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September 12, 2005
Qigong, Tachycardia and "Instant Courage"
Question: I just started doing qigong meditative practice and have been doing the standing meditation for some time and have been encouraged by its healing ability. Lately, I have been experiencing tachycardia (rapid heart beat) and acute tremors. Overall, I have been feeling fine. Is this part of an energy release or stagnant energy being flushed out of my body? Generally, I feel relaxed after doing a meditative session.
Answer: Acute tremors and spontaneous shaking are quite common during prolonged standing meditation. This happens from energy opening up blocks in the body and channels. The legs in particular will start quivering and vibrating. A favorite quote from a qigong master regarding the standing meditation process, was: “First you shake, then you ache, then you bake.”
In fact the level of internal heat generated by simply standing comes as a surprise to many. This internal heat is a sign of high qi levels, normally.
Rapid heart beat is more unusual and if it persists I would consult a physician. A temporary condition may indeed simply indicate your system adjusting to the new energy from the standing practice.
My intuition from the little you tell me here that your condition is not serious and will pass.
Speaking of the heart, I just returned from teaching qigong to the Shannon Institute, an organization that runs a one-year renewal and leadership program for directors of non-profits. A great group of people as always.
Besides teaching qigong for Balance and Rhythm, I was asked to address the qigong perspective on Courage and Risk-Taking.
I talked about how courage is heart-based as well as value-based. However, if your values are strong but your heart is faint and vulnerable, your courage may be compromised in expression. Having the courage to jump into fast waters to rescue a drowning child is one thing, but having a sturdy heart to survive the challenge is another.
A strong heart is a responsive, resilient heart that has the physical and energetic capability to survive and overcome sudden challenges.
Here is a mini qigong course to build a more responsive and resilient heart:
1. Expand the Heart Center
Place your palms at mid-chest or heart level, facing down, fingers pointing toward each other. Inhale, hold your breath while tightening the glutes and pulling up the perineum, and bring the palms out to the sides at shoulder level. Exhale, inhale, circling palms back to heart area. Repeat up to eight times.
Note: this is an iron shirt technique. Check with your physician and/or start this method cautiously, if you have questions about your overall heart health.
2. “Instant Courage” Technique
Deep inhale, then pound upper chest with alternating fists, while making Aaaaah sound. Repeat four times.
3. Red Dragon
Raise palms above the head. Shake hands up and down from the wrists while circling the arms through 360 degrees. Squat low as arms circle down, rise up on upward movement. Perform nine times with the circle moving initially to the right side, down and up. Then repeat in the other direction. Finish with hands in front of the lower dan tien. Repeat four times in each direction.
4. Heart—Gut Connector
Inhale, draw energy through heart center directly into the lower stomach. Exhale into lower stomach. Repeat twelve times.
See all of John Du Cane’s qigong resources.
Posted by james at September 12, 2005 6:07 AM