Chi kung (or qi gong/tai chi/chi gong) means "energy work" or "energy cultivation." It includes everything I love to do: sense and work with energy, color, light, and sound, as well as play in both the physical and subtle realities. The fluid body movements satisfy my desire to dance, to be alive in a rhythmic way. In the past six months I have included chi kung more and more in my meditation classes until now it is the primary focus. After all, it includes stillness as well as motion, and meditation just isn't complete without movement as a counterpoint to encourage flow and connection. Still meditation is essential in chi kung for "nurturing chi" and allowing integration of fresh energy and its effects, but movement is essential to flow and bringing in fresh vitality.
I don't claim to be a chi kung master. What I do claim is that anything I learn of value, I cannot help but pass along to anyone else who is interested. I never thought I'd teach chi kung, but in 2012 when I started teaching meditation at the Natural Wellness Center at 2106 N. 7th in West Monroe, LA, Dr. Carolyne Yakaboski said it might be a good idea to include it at the beginning or end of meditation class. From then on, we did chi kung nearly every meditation class to help people loosen up for meditation.
It was some time in 2009 that I started practicing chi kung in earnest every day, beginning with Lee Holden's DVD course, then an online course with him. About a year later, I got Ken Cohen's course. Then Chunyi Lin and Robert Peng's courses. Having some background in energy work with in-person courses in therapeutic touch, touch for health, and judo, as well as the Awakening Your Light Body course working with vibrational energy body and light body centers, it was easy for me to learn from the DVDs and online instruction. The only book I was able to learn any of the movements from was Lam Cam Chuen's Chi Kung Healing. Now I have two more books of his; the illustrations are excellent, as is the information. It is well put. For anyone who is interested, I have a list of books and DVD courses for students who want to go further with their practice.
I cannot help but color chi kung practice with all I've learned from soto zen, raja yoga, Native American teachers, Sanaya Roman, and Duane Packer. It's all complementary. It all fits together very neatly, like different flavors of ice cream at Baskins-Robbins.
But there is a very great deal of study, too. I have amassed a number of books over the years by those with background knowledge in the field of Tai Chi Chi Kung, and I study these, too. I asked for a spiritual guide to help me in my learning, and a presence and name presented herself: Li Shui. I looked the name up and it means "Beautiful Waters." Every day I meditate and do practice with Li Shui.
Chi kung practice has made me more sensitive to energy in all forms, including the runes. Each rune has its qualities for contemplation; it is a joy to sense and play with the energy as a quality of chi, which it is. Runes have their own special chi. The chi of Berkana is sure and patient, the chi of Teiwaz is firm and reliable. The chi of Othila is connection and place. I am learning many new depths of the runes while doing chi kung practice.
I don't claim to be a chi kung master. What I do claim is that anything I learn of value, I cannot help but pass along to anyone else who is interested. I never thought I'd teach chi kung, but in 2012 when I started teaching meditation at the Natural Wellness Center at 2106 N. 7th in West Monroe, LA, Dr. Carolyne Yakaboski said it might be a good idea to include it at the beginning or end of meditation class. From then on, we did chi kung nearly every meditation class to help people loosen up for meditation.
It was some time in 2009 that I started practicing chi kung in earnest every day, beginning with Lee Holden's DVD course, then an online course with him. About a year later, I got Ken Cohen's course. Then Chunyi Lin and Robert Peng's courses. Having some background in energy work with in-person courses in therapeutic touch, touch for health, and judo, as well as the Awakening Your Light Body course working with vibrational energy body and light body centers, it was easy for me to learn from the DVDs and online instruction. The only book I was able to learn any of the movements from was Lam Cam Chuen's Chi Kung Healing. Now I have two more books of his; the illustrations are excellent, as is the information. It is well put. For anyone who is interested, I have a list of books and DVD courses for students who want to go further with their practice.
I cannot help but color chi kung practice with all I've learned from soto zen, raja yoga, Native American teachers, Sanaya Roman, and Duane Packer. It's all complementary. It all fits together very neatly, like different flavors of ice cream at Baskins-Robbins.
But there is a very great deal of study, too. I have amassed a number of books over the years by those with background knowledge in the field of Tai Chi Chi Kung, and I study these, too. I asked for a spiritual guide to help me in my learning, and a presence and name presented herself: Li Shui. I looked the name up and it means "Beautiful Waters." Every day I meditate and do practice with Li Shui.
Chi kung practice has made me more sensitive to energy in all forms, including the runes. Each rune has its qualities for contemplation; it is a joy to sense and play with the energy as a quality of chi, which it is. Runes have their own special chi. The chi of Berkana is sure and patient, the chi of Teiwaz is firm and reliable. The chi of Othila is connection and place. I am learning many new depths of the runes while doing chi kung practice.
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