A monk’s scroll on tea togetherness

Kogetsu Sogan (1574–1643) was the 156th chief priest of Kyoto's Daitokuji temple — obviously an excellent place to indoctrinate oneself into mellow mindfulness.

A devotee of sado, Sogan penned many calligraphic scrolls about the philosophy of tea, including this one: "Hin chu shu, shu chu hin (??????), which translates literally "Guest in the host, host in the guest."

You may associate the tea ceremony with sharp distinctions between the obligations of host and guest, but there's more to it, namely, the goal of host and guest coming together through the tea they share.

At least, that's one interpretation. What do you think?

—Mellow Monk

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Do NOT Use Weight Belts When Performing Weight Training Exercises

People who are involved in weight training programs are told that wearing a weight lifting belt is one of the best ways to eliminate injury chances. Although this is true, these belts do have certain disadvantages that you should be aware of before you go ahead and purchase one. The first disadvantage is that it creates dependence once you start using it. This is because people push out against the belt when doing the lifts. When you do not have the belt the body still continues to push the abdominal muscles instead of tightening them. This can cause lower back injury.

Another disadvantage of using the lifting belts in your weight training program is that they affect blood flow rate. Normally you have to tighten the belt in order to gain the required support when the belt is so tight, your blood pressure increases. There is also increased pressure in the abdomen that increases systolic blood pressure obstructing the flow of blood to the heart.

Using a weight lifting belt also reduces strength. In normal lifting, your back and the abdominal muscles should act as a natural belt supporting the lumbar spine. Using the belt during the workouts means your lower back as well as the abdominal muscles is used to a lesser extent due to the support from the belt. This will have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve by getting involved in the training workouts.

The weight lifting belt also changes your lifting style entirely. It also puts pressure on different parts of the body. This can result in injury. Weight lifting belts are also used by people who are injured as a way of covering the injuries hence continuing with their exercises. This causes the injuries to worsen. Finally, the belt can change your perception leading you to lift heavier weights than you should. This is the easiest route to injury. So how can one use these belts effectively?

1. First you should not wear the belt for extended durations, as this is physically taxing.

2. You should wear the belt only when performing maximal lifts during special exercises such as dead-lifts or squats. This is because the weight is supported by the back of the lifter.

3. The belts can also be worn during the military presses which can cause the back to hyperextend.

4. Finally, you should also confirm your health with a doctor. This is because the belts are not meant for people with blood pressure problems due to their effect on blood flow.

Bill has been an online article writer for nearly 6 years. In addition to his normal topics of diet, fitness and weight training, you can also check out his latest website on Brother Embroidery Machines as well as Babylock Embroidery Machine to see reviews and product comparisons.

Exercise Improves Lymphedema Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors

Arm lymphedema, or chronic swelling of the arm, occurs in 10 to 30 percent of women following treatment for breast cancer. When the lymphatic drainage network in the arm has been disrupted by the surgical removal of armpit lymph nodes by the surgeon, or by radiation therapy to the armpit area (or, sometimes, following both types of treatment), the delicate network of lymphatic vessels that return excess tissue fluid back to the heart can become obstructed. This lymphatic obstruction can result in chronic swelling of the hand and arm. Patients with significant lymphedema of the arm following breast cancer treatment may experience considerable swelling (edema), heaviness, stiffness and discomfort of the affected hand and arm.

Physicians caring for breast cancer patients have traditionally advised against heavy lifting following breast cancer surgery, for fear that doing so might increase arm lymphedema. However, a new prospective randomized clinical research study calls into question the traditional advice against vigorous exercise involving the upper extremities, including lifting weights as a strengthening exercise.

This new study, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, included 141 breast cancer survivors with chronic lymphedema. These women were divided into two groups, with a "treatment" group randomized to twice-weekly progressive weight training and a "control" group of women who were randomized to no weight training. All of the women participating in this study were followed for one year, at the end of which the degree of arm lymphedema was reassessed. Of note, all of the women who were randomized to the weight training group were required to wear custom-fitted compression garments when they were lifting weights.

Not surprisingly, the women who participated in regular weight training reported significant improvement in upper and lower body strength during the course of this research study. Moreover, at the end of one year, both the patients and a certified lymphedema specialist reported a significant decrease in the severity and frequency of lymphedema symptoms among the patients who were randomized to the weight-lifting group. At the same time, twice weekly weightlifting sessions had no significant effect on the extent of arm and hand swelling among these women with chronic lymphedema.

The results of this clinical study are good news for breast cancer survivors with chronic lymphedema. Physicians who care for such patients should all be made aware of the results of this research study, and they should begin encouraging their lymphedema patients to engage in regular weight training (provided, of course, that there are no health issues that preclude lifting weights). Not only does regular weight training appear to decrease the severity and frequency of lymphedema symptoms (based upon the findings of this study), but the added health advantages of such training also include increased strength and a decreased risk of osteoporosis as well.

Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity

Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a widely published author, and a Surgical Oncologist at the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system in Orange County, California

Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

http://doctorwascher.com