DFCI Zakim Center

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  • Description: Curious about Qigong (Chi Kung), Tai Chi, and Meditation? In this video, Ramel "Rami" Rones, a Tai Chi Master, provides an explanation of these ancient Chinese mind/body practices, and describes their benefits for maintaining health and wellbeing. Rami also demonstrates the meditative and movement exercises one can expect from his Qigong and Tai Chi classes.

  • Description: Ramel Rones, Tai Chi Master, demonstrates Qigong and Tai Chi techniques with a focus on the lungs and heart, which can be practiced sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Description: Ramel Rones, Tai Chi Master, demonstrates Qigong and Tai Chi techniques with a focus on the spine, which can be practiced sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Description: The upper body includes the fingers, palms, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms, shoulders, neck, head, face chest, lungs, upper back, spine, and the soft tissues. 
    In this class we will stretch and relax our entire upper body. We will use different postures, deep breathing and a focused mind, or meditation, to help improve upper body health. We will tap into the power of the mind to dissolve, relax, and melt both the physical and energetic bodies. We will scan for impurities and dissolve them using the metaphor, Ice to Water and Water to Gas or Solid to Liquid and Liquid to Gas. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Emperor/Empress Position, Soft Tissue Dissolving, 1, 2, 3, 4 Finger movements, Silk Weaving – Wrists, Shoulder Rotation, 4 Points Touch the Wall, The Pretzel, Rhinoceros Looks to The Moon, Back Bends, Eagle Drinks the Water 
    Most exercises in this class can be practiced Sitting, Standing, or Lying down.

  • Description: In this class we will learn and practice sitting with correct alignment while focusing on deep breathing. We will practice deep breathing and dissolving. Deep breathing stimulates different parts of our lungs with oxygen: the front, back and sides (left and right) or what I call North, South, East and West. We will focus on visualizing the Lower Energy Center as a trick to quiet the mind and to awaken the energetic system. Physical and mental relaxation are especially important for the health of the joints and for removing stagnant energy which improves our energetic system, as well as oxygen and blood circulation. 
    Using what I like to refer to as the Power of the Mind, we will massage the joints and relax the muscles around them. We will practice isolating joints and through movement and meditation we will dissolve them and the soft tissues around them. The ligaments are the boosters of our energetic system. By first isolating them and then creating gentle movements in the...
  • Description: To improve physical balance we will practice flexibility, strength, and balance exercises sitting and standing (on both legs and on one leg). Balancing the body helps balance the mind and emotions since the body and mind are one. Deep breathing and meditation, either while moving or when being still in various postures reduce both physical and mental stress which leads to better balance physically, mentally, and emotionally. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Meditative Shaking ,The Hula Hoop, Knee Massage Upper Back - Back Breathing, Lower Energy Visualization, Cleansing and Nourishing, One Leg Balancing, Cooling the Upper Energy Center, Leg Swings, The Heron, Chair Twist 
    Most exercises in this class can be practiced Sitting, Standing, or Lying down.

  • Description: In this class we will focus on deep breathing to stimulate and activate your lung lobes and lung cells. We will do this sitting, standing, and moving. We will try to reach deep levels of relaxation and meditation while holding various postures and while moving using Qigong (Chi Kung) and Tai Chi movements. 
    Deep breathing is important for bringing oxygen into our body and for quieting the Monkey Mind. Wisdom is the Horse mind, and the Emotions are the Monkey Mind. Quieting the Monkey Mind is important for reducing both physical and mental stress. The Breath is like a Banana that can capture the Monkey Mind or quiet it, when needed. Seize the Monkey and Train the Horse (from Tai Chi Poetry). 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: The Windmill, The I, Y, T and W, Wing Breath, Cat and the Cow, Stretch the Bows and Release the Bows, Climb the Ladder, Linger at the End of Inhalation, Linger at the End of Exhalation, Xena stretches the Spring, Outer Hip Medit...
  • Description: Improving your Health and Martial Arts through focusing on your Spine and Ribs 
    The health of your spine and ribs is important for your general health as well as for your martial arts practice. Stretching, strengthening, lengthening, and relaxing the soft tissues around your spine and ribs will free them from being a prisoner of the skin, facia, muscles, and tendons. Deep breathing with self-massage through movement increases the flow of oxygen throughout your whole body and further helps loosen up the spine and rib cage areas. We will integrate the five building blocks, Body, Breath, Mind, Energy and Spirit into each posture or movement for a complete mind-body experience. 
    We will practice: • Three Chamber Breathing Meditation, standing • Rib Massage with Deep Breathing • The Rainbow Stretch Meditation • Snake Creeps Down • Snake Creeps Up • Stretch and Release the Bows, Spine, and Ribs • Baby Crane Flies • “Grind” Pelvis Circles Meditation • Eagl...
  • Description: Activate, Stimulate and Utilize the Energetic System for both Health and Martial Arts 
    When we emphasize the five building blocks (Body, Breath, Mind, Energy and Spirit) while practicing each posture or move we stimulate and activate our energetic system, creating a stronger flow of energy that increases circulation, removes stagnation, and nourishes the internal organs, the spine, the brain, the bones, the joints, and the soft tissues. Reaching deep levels of relaxation from both the deep breathing and the meditation will further spread the energy to every cell in your body. This strong energy flow is important for both Health and Martial Arts. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: · The Up and Down Forces · Coiling Chi Kung · Mountain Stance Meditation · Liver and Spleen Massage · The Cat and the Cow · Stretch and Release the Bows · Buddhist Breath · Taoist Breath · Skin Bone Marrow Breat...
  • Description: Birds Movements for Health and Martial Arts 
    In this class we will learn and practice the movements of different birds, an ancient practice from the philosophies of both Chi Kung and Tai Chi developed from observation and imitation. We will meditate and empty our minds while practicing the various birds’ movements. The different birds’ movements fall under the category of “dynamic movement” which helps stretch and strengthen our lower and upper body while gently massaging the spine and joints. Strengthening our lower body is important for balance and stability which over time and with practice leads to preventing falls, increasing bone density, improving mental health and boosting confidence. We will work on bringing extra oxygen into our body as we practice these dynamic movements by concentrating on breathing deep. We will also try to stimulate and activate dormant lung cells by breathing deep in different postures. 
    During this class we will strengthen our energet...
  • Description: Introduction to Meditation for Health and Martial Arts 
    In this class we will learn and practice regulating your brain waves. We will try to reach the brain waves between awake and asleep, Theta, which is meditation. When you are in the brain waves between awake and asleep you are in the zone, in the moment or experiencing Theta brain waves during which all your senses are alert. When you reach and stay in Theta brain waves, or meditate, you may be activating the production of the Happy Hormones. Spending time in deep levels of meditation allows the body and the mind to deeply relax, rejuvenate and heal. For more information about meditation and its many benefits you can go to my website or blog. 
    During this class, we will emphasis the Up and Down Forces or correct alignment with deep breathing while sitting and standing. We will learn and practice Zen meditation using the breath to quiet the Monkey Mind, the emotions and thoughts, while sitting. 
    Some of th...
  • Description: Upgrade your Energetic system and Strengthen your Core 
    According to Chi Kung, acupuncture and shiatsu, our energetic system is made up of 12 Energy Channels or Meridians. Six of these Channels move energy from the tips of your fingers to six of your internal organs and six more Meridians move energy from the tips of your toes to your other six internal organs. You also have “The 8 Extraordinary Vessels” which are reservoirs of energy that help regulate your meridians or channels. You also have 7 or 8 “Energy Centers” depending on the school of thought or philosophy. In this class, we will focus, concentrate, or meditate on putting our mind in the lower energy center, a healing energy ball two inches below the navel. We strengthen and build this center to create a stronger flow throughout our entire energetic system. A strong energy flow nourishes your internal organs, skeleton, and brain. When our energy centers are strong the energy flow is strong which helps cleanse ...