04-16-2008, 12:46 PM
BY MIKE BYRNE
11:40 - 12 April 2008
Standing in front of a cow on one leg with your arms curved and outstretched may not immediately spring to mind as the best way to increase milk yields.
But all that could change with the introduction of tai chi to the farm yard.
Farmer Rob Taverner, who runs an organic farm just outside Exeter, has already taken up the ancient Chinese moving meditation in a bid to take his livestock to new heights of spiritual contentment.
Far East farmers have practiced tai chi for hundreds of years, but this is the first time it has been used in Devon's lush green pastures.
Tai chi is a series of slow, controlled movements for developing strength, balance, posture and calm.
A series of exercises that can promote more relaxed cows have been developed and include:
Lazily Buttoning Overalls, or Lan Zha Yi;
Up with the Lark, which is adapted from the White Crane Spreads its Wings (or Bai He Liang);
Directing the Herd, adapted from Single Whip or Dan Bian; Opening the Farm Gate, adapted from Part the Wild Horse's Mane or Ye Ma Feb Zhong.
One of the more remarkable is Arms like Tractor Wheels, adapted from Wave Hands Like a Cloud or Yun Shou.
Mr Taverner, who has perfected the Lazily Buttoning Overalls form, said: "Being an organic dairy farmer is hard work.
"I want to make sure I am as relaxed and focussed as possible.
"My mood definitely transfers to my cows and as organic farmers we believe happier cows produce better milk.
"Organic farming, just like tai chi, is all about maintaining a balance. In organic farming we do our best to maintain a balance with nature and tai chi has helped me maintain the inner-balance which is reflected in my farm."
The Federation of Organic Milk Groups have brought in a tai chi master, or sifu, to help dairymen and women, herdsmen and even the burly drivers of big fat milk tankers to find their inner soul and achieve new heights of well-being.
This in turn will bring extra spiritual uplift to the cows.
Roger Kerr, chairman of the federation, said: "Enjoying organic milk everyday is a great way to enhance your well-being.
"It is kind to the environment, kind to your body, kind to your wallet and comes from happy and contented cows.
"That's what tai chi is all about and we hope everyone will embrace the feeling and try out the moves themselves."
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136993&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231418&home=yes&more_nodeId1=137002&contentPK=20377218
11:40 - 12 April 2008
Standing in front of a cow on one leg with your arms curved and outstretched may not immediately spring to mind as the best way to increase milk yields.
But all that could change with the introduction of tai chi to the farm yard.
Farmer Rob Taverner, who runs an organic farm just outside Exeter, has already taken up the ancient Chinese moving meditation in a bid to take his livestock to new heights of spiritual contentment.
Far East farmers have practiced tai chi for hundreds of years, but this is the first time it has been used in Devon's lush green pastures.
Tai chi is a series of slow, controlled movements for developing strength, balance, posture and calm.
A series of exercises that can promote more relaxed cows have been developed and include:
Lazily Buttoning Overalls, or Lan Zha Yi;
Up with the Lark, which is adapted from the White Crane Spreads its Wings (or Bai He Liang);
Directing the Herd, adapted from Single Whip or Dan Bian; Opening the Farm Gate, adapted from Part the Wild Horse's Mane or Ye Ma Feb Zhong.
One of the more remarkable is Arms like Tractor Wheels, adapted from Wave Hands Like a Cloud or Yun Shou.
Mr Taverner, who has perfected the Lazily Buttoning Overalls form, said: "Being an organic dairy farmer is hard work.
"I want to make sure I am as relaxed and focussed as possible.
"My mood definitely transfers to my cows and as organic farmers we believe happier cows produce better milk.
"Organic farming, just like tai chi, is all about maintaining a balance. In organic farming we do our best to maintain a balance with nature and tai chi has helped me maintain the inner-balance which is reflected in my farm."
The Federation of Organic Milk Groups have brought in a tai chi master, or sifu, to help dairymen and women, herdsmen and even the burly drivers of big fat milk tankers to find their inner soul and achieve new heights of well-being.
This in turn will bring extra spiritual uplift to the cows.
Roger Kerr, chairman of the federation, said: "Enjoying organic milk everyday is a great way to enhance your well-being.
"It is kind to the environment, kind to your body, kind to your wallet and comes from happy and contented cows.
"That's what tai chi is all about and we hope everyone will embrace the feeling and try out the moves themselves."
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136993&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231418&home=yes&more_nodeId1=137002&contentPK=20377218