Tai Chi Opening and Embracing The Tree

 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.

Hello!

I've chosen for today a very common and beautiful movement called Tai Chi Opening. 

Qi gong movements mimic the natural movements of nature, particularly water. Water can be smooth and flowing and powerful. Tai Chi Opening (also called Painting With Light) helps us to understand what it means to move with relaxation.

Moving with relaxation is one of the very basic principals of Qi gong.

Let's first prepare for this movement:

*Stand or sit comfortably. Feel your feet connected to the ground. (If you are standing - slightly bend your knees). Tilt your pelvis a little so that your back is a little flat, nothing extreme. Relax your arms down by your side. 

FEEL COMFORTABLE AND NATURAL

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP - KEEP YOUR SPIRIT UP

*Place your hands over your belly. Inhale and exhale paying attention to the air coming in and the air leaving. Do this for 9 breaths. Don't rush. Just relax. This is all you have to do right now.

The Movement - Tai Chi Opening

Here is a short You Tube video where you can view this movement - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9dxNUVu8JI

(Thank you to JING TV)

Keep your palms relaxed. Arms come up and down as if they are floating in water. Fingers are elegant and there is some space between them. Keep your arms shoulder width apart. When your arms come down, bend your knees / when they come up straighten them a little.

                     Inhale as they float up                 Exhale as they float down

Continue for a minimum of 9 movements. 

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Embracing The Tree

Bring your feet shoulder width apart.

Root your feet down to the earth, like the roots of a tree.

Keep your head up, keep your spirit up.                              Keep your head up, keep your spirit up.

Raise your arms up in a circle, as if you are holding a large ball or a tree lightly between your hands and chest. 

Broaden the space between your shoulder blades.

Elbows sink down a little so that they are lower than wrists.

Relax shoulders and neck muscles.

Stand tall with knees bent.

Point thumbs upward. Fingers point toward each other but not touching. Relax fingers.

Push your sacrum (lower back) out as if it were up pressing up against a wall (this will flatten your back somewhat).

Breathe deeply letting your belly expand out and then sink toward your spine. 

Once you have a rhythm with your breathe - belly expanding, allow your entire chest and abdomen to breathe and then feel like your entire body is breathing. 

Hold this position for 3, 6, 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 56 ........ 405 or more breaths. I'm not kidding! Start slow and build.

KEEP YOUR SPINE STRONG AND KEEP YOUR BREATH STRONG!

Embracing The Tree - a powerful standing position that will help you build a powerful body and mind. 

Short You Tube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJeLlMKzUY

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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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I love Qi gong because it helps us clear stress, heal our bodies and helps create energy. I hope you have enjoyed these two traditional Qi gong movements. 

After practicing the exercises in this blog for a short time, you will find that they all fit together quite easily. A daily practice of even 5 minutes will help harmonize your energy. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at donnaraesmith@yahoo.com

Much love,
Donna Rae

Wind stirs the bamboo,

But once the wind passes,

The bamboo is silent.

Geese land in the chill pond,

But once the geese fly away,

There are no reflections.

In the same way,

Once the red dust passes,

The mind is still.

                                                         From 365 Tao, Deng Ming-Dao

Photo by Franny Tutt