| Feature Article
Qigong : the Way to Experience Inner Calm
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
When you are feeling the
pressure of life and your mind and body aren’t functioning as well as
you would like, you’ve tried everything and nothing works, then it’s
time to look at the ancient art of Qigong (Chi Kung).
The brain consists of only about 3% of the
overall body mass but consumes 36% of our oxygen intake. We all know how exhausted
we feel after studying for hours, working on a difficult project at work, or having a
difficult day emotionally. It takes days to recover our energy. If we compare
the above with physical activities, like gardening or bush walking, we may feel tired
after the event and perhaps suffer from sore muscles, but our energy levels are usually
well replenished the following day.
The great sages realised
that training the mind is more difficult than training the body.
All forms of meditation and Qigong
have been designed to help to calm the mind, enabling us to feel peaceful and relaxed.
According to traditional Chinese medicine,
worry, anger and other negative mental states affect our nervous system and internal
organs. Too much worry causes digestive problems while too much anger affects the
functioning of the liver. In order to enjoy good health, it is vital for us to
learn to calm the mind.
The Qigong practised in class is called
Quiet Standing or Embracing the Tree. Anyone who has tried this technique will find
it quite challenging at first. Occasionally, some students may feel dizzy or
nauseous. This tends to indicate that one’s qi (essential energy) is too high,
due to mental and physical tension. This causes the muscles and internal organs to
become tight, which in turn restricts the circulation of qi and blood.
One of the main reasons
we may find Qigong practice challenging i s
our restless mind. The body does not present much difficulty, once
we learn how to stand correctly in a relaxed manner.
A number of different methods of training
the mind have been evolved. Some involve visualisation, counting, focusing on
the body, or observing the breath. In our system, we practise focusing on one part
of the body. Instead of thinking of many things, we now bring our awareness to one
point. This gradually helps the mind to become less busy and more relaxed. In
time, this practice will help the mind to go deeper and deeper into a state of
tranquillity. Eventually, we no longer focus on anything, but remain alert, content
and at peace.
The 3 Levels of
Qigong
All forms of Qigong consist of these
three elements: regulation of body, mind and breath. The first level involves
breathing naturally, finding the correct posture, and feeling the spine straight and body
relaxed, especially the shoulders. The second level involves calming the mind.
The third level involves special breathing. This should not be attempted
until one becomes proficient in the first two levels and is receiving instruction in this
form of breathing by a competent teacher. This is certainly not something one learns
from a book. If one attempts the third level without good grounding in relaxation,
it will only do more harm than good, such as increasing tension.
Criteria to Look
for in the Qigong Practice
After Quiet Standing, we will feel relaxed
and light. The hands, abdomen or the whole body will feel warm and relaxed.
The mind will become peaceful and happy. When we open our eyes after
Qigong, things will appear bright and clear. In the beginning, you may only get a
glimmer of these results. Give yourself time. After three to six months of
regular and correct practice, you will usually feel the above during each session.
If you feel tired and want to sleep after
the practice, this may indicate that you need a good rest. As you begin to relax as
a result of your practice, you are now more aware of the needs of the body. Once
your practice has matured, you will feel a sense of invigoration after the session.
It is important that a sense of sleepiness does not arise from dullness during the
practice. Sometimes, you may not be actively thinking of anything. However, if
your focus is not on the body centre, your practice will lack clarity. Both tension
and dullness are opposite extremes. The key is to find the balance - the effortless
awareness.
In the beginning, our practice may be
affected by the weather, time of day, diet, emotions, state of health, etc. In other
words, everything intrudes upon our mind. That is why it is important to practise
daily. Find a suitable time to practise and make this your commitment to take care
of yourself. Practising everyday will build your determination, confidence and
results. Don’t be concerned if you don’t feel much at first. Just
persevere and eventually you will succeed. Don’t set any expectation.
Everyone will develop. Don’t waste your energy by making excuses, such
as, too old, too hot, too cold, don’t feel like it, etc. Just relax and
practise.
In time, when you feel the contentment and
peace of Qigong, you will understand how your body is affected by your mind. Once
you are grounded in the rewards of your regular practice, you will never want to stop.
I hope that you will experience this for yourself. Everyone can achieve this
inner calm. All you need is some perseverance and determination in the beginning.
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