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Asahi (or Asahi Health) is a Finnish health exercise based on the eastern traditions of tai chi, qigong, yiquan and yoga, with a western scientific viewpoint.
Asahi exercise is often taught and performed in groups but can also be performed alone.
Asahi is from the Japanese for morning sun (Kanji: 朝日; Hiragana: あさひ; Katakana: アサヒ).
Asahi was created in Finland in 2004 by professional sports instructors and martial artists Timo Klemola, Ilpo Jalamo, Keijo Mikkonen and Yrjö Mähönen. They all had high regards towards classical body development techniques such as karate, tai chi, yiquan and yoga, but these styles attract only a small marginal of the Finnish population.
The classical styles are quite complex and their starting level is often considered high. They use concepts such as qi and prana, which may seem mystical to western people.
The purpose of Asahi was to get the best out of these techniques, put it in the most simplified form, make it overall scientific and turn it into an easily approachable form – a health exercise for everybody with no starting level at all. [1]
Asahi is designed to treat and prevent shoulder – and back problems, fractures due to falling down and stress-related psychosomatic problems.
Asahi is a series of slow movements, completed in silence. It looks a bit like qigong.
The basic six principles of Asahi are:
1. The linking of movement and breath
2. Practicing vertically erect body alignment
3. Whole body movement
4. Listening to the slow motion
5. Cultivating the mind with mental images
6. The exercise as a continual, flowing experience
The Asahi movements are soft and performed in the rhythm of breathing. The series is simple and easy to learn. The movements have also a practical function, for example picking up a ball from the floor or improving one’s balance by standing on one foot. Advanced levels are designed for long-term trainees, yet they are equally simple to learn.
Asahi can be practiced in major areas of Finland. Asahi Health Ltd has also been accepted as an Education Partner to Federation of International Sports, Aerobics and Fitness as the first Body Mind product to be recognized and recommended by this organization. [2] These exercises are done through the help a instructor guiding a class in physical presence, or through video instruction.
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