Archive for December, 2009

Dig Your Toes in the Earth

Female toes close-up. Photo by Pierre79. Free of use.

Try throwing off your shoes and socks today at the park. Stand in the grass, and face North (remember moss grows in the north on trees). Try some Qigong…

  • Position your feet directly under your hips.
  • Bend your knees only to where it’s comfortable. Make sure your knees are pointing over your second toe.
  • Engage your feet—draw up your arch while engaging your toes…toes (slightly) grip the earth. Dig in.
  • Stack your spine so that your back is straight. Chin tucks towards your spine.
  • Arms reach out in front of you—looks like you’re embracing a tree, index fingers about eye height, palms toward you, pinkie to thumb extended and engaged.
  • Eyes soft gaze outward.
  • Breath from your belly…exhaling all your breath from the naval to the spine.
  • Smile deep and internal: know that very powerful, happy people have challenged themselves in this way before.

Try it for a couple minutes. Focus your attention on something simple around you and regard it lightly, like the drone of a bee, or the sound of a child laughing. Or notice the wind while you take in the colors around you.

Breathe deeply and stand in stillness.

Qigong Supports Dreams

Flower Clouds

Since I can remember, I have followed my dreams and my heart. My passion for life and for inspiring others fuels me to do wonderful things.

I’ve gone on adventures in the wilderness, taken leaps with my music, and I have challenged myself physically. Amidst the study and practice of Qigong, I have attained a stillness that is quite new for me. I used to never be able to stand still. My adventures have turned inward.

I can stand still for 25 minutes in a pose, very still, with my belly rising and drawing towards my spine, breathing.  Before I started practicing this work, I would get overwhelmed, but I would remind myself…

All you have to do is breathe.

It is my birthright that I had forgotten.