EnerQiHealing.com Blog

Now that we finally have sumptuous weather here in Sonoma County, I’m taking every opportunity to step outside and breathe in the fresh smell of summer. And I’ve become aware that I do not breathe in deeply often enough (unless I’m holding a strong yoga pose!). It seems I’m so much better at exhaling than inhaling. Most of us easily let out a sigh or a groan when we need to let off steam, and we naturally exhale forcefully here and there to cleanse the tension we carry. But how often do we really inhale–fully, deeply, and mindfully?

When we take a breath in, we not only absorb oxygen, but we also absorb Qi–life-giving energy. With just a breath, we nourish the body, calm and clear the mind, and refresh our spirit. The words respiration, inspiration, and spirit all share the same Latin root spirare, meaning “to breathe.” Inspiration literally means “to breathe in.”

Just because you’re reading this, you’ve probably paused for a couple of deep inhales by now. See if you can take this with you into the rest of your day and remember to breathe in deeply to re-charge and re-inspire.

Wishing you a joy-filled summer.

For one full week during this past month, I taught all my classes with a focus on GRATITUDE. While practicing Yoga and Qigong, we opened our warm, thankful hearts, feeling gratitude for each sensation, for each breath, and for each other. As I moved through the week, I noticed a heightened awareness of my own gratitude while not in class. More than usual, I paused to recognize the blessings of a warm shower, a purring cat, a loving husband, a nice meal, a stunningly sunny day, and the list goes on and on. Not surprising, I felt terrific all week–filled with extra energy and joy.

When we pause to feel gratitude, we benefit ourselves. Our hearts soften, our minds quiet, and we nourish ourselves with radiant vitality. We also benefit the universe. By simply recognizing the beauty of a tree or a meal or a person, we imbue them with love and energy, because wherever the mind goes, energy goes. Gratitude is a synergy of healing, life-giving Qi.

You might dedicate at least one day (or even a full week!) to recognizing and feeling gratitude for everything that comes through your awareness–even the ease of a good parking space or just having driven home safely once again. See if holding a space of gratitude in your heart makes a difference in everything you do.

Of course, I am supremely grateful to do what I love, to experience such rich healing practices, and to share the journey with loving, joyful people like you.

In my continuing efforts to simplify my life and teach in a simpler style, I have begun to value the wealth of imagery and emotion that one simple word can evoke. So the themes for my weekly classes are now pared down to a single word. One of the words this past month was “stillness.” As someone who loves to create, to organize, and to explore, I find stillness a challenge. As a teacher, I notice how many people find it difficult to be still in a yoga pose, and how many people jump up after a quieting class to dive right back into a continual stream of chatting, moving, and doing.

I love to sit still in the backyard, gazing up at the trees and the birds and the butterflies. I feel a communion with nature, and it nourishes me. Here, I embrace stillness. Then, as happens so often in those states of bliss, I am hit with an inspiration for some new project or idea, and I’m off and running again!

I think the key to finding stillness is to be aware of the grounded center of your being, whether you’re sitting in your backyard, pushing a shopping cart, or racing to your next appointment. The trick is to be still within, even while your body, your mind, and your life are moving.

Perhaps this is why I love qigong. It is stillness in motion. There is enough movement to keep mind and body occupied and enough softness to really let go, to sense from within, and to find that still center. What a rich harmony. My qigong practice has taught me on the most profound level how to be the calm in the midst of the storm.

Where and how do you find stillness in life? Can you find it, just for a few breaths, every day?

May we each be a beacon of stillness as we move through the world.

I have been living with the word “clarity” in my awareness lately. After finally publishing my book, which has been a lengthy project continually hanging over my head, I am now feeling a great sense of freedom and clarity for the first time in a few years. I am aware of how muddled our minds become when juggling the responsibilities of work, family, and the busy-ness of life. The practices of Qigong, Reiki, and Yoga offer us a delicious temporary solace–a chance to drop our burdens for a short time and allow the muddy waters of the mind to clear. During the practice, we feel more peaceful, knowing that we are interconnected with “all that is.”

But what happens when we leave the class or session? Can we maintain a glimpse of that clarity when we rejoin life? Ideally, we carry the benefits and teachings of our practice with us into the world. But in reality, people and circumstances still push our buttons, and we soon become congested again with anger, frustration, hurt feelings, and fear.

If we look at the big picture, don’t these emotions all come from the same place–wanting and needing to be loved, accepted, respected, and validated? We are trying to find ourselves and our place in the world. Yet the irony is that we are seeking that approval from others, who are also seeking it for themselves within their own agendas. We may find that if we let go of the need to be right or to prove our worth or to impose our opinions on others, we release the trappings of the small “self” and open our hearts to the larger “Self”–the One-ness of humanity–that we feel during our practice.

I am experimenting with meeting the world from a deeper level of clarity. If someone pushes my buttons or behaves in a way I am not happy with, I pause and look at why I am muddying my waters with hurt or anger or fear. Then I see my reactions are my own, coming from my own need to prove my place in the world. It really has nothing to do with them. When we become the “watcher” of our thoughts and emotions, we create a small distance between self and reaction. Then, with clear intention, we can choose to let the reaction go, remembering that our larger “Self” is always loved, always connected, and always worthy.

May we meet each moment with clarity, and the rest will fall into place.

Having recently returned from leading an amazing retreat experience in Costa Rica, the subject of “the journey” is on my mind. There is something quite transformative when we pick ourselves up and place ourselves into a new environment. When we get away from the chores, the bills, and our daily routines, we set the stage for a shift to happen. I can certainly say that zip lining 600 feet above ground and rappelling down waterfalls in Costa Rica was a dramatic shift from my quiet daily life! And helped me to overcome a fear of heights while discovering my inner warrior strength. New places and adventures offer a mix of fear and excitement, and often cause us to question who we are and who we would like to be.

As spring approaches, you might enjoy emerging from the burrowing energy of winter and stepping into something new. Breaking patterns can open new parts of ourselves and shed light on our habitual ways of viewing the world. This is the time to plant the seeds for the re-birth of spring. Plan a trip, meet new people, take up a new hobby. The irony is that when we journey outside of our comfort zone, we also journey inward–we see ourselves, our emotions, and our reactions with greater clarity.

Life is one big journey. May each step bring you closer to being at ease in yourself and at ease in the world.

Last month, I taught a 2-hour workshop called “Develop Your Home Qigong Practice.” This was such a popular event, that I ended up teaching it four times to a packed house. It is obvious that many of us are wanting to weave moments of mindfulness and tranquility into daily life. One of the ideas we discussed in the workshop is that you do not have to fit a “formal” practice of qigong or yoga into your daily schedule. You can reap the benefits of a physical practice by just doing one mentally. When we pause, breathe, relax the body, and focus the mind, we receive many healing effects.

Here is a simple mind-body exercise that you can do practically anywhere, at any time. Take a break from whatever you are doing. Align your body so it feels relaxed and comfortable. A vertical spine is nice, but you might also practice this while resting in bed or a chair, or while riding in a car or plane. Eyes may be closed or softly open. Breathe in and imagine you are pulling in nourishing resources from nature and the earth (oceans, rivers, mountains, lush forests, sunshine, etc.). Smell the fresh air and aromas. Fill your body and your heart with the healing power of nature. Let it feed your soul. Then breathe out and imagine you are sending love and energy back out into nature and the earth. Continue for several rounds, absorbing on the inhale and sharing on the exhale.

This practice helps us feel re-connected with life. It is especially helpful when we are feeling off-balance, hurried, and emotionally undernourished. When you feel like it’s you against the world, stop fighting and tune in. It is a win-win situation. Both you and the planet benefit, and you will feel more in sync with the fluid rhythms of life.

Breathing out love and healing energy to you.

Happy Winter 2010! It is indeed a time of festive celebration in many cultures, countries, and religions. The earth, too, will soon celebrate an auspicious day. On Tuesday, December 21, we will experience three energy-filled events at once: 1) a full moon, 2) the Winter Solstice (3:38pm Pacific), and 3) a total lunar eclipse (12:17am Pacific).

Many people feel the vibrant energy shift of a full moon, which occurs every 29 days. Those who work in hospitals and law enforcement often see a rise in activity on the evening of a full moon. The December Solstice, which occurs once a year, marks the longest night of the year and brings the promise of lighter and brighter days ahead. It is a day to honor and release the darkness of the past and celebrate the light. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth, and moon align exactly, with the earth in the middle, blocking the sun’s light from the moon.

This is sure to be quite an experience of the interplay of yin and yang–darkness and light. I encourage you to soak up the energy of this event. I and many others around the world will be out there gathering energy and observing the eclipse which begins Monday evening and reaches its peak just past midnight, Pacific time. I will be leading several of my usual classes on Tuesday, and I will especially enjoy teaching my Tuesday 4pm Qigong class at my home studio–just minutes past the peak time of the Solstice.

You may wish to practice Qigong, Yoga, or Meditation at some point on Tuesday, knowing you will be united with people around the world in a celebration of life and light. I look forward to connecting with you, in person or in the “Qi Field!”

Wishing you a new year filled with light.

December is upon us once again. It always seems as though the pace of life quickens at the end of the year, as we juggle all the gatherings and events in our packed schedules. Yet in Chinese medicine, winter is the season of the Water element–signifying a tranquil time to slow down and turn our attention deeply inward. In early agrarian societies, the approach of winter meant that the work of harvest was complete and people could rest, nestled in their homes.

Just that word “nestle” sounds inviting, doesn’t it? We all need time to pause and restore. Your body needs rest. Your mind needs quiet space. And your spirit craves a moment of stillness, to reflect and replenish.

As you move through the coming weeks, spreading your energy here and there and everywhere, you may want to stop now and then, and catch up with yourself. Whatever you’re doing, just pause. Release the “have to’s” and “should’s.” Open your ears to the sounds of the present moment. Feel the sensations of breathing. Notice your feet on the ground. Draw your complete attention back into your body. “Nestle” inward. You can do this anywhere and at any time.

And when you have the luxury of time, snuggle up under a blanket and just be with yourself for a few moments, without the distraction of the TV or a book. Close your eyes and look within. Invite all of your energy to return to you, here and now. Allow your vitality to soak back your roots, until you are ready to sprout again.

Breathe · Relax · Smile.

Earlier this month, we lost our beloved cat Sherlock at the tender age of seven to kidney disease, which also took his sister, Shanti, just four years ago at age three. These losses are tough ones. Sherlock knew nothing but love. He would literally squeal with happiness to receive a belly rub or to play in the sheets as we made the bed. His daily presence in our lives and in our laps will be missed.

I’ve contemplated suffering this month–both Sherlock’s and my own. As I struggled to minimize his suffering, I was left to deal with mine. I found such great solace in my practice. I kept most of my teaching and client appointments throughout this ordeal, knowing that I could escape into Yoga, Qigong, or Reiki for just an hour. I mindfully practiced leaving “reality” outside of the room, and stepped into a different time and space where only the present moment existed.

I don’t know why there is such suffering in this world. I don’t know why bad things happen to good people and creatures. I don’t know what death is and what it brings afterward. But I do know that our ancient healing practices offer comfort. I do know that moving and stretching the body brings relief. I do know that clearing the mind and the heart, even just for a short time, helps us to better deal with our lives.

Remember to return home to your practice in times of challenge. Leave life behind for just an hour, setting “reality” outside the door and entering a different realm. When you let it all go, even for a limited time, you have created a space in which to heal.

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Happy Autumn! With the Autumnal Equinox this past Wednesday, we now move into the Metal phase of the year. According to Chinese Medicine, where our health and well-being is influenced by our deep connection to nature and its rhythms, this is the time of year to begin to wind down, get organized, and strengthen ourselves for the upcoming winter. Metal represents structure and clarity. The meridians (the body’s energy pathways) associated with the metal phase are the lung and large intestines, which pass through the organs themselves and continue through the arms, thumbs, and index fingers. The lungs and the large intestines are detoxifying organs, so this is a time for cleansing and simplifying.

You may be inspired during this season to rid yourself of excess. Did you allow anything to grow out of control, like vines gone wild, during the vibrancy of summer? Are you overindulging in food? Is your schedule overloaded? Is your mind cluttered or your heart burdened? Yes, yes, and yes??? Choose one place to begin and clear away what is no longer serving you.

The catch phrase for this season is, “Let go!” Invite clarity into your daily routine, your diet, and your heart and mind. Ridding ourselves of excess allows us to feel spacious and strong. Qi flows more freely in a spacious body, mind, home, and lifestyle. Step outside and breathe the fresh air deep into your lungs. Let go. Allow less to be more.

Deep riches await in the empty spaces.