Meditation, No Way

I thought I'd tell you about another meditation. This is called Spring Forest Qigong, it was developed to help cancer patients heal. I think that means it'll be good for all of us. It's pretty easy, and when you finish you really will feel wonderful. Since this doesn't involve foot movement, you might do it in front of a mirror, at first, to see how it looks. You'll end up doing it with your eyes closed, once you have the hang of it.

Spring Forest Qigong

Stand feet shoulder width apart, feet parallel (this will feel pigeon-toed), knees slightly bent. Arms are relaxed at sides.

Begin by moving your right hand to your upper chest, your left will cover you lower da tien (lower stomach). Neither touches your body, or the other hand. Hand movements come from the elbow.

Your right hand will move out and down, your left hand moves in and up. Exhale - your right hand moves down. Inhale - your right hand moves up. There is no pause in the movements. Let your right hand control your breathing. Breathe deeply and slowly. Complete 5 to 20 minutes.



Ending – your right hand will slow and stop, hovering over the lower da tien. The left hand will continue, and arrive to cover the right hand. Hands do not touch, or touch your body. Take 3 deep breaths.

Feeling Qi – Inhaling, move your hands outward, as if pushing thru seaweed, remaining relaxed. Exhale, slowly bring your hands back toward the center, never touching, and hold the qi. Repeat 3 or 4 times.

Minimal Massage

Rub hands together, rub your face, as if washing up and down.

Rub hands together, tap the top and sides of your head from front to back, min. of 3 times

Rub hands, work on your ears. Squeeze and press every inch of them. End with 3 tugs at top, side and lobe.

Meditation

Have you ever thought - Meditation, No Way. I was right there, until I learned how easy it is. Some times, now, when I'm doing Tai Chi, I sink into meditaion, and just get lost. Instead of doing 108 movements, it could be 365, or 72, but my class keeps close watch on me, so it's usually 108.

Here's a really easy meditation, it's a form of QiGong, and it's called Tai Chi Ruler. Remember, meditation doesn't happen immediately, you kind of fall into it with the repetitions.

Here are the first things to learn:

Your hands are always 8-12 inches apart. Like holding a ruler!







This is a moving meditation, your feet move in a zig-zag pattern.




Each step starts and ends in the Cat's Stance.





As your hands move up or in, you inhale, as they move down or out, you exhale.


Then you put it all together, move forward 8-10 steps, then move backward 8-10 steps. Backward is more tricky.



So, right foot, cat's stance, step right - left foot follows, moving into cat's stance. While you're doing that, first your hands come up, as you inhale, then throw out and down, as you exhale. Then, step left, right foot follows, moving into cat's stance, etc. Remember the zig-zag.

Tai Chi and QiGong, are moving meditations that ususally involve doing two or more things at the same time.