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October 10, 2005
The Five Essentials for Restoring, Maintaining and Generating Qi
I am currently editing a book on shamanic qigong by new Dragon Door author Zhongxian Wu. Wu reminds us that there are five essential areas that need to be addressed for optimal qi cultivation:
Regulate the breath, regulate posture, regulate the heart/mind, regulate diet and regulate sleep.
We discuss these first three regulations all the time here, as the most obvious concerns of qigong.
However, I have fallen into the trap myself of regarding these first three regulations as the magic formula which will protect me from neglect or abuse in the areas of diet and sleep.
I don’t pretend to any great expertise around diet but here’s my personal fast guide to a diet that will complement the other aspects of your qi cultivation:
Whenever possible, eat “clean”, minimally processed, whole foods. Avoid burdening the body by eating too frequently, or late at night. Eat a wide variety of in-season foods and avoid eating in fast food restaurants as much as possible.
Nothing very startling here, just the message to sensibly consume clean, high-nutrient fuel when your body can most easily extract benefit from that fuel.
What is startling for me, is that I can barely go a day where I can comfortably claim I met this basic plan. How about you? If there has to be an area I find the hardest to maintain at optimal levels, it’s my daily eating habits.
Well, running a close second is sleep… I probably rip off my qi the most, by simply not sleeping enough. Each of us needs a different amount of sleep, but in my case I feel I need an average of eight hours to truly restore myself.
My actual average is more like seven – and I pay for it with reduced energy. I like to stay up reading, often until 1 or later in the morning, particularly. Call it a trade-off – current pleasure against future loss – which I am often willing to make.
But looking at the bigger picture, I could undoubtedly significantly enhance my overall qi cultivation by adding just an extra half an hour average to my current sleep. What about you?
My point here is that it’s easy to ignore one crucial element in our qi practice which will eventually affect all other aspects of our practice and well being.
Spend some time reviewing your priorities and perhaps consider modifying one or more of those key areas, for better balance and overall health.
See all of John Du Cane’s qigong resources.
Posted by james at October 10, 2005 8:59 AM
Comments
Very good blog today. I often find that sleep and diet are things I negelect, albeit unintentionally, because I exercise so much. I am looking forward to the new book!
Posted by: Jon Frost at October 10, 2005 1:06 PM