Doctor’s orders: Qi Gong

October 16, 2012 2 Comments A Well Crafted Life

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I had to get a new doctor due to my move. I was pretty thrilled that I had several options at my new doctor’s office. The lady I picked is a MD, OB, and Acupuncturist. While I have never even considered acupuncture before, I suspected that she would be more whole body health centered than just the throw medicine at a problem type of doctor.

Can Qigong Help My Stress? My Doctor Seems to Think So!

And, I was entirely right. I’ve been having a lot of health and pain problems recently. While she is getting me some blood work and has given me quite a few diet suggestions. She also highly recommended QiGong to help with my pain issues and lose weight. She said it would work “magic” in decreasing my stress levels as well. And, that little bit sold me on at least giving it a shot.

She suggested that I try two different videos from Lee Holden, the writer of 7 Minutes of Magic: The Ultimate Energy Workout*. She suggested Qi Gong for Low Back Pain with Lee Holden* and 7 Minutes of Magic – AM & PM Routines with Lee Holden*.

While those are on order I’ve been trying to do a few moves I’ve found on YouTube. I always feel silly doing yoga-like moves. But, I can’t deny how much better I feel afterwards.

Other Suggested QiGong Sources:

Lee Holden has a YouTube channel that has come in handy! Visit his videos 3 Simple QiGong Exercises for Fast and Natural Stress Relief or Stress Relief Techniques QiGong to get started!
Qigong with Kseny is great for a different vibe than Holden. I like the QiGong for Stress and Tension video as well as the 15 Minute Evening QiGong for Sleep.
Are videos hard to follow? The step-by-step exercises in the Qigong Workbook for Anxiety* may be just the thing to help you through the movements.

Crowdsourcing stress relief exercises – seeking your help!

What is your favorite type of low-impact exercise? Have you done types of yoga before? What about acupuncture?

I’ll most likely let you all know how Qi Gong goes for me as time moves on. Here is hoping for the best!

A Well Crafted Life

Novel November

October 12, 2012 1 Comment A Well Crafted Life

I’ve talked a little about the fact that I am a Freelance Writer. I’ve always, ALWAYS, had a dream that I would write a fiction novel. I’ve been working on one of my novel ideas off and on for a couple years now. Recently, I’ve been writing a lot of fiction for ghost writing gigs and I have found out that I can write many more words than I thought I could. And, much faster than I had anticipated.

Anyways… then I hear about November being National Novel Writing Month. The idea is that you work really hard for one month and you write a novel of about 50,000 words. After that month you can get down to the nitty gritty of editing, but you are editing a NOVEL that you have written. Awesome.

So, I’m going to do it! There is a great (FREE) website, National Novel Writing Month, that helps you keep track of your word counts in an environment that is built to help motivate you to actually finish your work. There are also forums for people who need help with ideas, etc. I’d love to know if you are going to be writing a novel next month along side with me! If you are then maybe we can help keep each other motivated!

Now I don’t know whether I should be looking forward to the month of November or super scared!

A Well Crafted Life

I’m a writer

October 3, 2012 No Comments A Well Crafted Life

It might be silly, but for the first time in a long time I am happy to tell people what I do for a living. Before I would cough under my breath my profession. Not because I thought it as a bad profession, but because it wasn’t what I set out to do.

For a blip in my lifetime, I got to say that I was a journalist when someone asked my profession.

“And, what do you do?” people would ask.
“Lifestyle Editor,” I’d say with a smile.

Well, now my smile is just a bit bigger… because for as LONG as I could remember I’ve wanted to be a writer. And, while I’m not seeing my name in print anywhere (other than online) right now, I am seeing stories and books that I have ghostwritten being published as Ebooks and SELLING.

Over the past three months of being a Freelance Writer (the past month being my first full-time freelance writing gigs) I’ve written a lot of words. As a matter of fact, between my freelance work and my blogs, I’ve written (approximately) 200,000 words in the past three months. That is nearly as many words as Moby Dick. More words than a Harry Potter novel! The same amount of words as two of the Ender’s Game books.

It makes me wonder why in the world I have not finished my novel that I’ve been working on for about three years.

It is motivating me. And, for the first time in a while I have no problem with someone asking me what I DO.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Do you smile now when asked what you do?