What is Qi Gong?

"To study and at times practice what one has learned, is that not a pleasure?"  -CONFUCIUS

Qi (pronounced CH-EE) is the Chinese word for "life force or life energy".  It is the inherent power that flows through all living things, including inanimate objects like mountains and rocks.  For humans, having healthy Qi involves having an abundance of vitality but also having the Qi flow smoothly and unimpeded through ones body. 

Gong is translated as "work", but not with a solely negative connotation as modern society often uses the duality of "work vs play".  Gong here relates to the benefits gained through continuous practice; I like to say "the pleasure of focused attention".

So Qi Gong means working with life energy, learning how to control the flow of qi in body, mind, and spirit to improve health and wellbeing. 

My earliest exposure to the practice of Qi Gong was from my father.  I was living in Honduras, so I was in middle school.  I'm not sure what prompted him to teach me some of these ancient Chinese techniques, but I clearly remember the core lessons: horse stance, the importance of both feet feeling stable and connected to the ground, resting the tip of the tongue on the top palate to connect the body's energy line from tailbone to head, and correct posture for proper flow of Qi.  I remember liking the lessons even then.

It is no surprise, looking back now, that I have made Chinese medicine my practice and my life, of which Qi Gong and the understanding of Qi is a bit part of. That was over 20 years ago and I'm still practicing the basics, as well as having learned a lot of other fun Qi Gong exercises that I look forward to sharing in class. 

Upcoming 5 week series on
Embodying the 5 Chinese elements using Qi Gong, creative movement, and acupressure
Dates:  March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 2015
Location: Health Touch NC Conference Center  3500 Westgate Drive Suite 405 Durham, NC 27707
Cost:  $55
Register with Li-Lan Hsiang Weiss L.Ac. (919) 308-8999, space limited

Chinese New Year 2015

According to Chinese Astrology, 2015 is the year of the Yin Wood Sheep which brings about a soft, gentle and feminine energy.  It brings togetherness which strengthens relations and inspires community-building.  All acts of kindness, cooperation, healing and creativity are encouraged!

2014, the year of the Yang Wood Horse saw a lot of dominant action, energy and transformations taking place but as the galloping horse begins to fade, the energy of the Yin Wood Sheep (or Goat) will take its place.

Beginning on February 19th, 2015 to February 7, 2016 the energy is going to shift from outward from the Year of the Horse to a more inward state.

This Yin energy is very creative, intuitive, patient, and gentle. Instead of everything moving fast and abruptly like yang energy, yin energy gives us time to focus, slow down, get centered and take stock over what we have created so far.

The Sheep symbolizes the energy of generosity, patience and peacefulness. The goal of the sheep is to create harmony and beauty within the home and family and is often considered to be the most feminine of all the Chinese zodiac animals.  Good year to nurture close relationships with good friends, family, community, and nature.

Just like the horse, the sheep is extremely intuitive, the only difference is the sheep is a lot more emotional, and has more awareness to heal, nurture and tend to issues that are causing suffering. The sheep calls us to practice modesty, charity and to delight in the smaller, more delicate aspects of life.  By cultivating inner awareness, one can make decisions more from love than from force.

The element of Wood brings the energy of being rooted and understanding oneself on a deeper level.  Wood symbolizes freedom and growth, and connected to the creativity of the Year of the Sheep it means a good year for creative endeavors that have been either hibernating or were a loose grouping of “seeds” wildly flying with the wind, waiting to land on fertile ground.  These ideas will bloom where planted and grow strong with sustenance. 

The male counterpart of the Sheep is the Ram, an animal know to survive in harsh continuous, is tenacious, pushes through obstacles, and scales heights.  The combination of both the energy of the Ram and Sheep means a year to patiently forge ahead, pushing against obstacles if necessary.  May also be a year to stand your ground and stay to what is true to your heart.

“…This is a year of forgiveness and reconciliation. There will be more harmony amongst people and people will be more likely to keep their promises. What looked like crises last year will have solutions.”

 
On a larger scale, projects of Human Kindness or Humanitarianism will increase, projects that will seek to cease suffering in others, increase self-awareness and self-care, and foster creativity in a brotherly/sisterly manner.

The Yin Wood Sheep reminds us that home is where the heart is, and that taking care of oneself, feeling safe and surrounding oneself with a loving group of friends and family is important work.  It is the year to go within, pay attention to the small things and to nurture others and ourselves.

Focusing on fostering self-care, I am facilitating and teaching several classes this coming spring, the ones scheduled are on the front page of my website:  Qi Gong, creative movement and acupressure with the 5 Chinese elements, and the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy Self Care Level 1.  More to come!   Armonia Holistic Health