Practice Qigong
Qigong, pronounced "chee gung," dates back to seventeenth century Chinese medicine. Unlike Tai Chi, which has a few similar movements but is a fighting system, qigong is a health exercise system which combines meditation with slow gentle movements to help relax and balance the "qi," or the body's life force. Qigong students learn to move the life force through their body to achieve healing.
Instructions
1. Learn to breath properly and learn movement only with an experienced teacher, otherwise you could harm yourself. Meditation and visualization can help a student learn to feel the "qi." When meditating, the Chinese speak of striving to achieve a state of "cheerful disinterest."
2. Make sure you're using the correct posture or the "qi" or life force cannot flow freely. To practice qigong you should be relaxed and stand with legs a shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and buttocks tucked under the hips. Arms should be held out from the body slightly. The chin should be slightly lowered and the tip of the tongue should rest where the teeth meet the roof of the mouth.
3. Take your practice outdoors, weather permitting. Any healing art is enhanced if performed amidst the beauty of nature. The Chinese say if you practice qigong under the shadow of a pine tree, you will absorb more oxygen into your body. During inclement weather, choose a quiet, comfortable room indoors.
4. Practice qigong daily. It's best to practice the same time every day. According to the Chinese, the best times for qigong are between 3 and 5 a.m., 11 and 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Three days before and after a full moon are reported to be great times to practice since the moon's gravitational field can help circulate "qi."
5. Learn the sequences or sets of moves. Each set can range from 4-20 exercises and there's a lot of flexibility to add or delete specific moves or to create new ones.
Tags: life force