We' ve all done it. At the start of a new year we make
resolutions. We are sure we definitely want to change, but
when the time comes for us to put our resolutions into
practice, we fail dramatically. Or, a friend tells you that
he is determined to change an aspect in his life, he states
it, but you observe him and know that he won't do it. How
do you know?

Because you sensed that he was speaking intellectually not
from his heart. The intellect is great at postulating,
passing judgement or idle chatter, however it is only when
the heart is involved that we are able to change things in
our life.

Eastern traditions and some of the more esoteric Western
traditions, recognise that the true heart is in the region
of the solar plexus and abdomen. Orientals have a special
name for this centre in the region around the kidneys,
abdomen and a few inches below the navel. The centre just
below the navel is called the Hara centre or Dan Tien. From
the Eastern viewpoint, most of us in the West have our
centre of gravity in our head, our intellect rather than
the heart.

If you look at someone even from the physical point of view
you can often see where their centre of balance is,
sometimes you notice that their centre of balance is in
their shoulders or their head. This is not the best place.
Having our centre of balance anywhere apart from the solar
plexus and dan tien is not advisable. It does nothing for
our stability on the physical or emotional level.

Every neurotransmitter found in the brain can be found in
the intestinal tract. The solar plexus is a network of
nerve fibres of the sympathetic nervous system. It is
composed of grey and white nerve substance or brain matter.
Serotonin the neurotransmitter that has been found to be
lacking in many people who suffer from depression, is
largely found in the intestinal tract.(90%)

The Chinese, and their health exercises of Tai Chi and Chi
Gung, pay a lot of attention to this centre. It is the
centre of equilibrium, health and intuition. More
significantly, when we want to change aspects in our life,
bad habits, negative emotions or when we want to develop
new skills, say ice skating or tennis, it is vital to
create communication with this centre.

Paula, a friend of mine told me that the first time she was
involved in a car crash, her heart rate accelerated
frighteningly, her energy was unsettled and she was in a
state of shock. This experience prompted her to attend
classes in chi gung. She learnt how to maintain her centre
of balance below. Incredibly, she was again involved in
another near miss in her car, a year later, however this
time, all her work on her lower centres payed off. She was
able to keep calm and lucid. Her heart didn't beat
unnaturally, her breathing was calm and she was aware of
everything going on around her.

Our metabolism, digestion, growth, and healing all takes
place in the network of plexus's below the waist.It all
takes place subconsciously. This 'second brain' is the
place change is created.

All change needs to take place on the subconscious level
before it manifests on the physical. Learning anything new
from riding a bicycle to playing tennis depends on our
subconscious reflexes. How effective we are in
communicating our new skill to our cellular structure.

And the best way to reach all the cells in our body, is
through our solar plexus. Once we learn a skill, it becomes
a habit that we can carry out without consciously thinking
about it. Remember how you had to concentrate when you
first learned how to drive a car?

A step in the right direction is to become more and more
aware of where our centre of balance is located. Then the
next step is to carry out all our movements and activities
from our centre below. A class in chi gung or tai chi or
gym work on our core centre, will all benefit our ability
to manifest change in our lives.

About the Author:

Duncan Sequeira lives in London. He is passionate about
health and wellbeing. He practices and teaches Chi Gung and
he helps people build a global health business from
home.Find out more by going to http://www.pukkahealth.com