What is your experience with Chi flow?
Chi, also spelled Qi, is believed to be part of every living thing that exists, as a kind of life force or spiritual energy. It is frequently translated as energy flow.
Chi Kung is a practice where you learn to move and direct the Chi throughout your body. Translated as ‘the discipline of moving your life force.’
Some think of it as spiritual energy. Maybe because it isn’t something you can see but it surely is something that one can feel.
By practicing Chi Kung people develop a sensitivity to their own energy and the energy of nature around them. They can then direct and cultivate a reservoir of Chi to draw upon throughout the day for even more energy and stamina.
There are many kinds of Chi Kung exercise – some are specific forms you learn and others are ways of posturing the body. There are standing, sitting and moving Chi Kung forms.
Originally developed for strength and protection in combat situations in Martial Arts, Chi Kung is also know for it’s healing benefits.
Some forms emulate the qualities of animals such as Ba Gua Chi Kung. Each animal helps to open and strengthen the body in a different way. The Dragon and the Snake for instance, opens and strengthens the back enormously. While the Monkey helps to develop agility, balance and stillness.
Another form called Buddhist Incense Chi Kung brings a sense of peace and serenity afterwards.
People practice Chi Kung at all ages. I can personally vouch for the wisdom of a Chi Kung practice for life. Over 50 now, and having practiced many forms of Chi Kung for nearly 20 years, I can say that this is the best practice I have found to get in touch with, develop and direct life force energy for well being. I enjoy a youthful and energized life and have hope for continued resilience as I ‘move through time.’
- Jamee Culbertson, Boston Healing Tao Instructor
So, tell us…what is your experience with Chi flow?
Please let us know by writing in the comments block below.
6 comments
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January 15, 2007 at 1:23 am
jameec
1/9/07
Earlier today, I was reading ‘The Secret Teaching of the Tao Te Ching’, by
Mantak Chia and Tao Huang. The chapter I was reading on Chi Kung, described the three tan tiens in our bodies, and how we can conserve and increase energy, by moving energy and thoughts from the upper, to the lower tan tien.
The book further describes that the upper mind‚ uses up to 80% of our
energy! During the day, I tried to move all of those wandering work related
thoughts, some stirred by the varying emotions of coworkers and clients, and
others by external concerns, from the upper to the lower tan tien.
Well, by the time I stepped into Chi Kung class, all of the activity from
the busy work day, had my upper tan tien spinning! I settled into some
stretching on the floor, really concentrating on my muscles and tendons,
until my thoughts began to settle.
Marie then led us through the Six Healing Sounds, slowly, and thoroughly,
especially through the lung and kidney sounds. Marie leads us with a rhythm
that I can best describe as effective. When I had first begun to practice
with Marie, I realized that I had a tendency to move through movements and
practice too quickly. Since, I have noticed how well the body responds to
the close attention during a patient practice or meditation. Must be the
heart, with all of that impatience!
Tonight during our practice, I concentrated, and focused on my heart while performing the accompanying sound. Envisioning my heart, the area around it within my upper chest, and then the actual surface of the organ. Feeling it moisten, like it was being rinsed with a deep red, and the organ itself relaxing.
On the train home, I wondered if my attempts from earlier in the day,
moving energy from my upper to my lower tan tien, had my middle tan tien
feeling left out. The heart, and solar plexus were then wanting some extra
attention.
Peace,
Dave
January 24, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Marie Favorito
Hi Dave,
In reference to the timing of your practice; I know for myself it is really good to make sure the focus in your practice is very strong. One of the hardest challenges for many folks is a strong focus on one thought at a time. So when you are meditating or doing chi kung or tai chi, it is so powerful to allow for a deeper focus, stronger concentration; on being totally present with your practice. I love to go slow and make sure it is all real and not just my imagination. Imagination is part of practice, but using real Mind Power or Yi (yeeee) is going to move more energy and allow for more results.
In reference to Dave’s concern about the 3 Dan Tiens not feeling balanced,
use the Inner Smile and light up all 3 fires, 3 dan tiens, 3 cauldrons with golden white light, like sunlight (3 bright suns) shining and filling up the 3 cauldrons and allow for harmonization of all 3 to occur. Focus in on which cauldron needs more and which needs less energy and give the message for the balance to happen with your mind. Just loving all of yourself with a simple technique.
Peace
Marie
April 21, 2007 at 3:58 am
Marie
Hi again, The CHI is really flowing out here in Southern Utah! We arrived last Sunday and after a little altitude adjustment, (we are staying at a place at 9640 feet elevation!) – we went off to Zion National Park to shoot a new Chi Kung Basics video – woohoo, wait until you see it! The vistas out here are astounding! We hope to have this DVD ready for distribution by June 1st with any luck in post production – but of course we have our hero editor Phil Frabetti on hand waiting back in Boston for the go sign and with his creative touch we should be all set for June 1st! Many smiles to all of you from Marie, Jamee, and James Hill our new 2nd cameraman from Westport Connecticut.
April 25, 2007 at 11:39 am
Tom McManus
Wow, Boston Healing Tao is really going for it! I love the Tai Chi DVD – really really well done. Chi Kung basics among the rocks at Zion? I bet that is going to be beautiful. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to the next DVD. I am also really enjoying the Fusion CD. I am trying to manage a lot of difficult family energy right now, and I had forgotten how easy and effective it is to use fusion to deal with negativity, anger, etc. Fusion is a life saver.
Being six hours from Boston, it is wonderful to have Marie “with me”, so to speak, as I practice on my own in-between getting up there for classes. I won’t be able to make the Mantak Chi class in June, but I really enjoyed the animal forms with Wei Lun Huang. I see that you are doing a retreat in late June as well. You have a lot going on!
Congratulations on the new products and for the positive use of technology. You have a lot to offer! I am so impressed!!
Many thanks and much love,
Tom
February 27, 2008 at 4:58 am
Bob Laub
Hallo Marie and Jamee and all at BHT,
Some people are more visually oriented, some are audio oriented, ( Michael Winn for example) I’m more kinesthetic.
when I practice Fusion, setting up the 4 Pakuas I feel the energy condensing in the lower dantien, it feels like it’s expanding and contracting at the same time, very electromagnetic and heavy, My teacher Marisol Bayard told us she feels it the same way. Practicing the orbit and bringing my attention to the crown point it also feels very full and heavy/magnetic. Bringing my attention down the front/water
channel feels like a waterfall, or sometimes like swallowing something substantial to my lower dantien. I’m working towards seeing you at Heanenly Mt,, for Iron Shirt and Fusion 1 and 2 in June, see you then…..
Love in the Dao, Bob
October 27, 2008 at 4:33 pm
anonymous
god bless you