As the Lunar New Year approaches, we bid farewell to the Yin Water Rabbit and hand the reins to the Yang Wood Dragon on February 10, 2024. The Dragon, the only mythical animal of the 12 animals in Chinese astrology, is a courageous, powerful and auspicious animal known for bringing heaven to earth. It is…
Many of us look forward to the winter solstice because it marks the beginning of the gradual increase in daylight hours. In the Gregorian calendar it is the first day of winter. In the Five Phase Theory of Chinese Medicine, winter is the most yin season. The attributes corresponding to the winter season are the…
Qigong incorporates gentle movements, meditation and breathing exercises that anyone can do. No matter your age, fitness level, or health condition, there are qigong practices you will be able to incorporate into your life to enhance your wellbeing. Pay Attention to Your Abilities During qigong practice, you are encouraged and empowered to modify practices according…
To fully harness the power of qigong, we must understand the way it works. A basic explanation is when the body, mind and heart are relaxed, they function in the natural state of harmony. Qi and blood flow freely. In a balanced and relaxed body qi moves freely through a network of channels (meridians) as…
Remembering to focus the mind to penetrate into the body when practicing qigong is essential for maximum benefits. If our intention is to receive maximum benefits from our practices then we must remember to focus inwardly. Our minds can easily wander, making our practices less effective in receiving healing information. While the original intention is…
The Five Element or Five Phase theory serves to inform our qigong view of life and nature. The fifth phase of this theory occurs during the short season called “Second Summer,” those last warm days of September or October, and the times of change a week or so before and after the solstices and equinoxes.…
Whether you are playing with the idea of adding qigong to your life or are a long-time qigong enthusiast, you might ask yourself, “Why do I practice qigong?” This is a valuable question, one I have certainly explored more than a few times over the years. The answer can be personal and it can vary,…
We recognize the Five Element or Five Phase theory as part of the wisdom that informs our qigong view of life and nature. The Five Phase theory posits that everything in the universe, including our health, is governed by five elements, which incorporate their corresponding organs and seasons: wood/liver/spring, fire/heart/summer, earth/spleen-pancreas/second summer, metal/lungs/autumn and water/kidneys/winter.…
Reprinted from Feb 2020 newsletter As we delight in the approach of spring, we notice that there is a special energy associated only with this season of renewal. This is an invigorating time with energy rising throughout nature and within us; think baby birds, seedlings thrusting up through the earth and our own spring cleaning, innovation and…
Spring and summer are the most yang seasons. Liver qi rises up in spring – we are beckoned to the out-of-doors to take walks, tend to our gardens and enjoy the new life all around us. The long warm days of summer, the heart/fire season, can keep us moving all day often until bedtime. These seasons are the…