Health, Fitness and Well-Being
There are many paths up the mountain.
- Japanese Proverb
Acupuncture
There is an old story about one of the Japanese martial arts schools. When a new student applied for admittance they were first taught to meditate by the ocean. After several days of meditation by the crashing waves, the new student felt invincible. Then they were told that when they heard the gong ring, they were to return to the main training hall and knock on the large door. When the door opened, they were told to strike the person who opened the door in the stomach. When the new student followed these directions, the person who was struck always fell to the floor and was often unconscious. This made the new student feel incredibly powerful. The next week, the new student was taught to meditate in a small room. At the end of the week, they were told to ring the gong and then open the main gate when they heard knocking and simply to stand still and receive the punch. Then they fell to the floor and often passed out. Then they realized the frailty of the human body and the ease in which it could be destroyed. Students of this style became very proficient martial artist and also became some of the finest physicians in old Japan. However, cultures change. Today in America, with stringent licensing requirements, it is not often the case that a martial artist is also a healer. However, the Bay Area Center is affiliated with a nearby, licensed Acupuncture Practitioner, Dr Alberto Vasquez, who serves the Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston regions. Acupuncture has an ancient tradition in the Orient and has recently become more accepted in the West. Acupuncture was developed in several areas in Asia, but certainly the Chinese made major contributions to the art. The Chinese were very accurate observers of the world around them. Old records tell of Chinese martial artists and physicians noticing that penetration wounds in battle sometimes had effects on remote parts of the body, sometimes for healing. Through many years of careful observation, the Chinese mapped out major meridians of energy flow within the body and identified specific points where penetration with small needles could cause healing. The basic concept involves balancing the internal energy flow of the body. The needles used are so tiny that there is usually no bleeding and no sensation of pain, except for in the most tender parts of the body. Many of the Instructors of our Center have been treated by Dr. Vasquez and have been very satisfied with the results. Check out his website at: www.txsportsrehab.com
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