Qigong for Life Blog
Learn all about Qigong for Life practices, perspectives and tips
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A Weekend with Teacher Jianshe, Part 1 – Just Do It
Our recent weekend with Zhineng Qigong Teacher Jianshe provided a unique opportunity for us to be taught by a Chinese teacher who spent many years at the Huaxia Zhineng Qigong Center in China. Teacher Jianshe helped us create a subtle, relaxed and rich qi field, which evolved over the weekend through stories, movement and meditation.…
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Taking Qigong On The Road
Many of you are immersed in summer travels, enjoying life with friends and family. These idyllic long days are prized for deepening connections with loved ones, this vibrant earth and ourselves. Our vacation travels need not interrupt our qigong practice as we can include time for qigong while on the road. Before I address ways…
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Qigong As a Way of Accessing Our Wholeness
It is common for students to practice different forms and movements of qigong without remembering to focus the mind into the physical body. Additionally, our minds can wander away from our intention and may forget to focus on integrating healing information. While this is not a problem as the original intent is still alive and…
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Navigating Adversity with Qigong
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…
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Qigong Practice Tips – Creating Comfort and Ease
During a recent retreat a long-time student asked about ways to stay open when experiencing discomfort during qigong practice. The ensuing discussion was a mini-revelation for many because it provided unique ways to focus the mind on creating comfort in moments of perceived pain. I wanted to share our discussion in this blog because it…
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The Heart of Zhineng Qigong
I was recently asked what role consciousness plays in Zhineng Qigong. Our practices usually include a variety of meditations, movements, stretching exercises, breathing methods and we generally feel better when our practice ends. We often talk about changing the body and the mind, but it is really our consciousness that is most important. At the…
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Becoming Your Own Master
In Chinese numerology the number nine symbolizes the end of a cycle as well as the beginning of a new cycle, it can be a time of great harmony. About nine years ago, after many years training and practicing internal martial arts, qigong, yoga and meditation, Leonard and I went to China to immerse ourselves…
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Giddy Up: Here Comes the Year of the Wood Horse
Celebrating the Chinese New Year begins with the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Celebrations for this Year of the Wood Horse begin on January 31. This year offers a potent opportunity to welcome and celebrate change. The Horse is an auspicious symbol in Chinese culture and mythology. The Horse is considered a heroic leader…
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New Life & New Year
As 2014 begins, Leonard and I are feeling most blessed to be in the midst of a superlative privilege, that of becoming grandparents. Healthy and strong twin girls were born to our daughter and her husband in late December. I am elated to share this news with you, but what does it have to do…
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Winter Wisdom
For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, we know that the winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight. Many of us look forward to this day because it marks the beginning of the gradual increase in daylight hours. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is the most yin season. The…