Let's Sit! — meditation

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...

 "You are there, but you are not there." This is how my my teacher, Dr. Yang, describes the semi-sleeping state. When sitting, we are creating the conditions to drop into this state. It cannot be force, and it is a skill to be cultivated. It's like flying a kite and allowing the string to stretch as far as it can while still keeping control. This is similar to riding that line of the waking and the sleep state.For thousands of years, Chinese have known that alongside our visible world (Yang) there exists an invisible world (Yin). This world in not...

People always ask me what is essential. What do I need to practice every day? So why do we sit? Sitting brings us to the root of mind, root of body and motivation. My response is always, what is your why? What is your goal? This will give you an idea of what to practice, what is essential.For many people relaxation is what is needed. With all the things that make up our to-do list, it seems difficult to find time for self. What does that mean? Why do we need time for self? Well, spending time with just the...

Quick! Hurry up! Sit, breathe and find inner peace. Here's how to meditate in a rush. Get comfortable. Establish your posture. And take 3-5 breaths. Make them count! Engage your abdomen, and extend each inhale and exhale without making yourself tense.Breathe so that the exhale resembles that of a sigh. A sigh is how we naturally release tension. So all you need to do is sit and string a few together. If you can do that, you can settle your energy. If you can do that you can settle your mind and be at peace.Try it and let me know...

This is segment is from Mothers' Day 2017.  On this Mother's Day I'm reflective. I'm just thinking that all the drama in the world, where are the mothers? I ask you, "where is your mother?" What would she say? This is a great Question to ask yourself anytime you are not sure about an action. In addition this is a great question to ask a friend, at the moment prior to taking an action they might regret. I'm also curious about the use of the word - premeditated. We see it often used for a crime. Even in the dictionary...