Nourish Your Inner & Outer Landscapes with Qi Gong
Chi Kung (also known as qi gong) combines breathing techniques with precise movements and mental concentration. If you practice chi kung regularly, you will reap a myriad of positive health benefits: your energy levels will increase, while your stress levels will fall. Practitioners say you might also prevent or cure any number of chronic or acute diseases. Chi kung is said to improve concentration and even increase creativity and inspiration.
Anyone can do chi kung as even if you are too weak to stand there are sitting exercises to enjoy instead. If you can’t sit, there are lying down exercises. Chi kung has helped people in wheelchairs and those recovering from illness and injury - even the very elderly can benefit.
The exercises may look simple but are definitely not easy and take a great deal of time and patience to master. Chi kung is a precise discipline, demanding meticulous concentration and patience, it is also surprisingly tough on the muscles. If chi kung calls to your soul it’s advised that it should be practised every day, even if only for 5 to 10 minutes.
The starting posture
This is the basic starting posture of chi kung. It puts you in the correct position and helps you to become aware of your entire body.
Stand with your feet shoulder -width apart. Make sure you find your natural balance - your weight should be neither too far forwards nor far back, or it will lead to tension and tiredness.
Feel the rim of your foot, your heel, your little toe and big toe on the ground.
Keep your knees relaxed. Check to ensure that your knees are exactly over your feet.
Relax your lower back. Relax your stomach and buttocks.
Let your chest become hollow. Relax and slightly round your shoulders.
Imagine you have a pigtail on the top of your head that is tied to a rafter on the roof. Let your head float lightly and freely. Relax your tongue and mouth and jaw.
Stay in this position for a few moments, with your hands hanging loosely by your sides.
Now spend some time visualising the five elements of Chinese philosophy. Start with earth (imagine the feeling of weight and rootedness); then water (looseness and fluidity), air (lightness and transparency), fire (sparkle), and space (envisage within each joint, muscle and breath and your mind).
Through your chi kung practice, keep bringing your mind gently back to your posture - this will help to keep the mind restful.