• Took supplements high in minerals and filled gel-caps with essential oils in the evening.
• Response: After the 3rd sweat-through my body said "that's enough." 

Sunday: Woke feeling as close to normal as ever, though throat still tight around tonsils. Notable temperature, perhaps 2º (I don't have a thermometer, but this felt like a low-grade fever). Hungry.

Day 9 test, "It's almost negative!"

• Day 9 Test: Rapid antigen results faint positive.
• Treatment: As I was able to easily do yoga breathing for the second day, I decided to embark on an in-room practice with the understanding that as soon as my body started to loose energy I would stop. It felt so good that I completed a full session. This produced so much sweat that I decided I will not need to do any more deliberate stimulation of sweat.
• Continued with high-mineral supplements, essential oils, changed herb blend now to include those high in nutrients and blood building.
• Result: tightness in tonsils much reduced. Slight "virus-y" sensation returned in afternoon, and reduced after unprovoked sweating. Fever down in the evening.

Plan going forward: 

- Increase nutritional density of everything I consume.

- Take tomorrow off of yoga, as it's the New Moon, but resume on Tuesday as long as all symptoms continue to improve.

- Test again on Tuesday morning. The rapid antigen tests are providing a status report of the level of antigens present, and let me tell you I am collecting a thorough sample. If Tuesday still isn't a clear negative I will prepare to remain in quarantine for next week.

It's helpful for me to journal about this, as it gives me a picture of the progression. I have asked people who have already gone through this what symptoms they had: "All of them."

If Fri. May 20th was Day 0 = first full day of symptoms (the tight feeling in my tonsils that persisted all day and became a sore throat at night)

Days 1 - 3 = sore throat

Days 3 - 5 = nasal congestion/discharge

Days 4 - 6 = productive cough

Days 6 & 7 = dizziness

Days 6 - 8 = tired enough to sleep early

Day 9 = low-grade fever & recurrence of feeling fullness in tonsils

Another thing I've heard is that people feel very depleted after this long of a sickness. 

A big motivator for me to maintain my cleansing diet is that it is nutritionally rich. The protocol begins adding blood enriching supplements at the second month. Now that I'm feeling my body clearly craving nutritional support I will add more of those to my supplement routine beginning tomorrow. I already started on Saturday with the high-mineral supplement and blood building herbs.

I added gel-caps with essential oils because, of all the tools I have, they have the highest potential to expedite the completion of this case. I did not add them sooner because during a mucous discharge phases they cause dehydration. In the first days of deep sweating I didn't have enough appetite, which indicates that digesting them would have taken additional energy.

May we all learn from each other.

Please share your observations and experiences in the comments.

Blessings and health,

Christian

My Breakthrough Covid Experience pt. 1

DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice, but an account of my personal experience and health practices. I am sharing this in case anyone reading it finds relevance/inspiration/insight into their own experience. I fully intend to work through this virus at home, using natural remedies within the grasp of my knowledge. I have intentionally not mentioned any of the herbs or supplements I am using, as I wish to in no way be seen as endorsing a specific tradition of natural healing. I take full responsibility for my actions and opinions.

I'm on day 4 of a mild, symptomatic case of SARS-CoV-2. 

My symptoms began as a feeling of fullness in lymph nodes of my neck on Friday evening, progressing to an acute sore throat all day Saturday and into Sunday morning. I took a rapid at-home antigen test Sunday morning which very quickly confirmed that it is the Covid virus. I reported my results to the state tracking system and cleared my schedule for the next week. 

**For the record, I let all the people/groups I had been around know of my status. No one has reported feeling any onset of symptoms.**

Relevant background about myself to help understand my "case:"

• Last year I received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine on recommended schedule, fully vaccinate in late May, then received the Moderna shot as my booster in December.
• My lifestyle is of an alternative health care provider, I do Shiatsu Bodywork and teach Stretching & Self-Care for a living. I've been an avid Ashtanga Yoga practitioner for the past 5 years, practice in a tai chi group, and do not own a car, rather travel by bike or occasional CarShare.
• As of June 2018 my diet is gluten-, dairy-, and grain-free. 
• My "comorbidity" is a pre-diabetic HA1C result back in 2017 which I haven't been able to shake (one hint, using Bree cheese as my main fat for a 6 month Keto diet didn't help with blood sugar/candida issues). 
• Beginning May 19th of this year I have been following a 90-day Candida Cleanse (based on Ann Borock, CNC's The Candida Cure: Yeast, Fungus & Your Health - not an endorsement, simply making note of a significant variable), so my guts have been being disinfected and blood cleansed for a month. 
• I will be 50 in a few months.
• I have no (0) prescriptions and have no (0) history of prescriptions other than antibiotics, most recently for oral surgery in 2017. See above candida concern...
• Last significant factor, which I believe pairs with confession #4 as the reason for the rapid onset of my symptoms: I had a silver amalgam filling removed 7 days before I began experiencing symptoms.

The Confessions:

1. I have not been wearing a mask in my favorite natural food grocery store.
2. The main yoga studio I practice in adopted the Vaccinated Only Facility protocol last fall, so none of us there have been wearing masks. The tai chi group is mask-optional with no vaccine requirement. I have opted not to wear a mask there, too. When teaching Self-Care I have always worn a mask.
3. Most of my clients have had Covid, vaccinated or not. For all of May I have not been masking during every bodywork session. I have worn a mask for clients who have arrived wearing them.
4. On Friday morning I underestimated a sudden change of weather and ended up biking to and from yoga practice in the rain with inadequate rain gear.
5. I do believe that endemicity is necessary to move through the Pandemic, so was taking calculated risks. Is there a "good time" to get a Corona virus?

My Deduction:

As my county has been having a surge in reported Covid cases for the past month, I could have been exposed to the contagion in a few places. Once my immune system was compromised, first by the filling being removed and then exposure in weather that I was not prepared for, there was no stopping it.

Back to the progression of my case:

Sunday night was my deep sweat lodge with the help of extra blankets, clothes and a hot water bottle. In the middle of the night I got up and changed into dry pajamas, then back to bed for more sweating. This helped radically improve the sore throat and kept my mucous flowing, so I did not lose the ability to breathe through my nose.

Monday was another day of sweating between frequent trips to the kitchen for tea and bathroom to let it flush out. I found it very useful to lay with the hot water bottle under my upper thoracic spine/the top of my chest which increased the ease of nose breathing. From natural healing traditions, heat increases the flow of blood and relaxes the nervous system.

Tuesday ready supply of clear mucous and finally expectorating! As I've been paying close attention to the specific physical targets of Covid, and knowing that I'm in a region that has prevalence of Omicron variants (according to the CDC Nowcast - https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#circulatingVariants) I know that the lining in the upper respiratory mucosa are where this mutation tends to lodge, making it apparently more mild than previous variants. Coughing up thick, white mucous is a sign that my body is "clearing out the wreckage" of the adaptive immunity warfare.

A Note About "clearing out the wreckage:"

I know it sounds disgusting, but this is the healing process in action.

Most people at high altitude have experienced the difference between a "dry," non-productive cough and a "wet," productive cough as the tail of a respiratory virus. 

The "dry" version quickly becomes painful, as the lungs are trying to expel waste-laden mucous that is too dry to release with the upward heave of airflow produced by a cough. It makes the throat feel "raw" and ends up being the last lingering symptom of sickness which can carry on for weeks.

The "wet" version only sounds bad. It actually feels very good to hack up a (hopefully) white  mass of gunk. I say hopefully white, as this indicates that it hasn't entered a bacterial (yellow) or viral (green) level within the lungs. Sometimes the last vestiges of a virus are the few gratifying coughs that bring the final goo out of the throat.

I haven't been so brain fogged that I could not deal with rescheduling all of my clients. I've felt most fatigued Sunday and Monday thus far, though I had energy to wash my laundry Monday. I changed and washed and all bed linens, and wiped down all kitchen surfaces, door knobs and light switches with a bleach solution (.24 cup bleach with 1 gallon water)* today.

I have learned not to try and force the process to go faster by taking strong, scouring herbs in the beginning stage or attempt to mute the symptoms with over-the-counter drugs. Both of these things lead to dehydration, prolong the flow of waste out of the body, and leads to the dread "dry" cough.

Instead I am flooding my body with warm, herbal teas and straight water from early morning until just before I get into bed so I will have plenty of fluid to sweat out at night.

I'm not out of the woods yet. As this is still absorbing all of my waking hours, I know it's not over, and that now is not the time to go outside and let my surface temperature drop. My plan is to maintain my candida cleanse diet and supplement routine, stay inside and warm, and pay attention to what brings greater ease.

In a few more days I will report how my strategy is working!

I deeply wish for health and improvement for every human on the Planet.

May we all find the greatest good within our own lives.

Christian

* correction made 5/25/2022 My original notation was way higher. It is actually 1:32 bleach to water.

The Power of Spiritual Integrity*

As human beings we are tremendously afraid of our innate power. 

Humans have moved beyond survival thinking, beyond group/herd mind, to the capacity of thinking as singular beings. In the Natural World, predictable way of acting for group survival and preservation of domain are attributed to "primal" or "limbic" brain activity, also known as "instinct." When scrutinizing spontaneous Acts of Nature humans must  broaden their perspective to understand everything observed, but ultimately the deep pull of instinct becomes clear. 

We humans are complicated. Though we are social beings we are still capable of acting apart from or against our instinct for species and domain survival. For example, humans as individuals are reasonably aware of the needs of others, but in groups become unnaturally defiant and violent against other people and their property. Another example is the paradox of how we treat our domain: though we are entirely dependent upon the Earth and it's atmosphere, large groups of us are capable en masse of damaging and depleting our world and food resources.

The reason for my original statement, that we are afraid of our innate power, is slanted toward Western Culture because it is my place of origin, and because it is a large group that exerts its choices on the rest of the human population. When a singular unit becomes aware that his/her group is not acting in accord with the betterment, or even survival, of the whole there is a strong delimma to be confronted. This may be the most genuine power struggle a person faces: confronting the inner need to be part of a social network without losing Spiritual Integrity.

The return path to integrity is well travelled but by a relatively few number. All spiritual and support communites have a knowing that they are walking outside common social practices and have various degrees of committment toward Whole Globe responsibility. The general guideline is within the phrase "living with integrity." This refers to the active choice of a person to match his/her spiritual beliefs with his/her actions and speech. This brings a person's entire life into consistency, thought, word and deed. 

How can I know when my Spiritual Integrity is guiding me?

1. There is a feeling of calm. In a connected state, our mind and body relate with each other in the moment, thus there is a feeling that everthing is happening as it should. There is a sense of knowing that there is no need to accelerate activity. The breath settles into the trust that an inhale will follow every exhale.

2. The inner body experience feels light. There may be a sense of release, or letting go of something that has been held out of habit. The mind feels freedom when pondering the future under the guidance of Spiritual Integrity, though the analytical thought process is aware of people and situations that may no longer fit into the picture. As a result there will be emotions of sadness, loss, grief, concern and/or frustration. One feeling that is clearly absent is fear, as the power of inner truth carries with it the virtue of wisdom.

3. There is nothing to prove or defend. Though there may be things to explain, truth and inner knowing have their own sense of purpose. The only thing to do is trust and be part of the unfolding experience. A person fully in Spiritual Integrity does not need to give reasons, the body and mind will take actions to maintain the state of connection. Because of a broadened perception, it becomes easier for someone who is changing course toward integrity to feel compassion for people who share their previous mental fixation.

4. Mutual respect and co-creation. Someone acting out of his/her own integrity will not ask other people to compromise their integrity. Even if the other people don't realize it, an integral person will not ask others to go against their best interests. Additionally, when integral people or groups recognize each other's sovereignty spontaneous acts of support for each other will emerge.

Just as important as finding one's own Spiritual Integrity is the attitude of non-attachment to whether other people move in the same direction. As much as it is a challenge to un-do one's own convoluted path to a disconnected mind and life, even more so is the challenge to percieve the conditions that would lead another person into disconnection. The pain of healing from disillusion can easily be underestimated unless we keep in mind the personal transformation we ourselves have passed through. The best we can do is have humility, the ability to ask forgiveness and a gentle heart toward others. 

The final part of this circle is to answer the question What is the power of Spiritual Integrity? It is clear conscience and accountability. It is to know the correct response without needing to check if it is correct by anyone else's standard. It is the ability to give the answer "no" with conviction, and the ability to hear another person's opinion without fear of losing one's own ground. It is also the ability to admit mistakes and accept responsibility for making things right.

With warm regards,

Christian

*The distinction I am making is based on the Chinese Medical Theory, that there are 5 Spirits/Spiritual Essences embodied within the Human Being: Zhi (Willpower), Shen (Spirit), Po (Animal Inheritance), Yi (Cognition/Intelligence) and Hun (Ethereal Body, or the effects of life actions). This is different from the Western concept that the being is made of four aspects: physcial, mental, emotional and spiritual.

My use of "integrity" implies cohesiveness, completeness or a self-stabilized quality, so either the Chinese Medical understanding of 5 Spirits or Western concept of four aspects of being are both sound models. However I felt it worthwhile to explain that "Spiritual Integrity" is not limited to the spiritual aspect of a person as separate from the mental, emotional and physical aspects. 

Booster shot muscle pain hacks

As a Shiatsu Practitioner I've managed to keep a fair distance from Western Medicine for the past 20+ years. It does take work to manage good health (a story for another post) and from the age of 40 I've found that taking an active part in balancing my own wellbeing has kept me away from doctors and hospitals.

In order to support the common good I went ahead and got the 2 x mRNA vaccines back in the spring and the other brand mRNA booster shot mid-December. All of the shots had minimal effects, though I certainly noticed a general need to power down for the day of the injection and part of the next day. With the booster shot I started feeling very sore muscles in the entire shoulder and upper quadrant on the side of the injection. This is not something I'm accustom to standing for, so started making use of the normal tools I have on hand and by the end of the third day the pain was no longer of concern. I spoke with a yoga teacher who had been boosted the same week and heard that she had the same muscle pain for a solid week! I told her about my remedies. She hadn't used them and didn't even think of them.

So here now I'm putting out the news of ways to more quickly alleviate muscle pain caused by the booster shot.

Apply a topical muscle relaxing remedy. I used a blend produced by Young Living Essential Oils called Aroma Sieze. This blend contains essential oils of Basil, Marjoram, Lavender, Peppermint and Cypress. Other ingredients to topical muscle relaxing rubs are Cayenne and Black Pepper, Wintergreen, Arnica, Comfrey and Ginger.

Apply heat. Hot water bottle is the simplest. A microwaveable rice bag or electric heating pad will also do just fine. Keep the heat on wherever it feels good for at least 20 minutes. Repeat as needed. This stimulates blood flow, allowing the muscle to unclench more easily. 

Use a foam roller. Start on the side in which you received the injection. Laying on the roller on your side at the lower part of the ribs (above the floating ribs), roll and breath your way up toward your armpit. As the roller is in the area of your shoulderblade, rotate your arm in circles both directions. You can move up to the top muscles of your arm, supporting yourself with the other arm and keeping up a Darth Vader-like breathing pattern as needed. If you start feeling the muscles lossen in areas farther from the main discomfort try moving the pressure to other areas of stiffness to expand the relief.

This is what worked for me. If you have other natural remedies that worked for you, please post them in the comments.

Wishing everyone a warm and healthy Winter,

Christian