Chinese Health Exercise: Qigong. Part Three

The first level of moving or working meditation is where we stand in a certain position with slightly bent knees. This is the work part of the meditation. The bent knees provide the heat necessary for certain chemical or energy changes to take place. It is not too difficult to maintain this sort of meditation but it is a little more physically difficult than the sitting kind. We are trying to teach the mind to relax while working. In this way we do not need a nice quiet room with candles in order to relax C we are teaching the mind to relax at all times so that tension does not build up.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

The basic stance for this kind of meditation (Qi kung or Qigong) is seen in photograph 1. The legs are slightly bent with the knees not projecting any further than the toes. The toes are turned under a little, but not enough to make them turn white. The arms are held at chest height with the fingers pointing to each other. The fingers are held slightly apart with the palms concave. The tongue is pressed lightly onto the hard palate with the chin pulled in slightly to straighten the back. The eyes are looking straight ahead but not staring. The shoulders are relaxed with the elbows hanging. The breath is deep but natural and not forced, breathing in through the nose and out through the nose.

This posture is held for at least 15 minutes but beginners can start with 5 minutes. Older people can practice this meditation sitting in a chair as seen in photograph 2.

The second type of meditation is where we start to move while still holding the same relaxed meditative state induced by the Qigong. The slow, natural movements of Tai chi ch’uan lend themselves to meditation, as there are no fast or jerking movements. The whole set is made up of different postures linked together by circling movements. One is able to keep a relaxed calm mind while performing the Tai Chi form which lasts up to one hour.

The movements relax the mind, this causes our movements to become more relaxed and smooth which in turn helps the mind to relax even more, so the mind and body help each other up the ladder

The third area of meditation is where we learn to perform more normal tasks while still holding the meditation. Tai chi has another form of exercise called pauchui form, or cannon fist form, and as the name suggests this has some fast and hard movements. This form teaches us to keep our meditation even when confronted with the worst tension out in the street. In practising this form while relaxed we are able to walk out into the big world knowing that nothing will upset us or make us tense. See photograph 3.