After the recent spate of destructive fires in San Diego County during mid-May many students expressed that they noticed a considerable difference in how they navigated through the days of fires. They reported that because of their qigong practice they were able to stay more present and maintain more inner calm, acceptance and trust than in previous events. One student interpreted her experience as part of the ever-changing nature of life.
However, in the days following the fires some students also expressed experiencing varying degrees of anxiety, exhaustion and other effects of trauma. Even those not directly affected by loss of homes or the need to evacuate felt distressed. These experiences can apply to all kinds of adverse events that we are likely to encounter during our lives.
I have watched others and myself in the ways we navigate adversity. These observations moved me to take this opportunity to examine and share how our qigong practice can help us during these times.
Qigong practice supports all layers of our being and helps us to navigate difficult changes. However, the energy associated with a traumatic event can often become lodged in the body. We are human after all. This lodging, from an energetic level, can be a pattern of energy that is not in harmony with our natural state. How can qigong help us return to our natural state?
After the initial danger has passed, many of us become aware of feeling deeply fatigued. Replenishing qi is the place to start the re-harmonizing process. This is to primarily support the physical body. As we know, feeling that the physical body is in a harmonious state helps all other levels of being – emotional, mental and spiritual. Choose practices that support you the most in replenishing physical qi such as yang qi (conserving qi) meditation, hip rotations and meditation to balance emotions.
As you gently practice, you can trust that the un-lodging of energy associated with the event is naturally occurring. It is important to give yourself time to recover; it may take many days to regain a feeling of qi flowing well. You can also welcome this opportunity to mine the depths of your being, and get to know yourself on this level. It is a process of unfolding that requires patience and kindness. Because energetic patterns are dynamic there may be periods of discomfort in the body including unwanted thoughts and emotions. Allow these waves to continue as if you are watching the ever-changing tides of the sea.
Because we are human will experience traumatic events. By cultivating abundant qi in our daily lives we can more easily navigate them when they occur and come through with fewer adverse effects. We have our qigong practice to help support us during these times. Life gives us many opportunities.
Wishing you abundant harmonious qi.
