In class today, we practiced the Qi Gong State. We then did Pu Ti Qi Gong and Five Organ Breathing Qi Gong.
Five Organ Breathing is a basic and fundamental exercise which treats the entire body with healthy Qi. If you were to learn only one exercise for life, this might be it.
We focused on the liver, heart, spleen/stomach, lungs, kidneys and body-fluid system. By doing this exercise, we were enlivening all of our body. By focusing our attention and care on each organ system, we were enlivening that organ and bringing forth the natural health within that organ system.
Though we did each organ system exercise six times before moving to the next organ, you may focus more exercise on one organ if you are having a problem by doing more than six cycles with this organ system... much more if you want. You decide.
We all need the attention and care of each other. Our children and pets need our attention and care; the life within them comes alive to its fullest potential with our healthy concerns and attention. Our bodies need the same attention from us to perform at their full potential of wellness. Our attention enhances the flow of Qi; we have the ability to direct Qi, the force of life, where needed. Care for your body; talk to it in wellness. Do Qi Gong.
Qi Gong has been developed in an uninterrupted fashion over thousands of years by your fellow human beings in Asia. They became aware of energy systems that run through the body creating life and health. Qi Gong brings our powerful ability of awareness and focus to bare in a positive manner on the maintenance and enhancement this energy system.
Qi Gong connects us to the healthy system of life within us and about us in nature. Qi Gong brings a reconnection where we have been disconnected. It activates our innate system of wellness though awareness and exercises. Qi Gong activates the natural health and wellness within us.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Introduction
This is a simple exercise that Dr. Wang, my teacher, brought back from China a few years ago when he was visiting his teacher at Wu Dang Mountain.
Dr. Wang met his teacher high up in the mountain in a cave that was cold. In three days, there was but one small meal. However, Dr. Wang and others in the cave stayed warm and nourished as a result of this exercise and an herbal drink: Life Energy Tonic.
Pu Ti Qi Gong builds inner strength. It is an excellent practice in the winter when daylight hours are shortened and our Qi Gong work is focused on building strength within us to express more fully in the lively daylight hours of summer.
Specifically, Pu Ti Qi Gong helps to create warmth, aids circulation, improves libido, balances our hormones, helps with menstrual problems and diminishes cramps.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Exercise Instructions
To Begin--Enter Qi Gong State
Begin “Qi Gong State.” In sitting position with hands on thighs and/or lap, close eyes. Notice breath, do not control it. Relax: half awake, half asleep. Be easy, be gentle. Breathe. With eyes still shut, imagine hands outstretched in front, shoulder high. Imagine eyes open and focused on fingertips of outstretched hands.
Relax, breathe easy. With eyes shut, focus on tip of nose. Imagine you are looking at the tip of your nose. From the tip of your nose, imagine a ruby red arc moving out 4 or 5 inches from your nose and arcing into your heart. Then focus on you feet and feel them grounded solid, firm and supporting into the earth, nine feet deep… as a tree is rooted into the ground.
Part One
1. Hands in lap; palms up. Middle fingers, next to index fingers, barely touching--“touch, no touch.”
2. With mouth open wide, breathe in Qi to middle of chest, the Middle Dan Tien. Swallow “golden elixir”; watch it flow to lower abdomen, the lower Dan Tien. Breathe out as you focus down to feet.
3. Repeat until you feel and think you are finished.
4. Short closing: rub hands; rub face; comb hair; massage ears; pat top of head; pat front of body.
Part Two
1. Hands shaped and held as peach over lower abdomen, the Lower Dan Tien, three inches below navel and three inches deep.
2. Breathe in through nose; breathe out mouth with mouth gently open but not too wide.
3. As you breathe in, imagine you are fanning and growing a gentle warming fire in lower abdomen.
Full Closing
1. Rub hands together creating warmth and focusing Qi.
2. Give face Qi facial, massaging Qi into skin.
3. Comb hair with fingers; massage scalp.
4. Massage ears, top to bottom.
5. Pat head, front of body, outside of arms, arm pits and down sides.
6. Gently rap lower back, just below rib cage. Say hello to kidneys. Twelve times.
7. Immortal Crane, chin going in rounded motion twelve times.
8. Play with Qi ball.
9. Celebrate Your Life of Happiness and Health!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Five Organ Breathing
Introduction
Five Organ Breathing is a basic and fundamental exercise that treats the entire body with healthy Qi. If you were to learn only one exercise for life, this might be it.
Five Organ Breathing focuses on the liver, heart, spleen/stomach, lungs, kidneys and body-fluid system. By doing this exercise, we are enlivening all of our body. By focusing our attention and care on each organ system, we were enlivening that organ system and bringing forth the natural health within that system.
Each organ system exercise is done six times, with six cycles of inhaling and exhaling before moving to the next exercise. However, you may focus more exercise and breaths on one organ system if you are having a problem with that particular organ system.
Warm Up
With hands down at sides, bring back of hands close to each other, not touching. Pull them up and out until arms are shoulder height, forming a line horizontal to the ground with palms up. Then reverse the movement with hands and forearms rotating around the elbows and pushing the Qi back down into the ground. In your mind, see yourself pulling the Qi up out of the ground, feel the Qi pushing up against your hands. As your hands and arms reverse the motion, feel the Qi return to the ground.
Liver Breathing
Begin with arms down against sides. With palms down, bring arms out like a bird spreading its wings until arms form a horizontal line at shoulder height. Then bring hands and forearms up rotating around elbows and push down as you exhale with arms returning to sides in the beginning position.
As you breathe out in this exercise, open eyes and make a silent shew sound. Feel and see Qi coming out eyes. If possible, exhale Qi out eyes into an Evergreen tree in your site. If you cannot see an Evergreen tree out you window, imagine one is near that your exhaled Qi is entering. The purpose of the shew sound is that it resonates the kidney system in a productive manner assisting the exercise.
Heart Breathing
With arms at side, bend knees a little, inhale as you bring hands and arms toward knees in a scooping motion. Pull hands up to chest with palms up. At mid chest flip hands outward with palms facing away from you. Bring hands high above head or just to head height if you have high blood-pressure. Flip hands around with palms toward you and begin exhale. Bring hands down body with hands and fingers close but not touching. Feel, see or imagine interplay of Qi from hand to hand, fingers to fingers. Make silent ku sound as exhaling. The ku sound resonates the heart. Repeat six times.
In Class Today
Steve, Tif and Kathryn,
I explained that what we are doing, what I teach is "Medical Qi Gong" where we focus directly on health enhancing and healing practices as they are done in China by a typical Doctor of Qi Gong or a simple practitioner of Qi Gong at home.
Medical Qi Gong or what I call it, “Therapeutic Qi Gong,” is an internal exercise of yin and done with the eyes closed. Qi Gong can be practiced effectively at all times of day or night, but the “yin” energy we are working with is strongest between 11 PM and 11 AM.
As you get used to working with Qi in these exercises, keep in mind that we are using “yin” energy or “gentle fire.” Never use your personal power to crank up the voltage of these exercises… not a good idea. Always be gentle doing Qi Gong. Think of the qualities of yin: gentle! feminine, quiet, running water, night, dark, shadow, ease. Yang is afternoon sun, POWER! Action! Getting things done NOW! An exclamation point--!!!--is Yang. A kick in the butt is Yang.
Before every Qi Gong exercise, as we begin to learn and do them, we first go into the Qi Gong State. It is the starting point.
As we were going into the Qi Gong State today, I suggested we take a look at repressed, restrained or withheld positive emotions like love, compassion, forgiveness, joy and happiness. Withholding these emotions and not letting them express creates an energetic "slow down" or stagnation of Qi. Holding in pain or grief, not expressing it or acknowledging it can do the same.
Psychotherapy has focused on processing difficult feelings... using the medical model where the focus in on the disease. That's o.k. and important; there are some great treatments. However, I predominately teach the practice of engaging positive thoughts and feelings of the body and connecting theses pleasing impulses to the world we live in. This is a combination of Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine and Qi Gong, or Mind/Body Science. It is all really the same: what can you do to improve your well being outside of the medical allopathic, "we're at war" model of treatment.
To begin, it can be as simple as practicing positive feelings. The more you practice them, the more you have them and the better you feel, operate and function. Life begins to form around you in a favorable and effortless manner as you live. Needs are met with greater ease and spontaneity becomes the norm.
In a contrary way, the more we think disease, look for disease and treat disease--the more we give rise to disease, ad infinitum. The more we think of happiness, compassion and appreciation--the more our body and all of life responds with these good qualities.
Our bodies are designed to feel good, to existed in comfort and health; but the body needs a little attention and permission from us to enjoy and exists in happiness and health. So give your body permission to relax, to exist in optimum happiness and health. Give thanks to your bodies for being wonderful, for doing such a good job. Sheppard your organ systems. Encourage them and thank them.
The cells of our bodies respond to our attention much the way a puppies eyes gleam at its owner's arival or a toddler runs with outstretched arms of happiness toward a good parent. Your bodies cells and organ systems need that type of attention and affection from our consciousness--they will respond. You will get good results.
Think of how you respond if you bump your elbow in a hard and painful manner. You instinctively hold and touch your elbow. You begin to rub it giving it your attention and care. This assists and initiates the healing process. If you learn to do that to your entire body on a regular basis, when there is no crisis, you enhance and maximize your health and biological state of happiness. In a culture or tribe where everyone is doing this all day--responding with love, compassion and sensitivity to their own needs and the needs of others, where this culture holds this behavior and teaches it from birth--healing and health happen quickly.
Thankfulness is a biological state of optimum health and functioning. Be thankful regardless of circumstances. You can always find something: being with the mundane, "I am thankful for my left little finger." Giving thanks, issuing forth thankfulness from the core of who you are works to build good health and good life consequences--your body responds and life responds. Look for the thankfulness inside you and thankfulness will break out all around you in the life you are living.
Our bodies naturally want to exist in all these wonderful states of being, feeling and thinking... but a little attention on our part needs to be made for this to build in an ever increasing manner. We are the captains of the ship, of out bodies, and we need to take command a bit, in a gentle manner, to allow wellness to grow... infinitely.
I mentioned that focusing on the good feelings we have inside can reduce stress and anxiety... repressing our good feelings we may be creating stress and discomfort. So allow the joy, happiness, forgiveness and love in you to flow out of your body, flow throughout your entire physical being. All these wonderful feelings, emotions and thoughts are biological states under our control and command. We can use that control and command to give every cell in our bodies permission to feel happy, well and in love... if we are doing our part in meeting our other needs--food, shelter, socialization, meaning etc.
Towards the end of class I did a quick demonstration of a technique I use to help clients move through blockages of Qi... of thought and emotion that has not been fully released or allowed to express in a natural way. The idea is to get the client actively involved in their own wellness recovery process. The client always has the best position of power and perspective for finding what he or she needs to be well and whole.
No one else in the world who has ever existed can know you better that you can know yourself! No one knows what is best for you better that you do! So work at knowing you, in a gentle and forgiving manner.
Forgiveness is the letting go of stagnant Qi--forgiveness is the letting go of life that has been stopped or "held up" in the process of living.
Qi Gong is a self-empowering practice where the practitioners are activating their full energetic spectrum of health and potential.
I talked a bit about the concept of perpetual health: of the body and life being designed to give us perfect health and perfect life in an ever developing manner of wellness--without calamity, illness and death.
I also discussed the idea of life giving back to us what we give forth... like a boomerang: We are all creators in a collective workshop, giving rise to our lives and the world we live in.
We are limited only by our dreams. Dream big; dream simple; dream happiness, but be sure to dream of what you want, of how and who you want to be. Choose your life. Choose your dreams!
What you pursue becomes what is given to you:
- The pursuit of wisdom gives forth wisdom.
- The pursuit of happiness gives forth happiness.
- The pursuit of Self gives forth the Universe.
Peace be with you.
In Class Today
In class today, we did exercises to help us enter the Qi Gong State as well as doing Five Organ Breathing.
We discussed how Qi Gong is breathing in life affirming and health giving Qi; and how we then breathe out, with the outgoing Qi taking out toxins and impurities. As we practice and become aware of this natural process, our bodies and lives return to a balanced and healthful rhythm.
Awareness is part of the practice: awareness of Qi in ourselves and nature with each breath of Qi we take in and each breath we breathe out, our bodies being nourished and made alive... made more and more vital with each cycle of breath. So we are not aging, we are becoming more alive with every breath we take in every moment of our lives.
We talked about how our brains change with every experience--how we are responsible for what we experience and how we react to it.
We discussed how Qi Gong can be used to mitigate the stress and strain of daily life--how we could check in with our body's state of stress and look at our thoughts and feelings. We talked of how we could offer the reactive part of ourselves comfort and understanding, followed by Qi Gong to correct the discomfort.
We also talked about how we may not be aware of being stressed out during the day... such as a traffic situation. We may, however, be very aware of our stress and anger... and use Qi Gong to dissipate these uncomfortable feelings... perhaps focusing on being grounded ten feet into the earth.
We also talked about how the human body evolved, how it is designed for hunting and gathering and not modern life. We talked about how the fight or flight response helped us survive and how it can be difficult to manage healthily in the modern world.
Above all, we discussed the need to not be overly critical of ourselves, instead being understanding and accepting of our human nature, then doing Qi Gong to build inner strength and personal calm.
In Class Today
In class today, we entered the Qi Gong State; we then did Pu Ti Qi Gong and Five Organ Breathing Qi Gong.
Five Organ Breathing is a basic and fundamental exercise which treats the entire body with healthy Qi. If you were to learn only one exercise for life, this might be it.
We focused on the liver, heart, spleen/stomach, lungs, kidneys and body-fluid system. By doing this exercise, we were enlivening all of our body. By focusing our attention and care on each organ system, we were enlivening that organ and bringing forth the natural health within that organ system.
Though we did each organ system exercise six times before moving to the next organ, you may focus more exercise on one organ if you are having a problem by doing more than six cycles with this organ system... much more if you want. You decide.
We all need the attention and care of each other. Our children and pets need our attention and care; the life within them comes alive to its fullest potential with our healthy concerns and attention. Our bodies need the same attention from us to perform at their full potential of wellness. Our attention enhances the flow of Qi; we have the ability to direct Qi, the force of life, where needed. Care for your body; talk to it in wellness. Do Qi Gong.
Qi Gong has been developed in an uninterrupted fashion over thousands of years by your fellow human beings in Asia. They became aware of energy systems that run through the body creating life and health. Qi Gong brings our powerful ability of awareness and focus to bare in a positive manner on the maintenance and enhancement this energy system.
Qi Gong connects us to the healthy system of life within us and about us in nature. Qi Gong brings a reconnection where we have been disconnected. It activates our innate system of wellness though awareness and exercises. Qi Gong activates the natural health and wellness within us.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Introduction
This is a simple exercise that Dr. Wang, my teacher, brought back from China a few years ago when he was visiting his teacher at Wu Dang Mountain.
Dr. Wang met his teacher high up in the mountain in a cave that was cold. In three days, there was but one small meal. However, Dr. Wang and others in the cave stayed warm and nourished as a result of this exercise and an herbal drink: Life Energy Tonic.
Pu Ti Qi Gong builds inner strength. It is an excellent practice in the winter when daylight hours are shortened and our Qi Gong work is focused on building strength within us to express more fully in the lively daylight hours of summer.
Specifically, Pu Ti Qi Gong helps to create warmth, aids circulation, improves libido, balances our hormones, helps with menstrual problems and diminishes cramps.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Exercise Instructions
To Begin--Enter Qi Gong State
Begin “Qi Gong State.” In sitting position with hands on thighs and/or lap, close eyes. Notice breath, do not control it. Relax: half awake, half asleep. Be easy, be gentle. Breathe. With eyes still shut, imagine hands outstretched in front, shoulder high. Imagine eyes open and focused on fingertips of outstretched hands.
Relax, breathe easy. With eyes shut, focus on tip of nose. Imagine you are looking at the tip of your nose. From the tip of your nose, imagine a ruby red arc moving out 4 or 5 inches from your nose and arcing into your heart. Then focus on you feet and feel them grounded solid, firm and supporting into the earth, nine feet deep… as a tree is rooted into the ground.
Part One
1. Hands in lap; palms up. Middle fingers, next to index fingers, barely touching--“touch, no touch.”
2. With mouth open wide, breathe in Qi to middle of chest, the Middle Dan Tien. Swallow “golden elixir”; watch it flow to lower abdomen, the lower Dan Tien. Breathe out as you focus down to feet.
3. Repeat until you feel and think you are finished.
4. Short closing: rub hands; rub face; comb hair; massage ears; pat top of head; pat front of body.
Part Two
1. Hands shaped and held as peach over lower abdomen, the Lower Dan Tien, three inches below navel and three inches deep.
2. Breathe in through nose; breathe out mouth with mouth gently open but not too wide.
3. As you breathe in, imagine you are fanning and growing a gentle warming fire in lower abdomen.
Full Closing
1. Rub hands together creating warmth and focusing Qi.
2. Give face Qi facial, massaging Qi into skin.
3. Comb hair with fingers; massage scalp.
4. Massage ears, top to bottom.
5. Pat head, front of body, outside of arms, arm pits and down sides.
6. Gently rap lower back, just below rib cage. Say hello to kidneys. Twelve times.
7. Immortal Crane, chin going in rounded motion twelve times.
8. Play with Qi ball.
9. Celebrate Your Life of Happiness and Health!!
Five Organ Breathing is a basic and fundamental exercise which treats the entire body with healthy Qi. If you were to learn only one exercise for life, this might be it.
We focused on the liver, heart, spleen/stomach, lungs, kidneys and body-fluid system. By doing this exercise, we were enlivening all of our body. By focusing our attention and care on each organ system, we were enlivening that organ and bringing forth the natural health within that organ system.
Though we did each organ system exercise six times before moving to the next organ, you may focus more exercise on one organ if you are having a problem by doing more than six cycles with this organ system... much more if you want. You decide.
We all need the attention and care of each other. Our children and pets need our attention and care; the life within them comes alive to its fullest potential with our healthy concerns and attention. Our bodies need the same attention from us to perform at their full potential of wellness. Our attention enhances the flow of Qi; we have the ability to direct Qi, the force of life, where needed. Care for your body; talk to it in wellness. Do Qi Gong.
Qi Gong has been developed in an uninterrupted fashion over thousands of years by your fellow human beings in Asia. They became aware of energy systems that run through the body creating life and health. Qi Gong brings our powerful ability of awareness and focus to bare in a positive manner on the maintenance and enhancement this energy system.
Qi Gong connects us to the healthy system of life within us and about us in nature. Qi Gong brings a reconnection where we have been disconnected. It activates our innate system of wellness though awareness and exercises. Qi Gong activates the natural health and wellness within us.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Introduction
This is a simple exercise that Dr. Wang, my teacher, brought back from China a few years ago when he was visiting his teacher at Wu Dang Mountain.
Dr. Wang met his teacher high up in the mountain in a cave that was cold. In three days, there was but one small meal. However, Dr. Wang and others in the cave stayed warm and nourished as a result of this exercise and an herbal drink: Life Energy Tonic.
Pu Ti Qi Gong builds inner strength. It is an excellent practice in the winter when daylight hours are shortened and our Qi Gong work is focused on building strength within us to express more fully in the lively daylight hours of summer.
Specifically, Pu Ti Qi Gong helps to create warmth, aids circulation, improves libido, balances our hormones, helps with menstrual problems and diminishes cramps.
Pu Ti Qi Gong - Exercise Instructions
To Begin--Enter Qi Gong State
Begin “Qi Gong State.” In sitting position with hands on thighs and/or lap, close eyes. Notice breath, do not control it. Relax: half awake, half asleep. Be easy, be gentle. Breathe. With eyes still shut, imagine hands outstretched in front, shoulder high. Imagine eyes open and focused on fingertips of outstretched hands.
Relax, breathe easy. With eyes shut, focus on tip of nose. Imagine you are looking at the tip of your nose. From the tip of your nose, imagine a ruby red arc moving out 4 or 5 inches from your nose and arcing into your heart. Then focus on you feet and feel them grounded solid, firm and supporting into the earth, nine feet deep… as a tree is rooted into the ground.
Part One
1. Hands in lap; palms up. Middle fingers, next to index fingers, barely touching--“touch, no touch.”
2. With mouth open wide, breathe in Qi to middle of chest, the Middle Dan Tien. Swallow “golden elixir”; watch it flow to lower abdomen, the lower Dan Tien. Breathe out as you focus down to feet.
3. Repeat until you feel and think you are finished.
4. Short closing: rub hands; rub face; comb hair; massage ears; pat top of head; pat front of body.
Part Two
1. Hands shaped and held as peach over lower abdomen, the Lower Dan Tien, three inches below navel and three inches deep.
2. Breathe in through nose; breathe out mouth with mouth gently open but not too wide.
3. As you breathe in, imagine you are fanning and growing a gentle warming fire in lower abdomen.
Full Closing
1. Rub hands together creating warmth and focusing Qi.
2. Give face Qi facial, massaging Qi into skin.
3. Comb hair with fingers; massage scalp.
4. Massage ears, top to bottom.
5. Pat head, front of body, outside of arms, arm pits and down sides.
6. Gently rap lower back, just below rib cage. Say hello to kidneys. Twelve times.
7. Immortal Crane, chin going in rounded motion twelve times.
8. Play with Qi ball.
9. Celebrate Your Life of Happiness and Health!!
It Will Be Done
Create a place where silence can be heard in your life--where the absolute wisdom of who you are can grow. It may not be easy. But if you do it; it will be done.
What Does It Take to Be Human?
To do no harm is the strongest action you can take. To nurture, care and love is required to be human.
There Are No Exceptions
Action, behavior and thought that truly serve the individual, serve all of humanity.
How to Improve Your Circumstances
Take action when it is time for action. Be still when action will not serve you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)