Here is the third monthly simple chi kung instructional video. Each month I produce and post a short video of movements suitable for almost anyone to do at home. This is a way for me to say thanks to my paying subscribers for making my writing life possible. If you haven’t read the introduction and watched the first video in January’s ‘Return to Movement’ post, then have a look at that first, and try the exercise there: raising ch’i, and February’s exercise, the circle.
You’ll need loose comfortable clothing, flat slippers or warm socks, and a well ventilated space or peaceful outdoor spot. When you’re ready, play the video and follow along a few times. When you feel you can remember it, turn the video off, close the screen, and have a go on your own, looking out toward the horizons (whether you can see them or not!) Alternately, turn the audio off and just follow along mirroring my movements a few times through or for 5 minutes. It’s always fine to play the videos if you can’t remember the movements at first, do what makes it easiest for you to practice.
This chi kung builds on the ones from January and February. When you have done a few minutes each of the first and second exercises, do today’s one for up to five more minutes. After you have finished, step up heel to heel and just stand with a quiet mind in what we call ‘the attention posture’ for a few moments, before moving off and doing something else.
Weaving together earth and sky, also known as ‘separate heaven and earth’, is possibly my favourite chi kung to practice as it is so flowing, with a real sense of gentle stretching in it too. The shape we take at the point where one hand is up and the other is down is like the ‘S’ shape in the yin / yang (taiji) symbol below. The arms stay rounded right the way through, no straightening at all. The falling hand comes down as though on the perimeter of a circle, rather than directly down in a straight line. The way I am teaching these movements very simply, means there is no risk of overdoing it, either physically or energetically. For extra benefit, really turn the palms of your hands towards the sky and the earth on that first stretching movement, you’ll feel a lovely torque in the arms as they gently twist.
After the exercises, you can continue to stand for as long as you want in this simple standing meditation until you feel moved to move. There is nothing special to do with the mind, just notice what arises, and let it be, without trying to change it.
You can do these exercises up to twice a day, for up to 10 minutes, as a beginner. No need to rush things. Typically people report feeling more relaxed and aware after chi kung, but if you feel any ill effects, just cease practicing and you’ll feel like your normal self quite quickly. We are building simple foundations every month over the coming year so that you can have a daily practice that will help relax and rejuvenate you.
You can get in with me touch via the comments on the post if you have any queries, or send an email via Substack, just put ‘chi kung’ in the subject line, and I’ll answer as soon as I can. In a June, I’ll arrange an open Zoom session for any paying subscribers to come along and do some chi kung with me. It’s lovely to do it in a group, even over Zoom, it turns out. If you want to know more about my T’ai Chi School, go to www.greatrivertaichi.com . If you want to learn T’ai Chi in person in London UK or on Zoom this spring, go to The T’ai Chi Centre or drop me a line and I will put you in touch with my teacher, as I am currently on a sabbatical from teaching regular classes.
I am grateful to Kajedo Wanderer of the Findhorn Community for teaching me my first chi kung, including this one, in 1987. I have been practising ever since.
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