December 12, 2006
What Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Can Teach You About Qigong
I had the good fortune to hear Hawaiian slack key guitar masters John Keawe and Keola Beamer at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis last Friday.
I arrived late and entered to John Keawe in mid-instrumental. I was struck immediately by the atmosphere of attentive respect and gentleness in the audience.
John Keawe’s slack key appeared effortless and free-flowing like a bubbling stream shot through with glancing sunlight. The ease belied the hidden mastery.
Between songs, John told humorous stories, generally joked around and displayed a humble, down to earth, yet very soulful character.
Keola Beamer displayed an equal mix of deceptive musical mastery and light good humor.
It was clear that both these gentleman have habitually been enormously dedicated in their music practice. And yet they display a gentle ease of being to complement that dedication.
Dedicated practice and lightness of being. Now there’s the formula for success in so much of life and most certainly for your qigong!
Developing and maintaining a good sense of humor will go a long way to ensure that your practice remains enjoyable and rewarding year after year.
Too much seriousness can lead to tightness, rigidity, narrowness and stagnation. Be dedicated to your practice but leaven your dedication with a sense of ease and playfulness. Your body, mind and soul with thank you. And your practice will be longer-lived and richer in its expression.
See all of John Du Cane’s qigong resources.
Posted by james at 9:10 AM | Comments (5067)
December 5, 2006
This is one of the top five Qigong methods in the world...
If time is short and you are looking for a fast energy hit, then this qigong method is for you.
And if you want to develop longterm energy, endurance, leg strength and coiling power, then this qigong method is for you.
I am referring to a particular Chen Style coiling silk technique that I have practiced for many years with exceptional results.
If I was only allowed to keep five qigong methods to practice for the rest of my life then, yes, this would be one of them:
One-Hand Coiling Silk
Feet together. Raise left hand and place on the left hip. Sink into left leg while raising right palm to chest height, palm facing up, raising right heel. Step out to the right with right leg, bringing right hand over to left side opposite left shoulder. Turn right foot to face front, while turning right palm down.
Shift weight to right leg, moving right hand across to the right, spiraling the hand out. Turn waist after the shift to the right. Bring right hand down to waist level. Turn right palm up, fingers facing forward. Shift weight to left leg, bringing palm across stomach. Turn waist to left after shift. Turn to left a few more degrees and raise right hand back to the initial position.
After a chosen number of repetitions, switch to the other hand: as the right hand moves to the right side and is about to lower, bring the left hand up from the left hip, until it is opposite the right shoulder, while placing the right hand on the right hip.
Closing: last time left hand crosses at stomach level, bring right hand up from waist, under the left wrist, turn both hands to face away, shift weight into left leg. Push both hands out to the side, bringing right foot in next to left.
Repeat whole sequence from other side.
You can make this method even more powerful and demanding by adopting a wider, lower stance and bringing the hand out all the way to the side of the body, instead of the diagonal positioning described above.
You can find instruction on this method in my Qigong Recharge DVD and companion manual.
See all of John Du Cane’s qigong resources.
Posted by james at 1:42 PM