SEASONAL CHANGES; SUMMER TO "HARVEST"

Look out, we're moving into Pumpkin Spice Latte season.

The party called Summer is winding down.

My friends at the Pacific College of Health and Science (I used to visit them regularly for acupuncture and Chinese herbs) tell us about seasonal changes:

Whenever there is a season change, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) beliefs, the energy frequency of the body or a person’s “qi,” may not be in harmony with the season’s frequency. Therefore, a person’s qi may be blocked, which leads to negative side effects from bodily sickness to mood swings.

A most obvious seasonal affect change involves food.

Our bodies reflect seasonal changes in a variety of ways including simple ways like what we crave to eat. Sperber used an example: “Who wants to eat a big heavy stew in the middle of summer? No one.”

Fun facts to remember:

• TCM recognizes five seasons: Spring, Summer, "Harvest" (my term for late summer/early fall), Fall, and Winter. 
• Five elements are associated with the five seasons (in the same order as the seasons): Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. 
• The elements rise, like fire, and the elements fall, like water. Except for Earth which holds steady, neither rising nor falling. 
• Each element is associated with a body organ (same order): Wood = Liver, Fire = Heart, Earth = Stomach and Spleen, Metal = Lungs, Water = Kidneys.
• Five animals are associated with the five seasons (same order): Tiger, Monkey, Bear, Crane, and Deer. Some Qigong practitioners associate the five animals differently. This is the order often used, and the one I like. So there. 
• Living in the mountains of Colorado, it's clear that we're coming into "Harvest" season. 

Tomatoes are ready to be picked. I've already harvested my fresh peas. My jalapeño peppers are turning from green to red. I'm pulling out flannel shirts to wear for at least part of the day. My pumpkin blossoms are about to become pumpkins and my sunflowers are freakishly tall with HUGE flowers.

We're not just moving into cooler weather, we're moving into Earth season, Stomach and Spleen season and the season of the Bear. While I'm a huge fan of the summer monkey frolics, I'm ready to move on.





SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR FRIENDS at Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to search out and eat as much food as possible as they fatten up for winter...

Twenty chicken sandwiches, 10 large orders of french fries, 10 soft drinks and 10 milkshakes is the approximate fast food order needed to total 20,000 calories. That is how many calories hyperphagia, an increase in feeding activity driven by biological need, drives a hungry black bear to consume every single day as they pack on the pounds to build up their fat reserves to survive the winter.



Okay, no need to go food crazy, but we should consider how our seasonal biological needs shift. Like the bear, it's time to get our feet on the ground, clean the house and take care of home projects, settle back into the kitchen and make some comfort food. It is a time when we get to come home to ourselves, and absorb the fruits of our labors. Time to take care of the Stomach and Spleen.

During our practice "in a park" this week we tapped specific acupressure points; we acted like monkeys but started thinking about some sweet bear moves; and we dredged energy channels of old stagnant Qi and then cultivated new Qi, strengthening our immune system and general vitality.

After turning and twisting and warming up, we practiced Tapping the Eight Nests, unblocking Qi flow and encouraging movement of lymph. My teacher Alex Hui will explain and demonstrate.


Tapping and moving while focusing on specific points and areas of the body is essential. 

For example, tapping on Lung One and Two points boosts Lung Qi. 

After "Harvest" comes Fall when I am likely to experience respiratory problems. I can nip that in the bud by purging stagnant Lung Qi and replenishing it with new, clean Qi. 

The Kua (inguinal crease) is home to many lymph nodes. By tapping at and moving from the Kua, we can wring out those nodes and get lymph AND Qi moving. 

The diagram captured from a video by Steven Cardoza shows the Side Channels connecting the Lung points (near the shoulders) and the Kua (tops of the legs).



During our practice I also introduced bits of Bear movements. We'll finish those up this next week.



But, since we may not quite be ready to drop summer "like a hot potato" we continued with Monkey forms. You can find those on a previous blog post. Ready? Go!

Our Qi cultivation brought us back to Ji Ben Qigong forms which you'll also find on a previous post.


Enjoy!

5 ANIMAL FROLICS: MONKEY

Wu Qin Xi (woo chin shee) Five Animal Frolics or Exercises imitate the movements of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and crane. As with many Taoist and Shamanistic practices, the exercises were inspired by simple observation. The system was designed by a physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 C.E.), Hua Tuo. Mr. Hua Tuo came to the conclusion that by watching and imitating the instinctual movements of animals, our own physical, emotional and spiritual needs may be met.

The exercises nourish the functions of the meridians and internal organs. Each animal is paired with an element and season, inspired by the 5 Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).




A quick review of the elements and seasons. Fire is related to summer. Earth: harvest (late summer, early fall). Metal: fall. Water: winter. Wood: spring. Here's an easy way to remember the elements: wood feeds fire, fire nourishes earth, earth creates metal, metal feeds water, water nourishes wood.

It's not uncommon for Qigong practitioners to mix it up a bit. Some find inspiration of the crane during the summer. I've known some to practice bear forms during the winter, although I wonder; bears hibernate in the winter. And while I adore naps, I don't feel the need to imitate napping. I've got that skill down.

Each animal has many forms, some Yin, some Yang. For example, Monkey Forms include: Raising the Monkey's Paws, Monkey Grabs a Peach, Monkey Turning, Monkey Picking, Monkey Catching, and other captivating moves.

My favorite animal? You probably guessed. The monkey! I consider myself to be a bit of a cheeky monkey. The monkey is nimble and clever. The monkey scampers from tree to tree. Practicing the monkey forms we move quickly, with focus and balance.

MONKEY RAISES PAWS



Each animal has a hand position. The monkey paw is hooked, the tips of the fingers touching, the thumb tucked in, the wrist bent. Meridians end or begin at the fingertips. We connect these meridians with the position.



The paws are raised to an acupuncture/pressure point on the sternum. While doing so the shoulders are raised, the abdomen is lifted and the gluteals are activated both by lifting the torso and also lifting on the the tip-toes. Qi is drawn in and compressed at the Heart Center. And then released.



The act of compressing and then releasing is common in Western exercise techniques and Eastern bodywork practices. In Thai Yoga Massage for example, spots along the circulatory system are compressed, constricting blood flow. By releasing, the "flood gates" are opened, clearing stagnation. The same happens energetically with Qi.

RAISING MONKEY PAWS, KEY MOVEMENTS

Focus on creating a rooted posture when lifting the heels. Focus on lifting from the crown of the head, the Bai Hui. As you raise the arms up, the abdomen and gluteals are pulled in and then released as you lower down.


MONKEY GRABS A PEACH



This exercise involves foot and hand movement, twisting, reaching and visual focus.

Let’s set the story: The monkey sees a peach. It clears the branches and reaches for the peach. It then proudly displays the peach.

This form was initially tricky for me to learn. But, I went with the story told by my teacher Alex Hui and it became simple. And cheeky.

The eye-hand coordination sharpens the connection of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Once we hook up the brain we begin moving as the monkey moves. With practice we become the monkey. Doing so encourages a joyful, uninhibited "play date" offering a break from an anxious or depressed mindset.







PICKING FRUIT, KEY MOVEMENTS

Focus on the coordination of the lower and upper body. The choreography of the arms involves a variety of movements: stretches, expansion and compression. Like a playful dance these movements are repeated symmetrically on each side of the body.

Todays practice:





And now, enjoy two videos by Alex Hui teaching two Monkey Forms.




Resources:

https://alexhui.com/

https://library.singingdragon.com/

JI BEN QI GONG

When it was time to deepen my Qigong practice, I enrolled in an immersive teacher training program with Nick Loffree. My intent was to dedicate myself to a structured daily practice, thereby committing to supporting my health. And like I do, I started leading Qigong practices. 

The first set of forms we learned was Ji Ben Qi Gong. A good place to start, Fundamental Energy Exercises. The Ji Ben forms move the body in the most efficient way and circulate Qi along the meridian system of the body. Not only are we feeling the energy, Qi, but we are also effortlessly moving the joints, lengthening muscles and tendons, and directing the flow of Qi. Wu Wei, effortless action.

As with most of Qigong forms, the names of the eight forms of Ji Ben Qi Gong evoke images of nature, mythical creatures, archers, moving clouds... 

• Compressing the Pearl
• Flying Hands
• Opening the Chest
• Upholding the Moon
• Swimming Dragon
• Diagonal Flying
• Cow Turns its Head to Gaze at the Moon
• Drawing the Heavenly Bow

Rather than giving instruction of how to perform each form, I will describe some benefits. The big picture is that each form stimulates different meridians and specific acupoints of the body, while moving Qi, guiding the breath, and calming the mind. I'll briefly define words in Italics at the bottom of the post or in the text. Also, at the bottom of this post you'll find Ji Ben Qi Gong videos that I like.



                      Chinese Jade Stone Sitting Buddha


Compressing the Pearl

We begin by letting the arms and hands "empty" in Wuji, emptiness stance. In this set of forms, our palms face down to the earth while in Wuji.

The hands raise to the level of the lower Dan Tian with the palms facing each other, about six inches apart.

We are hooking up the two Laogong points of the palms.

Pulling the hands and arms away from each other we begin to feel the Qi between our palms. As one teacher said, if you don't feel anything, pretend that you do. It will come. As one student said, it's like we're pulling taffy between our hands and then squishing it back into a ball. Whatever works.

By opening the arms we are creating space for the lungs and the heart. Our arms and hands are creating bellows which can encourage movement of Qi from the lower Dan Tian to the middle Dan Tian and also down to the feet.




Flying Hands

Starting again at the lower Dan Tian, we slowly raise cooling Qi from the water center up to the fire center at the heart.

Our wrists and hands are relaxed. We create space in the joints.

By then moving the hands forward we are purging excess or stagnant Qi away from the diaphragm and heart center.

I like to think of moving clouds away from my heart and dispersing them out to the horizon.

Our bodies raise along with the arms as we inhale. The body sinks slightly on the exhale. We are feeling Qi rise and Qi sink.




Opening the Chest

The name of the form pretty much says it all. Expansion, openness. It's almost as if we're showing off our hearts to the world. Look at me!

We're creating space in the thoracic region, encouraging deep breathing.

Deep breathing is brought to you by a relaxed diaphragm sinking down in the inhale, massaging the lower abdomen, and the digestive system.





Upholding the Moon

This form creates space in the spine by inhaling as we curl forward and down, and connects many heart points.

We stack our hands at the Laogong points without letting the hands touch. As we curl up we direct Qi to our heart center.

The hands are raised overhead until we separate the clouds and place the moon in the sky.

The raising hands scan the body, moving stagnant Qi along the Triple Heater Meridian.

Taoism regards the moon as a source of intuition. Ancient Taoist sages looked to the moon for inspiration. Who doesn't?




Swimming Dragon

If you've practiced Swimming Dragon forms with me, or watched videos, this form is slightly different. Brace yourself.

One hand facing up, the other down. Focus again is on the Laogong points in the palms. The palm up hands rises, the palm down hand lowers. Exhale as they separate, inhale as they come back together.

We feel a diagonal push and pull. Just as with the other Swimming Dragon forms we can be playful, tossing a ball up, bouncing a ball down, although in slow motion. With practice we may even feel movement along the Dai Mai, the Belt Meridian around the waist.





Diagonal Flying
Once again we're flying, once again we're playing with diagonals.
We're playing frisbee, or okay disc golf people, we're throwing a disc.

We start with both hands in front of the body, one hand above with the fingers pointing up, one hand below with the fingers pointed down. We’re standing as though we’re holding a pane of glass between the hands.

Movement is initiated by the lower body, the Kua. We turn from the Kua while standing in horse stance. We throw the disc one direction, return to center and then the other direction. One hand is stretched out to the side, the other hand faces down at our side towards the earth, as if in Wuji.

As with many forms, we're compressing and opening the chest encouraging deep breathing while creating space. But, in this form, one side of the chest is in compression while the other is lengthened and open.

Cow Jumped Over the Moon by 

Wingdomain Art and Photography

Cow Turns Its Head to Gaze at the Moon

Whimsical names deserve whimsical pictures.

We begin as tree huggers. Our arms are rounded in front of the chest as though we’re, yes, hugging a tree. Again, we turn to one side but this time raise the arms and hold the hands as though we’re framing a photo.

What’s different about this form? When we raise the arms, we push back through the mid-back. By doing this we are opening the thoracic vertebrae towards the back while we reach forward with the hands. Being at an angle, we are lengthening one side by creating space between the shoulder blade and the spine.

And then there’s the frame created by our hands, focusing our vision. Towards what? Towards the moon. Remember what the moon represents? Intuition.


Drawing the Heavenly Bow

You're drawing a bow. Your eye is fixed on a target. Taking aim. We're calling on Intention, Yi, and Will-Power, Zhi. We're balancing Jing, our essence, with our intellect.

We're twisting, we're pulling, we're in a deep horse stance, strengthening the lower body.

With our "arrow hand" we're making what's called the Secret Sword Mudra, pointing two fingers in the direction of our target. This Mudra is used in Qigong Healing practices, using the focus of Qi drawn from the fingers to a small concentrated area of our clients body.

We end the practice of Ji Ben Qi Gong with Shao Gong, settling the Qi by drawing our arms up to the level of the forehead and then down in front of the torso back to the Lower Dan Tian.

Glossary of Italicized Terms:

Italics: Crooked words

Wuji: Emptiness Stance. Our feet are grounded. Our knees are unlocked. Our tailbone is relaxed down. We’re lifting from the crown of our heads. Our shoulders are rotated up and back. We’re breathing. We’re allowing our energy to sink down to our and and down to the earth.

Laogong: An acupressure/puncture point in the palm of the hand. It’s a point on the Heart Protector or Pericardium Meridian. Translation: Palace of Labor. This point clears heart-fire. We focus healing energy from this point.

Dan Tian: Power stations. The elixir fields of energy. We have three primary Dan Tians. Lower, below the belly button. Middle, at the heart. And upper, at the third eye.

Triple Heater Meridian: This line is related with the fight or flight instinct. The triple heater also refers to the three Dan Tians in the core of the body.

Swimming Dragon: Qigong forms that spiral the energy in a coiling way up the spine.

Kua: The inguinal crease at the top of the legs. This is a key area as we coordinate movements of the upper and lower body.


JI BEN QI GONG
MOUNTAIN PATHWAYS QIGONG
He ends with a little spontaneous purging Qigong, don't be afraid.

Qigong, what is it and how on earth do you say it?

WHAT IS QIGONG?

What is Qigong? What does it mean?
Qi = Life force. It is pronounced "Chee." Gong = Cultivation. Say "Gong" the “”o” is like aw as in paw. 

The ideogram for Qi is made up of steam over rice, implying that Qi is nourishing and ethereal. The rice cooking symbolizes the release and utilization of energy. In the Chinese language, Qi is part of everything. It can be used to describe a person's complexion, the weather and one's emotional state.

Qigong is a practice which hooks us up with nature and with our own personal connection to the world.

There are many styles of Qigong. I practice primarily Taoist Qigong and Medical Qigong. I also love Animal Qigong which has routes in ancient Chinese shamanic traditions. Cool stuff.

While the Taoists and Buddhists were creating Qigong practices centuries ago, Qigong is not a religion or specific to any religion.

Sweet, now what is it?

Qigong is a slow, meditative movement practice. Qigong employs breath work, visualization, meditation and movement. Each practice draws on influences from nature: the elements, animals, the seasons.

Qigong is one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the others being acupuncture, nutrition, herbology, and massage.

Five elements are key to TCM: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Five... wait, five? Yes, five seasons are also important in TCM : Spring, summer, late summer which I refer to as "harvest," fall and winter.

There are many animal practices with Shamanic routes: the deer, bear, monkey, crane and tiger. But many other images of mythical animals were conjured as far back as the Paleolithic period: the dragon, a vermillion bird, the white tiger, the black turtle and the yellow snake.

Practicing Qigong with me will introduce you to mythical creatures, connect you with nature and the seasons. And, it will connect you with your body. Again, I practice Medical Qigong. Possible physical shifts may include: decreased muscle pain, breaking up of fascial adhesions, headache relief, sinus pain relief, lower blood pressure, decreased joint pain, more energy, better sleep, balanced moods and on and on and on...

BIRTHDAY QIGONG: "WHEN I'M SIXTY FOUR"

What a delight practicing with friends this morning in a park. Being the day before my 64th birthday, I dedicated the practice to JING, Essence. Our genetic make-up. Jing is created at conception. We carry it through our lives. It lives in our kidneys. Jing may also be thought of as our constitution. While our Jing is fixed, it can be nurtured and supported. I'll write more about Jing in a future post.

Being my birthday I  also introduced "Brian's Favorites". Turns out, they became everybody's favorite practices. At least at this point in time. 

We practiced purging and Qi cultivation. Questions came up. Promises of videos were made. Here I present a video of Yin and Yang Channel Dredging. Then, a little Heart-Fire practice  by Mimi Kuo Deemer (which we did not do this morning, but it's a good one.) And, a video by my teacher Nick Loffree, practicing forms to calm the Qi, calm the Shen, relieve anxiety. Channel Dredging is included in his video. 

Bone Marrow Cleansing is a regular practice for me. I've included another video by Mimi Kuo Deemer. 

And then there was Separating Heaven and Earth which we respectfully renamed Introducing Heaven and Earth or Combining Heaven and Earth. I love a chalk drawing that Naseem was inspired to create, showing how the Yang Qi from Heaven and the Yin Qi from Earth spiral to form the Taiji (the Yin-Yang symbol.)

Enjoy these videos! 

Dredging the Yin and Yang Channels

Mimi Kuo Deemer: Heart-Fire Practice

Nick Loffree: Purging and Dredging

Bone Marrow Cleansing with Mimi Kuo Deemer