I call this method “the One Breath” and it was something I discovered during my practice.
At anything in life, you might have a hard time “getting started”. Sometimes tasks overwhlem us, or we are just not in the right mind state to accomplish whatever it is we’re trying to do.
After practicing Qigong, people report they are in a “good state of balance”. It’s more of a feeling than it is something you can describe, but I’ll explain how that actually works, and give you one simple exercise to practice to feel this “coming to balance” that you strive to experience during your practice.
Sometimes when I am having trouble motivating myself for practice, I practice this exercise below. I might be tired mentally or physically, or not have a lot of time, distractions, etc…but still want to get my practice in.
This practice is so simple, you literally have no excuse not to practice it.
There are some movements in Qigong that are timeless. These movements appear throughout many different styles of Qigong, and are essential to the practice.
When we discover these movements, they are true treasures. Simple, basic, and at the root of all Qigong practice that has ever been created.
Your first Qigong movement should be this movement.
When learning Qigong, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details of “what moves should I learn”, “am I doing this right”, and “what benefits am I getting”. However, those thoughts all lead you down the wrong path. This is called “goal-oriented practice” and keeps you at a superficial level. You must simplify to go deeper.
Real practice is simple. It can be explained in one simple phrase, and when followed, is the most powerful healing elixir available. It’s easy to remember, easy to follow, and highly effective. You must know this one simple secret.
Practicing with eyes open or closed is more of a personal preference.
There are Qigong forms that use the “gazing of the eyes” to circulate energy in a particular way, however, most exercises are not dependent on the eyes open or closed.
Most people, especially beginners,
The answer is simple: practice Qigong daily.
Imagine any other activity – playing piano, learning a language, or learning to read.
Achievement is not instant in the activities above, it comes over time. Like learning a language, once you practice Qigong for years, it becomes second nature, like speaking a native language.
If you don’t practice every day, what happens?
In general, you should strive to not have any drugs – whether it be caffeine, nicotine or other drugs – in your system before practicing. You’re goal is to have your body and mind be in a natural state so that you can work with that part of your consciousness and spirit.
However, the most important rule of Qigong applies here:
“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,
I’m sure you have all heard me talk about how 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.