Why are you here?

I won’t be answering that for you today, but it’s a question well worth your contemplation. You may find some guidance useful to reach or even seek out your objective! Certainly you will feel more capable and optimistic if your body is healthy and energetic! That is what I do; help you to be at your best so you can do what you are here to do.

Interestingly enough, among the many aspects of self-care which I implement with our group, one of the most profound is the qigong standing practice achieved with very correct posture. Known as Wu chi, it allows deepening relaxation and also rising energy flow. This may seem contradictory at first, but once experienced, I think you will agree with me that the simultaneous heavy, downward sinking flow of relaxation combined with a rush of upward floating potential starts to make the Ying/Yang symbol of opposites together ☯ a much more interesting concept.

Several factors must be present together in order to feel and benefit from this phenomena, including correct posture, diaphragmatic breathing, heightened awareness, and deep relaxation. Correct posture is vital. The physical component will take some practice and guidance. See my blog on posture. Your best feedback is through Clear’s Internal Push Hands working with a partner, which allows you to test each other. Without a partner, before and after comparison testing with the Energy Ball between the palms is a great option to measure best alignment. Breathing should be diaphragmatic and relaxed, filling the whole body gently with oxygen allowing all your cell to function at their highest level. Awareness of the Three Dain Tiens alignment and zhong ding comes with correct practice of posture, as well as an increasingly sensitive mind. Heightened cognizance is born of the lack of tension in your system, whereby you become conscious of things usually masked by our “normal” to elevated levels of stress. Your level of relaxation can improve for many years as you practice Wu chi, but be careful not to collapse the body - only release tension without compromising your posture.

How does this help me achieve my purpose, you may ask? There is a combined effort of your various parts (whole body, cells, breath, mind, spirit) in any endeavor you propose. Quite often these parts are not all on the same page, which means you are fighting against yourself constantly. One benefit of this standing practice is that your mind gets a break, your body relaxes, your breath deepens and regulates, and the spirit has a chance to get into alignment with the rest of you. There is a calming effect which releases expectations and clears your vision. This access to energy and mental clarity brings solutions into focus.

Release of physical tension allows mental tension to also dissipate. The downward flow of tension creates a lightness in the upper body starting at the crown which allows a constant downward flow, like a waterfall within your core. The slightly fluttery central core feeling is known as zhong ding and helps guide you to best practices when improving your standing posture. I encourage you to reference your copy of Chi Energy: Activation, Cultivation and Flow by Richard E. Clear, Jr. for more details on how to achieve these benefits through correct posture. You may also enjoy my previous blog on posture.