Deep Earth/Kidney Pulsing Qigong Questions

Hey Jimbo, It is always refreshing to discuss common practices in a world where cultivation is mostly private.

I trust your experiences as the best guide and it seems you are allowing yourself to be the vessel.

While out and about today I did explore this form again and had some of my own aha’s stimulated by your questions. Hope they stimulate you.

1. I don’t want to overdo it. It feels like 2-3 minutes twice per day seems about right (I’m a very experienced yoga and meditation practitioner, so the effect is pretty intense). Does that make sense to you guys?

It does make sense that as an experienced yogi- I also have this in my background/foreground- but unless you are really getting a real warning to back off this sounds stingy. Perhaps slow it down or just see what happens when you glide past your edge- what comes up for you.

This form especially is so earth centering- built into it is a deepening focus opening space of core leg channels for dispersion as well as ingestion of energies.

Try it while walking. While sitting. Take it up when gardening. See if you are making it too serious. Break the rules.

2. I believe all qigong is supposed to be done with knees slightly bent, but for some reason this feels a lot smoother with legs locked. How big a no-no is this?

You will know.

Bent means ‘soft’ for me. Or you could say joints that breathe are open not shut. Locking the knees can close/shut the joint and therefore crimp the intentional opening of leg channels to trunk.

3. I’ve been inhaling as arms raise and exhaling as they drop. Long, smooth, savoring breaths with what the yogis call “ujiya” (hiss in back of throat) on exhale. Is that right?

I also use ujaya breath as a habitual pattern from the asanas and vinyasas.It works fine for increasing internal focus which aids the mind.

However there comes a point when the effort used in maintaining this lock can be released so the more subtle energies/ subtle breath can be experienced.

The active breath is like blowing on a small flame of attention but once it catches and the mind is engaged slowly back it off and place your attention where you will receive the most benefit- the kidneys.

Let them do the breathing. Big aha for me.

For that matter play with the form too. I find when going into it I don’t do anything differently but focus the inhale on the arm that is falling to the earth not rising.

It is such a different experience and a lesson in power of subtlety. I find it more grounding and once here play with shifting to what you are doing-on the upraise and alternate.

When you drop the attention from the breath though and allow the kidneys to breathe see them plumping up and softening.

Bring your attention to how both arms are engaged at the same time and ask how you can breathe and focus on both?

It means deepening center- I have to play with this one- but I see how this form also balances the brain up high and the brain down low. Activates the center.

( While walking I played with actively using one arm and mentally/energetically lifting the other. This was very engaging of the inner energetics)

4. in the dvd, michael goes onto his toes as arm raises. Does that mean losing connection between ground and that point between the balls on the sole of foot (I think its’ called ton tien or something)? Or do you keep pressing in with that spot as heels lift?

It is a good question on form and I don’t know the correct answer. What I can say is that point on the ball of the foot is a prime kidney point named bubbling spring. Bubbling Spring- ahh- just the image makes overheated or stuck kidneys pulse (;

But here again while the form is important to find out about while learning (helps reinforce intention with the structure that supports it) all the motions of arms and legs draw us into the center so we can move from here.

As the kidneys do the breathing they also initiate the moving. Slowly disengage much of focus and effort from the limbs and the breath and place your brain inside your belly resting on your kidneys. Soften trying.

What I really mean is give them the space for their consciousness- trust them- and be moved on many levels.

Now I have to practice and see if what I say grows anything…thanks for the stim…Bar