Header Ads

How To Practice Qigong - Powerful Ancient Qigong Exercises

As you become more sensitive to Qi in your Qigong practice, you will become more sensitive to Qi in your everyday life.

Qigong can be translated many ways, but the typical translation is "Energy Cultivation". When we practice Qigong, we are using intent to move Qi in and out of our body, purge old Qi and bring in fresh Qi. But this process of moving and changing Qi does not stop once we stop practicing Qigong. Qi is constantly moving in and out of our body, every second of the day.


 "Yin changing to Yang" and "Yang changing to Yin"
Qi: "Yin changing to Yang" and "Yang changing to Yin"



Daily Qigong Practice

Becoming aware of Qi is the first stage of Qigong practice. Once you become sensitive to the Qi in your body and the Qi around you, every minute there is an opportunity to practice. Notice the Qi around you. Notice how you feel differently in different places. Sense the Qi of another person or an animal. Breathe and feel fresh Qi enter your body. Look around you, and see the constant process of "Yin changing to Yang" and "Yang changing to Yin"

Look for your own ways of discovering Qi in your daily life and have fun with it. Qi is everywhere and in all things.

As you become more sensitive to Qi in your Qigong practice, you will become more sensitive to Qi in your everyday life.

It is very important it is to practice Qigong daily. Most Chinese masters will tell you that you must practice a movement or set every day for 100 days (without skipping a single day) in order to begin to obtain the benefits of the practice. While I certainly believe great things happen when you practice daily, I also understand the challenge of being able to practice daily.

I know everyone's day is probably jam packed from beginning to end. Having kids and a full-time job pretty much consume most of the 24 hours in most people's day. A friend/student recently said some profound words that are quite worthy of repeating. He was talking about snowboarding, and how he could see it relating to Qigong in that you are at one with nature, your movements down the hill are slow and circular, and how on a mountain top you are breathing in fresh, qi infused air. He couldn't be more right, our practice is all around us.

Qigong can be translated many ways, but the typical translation is "Energy Work" or "Energy Cultivation". When you become aware of Qi or simply move it around, you are doing Qigong. Every minute of every day is an opportunity to practice. Many movements can be practiced as you walk around. Everytime you move, it's an opportunity to be co-ordinate your breath with your movement and experience the constant process of "Yin changing to Yang" and "Yang changing to Yin". Look for your own ways of discovering Qi in your daily life and have fun with it.

The byproduct Qigong practice that can be used in our everyday life is the increased awareness that comes with the practice. Qigong is moving meditation which quiets the mind and turns our focus inward, making us more aware of ourselves, and in turn the world around us. When we practice Qigong, that is it. 

We are simply practicing...but when we enter back into the real world again, we re-enter it with a clearer mind and the possibility for a new perspective. What are the new things that you noticed today, that you didn't notice yesterday? This awareness is the result of your practice, and it will honestly come even if you are not able to practice daily.

The truth is that in the beginning it's difficult to carve out the time to practice daily. If you persist in your practice, even if it's once a week, you will slowly become more drawn to practicing as you see and experience the increased awareness and the new state of mind the practice brings. 

Over time you will find yourself automatically creating that time to practice and you will dive deeper into Qigong.

Want to learn Qigong ONLINE in the comfort of your own home? 
This is the solution link:
Secrets Of Chi Manipulation Revealed- The Insider Methods To The Worlds Most Extraordinary Qigong Techniques

Powerful Ancient Qigong Exercises for Cultivating Healing Energy in the Body

Around 500 CE, in the Liang Dynasty, Qigong was adopted by various martial artists to increase stamina and power. For the most part, the breathing, concentration, and agility were assets to the warriors and improved their well-being.

Buddhist monks who use Qigong exercises in their pursuit for higher consciousness and enlightenment concentrate on the Qigong’s ability to influence their Shen. 

Mastering Marrow Washing allows the practitioner to gain so much control over the flow of Qi energy that he or she can direct it into the forehead and elevate consciousness. The rest of us can enjoy the influence of Qigong on our Shen (spiritual body/energy), but at a lower level.

Whatever reason you use Qigong, the practice should raise your Qi to a higher state if you increase concentration, practice controlled breathing, and execute the Qigong routines.

The Foundational Techniques

Concentration


Concentration leads to and results from Qi energy awareness, breathing techniques, and Qigong exercises. It is a process of focusing in and letting go at the same time. Focusing does not mean that you wrinkle up your forehead and strain to pay attention.

Instead, through deep relaxation and expanding your consciousness, you are able to create a frame of mind that is large enough to encompass your entire mind – body – spirit’s functions, yet focused enough to allow outside distractions, worries, and everyday hassles to drift away.

This inward focus that expands outward to join you with the rhythms of the universe epitomizes Yin/Yang. Yin energy tends to be more expansive, and Yang energy more concentrated. You discover your Yin/Yang balance by treating Yin and Yang as ingredients in a recipe: Add a bit more Yin, toss in a dash of Yang to make the mixture suit your constitution or circumstances.

Ancient Qigong Exercises

Some people need more or less Yin or Yang, depending upon the situation. ‘Extending the Qi exercise’ outlined below provides a clear demonstration of how you can practice establishing your balanced blend of Yin and Yang.

You will find that as you do qigong exercise and meditation you become more adept at this form of concentration, because it is the natural expression of the practice. As you learn to concentrate more effectively, you will find you have greater power to affect Qi energy through the various Qigong exercises in this chapter or through the use of other focused meditations and Tai Chi.

Breathing

In the sixth century BCE, Lao Tzu first described breathing techniques as a way to stimulate Qi energy. From there, two types of Qigong breathing exercises evolved: Buddha’s Breath and Daoist’s Breath. Both methods infuse the body with Qi and help focus meditation.
  • Buddha’s Breath: When you inhale, extend your abdomen, filling it with air. When you exhale, contract you abdomen, expelling the air from the bottom of your lungs first and then pushing it up and out until your abdomen and chest are deflated. You may want to practice inhaling for a slow count of eight and exhaling for a count of sixteen. As you breathe in and out, imagine inviting your Qi energy to flow through the Channels. Use your mind to invite the Qi to flow; you want to guide the flow, not tug at it or push it.
  • Daoist’s Breath: The pattern is the opposite of above. When you breathe in, you contract your abdominal muscles. When you exhale, you relax the torso and lungs.

As you travel through these steps, remember that Qigong is a process of building awareness. However you are comfortable doing the routines is what’s right for you at that time.

Step by step instructions to Safely Learn Qigong Exercises Online


The accompanying inquiry and answer succession tends to a few concerns communicated by individuals who consider qigong by means of online recordings, sounds and composed guidance.

Q: Is qigong safe to learn on the web?

A: Some will be, some isn't.

Q: How can a learner know what's sheltered?

A: The utilization of presence of mind goes far. Building up your instinct or 'wholeness guide' is additionally imperative.

Q: Can you say more in regards to the 'wholeness guide'?

A: Your wholeness incorporates all parts of your physiological, mental and enthusiastic being and additionally components of being that Western science has not yet even characterized.

Qigong manages the life-vitality as experienced in the body. To rehearse qigong you have to create consciousness of your physical body right now. 


A qigong ace once disclosed to me why in China you will discover elderly individuals strolling in reverse in the parks. He called attention to that strolling forward, your brain can be involved with agonizing over future occasions, re-hashing past occasions or making your shopping list, yet to walk in reverse you should set aside less than ideal considerations and be available in your body. Each minute spent in the body right now is supporting the body's mending and recovery. Subsequently the straightforward demonstration of gradually strolling in reverse conveys us more like our very own feeling wholeness. Is strolling in reverse a protected type of activity? Just as protected as the dimension of your own mindfulness - good judgment.

So what are the threats of learning qigong on the web?


The perils of gaining qigong online emerge for the most part from meddling with normal procedures. Common procedures incorporate breathing, absorption, course of blood and so on. Your life as of now is upheld by numerous regular procedures in the body. Some of them could be adjusted to enhance your wellbeing, prosperity and strength however you should be very sure that the new guidance you are giving your body is appropriately comprehended and is in actuality an enhancement for what was at that point occurring. As it's been said, "in the event that it ain't broke, don't settle it".

The nature of the wording of a guidance can have a significant effect to the outcome. For instance, set aside opportunity to see your very own body's reaction to the accompanying: "Take a full breath".

On the other hand, "Unwind and breathe out easily and unobtrusively, at that point permit the in-breath to pursue easily on."

The contrast between the two emerges from the way that the in-breath is 'tonifying' while the out-breath is 'placating'. In any case exhalation is more helpful for physical unwinding, which thus is more helpful for a quiet personality, which is thusly more helpful for dissolving the impacts of weight on the body and brain.

When you 'meddle' with your constant examples of breathing, ensure what you're doing is extremely a characteristic enhancement. You will feel the distinction. Constrained and unnatural breathing examples can't assist anybody with feeling better. Having said that, when you are available with an able instructor, they can watch you and right your mix-ups. Along these lines they can manage you through the minefield of conceivable blunders and show you very intricate, propelled rehearses securely. Be that as it may, without an instructor physically present to address your endeavors, the guidelines pursued should be unique, basic and idiot proof.

Q: Does it pursue that protected online qigong is excessively diluted, making it impossible to be of any utilization?

A: Not by any means. Actually, with the end goal to recognize the least difficult, most fundamental parts of qigong, I've expected to return to a portion of the specific first developments and activities I learned more than 30 years back. In addition to the fact that I recalled that my wellbeing significantly enhanced inside the initial four months when all I realized how to rehearse were those extremely fundamental basic developments, yet in addition that throughout the years I've streamlined and floated back toward those equivalent basic early activities as being among the most profitable things I at any point learned. Regardless I can discover methods for enhancing my execution of those straightforward developments.

And if you are looking for ways to connect Yin and Yang 
Energy through human beings >>> Chakra Activation System By Stephanie & Alvin 

Warm-Up Exercises 

Qigong Exercise One: Gentle Sway


1. For five minutes, move both of your arms from your shoulders in a gentle swinging motion. The motion itself is initiated from your waist: Twist from the waist as though your torso were a washcloth that you were wringing out. Don’t twist from the knees or you may harm them. Furthermore, twisting from the waist provides a massage to the internal organs and provides you the full benefits of the exercise.

2. To get started, move your arms side to side across your torso, and then back to front.

3. Keep your knees slightly bent. Let your hips sway. Allow your mind to clear. At first, focus on the release of unnecessary and unconscious stress. After several weeks, you may shift your focus so that you think only about the swaying of your arms and the motion of Qi energy.

This introduces you to the concept of being mindful of the present, much the same concept as found in Zen walking.

Qigong Exercise Two: The Bounce


In the beginning, try this for one to three minutes.

1. With your feet parallel and about shoulder’s width apart, bounce with your knees loose and your arms hanging at the sides like a wet noodle. They should feel empty and neutral. This is the zero position for your arms. When you are bouncing back and forth, your arms in zero should get a nice jiggling effect.

2. Keep your shoulders natural; neither pull them back or let them slump forward too much. When the zero position is used on the whole body, you should receive a feeling of deep relaxation and your internal organs and skin should hang down. This process brings awareness of internal tension so that you can do something to dispel it, if you choose.

The combination of exercises one and two gently massages and tonifies the Organ Systems, which helps promote longevity.

Awareness Exercises

Qigong Exercise Three: Accordion


In this, you feel the Qi energy by using your hands like the bellow of an accordion or a bicycle pump.

1. Close your eyes halfway. Clear your mind and concentrate your attention on your palms.

2. Allow your breath to become slow, easy, without force. In a way, you are creating the very lightest trance.

3. Bring your hands together, palms touching and fingers pointing upward. The palm chakras, called Laogong, located in the center of the palms, should be touching. These chakras are areas where Qi can be felt emanating from the body.

4. Slowly move your hands, keeping the chakras aligned. When they are about 12 inches (30 cm) apart, slowly move them together using the least amount of physical effort possible.

5. You will be compressing the air between them like an accordion would.

6. Feel a warm or tingling sensation at the Laogong points on your palms.

7. Move your hands slowly back and forth, varying the range of the bellows. Repeat the accordion technique in different directions: horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

This exercise cultivates Qi, builds awareness, and sensitizes yourself. When you feel Qi energy for the first time, it changes your mind-set.


Qigong Exercise Four: Making the Point


1. Using your index finger is a powerful way of directing Qi energy. If you are right-handed, use you right index finger; if you are left-handed, use your left index finger. Point it directly at the flat palm of your other hand. That hand should be perpendicular to the floor with your fingers pointing straight up.

2. Use your index finger like a paintbrush to swab back and forth across your palm.

3. Begin with your fingertip about 8 inches (20 cm) from your palm. Slowly move it closer and farther away, swabbing all the time.

You may feel a tickling sensation, a cooling, or a warming of your palm.

Qigong Exercise Five: Extending the Qi


If you have Deficient Qi, you should perform this exercise with your eyes half closed to cultivate and accumulate Qi energy.

1. If you have Stagnant Qi, the exercise may be done with your eyes fully open. You will inhale swiftly through your nostrils with your eyes open or half closed when you exhale.

Note: You should exercise caution when practicing Qi exercises at home—without a teacher nearby—because they are powerful, and Qi can leak out your eyes.

2. Once you can sense the Qi, exercise your intention (which is the mind/spirit part of the exercise) and use your mind to move your Qi out from your body, expanding the zone in which you are comfortable. You may allow the Qi to drift out on the exhalation and then hold it there as you inhale.

3. First move the Qi into an orbit 1 inch (2.5 cm) from your skin. In increments of 6 inches (15 cm), move it outward, aiming for 3 feet (91 cm), but find the point where you are comfortable with it. Then bring it back in until it returns close to your body.

This qigong exercise allows you to communicate with your Qi energy. By increasing the distance away from your body that you can feel Qi, you expand your area of comfort—your field of generosity—in the world around you. You will have less fear and greater abilities. By being able to bring your Qi halo in to skin level (or inside your skin) you may become more centered, calm, and self-assured. When you have learned to be comfortable expanding and contracting your Qi, you will feel stronger, healthier, and more in harmony internally and externally.

Qigong Exercise Six: Pumping the Qi


This is a tricky exercise that moves the Qi energy along the two connecting Extraordinary Channels: the Du Mai and Ren Mai. You may think of it as evolve, devolve, because your posture goes from a slumped, gorilla-like stance to an upright extended pose. It is adapted from the Wild Goose Qigong exercise routine.

1. The first position pushes the Qi down. As your hands push flat down, your spine and head straighten upward. Then as you allow the Qi to flow back upward, your hands rise, elbows bent and palms parallel to the floor. Your shoulders hunch. Repeat this six or seven times, inhaling as your hands come up and exhaling as your hands go down.

2. When you are comfortable with this Qigong exercise, you may combine it with a slow intentional walk forward: left knee bent and raised in an exaggerated stepping motion. When your knee comes up, your hands go down and back and your spine straightens; when your foot touches the ground, your hands come up and your back hunches. Place your feet very gently on the ground and allow each step to proceed in slow motion, at a tempo that soothes and relaxes. Remember to maintain a breathing pattern, too. Inhale as your hands come up and your shoulders hunch. Exhale slowly, expanding your chest as you straighten your back. If this feels awkward, don’t despair. Even in a classroom situation, it takes a while to catch on to what to do.

Qigong Exercise Seven: Blending Qi


This exercise should help you become aware of various resonations of Qi energy and learn to blend them into a harmonious flow.

1. Stand with your feet a shoulder’s width apart, with your knees slightly bent. Allow your hands and arms to hang at your sides.

2. Shift your weight slightly to the balls of your feet. Simply be aware of the front side of your body. Concentrate on the Channels that pass along the front of your legs and torso, the top of your hands and arms, and your face.

3. After one minute, shift your weight to your heels. Become aware of the back of your body: the back of your head, your arms, your spine, and your legs. With practice, you may hold these postures for up to five minutes or longer.

4. You can also do this for the left and right sides of the body.

5. In each instance, you may want to become aware of each section of the body. For example, the side of your head, the side of your arm and torso, your outer hip, the side of your leg and ankle, and the length of your foot. This makes the exercise a meditation.

6. Now, shifting to a more Nei Dan form of Qigong exercise, repeat the first three steps, but the motion should not be detectable visually. Use your mind to shift your weight forward and backward, feeling your Qi flowing along the front and back of your body.

7. Next, try to feel your Qi flowing along your back and front simultaneously.

Students are often bewildered by the idea of feeling two sensations at the same time, but a useful analogy is to think of the color yellow and the color blue. When you blend those two colors together, you produce green. That green then becomes its own entity with its own wavelength. The same is true of blending the Qi energy from your front and from your back. The blend becomes another entity with its own resonation.

Advanced Qigong Breathing Exercise


Breathing can direct Qi energy through the body like the wind filling the sails of a ship. Qigong breathing exercises can invigorate or sedate, depending on how you use them.

On alternate days, practice the following routine, using Buddha’s Breath and Daoist’s Breath breathing techniques.

1. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed in lotus or cross-legged style. This is important so that Qi energy does not enter and become Stagnant in the lower body, but follows the breathing path through your torso and your head.

2. Inhale to a count of four to eight, depending on what you are comfortable with. For Buddha’s Breath, extend your belly, filling it up from the bottom. For Taoist’s Breath, inhale, contracting your abdomen, and exhale, letting your abdomen relax outward.

3. As you inhale, turn your attention to your nose. Guide the Qi energy downward from your nose toward the Dantian, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) below the navel. Women should not concentrate on the Dantian during their periods. Concentrate on your solar plexus instead.

4. Exhale to a count of eight to sixteen and move the Qi energy down the torso, around your pelvic region, and up to your tailbone.

5. Inhale and move the Qi up the back to the top of your shoulders.

6. Exhale and move the Qi up the back of your head and back to your nose.

7. If you cannot feel the Qi clearly, patience and practice will make it more apparent.

8. Once you are comfortable with this Qigong practice, you may increase the pace by completing the cycle in one inhalation and one exhalation. On the inhalation, move Qi energy from your nose to your tailbone. On the exhalation, move Qi from your tailbone back to your nose.

This article on qigong exercises and qi energy is excerpted with permission from The New Chinese Medicine Handbook: An Innovative Guide to Integrating Eastern Wisdom with Western Practice for Modern Healing by Misha Ruth Cohen, published by Fair Winds Press.



And if you are looking for ways to connect Yin and Yang 

1 comment:

Powered by Blogger.