Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you

Live in the past and you will suffer the pain of yesterday.  

Live in the future and you will suffer from the anxiety of what might be.  

Live in the now and you will find peace.  

This is the true meaning of the gift called 'presence'.   

Relaxing The Shoulders

Most beginners tend to raise their shoulders when they raise their arms. The shoulders should be relaxed all the time because when they are relaxed, you can breathe deeper, thus allowing the whole body to be more relaxed. Also, the qi flow to the arms would be much better when the shoulders are relaxed. Sadly, many beginners are often so tense and stressed out that they forget how to relax their shoulders.

Here is a simple technique to relax the shoulders:

a. Breathe in, raise the shoulders.
b. Hold the breathe for 10 seconds, hold the shoulders in the raised position.
c. Breathe out, let the shoulders sink down naturally.

Repeat steps a - c at least 9 times.

Courtesy Sifu - Wing Cheung

Correct Stance for Qigong

Most beginners have a difficult time lowering their body properly because they cannot relax their pelvis. When the pelvis is locked, the weight would be concentrated on the knees. A proper stance is very important because placing too much weight on your knees can lead to knee injury. Everyone knows how to relax the pelvis. We do that naturally on the motion of sitting down. So, whenever you have to lower your body during the shibashi movements, just think of sitting on an empty stool.

On the other hand, some are able to relax the pelvis but couldn't keep the back straight, thus placing too much weight on the bottom and lower back. When you relax your pelvis and do the stance properly, the weight should be on your thighs.

In order to check whether your stance is correct, stand beside a mirror and start to relax your pelvis and lower your body until the angle between your thighs and calves is less than 160 degrees. Now, look at the mirror. Make sure your back is straight. If your knees go beyond your toes, you are placing too much weight on your knees. If your bottom sticks out, that means you are placing too much weight on it as well as your lower back. See the photo below for details.



Reproduced from Sifu Wing Cheung - Thank you Sifu

What is The Ideal Speed of doing Shibashi Qigong?

Because the movements of Shibashi Qigong are coordinated with breathing the speed depends on each person.   Remember to use belly breathing see post How to Breath when doing Qigong . 

Beginners with no previous training will breathe shallow (about 12 breaths/min) and do the set in roughly 10 minutes.  Ideally you want to lower your breaths to 6 breaths/min which will bring your practice to around 20 min.  

Practicing daily along with the video in addition to instructor training will teach you how to perform the moves correctly.   Once you remember the sequence by heart start practicing at your own pace.  No need to follow the pace of the video anymore.   Most people should be able to perform the Shibashi at a pace of 6 breaths per minute (0.1Hz), after practicing daily for a couple of months. Doing the exercise at a comfortable pace is more important than trying to achieve 6 breaths per minute. Over breathing may result if are not ready and force yourself to breathe deeply to achieve this pace. Over breathing may leave you feeling light headed.

Seeing is Freeing

"Whenever an answer, a solution, or a creative idea is needed, stop thinking for a moment by focusing your attention on your inner energy field. Become aware of the stillness." (Oneness With All Life)

Stay present.  "Seeing is Freeing"

Namaste

Oneness With Life

"As you go about your life, don't give 100 percent of your attention to the external world and your mind. Keep some within." (Oneness With All Life)

Live Your Life In The Now

Benefits Of Each Shibashi Qigong Movement

The information is based on the translation of Professor Lin’s book Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi. While Shibashi does bring with it numerous health benefits, it is not a replacement for any of the treatments prescribed by your medical doctor.

Benefits of each movement:

1. Improves conditions related to the heart and liver and high blood pressure.

2. Improves conditions related to the heart, lungs and nervous system.

3. Relieves back pain and decreases the fat around waist.

4. Relieves shoulder pain and boosts stamina.

5. Relieves shoulder, elbow and wrist pain and improves conditions related to the lungs.

6. Helps the digestive system and increases mental clarity.

7. Improves conditions related to the kidney and increases spiritual energy.

8. Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen and increases weight loss.

9. Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen, strengthens waist and boosts stamina.

10. Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the nervous system and increases spiritual energy.

11. Improves conditions related to the kidney and stomach, increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain.

12. Improves conditions related to spleen, liver and lungs and decreases the instances and severity of insomnia.

13. Improves conditions related to the heart, liver, lungs and nervous system.

14. Increases lung capacity and improves conditions related to the lungs, nervous system and decreases the instances and severity of insomnia.

15. Relieves anxiety and headaches.

16. Promotes blood circulation, boosts stamina, increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain.

17. Improves body coordination, decreases the instances and severity of insomnia and fatigue.

18. Improves conditions related to the heart, stomach, high blood pressure and calms the mind.

The benefits of the 1st set Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi are much more than the above mentioned. Just remember, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Meaning of Namaste

The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. Nama means bow, as means I, and te means you. Therefore,namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you."

To perform Namaste, we place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart. This is an especially deep form of respect. Although in the West the word "namaste" is usually spoken in conjunction with the gesture, in India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies Namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing.

We bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow of Divine love. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the Divine in the heart. One can do Namaste to oneself as a meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation.

For a teacher and student, Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness, free from the bonds of ego-connection. If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom.

Ideally, Namaste should be done both at the beginning and at the end of class. Usually, it is done at the end of class because the mind is less active and the energy in the room is more peaceful. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow—the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.