Let's Sit!

How do we get by in a world that is shrinking? Or, how do we maintain a sense of security and a feeling of safety amidst a dynamically-diverse environment. In our everyday tasks and chores we are constantly bumping shoulders with people from all walks of life. In many instances we need to work with these people and it can be difficult to do that. Ideologies are different. Values and culture can be diverse too. And don't forget that communication norms are multilevel.My teacher, Dr. Yang, is an accomplished author and martial arts master. One of the many lessons he...

We all want to drop into that "zone" state. This is where time flies and we are intently focused on the activity at hand. Learning meditation is like learning to ride a bicycle. While sitting on the cushion, we want to coast peacefully, without distraction. It's not too different from bicycling. Imagine you are on the interstate and there is no one else on the road. There's a long stretch of highway for miles and the temperature is perfect. The ground is level so you don't need to pedal so much to keep your pace. These are the conditions that lead...

I've been beating in this concept about how crucial posture and breath really are. So I mention this in the context of practice. However, remember that we want to integrate the lessons into our daily lives. One may ask, "Why do I need to be mindful of breathing when I already do it naturally?" This question has great merit. My response is that it's not really about the breathing, rather, it's about our state of being and the effects of breathing. In Qigong we say that the body is a battlefield, the mind is the general, blood are the soldiers,...

We all want to improve. Setting up a system of measure to track progress is key when building any skill, and with meditation it is extremely difficult. How does one assess one's own progress? This is a critical question, given the amount of time required for self cultivation. Remember that in Qigong breath is crucial. We say that breathing is strategy, and knowing which strategy to use requires proficiency. Practice and exploration aids and facilitates proficiency. The first step is to relax the mind and body, using the breathing. You want to aim for soft, smooth, slender and long. This...

Let's just take a second to think about the significance of our bio battery - our guts. This system is responsible for conversion of food to usable energy for the body to use. We might not be so picky about our food in the face of famine and hunger.This also calls into the question, one's ability to efficiently convert and use food and water. In Qigong we call this post-birth essence and the practice to connect to this process is call Qigong. Qigong connects us to these subtle processes in a way that aids us in developing a relationship, connecting...