Moving Harmony blog

One way to think about Qigong is that when we practice we are cultivating a beautiful garden of healing chi.

So every time you do some simple Qigong movements and deep abdominal breathing, you are helping that garden grow.

One big difference between Qigong and regular gardening is in the timing of the “payback.”  With gardening, you often have to wait months to observe–or taste–the fruits of your labor.  With Qigong, the rewards are almost immediate.

After a few classes and regular home practice, you will be well on your way to a healthier body, clearer mind and more radiant spirit.

For More Information about Qigong and a schedule of classes visit my website: www.Moving Harmony.com.

Practicing Qigong at home is good.  Practicing Qigong with a group is very good.  Practicing Qigong with a group outdoors is as good as it gets!

The ancient Chinese who invented Qigong were greatly inspired by nature.  They believed that lakes, trees and other natural features are inexhaustible sources of chi.  By practicing Qigong outdoors, we access some of this chi, which we can use it for self healing and healing others.

Many Qigong forms and visualizations use nature as guide and model.  For example in “Gathering from Heaven and Earth” we visualize gathering yin chi from the earth, and yang chi from the sky, clouds and heavenly bodies.  Likewise, in the 5 animal frolics, we mimic animals to gain some of their grace and power.

Doing Qigong outdoors is guaranteed to deepen your practice, and make you feel more in harmony with the beauty of nature.

At last count, there are somewhere between 3,000 and 7,000 Qigong forms.  Even for a Qigong Master, that would be a lot to learn.

Fortunately, it is not necessary or even desirable to learn a huge number of forms. The true benefit of Qigong practice is developing a “Qigong State of Mind.”  — a feeling of clear minded relaxation that can be induced by the regular practice of just a handful of exercises.

The key to success is learning forms that you really like and wish to practice every day.  Practicing with a group once or twice weekly helps you learn some new forms to incorporate into your home practice.  Group practice also increases the tremendous health benefits of Qigong, which are magnifed by the energy of a group.

Yesterday I celebrated Mother’s Day by playing 3 sets of tennis.  I don’t claim to be to be an excellent tennis player, but love the sport.  I love it even more when I apply Qigong training while on the court.

First I practiced Qigong movements for about 20 minutes before heading over to the tennis center.  This stretched muscles and tendons, stimulated chi flow and reduced my chances of injury. I particularly enjoyed doing “ringing the temple gong,” “drawing the bow,” and “beating the heavenly drum”

When I arrived, I eased into a state of alert relaxation by focusing on breathing.  A few deep, full, slow breaths helped clear the mind and relax the body. Then standing with correct alignment, I sunk my energy to the lower dan tien, just below the naval.

With body relaxed, mind focused, and energy grounded and centered, I played really well.  More importantly, I enjoyed every point, even when I made a bad shot.

Qigong training can definitely help your tennis and golf games, and add enjoyment to anything you do.

Have you had any similar experiences as a result of your Qigong practice?  I would love to hear about them! Please write to me or comment on the blog site.