How to be a Qigong Master, part 5

Our bodies are a network of energy channels, both masculine and feminine, or Yin and Yang. Yin, the female energy, is passive and spiritual. Yang, the male energy, is active and physical. Both energies exist within and come together to create the whole universe, opposing and yet complementary — oneness, unity, holistic.

With balance and harmony as the goal we must honor both energies. Sometimes that requires rest, a passive retreat or withdraw, and sometimes that requires motion, assertive force of action. For this very reason, it has been a while since my last post on this subject of How to be a Qigong Master. I am not immune to the universal laws, and I am quite sure neither are you — so from time to time I must honor my need for retreat.

☯ Do you listen to your body, mind, spirit?
☯ How do you know what it is saying?
☯ Do you accept responsibility for its well-being?
☯ How do you know what it needs or wants?

If you wish to get the optimal benefit of your life experience, you should be asking and answering these questions for yourself! Practicing Qigong awakens your awareness and helps you listen to your body, mind, spirit, to know what it is saying, what it needs or wants, and helps you to not only accept responsibility for its well-being but to realize its potential.

The body’s energy network has 12 main channels that carry energy to every part of the body and 8 reservoir channels that store excess energy from the main channels to be used when energy runs low in the main channels. When any of the channels is blocked, the flow of Qi is prohibited causing stagnation of vital energy resulting in illness. When all channels are clear and open, vital energy flows freely and the body is able to maintain or restore good health.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each channel works in two hour duty cycles per day. By following the cyclical rhythms of the body one is able to balance and harmonize its functions to optimize well-being.