RobB

I get the impression that half of the problem is people getting their categorisation systems challenged and not being able to work that through. We've tended to think in simple binaries which suit majority experience but don't adequately describe the whole data set at a certain level of detail. I don't think about sex or gender much unless I'm forced to (working in Higher Ed makes it inevitable sometimes). Personally, I prefer an analogue model: sex and gender as a couple of sliders that can be at any point along a range and can change over time.

Always a pleasure to receive a book you'd forgotten that you'd ordered!

"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so" - Hamlet, William Shakespeare

I have done mouth taping and still do (it's a bit of a disincentive having my seasonal beard in place as tearing off some micropore first thing isn't the relaxing start to the day I prefer). Its worth remembering that sleeping with your mouth closed is a totally normal thing to do. The taping just keeps your jaw in that position. It does feel a bit odd and takes some time to get used to but once you've got your head around the sensation it's fine. A short vertical tape across the centre of the mouth is sufficient.

Also worth considering that there are different categories of channels (sinew, primary, extraordinary, etc) Tom Bisio has written a series of posts on YJJ which talks about fascia. Article text

Another assessment

Interesting talk focused on Ma Gui Bagua

Does it matter? If you're a physical therapist working with fascia then work with fascia. If you are working with meridians work with meridians. I spend some time looking at this years ago when I was studying shiatsu for a while. In the end I think I did myself, and the discipline, some disservice by trying to explain and understand one world view in terms of the other. It certainly didn't help me be better at shiatsu.

Yes, indeed - from the darkness into the light!

Would that typically be the Ren Mai and Du Mai in regular use or do you find yourself often using the others? My impression is that, since your working at the Jing level (if I understand correctly), you can be dealing with some pretty heavy-duty stuff.

Hi Maddie, I've just started learning some acupuncture. As well as the 12 primary channels, my teacher has also spoken a bit about using the Luo channels, Divergents and the 8 extraordinary vessels. He's made it clear that we won't study them in depth in this foundation course but I wondered whether these were part of your practice?

Agreed with @thelerner about squats. These are great for back health. I'd also put in a vote for kettlebell swings for strengthening the whole posterior chain.

I am messing around a bit. Karate has deep roots in earlier arts but Karate as the West (mostly) understands it was formulated and codified in the early 20th century. The juxtaposition with BJJ can be eye-opening for those who buy into the 'mysterious ancient art' thing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate

Finding out that BJJ was forming in Brazil (1917-1925) at the same time as Karate was developing in Japan (1912-1926) blows people's minds!