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August 15, 2005
"Me Tarzan, You Jane" Qigong Gives You Instant Courage
At the recent National Qigong Association Annual Conference (see www.nqa.org for details) I attended a great one-day workshop (Awaken to Being: An Exploration of Energy, Breath & Consciousness) by my friends Dennis Lewis, author of the excellent book "Free Your Breath, Free Your Life" and Gunther Weil.
While the focus of the workshop was how Qigong can help you be more present and was therefore based strongly in consciousness and “choiceless awareness”, rather than the physical technique end of the spectrum, both Dennis and Gunther did have us perform many excellent movement-based methods.
A favorite of mine, which I definitely intend to include in my health repertoire, Dennis jokingly referred to as the “Me Tarzan, You Jane” qigong technique. He prefaced this by asking if any of us would like an instant shot of extra courage.
Here it is: Simply, stand and pound your upper chest with both fists alternately, while letting out a deep, vibrating “Aaaaaahhhh!” sound. Repeat a number of times.
“So this is qigong, huh?” you’re thinking…
Well, yes, in fact very much so.
One of the biggest insights I’ve had personally about qigong as I have practiced it since 1975, is that much of qigong is like a systematization and focus on what we intuitively know to do to heal or energize ourselves as human animals.
Unfortunately most of us use these intuitive methods sporadically and haphazardly, or when we are in an emergency.
Qigong tapping and patting techniques are a perfect example of this. Why do you think we instinctively like to pat our kids or friends, or administer taps to ourselves and others? Yes, it’s often a demonstration of affection, but it’s also an instinctive move to enliven and bring energy to ourselves and those we care for.
With their tremendous interest on observing nature and animal behavior to gain insights into human Qi cultivation practices, the Daoists systematized many of these instinctive patting and tapping practices, so we could more consciously employ them to our benefit.
In the case of the Me Tarzan or gorilla technique, the chest pounding helps to enliven both the lungs, the heart and also key acupoints in the front of the body. We become immediately more alert and systemically activated to deal with a potential environmental challenge.
A good example of another qigong-like display from another culture is the Maori dance employed by New Zealand’s All Blacks Rugby team. This “dance” employs sound, stomping, pounding and vibrating to give the players an instant tune-up before play (and strike either terror or amusement into the other team’s hearts.)
Instant courage? Courage derives from the word for heart. Strong heart, courageous man. Pound your chest for some instant courage. Give your heart some shock therapy now, so when it’s suddenly shocked in conflict, it doesn’t bail on you…
So, next time you slap yourself on the forehead after forgetting something or doing something dumb, notice what the slap did for you energetically…
By the way, if you are interested in following up on Dennis Lewis or Gunther Weil’s workshops and resources, go to www.authentic-breathing.com for Dennis and www.aspen-consult.com for Gunther.
See John Du Cane’s Qigong Recharge for other effective qigong tapping techniques.
Posted by james at August 15, 2005 6:44 AM
Comments
I suffer with severe sleep apnea and have been
using a C-pap machine for the past 11 years.
My question to you is; Is there any breathing
exercises which will enable me to come off of
this machine? I can't even take a nap without
using the machine or else I will have severe
brain fog.
Thank You for the above article and any help
that you may be able to send my way.
Ray
Posted by: Raymond at October 4, 2005 6:22 AM