The power of a Qigong Retreat

March 9 - 13 I attended a Qigong Retreat. An experience I would greatly recommend.

Attending the 2016 Intensive Qigong and Daoist Retreat led by Shifu Michael was a powerful experience exceeding my expectations. I am a long time Qigong practitioner, however had not previously participated in a retreat. Practicing Qigong and Daoist Meditation in a practice hall filled with others doing the same created an atmosphere I could actually feel. My Qigong and meditation skills moved to a higher level due to both the expert instruction, and energy resulting from group practice. It pushed/pulled me beyond where I was before the retreat. On more than one night I had trouble sleeping, only because I could feel the energy circulating in me so strongly. I guess hours of practicing Qigong and meditation can do that!

This being the Year of the Monkey we at one time light-heartedly referred to the retreat as the “Wet Monkey Retreat”. When it rains 5 days straight, you have to keep your sense of humor. But the “liquid energy” did not dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of the group one drop.

Late one night after an evening of intense Daoist meditation I was not interested in sleeping, so I went to the dining hall, had a cup of dark tea, and wrote the following:
     Sitting in stillness triggers a seemingly endless stream of random thoughts
     They come from everywhere, out of nowhere
     I do not ask them to stay
     I do not ask them to leave
     I just find my breath and breathe

The knowledge received from Shifu Michael, the Daoist Priests and candidates, fellow Qigong certification students, and a special guest – Samuel Barnes - was uplifting, and I am looking forward to sharing what I learned with my own students. I would highly recommend anyone interested in advancing their Qigong or Meditation practice to join Shifu Michael when he hosts his 2017 retreat.

Myself (far left in the picture) and three others received Advanced Qigong Certification for studies in Medical Qigong, TCM, Qigong Prescriptions and Meditation practices from Shifu Michael.

What is Qigong Healing?



 Qi       Gong

 



 

 

 

What is Qigong?

I have found Qigong to be a tremendous way to improve health, both body and mind, that few people seem to be aware of.  And if they have heard the word, there is only a vague understanding of what it is.  Although this has slowly been changing over the last few years.  Qi (pronounced chee) is often translated as vital energy or life force; gong (pronounced gung) is accomplishment or a skill cultivated through practice, therefore Qigong can be translated as the cultivation of vital energy.  This ancient form of health improvement and self-healing exercises is based on the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However the “medicine” is in the actual exercise itself not the normal understanding of medication!  (And if you supplement Qigong exercises with proper diet you can get even better results.)  A more lengthy definition can be found on the National Qigong Association website. 

How does it work?

The effectiveness of Qigong is based on the alignment of just three things; breath, posture and intent.  Although it sounds relatively simple it will require practice, but the benefit potential will be worth the effort.  Often it is good to have a qualified teacher (where one is available) to help bring it all together. 

Which Qigong exercise works for me?

There are literally thousands of Qigong exercises. Although many are beneficial there will be some exercises which resonate more with an individual than others.  The degree to which an exercise will “feel right” is usually related to the condition of Qi (life-force energy) in that person’s body.  Qi may be excessive, deficient, or even stagnant in a particular organ.  Or Qi may even be blocked in certain energy pathways.  Finding the Qigong exercises that work best for the individual is important and may require guidance from an experienced practitioner.  Luckily there are Qigong exercises which should prove beneficial to just about everyone.  Probably the most popular is “Ba Daunn Jin” often translated as the Eight Pieces of Brocade.  This is the first full form I learned, and I still practice it close to twenty years later.

In future blogs I will go into the detail of Qigong exercises such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade including the particular form that I practice, along with specific organs and conditions it directly impacts.  I will also include tips to get the most out of Qigong practice.

But first we have to make sure you are breathing.  Yes, I know everyone breaths, but there is a difference in how most people breathe and correct Qigong breathing.  This will be the topic of my next blog.