This is a message to all women and all men that have a woman in their lives: Everyday should be International Women’s Day!

On this day, my thoughts and heart are not only on those strong and powerful women who have inspired me and encouraged me to become the woman I am today, but mainly on all those women that somehow still suffer from any sort of discrimination.

This is not just a day to recognise and appreciate the value of women in this world but also to acknowledge the existence of many on-going issues. Unfortunately, worldwide one in three women are still expected to experience sexual or physical violence during their lives. Women are still paid less for doing the same work that men do. And unfortunately, if you are born a female in countries like Sudan, your life is pretty much screwed. Imagine being denied education, being forced to marry someone three times your age or not being able to make choices about your own body. This is unacceptable, but unfortunately, this is what many women/girls face today.

I believe it is our responsibility (both men and women) to speak up, starting in our daily lives. If you experience or witness any sort of discrimination or abuse we must not remain in silence. And then I believe it’s important to support women’s organisations which fight for gender equality all over the world.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa

My aim is continue to inspire and empower women through the physical practice. To all women in this world, believe in yourselves and fight for what you believe in. We have not come this far, to only come this far!

When we love ourselves, we will be kind to others and we will be open to love others. Kindness starts within us.

Is loving ourselves a selfish act? Not at all, it is quite the opposite. Selfishness comes from the ego, and the need to defend ourselves. It comes from the fear of showing our weakest side, or the parts that we don’t like about us. On the other hand, when we are at peace with that, and we accept it, and we learn to love ourselves, including the darkest parts, we no longer feel the need to defend ourselves.

And how do we do that, you may be wondering? It all begins with the inner dialogue, the way we speak with ourselves; swapping negative sentences by positive and empowering ones. No “poor me” or powerlessness thoughts. That will only drag you down and attract more negative things into your life.

When we go through a suffering period in life it is easy to dive into negativity and drag all those around you into that darkness and focus on how everything is bad. However, when we look deeper there is always so many things to be grateful for. So, start your day by focusing on what you are grateful for, and it might be very simple things. The most joyful experiences are usually in the simple things!

And then each day find some time for yourself and to do something you love. Follow your heart and your dreams! Fall in love with taking care of yourself and you will see that it will only bring feelings of happiness to you and to those around you!

The legend tells that there were eight immortals who devoted their time practicing meditation. Combined with ancient techniques of Chinese Yoga (Kai Men / Chi Kung) getting extraordinary abilities.

By natural law they became experts in Kung Fu.

They developed very advanced techniques such as the drunken style. They also worked the internal power to perfectly master the imbalance; they were eight great masters who dominated the control of energy (Chi Kung at its most advanced level).

Inside this group there was a female monk who had good skills in handling all leg-techniques,  developing the Martial Chi Kung.

This style was brought to the Shaolin temple to be taught to advanced students after the Saholin destruction in which several monks escaped and hid in villages to not be recognised, and exchanged their names and dressed as beggars. In each village they left teachings that the villagers improved adapting to their customs and physical structures. Within these transformations, the southern drunken style of China, which is not as beautiful but very effective in fight ; at that time the  Stick of the Southern Beggar’style is born – name given in honor of a monk who walked the villages pretending to be a blind beggar and handling his stick with great ability.

The drunken style, improved with time and lost its essence due to being a difficult style to learn and perform, since  a great physical, mental and spiritual  preparation was needed to perform this task.

This style stands out for its ability to deceive the enemy, mistaking him, using the imbalance, spins, jumps, dodges and acrobatics using the opponent’s strength. The techniques is used with the internal energy from the Tan Tien (waist force), hips and shoulders, which combine to launch a coup fists and legs followed by sweep kick.

The purpose of this style is to keep our body in good condition to turn and store energy (Chi Kung) that is used in more advanced spiritual levels.

To the practice of the drunken style is a set of highly refined techniques,  and therefore, it  is considered as the highest level of the physical plane.

With practice, physical changes on the internal organs and endocrine glands are performed. Our body becomes a deposit of energy that elevates the human being to its highest level of consciousness. Through the exercises of Chi Kung we began to channel the energy and find the connection to the gland to develop the immortal fetus. The vital force of the practitioner depends on these glands; with the practice it increases the flow of hormones strengthening the immune system. The sexual energy (creative) improves cleaning and strengthening the organs.

This is very important to have strong and detoxified organs; the practice helps to eliminate toxins, waste and convert fat into the roots of the connective tissue in energy (Chi Kung). Currently, there are modern styles of the drunken style which have simplified the old style to facilitate the learning.