How To Nourish Qi
There is no medical Qigong which does not pay attention to the training of
how to nourish our qi. In the Wild Goose system, we nourish our qi through
practicing both qigong movements and meditation (including zhan zhuang gong,
or “standing stake”).
Since learning meditation effectively is much more difficult than learning moving qigong, we recommend that beginners learn several sets of WG Qigong first and then start to learn WG meditation.
WG-XI (Self-Cultivation Qigong), on the one hand, is an advanced qigong, but on the other hand, with all the movements slow and not complicated, it can be considered a “meditation in motion”. Under proper guidance, I think this qigong can be learned at an earlier stage as an introduction to those who are interested in experiencing and learning how to circulate their qi from the crown to the bottom of their feet, and vice versa. At the same time, we learn how to absorb the Heaven’s energy and the Earth energy in order to cleanse and nourish ourselves.
For this workshop, we are going to learn the beginning three sections of Self-Cultivation Qigong. Our emphasis will be on analyzing the two approaches this qigong uses, which made WG-XI well known as one of the best qigong for nourishing our qi. (Other characteristics of WG-XI will be discussed in another article.) These two approaches are as follows:
1) The “standing stakes with movements” approach
Standing stake (zhan zhuang gong) usually is stationary. Together with meditation,
they are often utilized for nourishing our qi. But WG-XI is well known for
its deliberately adding certain simple and gentle movements into a standing
stake. The wonderful effect is that the practitioner’s awareness is
not only fixed at the body qi-field, but they are also gently responding to
the qi movements which are generated through the soft movements while meditating.
At the same time, this is the surest way to build up our inner strength without
losing our flexibility. (Examples: mov.7, “Collecting the Qi 3 Times”;
mov. 15, “Qi Returns to Its Source, After Traveling in Meridians”)
2) “Entering into a quietude state through the use of special
mudras” approach
To be in a quiet state of mind is most important when we practice any kind
of meditation or “standing stake” for nourishing our qi. But it
is usually very difficult for everyone to quiet down, especially when someone
is in a squatting position for long. However, when we practice WG-XI, when
those easy flowing movements are combined with specific mudras, we always
feel relaxed in both our mind and our body. Very likely, we will enter into
an inner blissfulness, and sink into a quietude state of mind. ( Mudras used:
“The Big Dipper” mudra; “Guan-yin’s Palms; “Buddha’s
Hand” mudra; “Blooming Lotus Flower” mudra, etc.)