THE RHYTHM OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE

Photo by Randall Cook

  

Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, the most Yin time. During this darkness, we turn inward. We reflect just as the moon reflects light and energy from the sun. Winter Solstice is a time of stillness and potential, rest and preparation.

The Tao Te Ching, the classic of Chinese philosophy offers 81 verses about living in harmony with the rhythms of nature, about living a life respecting the underlying order of the universe, the Tao. 

Verse 16 speaks of rest and renewal. How can we energetically root ourselves as we prepare for the return of sunlight?

I do my utmost to attain emptiness;
I hold firmly to stillness.
The myriad creatures all rise together
And I watch their return.
The teaming creatures
All return to their separate roots.
Returning to one’s roots is known as stillness.

Translation by D.C. Lau

Emptiness and stillness. Wuji.

We stand in wuji, emptiness stance as a meditation, and also as a starting place during a practice.

An open circle, limitless possibilities, the beginning. As you see, the wuji circle is not closed. We are open to potential. 

More about wuji: 

Wuji and Other Qigong Terms

Rather than running away from the darkness, the stillness, the quiet of the long nights, we will savor the moment, the primordial state. And then:

The Tao gives birth to the One.
The One gives birth to the Two.

The Two give birth to the Three.

The Three give birth
to the ten thousand things.

The ten thousand things are
bolstered by Yin
and wield Yang.

Together they harmonize as Breath.

Verse 42 of the Tao Te Ching, translated by Jeffrey Mallinson

From stillness we will spiral outwards, up, down, behind, and in front of ourselves. 

The spiral  takes us to the polarity of Yin and Yang. 

Looking at the Yin Yang symbol you'll see two dots. Darkness within the light, and light within the darkness.

The Two give birth to the Three. 

When Qi, life-force is introduced to the duality of Yin and Yang, we have the birth of three, existence of the elements of life. 

The Three give birth
to the ten thousand things.

During our practice on the Winter Solstice we will contemplate the moon and the sun. We will then turn to the stars, or specifically five of the planets which represent the elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. The elements give birth to all things. 

A study by yours truly

I had the privilege of practicing forms with John Munro at a Qigong conference in Savannah this fall. His wuji practice was the inspiration for our Solstice meditation in movement. 

I wish you happiness, health and inspiration during this reflective time of stillness.

Brian

It's rare that I accompany a Qigong practice with a script. But there are a few things I will mention during our Solstice practice:

• Here in Colorado, the winter solstice daylight duration is 9 hours, 21 minutes and 17 seconds.
• Yesterday, the duration was 9 hours, 21 minutes and 18 seconds. We've lost a second. 
• Tomorrow, the duration will be 9 hours, 21 minutes and 21 seconds. We will gain around 3 seconds. 
• Today is 5 hours and 38 minutes shorter than the June solstice. 
• The extreme Yin energy from the moon is the ideal time to absorb nature's Qi. 
• We will combine gentle, warming, and slow forms with stillness and meditation. 
• Our meditations will include:
• Moon and Sun meditation
• 5 planets/elements/celestial beings meditation
• And a Big Dipper meditation
• Chinese Dumplings or "Jiaozi" are the perfect accompaniment to a Solstice practice. The word jiaozi is similar to an expression that means "transition from old to new." 

BA DUAN JIN, THE 8 BROCADES

 

The Ba Duan Jin, or Baduan Jin, or the 8 Brocades, or Eight Pieces of Brocade, is one of the most popular sets of Qigong forms. Ba means eight. Duan refers to the benefits of the exercise, but literally means holding or carrying. And Jin means silk. 

While each form of the set affects different organs and meridians, the overall intention is to express with silken movements. Imagine the fascia, or connective tissue, or the Huang as it's referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine; smooth silken material that can become crumbled, or thickened, or inflamed. We are smoothing this fine sheet of silk. 

The 8 Brocades can be traced back to a culturally brilliant era in Chinese history, the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE). 

What are the actual forms of the 8 Brocades?

1.    TWO HANDS SUPPORT THE HEAVENS

Here, we nurture the Triple Heater Meridian, the body's thermostat. The shoulders and the circulatory system benefit from this form. It also balances our interactions. We may be stand-offish or aloof, we may be too friendly or enthusiastic, we may be needy. The key word is balance. 

We encourage balance by reaching upwards and drawing down to our Dan Tian, our elixir field of Qi. 

2.    RAISING HANDS TO CONDITION STOMACH AND SPLEEN, 

or SEPARATING HEAVEN AND EARTH 

Stability and groundedness. The Stomach and Spleen are both organs associated with the Earth Element. When we are grounded on the earth we feel more stable, we don't feel the need to overthink, anxiety is relieved. 

3.    DRAWING THE BOW AND LETTING THE ARROW FLY

The liver, heart, and lungs benefit from this form. The sense organ associated with liver is the eye. Think about the art of archery. One sets their intention on the target by looking and aiming. Intention, or YI (pronounced "eee") comes from the heart or the "heart mind." 

4.    LOOKING BACK TO ELIMINATE 5 FATIGUES AND 7 ILLNESSES 

or THE WISE OWL TURNS ITS HEAD TO ELIMINATE FATIGUE

This form relieves tension of the neck and shoulders. Early Taoists considered the head to be "the abode of the inner gods." Focusing on the head while looking back unlocks intuition, or "just knowing." 

What are the 5 fatigues and the 7 illnesses? As of yet, I haven't found the definitive answer. I'll leave it up to your intuition to come up with the answer. 

5.    BENDING OVER, WAGGING THE TAIL TO CALM HEART-FIRE 

or SWING THE HEAD AND TAIL TO ELIMINATE HEART-FIRE

The element associated with the heart is fire. If left unattended fire will become too active, too passionate, out of control. We may feel burnt out, we've got no more to give. In balance, we offer kindness and seek harmony. 

On the physical level, if these hot summer days are too much, calming the fire will cool us down. 

6.    TWO HANDS CLIMB THE LEGS TO STRENGTHEN THE KIDNEYS

The Kidney and Urinary Bladder Meridians run along the legs. These are both water meridians. Kidneys house or Jing, our essence. We are born with our Jing, given to us by our parents. We carry it throughout our lives. 

By connecting with our essence we are connecting with our origin, our sense of belonging. This provides us with inner strength and also inner peace. We feel comfortably at home. 

7.    PUNCHING WITH AN ANGRY GAZE TO INCREASE STRENGTH

Once again we use our eyes. Associated organ? The Liver. The Liver is the organ that controls anger. Anger can be healthy by providing drive to make positive change. Anger can be unhealthy, we act out because we want to cause pain. Why do we want to cause pain? Possibly because of our own pain that has not been expressed. 

By concentrating our attention we can balance anger, thereby reducing stress. 

8.    SHAKE THE BACK 7 TIMES TO ELIMINATE THE ONE HUNDRED ILLNESSES

Think of a jar of flour. As you tap in on the counter, you settle the flour. As you lift onto your toes and then let your heels drop, you settle your Qi. 

I also use this form to soften the soft tissues of the body, the Huang, by creating vibration. This vibration is also beneficial to the bones. Qi not only runs through the soft tissues but also through the skeletal system. The movement of Qi in the bones contributes to development of bone mass. 

Many subtle interpretations of the 8 Brocades are practiced today. I will include a very informative video by Mimi Kuo Deemer, another two videos by Shi Heng Yi of the Shaolin Temple Europe, and yet another by Vivian Chao. AND, I've just found another video by Shi Yan Ming. I love these variations of the forms. 

Each video is inspiring in different ways. 

Enjoy.

Mimi Kuo Deemer

Shi Heng Yi

And another by Shi Heng Yi

Vivian Chao

Shi Yan Ming

Be well, be happy, and follow your bliss

Brian

INTEGRATING MASSAGE AND QIGONG

It's a given. Massage is great for you and feels so good. Qigong is great for you and feels so good. So why not integrate the two?

As a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Qigong Instructor I have often practiced qigong forms with clients at the conclusion of their time on the massage table or on the Thai mat. 

Why? I am offering self-care exercises to practice at home. I am encouraging clients to be an active part of their wellness journey. 

Let's look at the physical benefits of massage, as cited by the Mayo Clinic Health System (in bold font). I'll take the liberty of adding Qigong benefits (in italics):

• Improved Circulation
• Qigong encourages circulation of blood, lymph and Qi, the body's vital "electricity."
• Decreased muscle stiffness
• Moving and stretching muscles fibers, clearing blockages and softening adhesions.  
• Decreased joint inflammation
• Qigong creates space in the joints and encourages circulation around the joints.
• Better quality of sleep
• Lowering stress levels, grounding, centering and breathing, letting go of the day.
• Quicker recover between workouts
• Qigong stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, the "rest and digest" branch.
• Improved flexibility
• Stretching, twisting, turning, ringing out, bending, fluidly moving the spine, "swim like a dragon.".
• Less pain and soreness
• Release of healing endorphins, hormones produced in your brain that relieve pain and stress.
• Strengthened immune response
• The National Institute of Health cites positive influences of exercise on blood cells such as cytokines, neutrophils, leukocytes, lymphocytes... 

Mental Benefits:

• Reduced stress
• Qigong Slows us down, and helps us focus. Think meditation.
• Improved relaxation
• Let go, slow down, BREATHE!
• Improved mood
• Qigong is fun and empowering
• Decreased anxiety
• Here come those endorphins again. They improve your sense of well-being. You also take your focus away from negative thoughts by focusing on your breath, your posture and the movement of Qi. 
• More energy
• Qigong carries oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. Healthy heart and lungs, more energy. 
• Increased feeling of wellness
• You are literally and figuratively taking steps that empower you: "I am taking care of myself, playing an active part in my wellness journey."

The "take-away?" Massage is therapeutic on many levels and feels great. 

Qigong is a movement and breathing practice you can use to take care of your body, mind and spirit.

Time for an example. I enjoy videos by Karen Soo. I've posted this in a previous blog article. It includes chickens. Fun! 

Visit Sonlight Health & Wellness to enjoy an integrated massage and qigong session.

I wish you happiness and good health. 

Muscle Tendon Changing Classic

 Yi Jin Jing

There are over 7000 different forms of Qigong. I've recently immersed myself in the studies of Yi Jin Jing. I’m excited to practice these forms “In a Park.”  

Yi = Change or Transform

Jin = Muscle/Sinew/Tendon

Jing = Classic as in a valued piece of work

I mean, come on. Who wouldn't want to practice a series of forms with these cool names?

Wei Tuo Presents the Pestle 1, 2, and 3

Transforming a Plucked Star into the Big Dipper

Turning 9 Cows around by Their Tails

Extending Claws and Exhibiting Wings

Nine Ghosts Drawing Swords

Three Plates Falling to the Ground

The Azure Dragon Displays Its Claws

Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey

Bowing Down

Swinging the Tail

The names alone evoke fanciful images of plucking stars from the night sky, ghosts with swords, intentionally dropping plates, and dragons flying while showing off their claws. I mean, how fun is that? 

Yeah fun, but what is it?


Yi Jin Jing is a sequence of 12 movements that combine raising, lifting, pulling, dragging, holding down, grasping, squatting, and pushing.

These movements combine stretching the muscles, and engaging the tendons and fascia, resulting in improved range of motion and resiliency. Yi Jin Jing also encourages movement of blood, synovial fluids, lymph and Qi. And, we have to use our brains. Like Tai Chi, the movements are sequential and flowing. But you have to know when and where you're going.


Side note (but not on the side): you may read or hear about the stretching of ligaments. Yeah, well... When joints are underused the ligaments go through a shortening process called contracture. We experience ligament contracture whenever we don't move enough (sitting at a desk, like I'm doing right now), hanging out, not moving after an injury or maybe after surgery, or lack of normal movement (arm in a sling). So maybe we’re not looking so much at stretching, but instead at keeping lengthened. Move it!


There are some guiding principles to this practice which, heck, if you ask me, these are good principles to practice in day to day life.

• -  Quietness: Picture this: calm water reflecting the moon. Calmness allows Qi to flow throughout the body. 

  -  Slowness: Slow movement encourages smooth flow of blood and Qi. Take your time, notice, savor, feel the sensations. Don’t let speed get in the way.

  -  Extension: Each movement is brought to a comfortable extension. Let yourself spread out. 

• -  Pause: Efficacy comes through waiting and keeping tension for a brief pause, but not too long. Yeah, just pause. Nuff said.

• -  Flexibility: Moving from loose to extended with limber joints and tissues, and without brittleness. Be like a bow from a bow and arrow or a violin bow. Strive to be not brittle! 

  
  
  

The exercises of Yi Jin Jing have proven to be very effective in boosting the recovery of injured muscles and tendons especially of the neck, back and shoulders. We create healthful tension and the relaxation allowing Qi flow. We compress and flush internal organs. We stimulate glands to produce hormones. We lift the spirit and the mind. And we have a heck of good time. 

Now, I know you’ve read this far thinking, “who is this Wei Tuo fellow or fella? And why are they presenting a pestle?” 

Wei Tuo was a devoted guardian of Buddhist monasteries, guarding the treasures and objects of the Dharma. When the Buddha died, the bad guys came and tried to steal all of the treasures. Wei Tuo said “oh no you don’t” and returned all of the relics. Apparently one of those relics was a pestle. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. 

Okay, next question. Buddhist Qigong. Yes. This very form, Yi Jin Jing was originally and still is practiced at the Shaolin Buddhist Monastery in China and at their satellite schools around the world. So, while I practice primarily Taoist and Medical Qigong, I’m not exclusive. And, while Qigong has serious roots in Taoism and Buddhism, it is not a religious practice. Amen. 

Enjoy this video by James Rafael. This is Day 5 of a 5 day class, you can always go to his YouTube page to “catch up.” But, you’ll get the idea from the final day of his course. 

May you be happy, healthy, and present in the moment. 

WUJI, TAIJI, QIGONG, XI, CHI, YINYANG

It's not the first time that a YouTube video has inspired me to learn more. I watched a video that clears up a lot of questions about meaning and pronunciation of five Taoist elemental concepts. Master Huang’s TED TALK lecture is informative and fun.  The video is at the bottom of this post. I'll offer a brief (me?) synopsis.

YouTube description:  

"Chungliang Al Huang is the founder & President of the Living Tao Foundation and author of numerous best-selling books, including the classic "Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain." 

Master Huang speaks about using the Tao philosophy of TaiJi and YinYang to embrace opposites and make a whole picture/life, and leads the audience through a number of TaiJi movements that incorporate key concepts and all parts of our lives. 
Master Huang paints five key Chinese characters and discusses the role of each in the dance of opposites."

WUJI: An open circle, limitless possibilities, potential, the beginning. As you see, the wuji circle is not closed. We are open to potential. 

We stand in wuji, emptiness stance as a meditation, and also as a starting place during a practice.

TAI: The top character, or “hanzi” in Mandarin Chinese, is Tai. Four strokes: horizontal arms opening, one leg, then the other, then the final stroke in the center, the Dan Tian. 

Expansiveness, with arms open and legs kicking out. Reach for heaven, ground your feet on the earth. 

JI: the hanzi under Tai is made up of two symbols. On the left is a symbol for a tree, reaching upwards. On the right the top horizontal line represents heaven, the bottom line represents earth. The vertical line represents us, people connecting heaven and earth. The square shape on the left of the vertical line is the Dan Tian, our center. The "X" on the right, YinYang. 

Balance. 

TAIJI: polarity. This is often mispronounced as Tai Chi. 

                                                                             

QI also spelled CHI:  Literally means "vapor", "air", or "breath". The word QI is often translated as "vital energy", "vital force", "material energy", or simply as "energy”. I have simplified the concept by saying that QI is synonymous with electricity. But, electricity is just one form of QI. 

The hanzi for QI includes the character for “rice”. Steaming rice is a symbol for the energy provided by food. Like steam, QI rises but also flows in all directions. 

Now, who wouldn’t like a “happy face?” XIN pronounced sheen, sort of, say “she” with your tongue towards the back of your palate and then add an “N”. XIN is the symbol for the “heart-mind.” Here we make the distinction of the brain and the heart. 

Confucius taught that knowledge lies in the heart. In Chinese medicine the heart is the king of all of the organs and also the center of consciousness. Taoism teaches that having a balanced heart will influence all of the senses. 

A lofty “happy face.” 

So where does that take our Qigong in a Park practice today? We will be “painting” the Wuji with shoulder circles and then pausing and breathing into Emptiness. Tai will take the form of Breaking out of the Cocoon. To make some smiles and celebrate the heart, we’ll practice Monkey Raises Paws. Ji, polarity, one of our favorite forms: Separating Heaven and Earth which we like to call Combining Heaven and Earth. 

Again, my inspiration for our practice today? Master Huang. 

Without delay, I present the one and only…

I wish you health and happiness, follow your bliss!

Brian

TAIJI YANGSHENG ZHANG = TAIJI HEALTH PRESERVATION

TAIJI = Tai Ji = Polarity

YANG = Preserve

SHENG = Life

ZHANG = Stick

"TAIJI HEALTH PRESERVATION"

I've been practicing these forms for some time now but am ready to being them into our "Qigong in a Park" practices. I’ve been holding off for two reasons:

1. The longer bamboo "sticks" are not conducive to practicing indoors. Remember, we've been hibernating for the winter. 
2. We're heading back to the park to practice outside tomorrow and it's going to be chilly, we'll need to move, get the blood and the Qi flowing.

There are various stories about the origins of the stick forms, and various movements of the stick depending on our intentions. 

We have practiced indoors with shorter bamboo sticks doing joint opening exercises with amazing results. Remember, if Qi is to become stuck and then stagnant or turbid, it's likely to happen in the joints. "Oy, my knees." 

There are also TaiJi forms that are used with an opponent. I make the distinction of TaiJi and Qigong in a rather simplistic way: TaiJi cultivates and draws on Qi by practicing blocks and strikes used with an opponent, there are no opponents in Qigong. We are simply cultivating our own Qi. 

Spinning is a fast moving, focused movement of the stick which might come in handy if faced with an opponent. Intentionally. 

But, what sparked my interest initially? I stumbled on a very beautiful video by Tara0Tao practicing Taiji Yang Sheng Zhang. 

Yang Shen Zhang is a set of eight forms:

• Boatman Rows with an Oar
• Boat Rows Slowing
• Wind Kisses Lotus Leaves
• Boatman Tows a Boat
• Iron Stick Calms the Sea
• Golden Dragon Wags Its Tail
• Search for Treasure in the Sea
• Qi Returns to the Dan Tian

 

In the Pictures of Daoyin Exercises from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) two figures are in different postures wielding sticks. While stick forms have been practiced for centuries, the practices were formalized more recently into this set by the Chinese Health Qigong Association (CHQA.) 

The exercises harmonize Yin and Yang. All of the movements are soft and slow. The CHQA recognizes five key points of the practices:

1. The stick coordinates the body and spirit. Chinese philosophy uses "spirit" to describe thought and concentration of the mind, or the heart-mind. 
2. The waist functions as a pivot to harmonize the body and the stick. We twist, turn, bend, and stretch around the waist as a center. Keeping the waist and hips relaxed we practice lifting the stick while lowering the Qi to the Dan Tian. As we lower the stick we raise the Qi to the crown of the head, the Bai Hui. When we rotate the stick our waist becomes the anchor. 
3. We massage acupoints and the internal organs. We not only press on points and areas of the body but also stretch, thereby stimulating internal organs, and clearing meridian channels. By moving and shifting weight we are also increasing bone density. 
4. Movements are circular just as they are in nature. 
5. We integrate the hands and the stick as one by thinking of the stick as an extension of the arms. We focus on the Lower Dan Tian to guide our movements while letting the stick pull and push our bodies. 

Where does one find a good stick? While there are plenty of online resources for fancy sticks, I procured all of mine at the local garden store. Short sticks which we use for those shoulder opening exercises in the first video are 40" although 36" would work just fine. 

You'll notice thread wrapped around the sticks. Sure, bamboo cracks. This is an old trick I learned from my days of Nordic skiing with bamboo poles. 

The longer sticks are 6' although the CHQA suggests that 4' will suffice. 

This week's practice

The very top photo of this post is a "Where's Waldo" game. Where is the person practicing Yangsheng Zhang? 

I wish you happiness and health, and remember, follow your bliss.

Brian

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT STEP

 

So, you want to take your Qigong practice deeper.

I wrote a post called Getting Started and another called Practice, Practice, Practice. The take-away? Find resources: groups, teachers, videos, books. Practice, study, practice some more on your own, turn off the video, make mistakes, fix, adapt, make it your own, pat yourself on the back, smile. 

Do you want to go even deeper? It's okay if you don't. If you do, you might consider one-on-one lessons. Practicing with a teacher encourages movement beyond imitation. 

The teacher can: 

• address your specific goals, 
• plan a practice tailored to your needs or desires, 
• practice along with you, 
• observe and provide feedback, 
• make it fun. 

When I'm designing a practice for a group or for individual students I start with a loose outline of what the practice may look like. Friends who practice regularly with me know that sometimes I stray from my outline. 😉

• Warm up.
• Hook up: get into the mindset, begin turning off distractions or at least lowering the volume.
• Define your space: this is MY time, my space. 
• Purge: let go of baggage you're carrying around.
• Start with bigger movements: Yang, active, expansive.
• Begin to slow things down and move your attention inwards: Yin, Neigong, Internal Alchemy. 
• Ground.
• Close: I have a little routine, okay ritual, for closing, showing gratitude and setting an intention for the rest of the day.

These "blackboard" outlines #1 keep me somewhat focused and my plans 😋 and #2 provide a reminder for fellow-practitioners of what we did, or probably did during our time together. 

The forms written in orange are the more Yang, active, expansive forms. The focus is placed on the muscles and joints. The forms in green are more internal, feeling the movement of Qi. The notations in white are topics of conversation about concepts and intentions of forms. 

After a practice I like to recommend YouTube videos showing some of the forms we've practiced. I always present videos of other teachers doing the forms, get their perspective. 

Coiling Silk with Karen Soo

Spinal Wave with Vivian Chao

Tracing Meridians with Sifu Bodhi

Dredging the Channels with Dr. Jason Gordon

Ji Ben Qigong / Mountain Pathways Nei Gong

Be happy, be healthy, and follow your bliss. 

💗

Brian

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRACTICE?

While thinking about a catchy phrase to introduce this post, I pondered the most common cliché: "practice makes perfect." As a musician and a practitioner of Qigong, I've got to say, nope, I'm not buying it. I've spent my life practicing. Have I achieved perfection? Nope. 

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" 

My most recent Qigong obsession has taught me the meaning of the word practice. 

When I am leading a Qigong practice, I introduce myself not as a teacher, but a fellow practitioner. "I'm here to practice with you." Like I say over there in my bio, the learning never stops. 

I don't assume the role of an expert, or someone who has achieved perfection. 

Assuming that role of expert I will: 

1. Create unreasonable expectations.

2. Inhibit my own experience.

3. Stunt my growth.

4. Make it about the role and not the experience. 

5. 

6.

As a practitioner I'm going to forget something, make a mistake and correct it, or, I might just let the mistake be MY secret and learn from it. But, I'll also gain some new insights about the forms we're practicing, and I'll grow.

We practice together. We laugh at our slip-ups, or our uncoordinated moments, or we laugh at the notion that next time it will be perfect. We keep going, enjoying the experience. We go with the flow. 

We might even have what I refer to as our:

AH HA! moments. 

Let's look at a practice called "Teacups." I've practiced teacups with groups of high school students to introduce mindfulness and focus. The first practice that I led "In a Park" included this right brain/left brain, mindfulness exercise. It is tricky. And, it's fun. 

Shifu Orlando Schiaffino introduces and demonstrates "Teacup Qigong:" 

Does it have to be perfect? Let's take a look at some photos of my good buddy Erik practicing "Teacups" with me "In a Park." He's with me, he's doing it, and then crash, he loses it and we all laugh and he does his own dance. Do your dance Erik. Have fun!

In a couple of days I will be practicing "Teacups" with friends as an expression of spiraling and reaching upwards. The movements of Spring. Just like a seed, when nurtured by water and sun, spirals upwards out of the earth and up, up, up. 

What am I doing here? I'm hoping to spark some interest and dispel fear. I'm hoping to motivate and inspire not just a group of friends, but also myself! Let's do this! 

Learning about learning:

When I was going through a Qigong teacher training with Nick Loffree, I diligently attended every Zoom practice and lecture. I practiced along with videos. I heard other students give feedback. But then when it was time to prepare for my private lessons with Nick, where he would be evaluating my skills, I realized I hadn't integrated these practices. 

So, I went back and studied. I watched his videos. I took copious notes. I broke down each form so that I could gain some inspiration. I practiced without his videos and his Zoom classes. I used my notes. I put the notes aside. But, still, I had just memorized his techniques, his moves. They weren't mine, yet.

It wasn't until I started practicing with others that the forms began to resonate. 

They were becoming my forms that I could share with others. I found I was having "AH HA" moments.  

With patience and discipline, productive practice time creates "AH HA" moments. 

To achieve this state of revelation, you can't be looking for the "AH HA" moment. It has to come to you organically. Great boss, how do we do that?

Believe me, after decades of teaching music I have learned that the first step is inspiration. What piece of music will resonate with them? How can I get them excited about learning something that they simply need to learn? Once I have ignited a spark of interest, we learn. We learn by:

• Becoming inspired
• Imitating
• Evaluating
• Correcting
• Slowing down
• Breaking apart
• Studying
• Imitating someone else
• Changing our perspective
• Looking at things differently
• Studying some more
• Patting ourselves on the back
• Correcting some details we hadn't noticed before
• Succeeding
• Practicing our successes
• Making it our own!
• Repeat

The other day I was practicing a Qigong/Neigong form ("Neigong," that's for another time) called "From Sprouting to Blooming." The name itself conjures images of Spring, and growth. Nice. 

Being a seemingly simple Qigong form, I went through the movements, focused my breathing, all the stuff. And then thought, "I'm going to try it with my Taiji Ruler," a beautiful piece of wood held between the hands. I wrote a post about the TAIJI RULER. Check it out. Having the Ruler between my palms changed my perspective, gave me a slightly different focus. 

Boom, the form changed. I had my "AH HA" moment! And by saying it changed, it improved. It took on an entirely new meaning! 

So, now I have a new inspiration. I want to practice this seemingly simple movement some more. Luxuriate in the "AH HA!" 

Many moons ago I was studying for my Master's Degree. Me being me, I was working with an advisor to create my own Independent Studies Degree in Special Education Arts. I studied theories of learning, brain hemispheres, and multiple intelligences, and creativity. 

That was my favorite class. 

I came up with my own definition of creativity.

Information/perspective/inspiration/practices/colors/sounds/words/feelings/textures/movements are borrowed from various sources. We then come up with something new, something that is ours. We practice playing with these colors/sounds/words/feelings/you-get-the-picture with patience. 

We might then have an "AH HA" moment. We create. 

So go out there and practice. Or, come practice with us! 

Be well, be happy, play, practice, and create. 

Brian