Star Trek Borg Queen
Ancient Chinese Yoga, Posture, and Long Distance Running Training
I am a long distance runner. I competed with my high school track team and I ran on my college team at University of California at San Diego. Now I train on my own. My present goal: qualify for the 2012 Olympic team trials.
Only potential Olympic competitors and and their coaches truly understand the daunting nature of this challenge. Walls are hit and overcome. Runners understand how fractions of a second off a time is sometimes a major achievement and how reliable techniques to work past blocks and get over walls are invaluable. This article is about an unusual technique that I’m using to get over one of those walls.
My running specialty is the 10k track. Although a challenge for some, for me it is my passion and meditation. I’ve been doing this run now for five years. Only long distance runners can appreciate the importance of this, but since 2006 my time has been stuck more or less around 32:45. Now, suddenly, getting past this wall seems to come from an unexpected source: the unusual training methods of Chinese internal martial art master John Bracy. Over the past three or four months we have worked together to apply his training methods to my running. The past week perhaps shows the astonishing potential of my work with Bracy best: while running what based on nine years of running experience is 6:25 per mile pace I began to apply his methods and dropped down to as low as 5:00 per mile pace with no increase in overall effort.
Based on corrections to posture, breathing, meditation training and his adaptation of Chinese yoga, Bracy’s techniques seem to be working for me and they are significant enough to write about here. I faced a variety of challenges, highlighted by a spinal condition known as kyphosis.
The Big Challenge: Kyphosis
As a runner, one problem I faced during my later teens and early twenties is a condition known as excessive kyphosis. Kyphosis- shown in figure 2- refers to the natural curvature of the portion of the spine called the thoracic spine. This is often defined as a curvature greater than 35 degrees (30-35 being the norm). Kyphosis can be caused by a variety of issues including bad nutrition, emotional issues, or even simply bad posture habits.
My father also had a kyphotic spine in the past. One of the first clues that Bracy’s Chinese yoga techniques might be helpful to me is my observation of how it helped my father. While training in John’s Chinese martial art of Ba Gua Zhang (also written baguazhang and Pa Kua Chang) he significantly altered his own kyphotic tendencies to such an extent that none of my Dad’s old tailor-made suit jackets now fit. After a couple years of training with John, the previously required personal alterations to accommodate his upper back arch would no longer fit.
The first step to understanding how Bracy’s training can apply to long distance runners is to understand the body in terms of more versus less efficiency. In the drawing shown in figure 3, the grey triangle represents a fulcrum. A fulcrum, defined as “the support about which a lever turns,” decreases the amount of effort for a lighter object to lift or move a much larger object. According to Bracy, the human body develops fulcrums through unconscious habits of a body living a denatured lifestyle of constantly flat and level ground. What this means for most of us is that the body is constantly, usually at an unconscious level, seeking less effort and responds by choosing (bad) posture habits that enable less work. Translated to our body, less effort means instead of lifting the head with the muscles of the neck, the preference is made for the head to hang. In turn the upper back reacts to the flat and level of modern civilization by slouching back over the body’s centerline. The pictures below show a comparison of unconscious fulcrum habits and natural suspension of the body with the influence of fulcrums minimized.
Bracy believes that these principles of body laziness and their countermeasures explain the lost knowledge of the great Tai Chi masters. Apparently this art, considered by many today to be only a form of moving meditation, was once known as an ultimate fighting system (which the name Tai Chi Chuan, also written taijiquan, translates).This is so because Tai Chi uses principles of body mechanics and subtle energy flow discovered by Taoist yogis.
Bracy believes these same principles are adaptable to modern life as an alternative treatment for pain patients and athletes such as long distance runners. According to Bracy’s model–and this is where the Taoist yoga comes in–efficiency has to do with increased circulation of blood and vital energy called chi (also written qi) and efficient biomechanics that minimize the influence of the unnatural “resting points” in the body we talked about earlier. These methods have already proven remarkably effective both in relieving chronic neck and back pain and in taking martial arts practice to a much higher level.
As an aid to improve my running time, the the physical training I am being taught by Master John revolves around a set of principles from ancient Chinese yoga called tao yin. Literally, “pulling and twisting,” for me the point of this training is not primarily aimed toward mastering chi (viatal energy) or attaining a lofty form of enlightenment, but as an aid to mastering long distance running.
I began intensive work with Bracy several months ago with my form in mind. Runners all know that the ability to run tall, light, and relaxed is a very important component of running success.
John’s training method makes it possible to develop new habits and thus get at the root cause rather than provide temporary fixes. In the last three months, I have greatly improved my posture and ability to have a straighter far more relaxed spine. This has made my running smoother and easier and also led to a general improvement in both energy and confidence.
These training methods are really about harmonizing movement. There are already a number of applications outside of martial arts, for example Star Trek star Alice Kringe (Queen of the Borg) has used it to improve her acting. Alice describes John’s training in the following way:
“John’s instructions of what he calls “the wave” was extremely helpful in my acting career. I learned to consciously tune in to the optimal flex of the cerebrospinal fluid to release areas of habitual tension. This process allows me to arrive at an optimal state of openness, sensitivity and receptivity in my work as an actress and access higher mental (and physical) function.” -Alice Kringe
My training focuses around holding a pose known as “Tiger” for ten minutes each day and a variety of supplementary exercises to loosen tight areas and teach me how to do the “stretching and pulling” discussed earlier. These exercises and poses have taught me to both have a loose, relaxed spine and use my muscles, tendons and surrounding fascia in a far more effective and coordinated manner. Applied to my running, I have recently observed that the better I get into states easily held while doing “Tiger” the faster I go.
About the Author
TKC is a long-time competitive runner for distance events.
For John Bracy’s physical correction techniques for athletes or Ba Gua Zhang (baguazhang) basics, see this link www.chi-arts.com
John Bracy’s bio can be found on this page
http://www.chi-arts.com/master-john-bracy-mainmenu-25.html
For more information on Chinese yoga and qigong, see
http://www.chi-arts.com/pain-a-rehab-mainmenu-33.html
Star Trek Voyager Season 5 the borg queen speaks
|
|
Star Trek VIII: First Contact $2.99 … |
|
|
Unimatrix Zero (Part 2) $1.99 … |
|
|
Borg Queen/Locutus ’08 Star trek Ringer T by CafePress $29.50 If only…Elections are irreleventYour country will be assimilated. Resistance is FUTILE. Star trek . About our Ringer T: The Ringer T has made a fashion comeback, and ours is a popular favorite. This classic style is sure to impress even the most discerning t-shirt connoisseur with an eye for retro-coolness. Great for relaxing in comfort year-round.5.5 oz. 100% pres…. |
|
|
Star Trek: Warp Factor 5 Series – 4.5 BORG QUEEN Action Figure – PLAYMATES TOYS $28.75 Produced in 1998. From the hit movie Star Trek: First Contact!… |
|
|
5 Seven of Nine Action Figure As Featured in the Star Trek: Voyager From the Episode The Gift – Warp Factor Series 5 $12.50 ACTION FIGURE STAR TREK… |
|
|
Borq Queen Ultra Collectible 6in Statue Diorama $59.99 … |
|
|
Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force Expansion $79.95 This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock…. |
|
|
TV Guide April 20-26, 2002 Star Trek’s Alice Krige as the Borg Queen Cover (Vol 50 #19 Issue 2560) TV Guide Star Trek’s Alice Krige as the Borg Queen Collectible Cover…. |
|
|
Star Trek – Official Guide to Star Trek! / The Borg Attack! – Exclusive Movie Makeup $14.99 Sept 2009 – No. 20 – Titan Publishing – Star Trek : The Official Guide to star Trek! – The Borg Attack! (Picard’s Personal Nemesis) – Exclusive Movie Makeup – + More – Many Photos – Great Articles – Out of Print – New – Limited Edition – Collectible… |
|
|
Star Trek Communicator #121 Roxann Dawson & Borg Queen … |
|
|
Alice Krige $66.44 Used – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Alice Maud Krige (born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire. Since then she has played a variety of roles in a number of genres. Krige introduced the role of the Borg Queen in the motion picture Star Trek: First Contact, and |
|
|
Alice Krige $97.2 Used – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Alice Maud Krige (born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire. Since then she has played a variety of roles in a number of genres. Krige introduced the role of the Borg Queen in the motion picture Star Trek: First Contact, and |
|
|
Alice Krige $97.2 New – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Alice Maud Krige (born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire. Since then she has played a variety of roles in a number of genres. Krige introduced the role of the Borg Queen in the motion picture Star Trek: First Contact, and |
|
|
Alice Krige $66.44 New – Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Alice Maud Krige (born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire. Since then she has played a variety of roles in a number of genres. Krige introduced the role of the Borg Queen in the motion picture Star Trek: First Contact, and |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Characters: A.F., Alex Gaeta, Arik Soong, B’Elanna Torres, Barbara Smith, Beverly Crusher, Borg Queen, C.P.O. Garri $14.98 Source Wikia,Paperback, English-language edition,Pub by Books LLC, Wiki Series |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Characters: A.F., Alex Gaeta, Arik Soong, B’Elanna Torres, Barbara Smith, Beverly Crusher, Borg Queen, C.P.O. Garrison, Chakotay, Charles Tucker, III, Christine Chapel, Christopher Pike, Daniel Alden, Data, David McCoy, $10.71 Used – Source: Wikia. Pages: 38. Chapters: A.F., Alex Gaeta, Arik Soong, B’Elanna Torres, Barbara Smith, Beverly Crusher, Borg Queen, C.P.O. Garrison, Chakotay, Charles Tucker, III, Christine Chapel, Christopher Pike, Daniel Alden, Data, David McCoy, Deanna Troi, EMH Mark-I, Ed Leslie, Elizabeth Dehner, Gary Mitchell, Geordi La Forge, Guinan, Harry Kim, Helen Johansson, Hikaru Sulu, Hoshi Sato, J.M. Colt, James T. Kirk, Janice Rand, Jean-Luc Picard, Jeffrey Pierce, Joachim Weiss, John Torres, Jo |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Characters: A.F., Alex Gaeta, Arik Soong, B’Elanna Torres, Barbara Smith, Beverly Crusher, Borg Queen, C.P.O. Garrison, Chakotay, Charles Tucker, III, Christine Chapel, Christopher Pike, Daniel Alden, Data, David McCoy, $16.97 Used – Source: Wikia. Pages: 38. Chapters: A.F., Alex Gaeta, Arik Soong, B’Elanna Torres, Barbara Smith, Beverly Crusher, Borg Queen, C.P.O. Garrison, Chakotay, Charles Tucker, III, Christine Chapel, Christopher Pike, Daniel Alden, Data, David McCoy, Deanna Troi, EMH Mark-I, Ed Leslie, Elizabeth Dehner, Gary Mitchell, Geordi La Forge, Guinan, Harry Kim, Helen Johansson, Hikaru Sulu, Hoshi Sato, J.M. Colt, James T. Kirk, Janice Rand, Jean-Luc Picard, Jeffrey Pierce, Joachim Weiss, John Torres, Jo |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Races: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, $15.78 New – This book consists of articles from Wikia. Pages: 110. Chapters: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, Aeryn Sun, Agent Hargrave, Agent Rice, Alexander B. Fitzhugh, Alex Gaeta, Alice Sutton, Althon, Anakin Skywalker, Andrei Smyslov, Anne Glass, Arik Soong, Arthur Ramsey, Barbara Smith, Barbara Yates, Barry Lockridge, |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Races: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, $24.25 New – This book consists of articles from Wikia. Pages: 110. Chapters: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, Aeryn Sun, Agent Hargrave, Agent Rice, Alexander B. Fitzhugh, Alex Gaeta, Alice Sutton, Althon, Anakin Skywalker, Andrei Smyslov, Anne Glass, Arik Soong, Arthur Ramsey, Barbara Smith, Barbara Yates, Barry Lockridge, |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Races: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, $24.25 Used – This book consists of articles from Wikia. Pages: 110. Chapters: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, Aeryn Sun, Agent Hargrave, Agent Rice, Alexander B. Fitzhugh, Alex Gaeta, Alice Sutton, Althon, Anakin Skywalker, Andrei Smyslov, Anne Glass, Arik Soong, Arthur Ramsey, Barbara Smith, Barbara Yates, Barry Lockridge, |
|
|
Headhunter’s Holosuite – Star Trek Races: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, $15.78 Used – This book consists of articles from Wikia. Pages: 110. Chapters: Betazoids, Borg, Denobulans, Ferengi, Humans, Klingons, Ocampans, Talaxians, Vulcans, Deanna Troi, Borg Queen, Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Phlox, Nog, A.F., Aaron, Adam Kensington, Adam Royston, Adelai Niska, Aeryn Sun, Agent Hargrave, Agent Rice, Alexander B. Fitzhugh, Alex Gaeta, Alice Sutton, Althon, Anakin Skywalker, Andrei Smyslov, Anne Glass, Arik Soong, Arthur Ramsey, Barbara Smith, Barbara Yates, Barry Lockridge, |
|
|
Star Trek Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (Blu-ray) $52.99 Featuring the cast from the original television series, the Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection five disc Blu-Ray set includes Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis!Star Trek: Generations:Stardate: the 23rd Century: Retired Starfleet officers James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) and Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) are guests of honor aboard the newly christened Enterprise-B. A test run takes an unexpected turn, however, when the starship encounters two vessels trapped inside the Nexus, a mysterious energy ribbon. During a perilous rescue attempt, Kirk is swept out into space. Seven decades later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of Enterprise-D rescue an El Aurain physicist named Soran (Malcolm McDowell). Unbeknownst to Picard, Soran harbors a deadly plan that includes the destruction of the Enterprise and millions of lives. Now Picard’s only hope for a future rests within the Nexus….and a legendary captain from the past.Star Trek: First Contact,:They call themselves the Borg-a half-organic, half-machine collective, with a soul purpose: to conquer and assimilate all races. Led by their seductive and sadistic queen (Alice Krige), the Borg are headed to Earth with a devious plan to alter history. Picard’s last encounter with the Borg almost killed him. Now, he wants vengeance. But how far will he go to get it?Star Trek: Insurrection:From the beginning of the Federation, the Prime Directive was clear: no Starfleet expedition may interfere with the natural development of other civilizations. But now Picard is confronted with orders that undermine that decree. If he obeys, 600 peaceful residents of Ba’ku will be forcibly removed from their remarkable world, all for the reportedly greater good of millions who will benefit from Ba’ku’s fountain-of-youth-like powers. If he disobeys, he will risk |
|
|
Star Trek Stardate: 2005 Day-to-Day Calendar (Star Trek (Calendars)) $54.11 Used – Featuring a sensational, full-color image on every page, this calendar will please any Star Trek fan as it takes readers on an incredible journey through five thrilling television series and ten exciting feature films. All the iconic heroes are here, including Kirk, Archer, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway, joined by such classic villains as Khan, Dukat, the Borg Queen, and Shinzon. Capturing all the excitement and adventure Star Trek has to offer and complete with the actors’ birthdays and beh |
|
|
Star Trek Stardate: 2005 Day-to-Day Calendar (Star Trek (Calendars)) $38.82 New – Featuring a sensational, full-color image on every page, this calendar will please any Star Trek fan as it takes readers on an incredible journey through five thrilling television series and ten exciting feature films. All the iconic heroes are here, including Kirk, Archer, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway, joined by such classic villains as Khan, Dukat, the Borg Queen, and Shinzon. Capturing all the excitement and adventure Star Trek has to offer and complete with the actors’ birthdays and behi |
|
|
Star Trek Stardate: 2005 Day-to-Day Calendar (Star Trek (Calendars)) $55.29 New – Featuring a sensational, full-color image on every page, this calendar will please any Star Trek fan as it takes readers on an incredible journey through five thrilling television series and ten exciting feature films. All the iconic heroes are here, including Kirk, Archer, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway, joined by such classic villains as Khan, Dukat, the Borg Queen, and Shinzon. Capturing all the excitement and adventure Star Trek has to offer and complete with the actors’ birthdays and behi |
|
|
Star Trek Stardate: 2005 Day-to-Day Calendar (Star Trek (Calendars)) $38.91 Used – Featuring a sensational, full-color image on every page, this calendar will please any Star Trek fan as it takes readers on an incredible journey through five thrilling television series and ten exciting feature films. All the iconic heroes are here, including Kirk, Archer, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway, joined by such classic villains as Khan, Dukat, the Borg Queen, and Shinzon. Capturing all the excitement and adventure Star Trek has to offer and complete with the actors’ birthdays and beh |