Spending time in nature and Spinal Cord Breathing

Just One Joule – Sharing with you a special Qi gong technique, sharing with you a special thought ... with the hope that it will be a small treasure in your day.

This is a print on the wall in our grandson's room. It is titled "I Got This".  I just love the little birds sitting on the telephone wire and then the brave dinosaur balancing across the wires. 

Hi! 

Todays post is about staying centered and balanced. With such busy lifestyles, complicated relationships and what sometimes seems like insurmountable demands on time and energy, it's vital to maintain a sense of stability and centeredness. 

How can we do that and not create another demand on our time? 

While your coffee is brewing or your tea steeping, try these two easy techniques - Just Sitting and Spinal Cord Breathing (done seated or standing)

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One of the beauties of Qi gong is that it is very safe. But - Please check with you doctor if you feel there is any chance you could injure yourself doing these movements. And if you ever feel any discomfort doing any of the movements stop doing them. 

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Just Sitting - Breath in and out your natural breath, open your senses and connect with the abundant energy around you. 

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Spinal Cord Breathing - This movement invigorates the entire spine including your nerves, muscles, connective tissue, blood and spinal cord fluid. It releases stuck energy along your neck, shoulders and spine. As you do this, picture your spine lengthening as you open your chest and deepen your breath. As you exhale and bring your forearms together relax and let go. Pull your belly in toward your spine. When you have completed at least nine movements inhale and gently bring our arms down resting them in your lap. Take a long, deep inhale and relax into the exhale. Close your eyes and breath normally. Pay attention to the way your body feels. 

Intension - 

Inhale, open your chest, look up and then open your mind and heart to receptivity.

Exhale, relax and round your back.

How does it feel to you to relax into the exhale with Spinal Cord Breathing? 

One of the things Qi gong asks us to do is lighten our grip on the tense feelings we may have.

One of my favorite messages to my students is this -

Relaxation is not doing nothing, thinking nothing. Relaxation is letting go of mental and physical preoccupations so that we can be more receptive and open. 

I love Qi gong - one reason is that through these simple movements we can simply relax our minds and create renewed Qi.

I like to breath mindfully and do some Spinal Cord Breathing early in the morning while my tea is steeping. 

GUESS WHO?

Something so cute to make you smile. This is Sawyer. Yes, he is the cutest thing ever. Yes, I am his grandmother.

Sending you a great big hug,
Donna Rae
p.s. There will be no new posts until the beginning of September. I'll be on vacation. Hope you are enjoying yourself as we approach the Fall.