Third Class of Eight

Class getting into more details. Good stuff. Worked on the circulation using the major channels tonight. Recapped earlier exercises, but focused on hitting the key gates and channels. Practice is really adaptable to personal experience of doing the exercises.

Teacher cautioned about sensing blockages and trying to avoid certain exercises. May be a blockage that needs attention, not amelioration. But, he also cautioned against trying to muscle through as well. Comes back to balance--balance and sensitivity to what the body/spirit is doing.

Even though the class practice was late in the evening (at a time I find difficult to practice on my own), I came away energized--and hungry. Had to go get a sandwich. Turned on my appetite Qi.

I can feel Qi moving through all of the gates and channels. I feel a blockage in the heart/mind Dan-Tien--emotional center area. Using the breath, I can also relax that area and let the Qi circulate. Key (Qi): more practice.

Dancing Qi

Went to dance class tonight. This morning, I practiced Qigong, but didn't seem to raise a lot of Qi during the exercises. Skipped the Thursday drop-in class since I signed up for the Monday series. Seem to miss the extra Qigong class even though Thursday is fairly crowded (chiro and dancing).

But in one instance at dance class I felt a rush of Qi engulf me as I was doing this one particular dance. There was a moment when my body, the dance, the music, the rhythm all came together and filled my middle Dan-Tien with glowing Qi. It was a fleeting sensation and when I put my attention on it, it moved into the background. But, I've felt that surge and know it now.

Second Class of Eight

Practiced "beating and drumming" exercise. This form involves circulating the Qi, with the breath and mind, in the lower center. The circulation is done between three points--the Dan-Tien (point below the navel), the perineum and the 1st Gate on the lower back.

Effect was noticeable after class. I felt like I was walking/moving from that lower center. Felt really grounded and compact. Felt clear and aware. Still feeling awake and focused.

Learned that afternoon practice is not necessarily suggested. Better in the early morning and really late at night (if feasible). Monks/masters usually take a nap in the afternoon--and so do I. I fell into doing so quite naturally. Must be my monk-like nature.

Energy Levels Noted

At the chiropractor today, he remarked that there had been an energy shift since the last visit. I attribute the shift to the Qigong practice that I've been doing. I'm clearly not 100%, but there are signs that my energy is restoring. For example, last night I remained up and alert long past my normal reading/sleeping time. The energy levels are not yet sustainable, but they are appearing episodically.

I noticed on the wall of the chiropractor's office, a poster of the two hands from the Sistine Chapel with the fingers almost touching. The scene is about the transmission of power (life force) from above to below. I see that gesture in a whole new light.

Practice by the Sea

Drove this morning to the overcast beach and did a perfunctory practice. Felt conspicuous doing the exercises even though there were only a few people around. Didn't settle into the practice like I do here in my room. Probably a natural reaction to trying to practice in a new setting. Could have spent a bit more time acclimatizing before trying the exercises.

Did notice a peacefulness that settled over me as I sat for a while after doing the exercises. The air was clean and clear, the water and sky gray and uniform, and the sense of how good it felt to be near the ocean was prevalent.

Have to try it again, but with more focus, intention and not so much attention to self.

8-Week Class Begins

Went to first class in the 8-week series. More lecture than practice. Even the light practice cleared things for me. I was in somewhat of a fog when the class started. Class has enough people registered to make it a go.

There was an elderly man at the class who was functioning as the registrar. Turns out he's a well-known scientist who is one of the principals in a local Qigong Institute (see links). He's got a bit of a pot belly, but he looks vital and energetic--an advertisement for the practice. He's Dr. Kenneth Sancier. His vita appears on the institute's website.

The instructor played a video introduction to Qigong that featured several elderly Chinese masters, who were each impressive given their ages. Onward and onward.

Sea Qi

Went to the beach this morning and encountered the abundance of Qi by the sea. Clean, clear air made it seem like I could breathe in forever. Going to the beach has been in my thoughts for weeks. It's been a while since I went there.

Think I would like to go over during the day sometime this week and practice on the beach. Experience an infusion of sea Qi. Could do that either on Tues or Wed.

Class series starts tomorrow night. Looking forward to practicing for a longer time--1.5 hour class. I seem to continue to be making progress. Taking many steps now--as the journey continues.

Yoga and Qigong

In yoga class this morning, I noticed several overlaps between yoga postures and Qigong exercises. Most noticeable was how similar the yoga practice of pelvic rocking matches up with the Qigong clearing practice of bouncing. The yoga form is done lying down while the Qigong form is done standing up. But, the resultant effect on the body is quite similar.

Both practices work the back and pelvic areas, help loosen the spine and help relax the neck. The key difference--in Qigong there seems to be more attention to the breath and the flow of energies, along with the physical activity. It's not that I couldn't also pay more attention to breath and energy flow while doing the yoga. It just hasn't been as strongly suggested in yoga classes as is done in Qigong.

For me, given where my attention is at this time, I was able to do the pelvic rocking and maintain that subtle contact with the life force, as well as watch my breath in a Qigong fashion.

Sounds Good to Me

Discovered two new aspects of Qigong. One, I discovered that there are sounds that are related to the organs and the traditional elements. They are (element, organ, sound):

• wood, liver, Xu (Shuu)
• fire, heart, Ha (Haaa)
• earth, spleen, Hu (Whoo)
• metal, lungs, Ah (Ahhh)
• water, kidney, Chui (Chruee)
• fire, 3-burner, Xi (Shee)

Good to know these associations since I like to chant and find Indian kirtans to be energizing.

Second thing I learned in class today--using regular meditative techniques as part of the practice. The teacher had us lay on the floor, essentially in the shivasana pose (dead man). He then proceeded to walk us through a scan of the body/self, noting blockages and stuck places. We used the crown chakra and the third eye to pull energy (Qi) into our bodies, scan for places where the Qi was stuck, and finally coming back and focusing the Qi on those places to help release any holding on in those areas. A lot like what I've done in yoga classes, but with the addition of the use of focused Qi energy.

Class series begins on Monday--8 weeks. Looking forward to perhaps a larger class. So far, the drop in class has varied from 3 to 6 people.

Small Progress

Notice some improvement in upper body strength--not much, but a slight increase in right arm and hand. Still experiencing tremor in the right arm and right side of the body, but no big release or involuntary twitching/shaking while doing Qigong (Wu Ji in particular).

Also noticed that comment I made several days ago about morning and night practice was overruled tonight. Practice was strong and energetic despite all of the day's activities, events and experiences. I guess practice will be what it is no matter when I do it--each instance standing on its own and not necessarily part of a pattern.

As I noted in my journal, I seem to be fading in and out when I'm interacting with people (like at last night's and tonight's parties). I'm not trying to do anything with it, just letting it happen, noticing what happens and moving onward. It's like I'm tuned into another channel and the result is that the immediate signals are not clear or stabile. Just an observation.

Shaking Things Out

Had a good practice this morning--steady and grounding. I've been experiencing a tremor in my right arm--like an involuntary shaking. As I was doing Wu Ji my arm started twitching and shaking. I just let it be and let the shaking happen on its own without trying to influence or stop it. The arm shook steadily for quite some time and then quietened and seemed to fill with Qi.

I don't where the thought came from to just let the arm do its thing--to fully let go of the tensions in the arm and allow the shaking, and finally, the quietening to happen. My right arm seems to feel more sensitized from the experience.

Day and Night

Just an observation--I seem to be more ready to practice when I awake. Finding it more difficult to practice late in the evening before going to bed. Partly, it is due to having been to dance class and being somewhat tired.

Will perhaps try and do a practice session in the afternoon, before dinner and any activity. See how that works out.

Had a good practice session this morning (when I finally awoke). Feeling the Qi. Starting to notice when the energy is present and flowing. Also, discovering which practices (exercises) feel "good" to me. I find the Golden Ball exercise to be stimulating and relaxing.

Saw a photograph of a troup of belly dancers. I realized how belly dancing relates to Qi--all of their movements are linked to their "dan tian" center.