Summer 2023 SUMMARY

2023 Summer Fire Series

We begin the Summer Fire Series of Meditative Exercise sessions on May 6th. Remember, the ancient Chinese agrarian calendar matches our bodies seasonal clocks most accurately, so the seasons start earlier than we define them in the West. The frequencies of our internal energies shift with the change in the seasons serving up a complex, but repeatable and predictable sequence of physiologic and psychological influences on our state of being.

This year we will make the Four-Posture Healing Sequence the cornerstone of our efforts. These postures were developed through trial and error by Grandmaster Wang Xian Zhai after the teaching of martial arts was forbidden during the Cultural Revolution. He developed his Yiquan Qigong by doing extensive hospital-based research. Summer is a great time to work outside and push yourself a bit. This four-posture sequence allows you to do just that, while emphasizing healing. Join us for a wonderful experience exploring your own energy.

SPRING 2023

Welcome to the Spring Class Series!

Change in both environmental and internal energies mean we should adjust our lives and practices to the cycles of the natural world. Spring is the time new life is infused into the world. In the five-element theory of Chinese philosophy we are entering the wood phase. In terms of time and space it is associated with the Spring season and the eastern direction.

Within our body Spring means we are contending with rising Liver energy, a distinct change from Winter where nurturing our Kidneys demanded our attention. I always notice this as change in my sleep pattern at this time of year. This is due to heat from the Liver invading the Heart. The Heart in Chinese medicine relates to sleep disturbances. Cold sores and mouth ulcers are another example of heat in the heart channel. The upward and branching force of the Wood Element to which Liver belongs, is manifesting. Think of a tree, or even a blade of grass. Resilience, waking earlier, more motivation. This perspective derives from both Chinese medical and Daoist traditions.

We must modify our practices to reflect the changing environmental energies around and within us. Our Spring curriculum will transition us into some new practices. Core elements like the breathing, shaking and the closing routine will remain. We will begin a sequence of simple movements, Movement as Medicine, designed to bolster and balance our body and mind this Spring.

New Teachings

This year we will teach the Ba Duan Jin or, 8 Pieces of Brocade. These eight movements are all you need in the way of stretching. Done in the standing position, they won’t injure your spine. They are 1,000-year-old Chinese military calisthenics. Simple to perform and easy to learn, people enjoy them more than anything I have ever taught. They will complement the Spring Curriculum very well.

Metal Element Class Curricula 2022

October 15

1. 5 Needles Postural indices

2. Sit Calmly, Face the West (seated meditation, palms face up on thighs) a. Sink the qi b. Center diaphragm function c. Wuji I: Evenness- Find any pain or imbalance (as if it existed) on opposite side d. Pain/Dysfunction- Exhale & Sink Qi (reverse the rising qi state) in the area

3. The BreatherTM- IMST = Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training

4. Wuji II: Neutralize Gravity- Balance to experience natural antigravity effect of aligning skeleton

5. Wuji III: Connect Heaven and Earth (arms overhead, palms to sky, +/- up on toes) a. Decompress joints b. Taoist Pore Breathing i. Breathing in Sunshine, nourish dantien on each exhalation ii. Repolarize CSF iii. “Get the Qi from Outside”

6. Shaking Qigong Mental scan entire body, as discussed previously

7. Standing Posts and Movements a. Spleen Post (postures) and Movements i. Lung, Pericardium Standing Posts and Movement ii. Shoulders and Upper Back Pain iii. Grief, Detachment and Freedom Summary of 5 Needles and Wuji Qigong on the website: https://www.meditativeexercise.com/post/wuji-qigong

October 30

1. 5 Needles Postural indices

2. 3 Breaths a. Deep Breaths with Packing b. Long, Sinuous Breath with Lengthened Intervals c. Swinging Door Zen Breath

3. Pure Yang Mudra Connect odd-number, yang fingers i. “Get Qi from Inside” ii. Inner Fire iii. Heng Mantra

b. Organ Breathing i. Yin-Solid Organs Expand with Inhalation

ii. Yang-Hollow Organs Expand with Exhalation

4. Shaking Qigong Mental scan entire body, as discussed previously

5. Standing Posts and Movements a. Universal Post- Embrace Tree b. Inflate Balloon (fill yourself with qi) c. All organs expand d. Inflate and walk forward; deflate and walk backward

6. Spleen Review, Stomach Posts and Movements a. Stomachache, acid reflux, stomach-related fatigue

b. Mental congestion/overthinking

7. Lung, Pericardium Posts and Movements Review

a. Shoulders and Upper Back Pain e. Grief, Detachment and Freedom 8. Large Intestine Posts and Movements

a. Lower Back Pain, constipation

b. ‘Letting go’ meridian

9. Triple Burner Posts and Movements

a. Headache, Low Back Pain, Brain Fog, Congestive Disturbances

b. Decongestion, untwisting