The energetic center which in Tibetan Yoga is called Snow Mountain, and in Taoist practice is referred to as the Golden Urn, is one of the most important energetic “spaces” in the Inner Alchemy traditions. This “Golden Urn” center – located just in front of the tailbone – is also known, in Hindu Yogic traditions, as the home of Kundalini – the “serpent power” which lies dormant there at the base of the spine, until awakened by yogic practice. Golden Urn is an important energy-source for the kidneys, the brain and the “third eye” center. This practice for accessing the energy of Golden Urn is from Dr. Zhi Gang Sha.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 - 15 minutes, or longer if you’d like
Here’s How:
Sit comfortably in a chair, with your feet flat on the floor and your spine upright. Take a couple of deep breaths, and with each exhalation release any unnecessary tension, especially in the head, neck and shoulders. Smile gently and simply relax.
Now, place your awareness in the Snow Mountain/Golden Urn area, just in front of the coccyx/tailbone, and about a half-inch above the center of the pelvic floor (between the anus and the genitals). Just rest your attention, very gently and with a kind of curiosity, in this part of your body.
In that space - deep in your belly - visualize a mountain of snow, with a very warm sun shining down from above - as though there were a sun in your lower belly, shining down on the Snow Mountain.
Continue the visualization by seeing/feeling that the warmth of the sun is melting the snow. As the snow melts and turns to water, the water flows down the sides of the mountain to form a lake at its base, and – at the same time - steam rises upward and nourishes your entire body.
Stay with this visualization - sun melting snow, water forming a lake at the base of the mountain, steam rising upward as nourishment for your body - for a couple minutes, or longer. Little by little, this visualization will create actual sensations within your body, which you can simply notice and enjoy.
To end, dissolve the visualization, and relax for a minute or two before continuing with your day.
Tips:
Remember to stay relaxed, and don’t try too hard - a very gentle mental focus is all you really need for this practice.
Different people have different ways of visualizing: for some the imagined “picture” is more kinesthetic than visual; for others it has an auditory component. So don’t worry if your visualization doesn’t seem precise, visually - You’ll find the way that works best for you.
As you become more comfortable with this practice, really try to *feel* what’s happening inside of your body.
‘Holding Jar’ is an old secret practice for Taichi training to let student feel and then grasp how to distinguish the substantial and in-substantial quicker.
Grand Master Yang Chenfu said in his 10 essentials: The first most important principle in TaiChi is to practice with Yin and Yang in mind.
Holding Jar gives anyone the simplest yet quickest way to gain the understanding of this principle:
Relaxed standing for 1 or 2 min, then two hands like holding a ball, palms face to each other. Loose the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. The ball is at about chest high and it is away from chest about 1 feet.
Step left leg or right leg forward about 1 feet, the back feet toes toward to 45 degree to the front and side, two foot shall not be on the same line, from back look at the two foot, it should have about 1 fist distance in between. The weight is completely on the back feet.
Now, one looks like holding a ball and sitting on the back leg. “Slowly move the weight from back to front, and then move to back, repeat this movement”
Slowly – It is very important do this slowly, once you do it fast, you may not feel what you should feel.
1. Two foot are like a scale - Move the weight from one leg to the other is to transition your weight gradually from one to the other, one feet release the weight then the other feet shall gain the weight, the feeling is that the two foot compensating from one to the other, if one feet feels it is releasing 10 percent of weight, then the other feet shall be trained to feel that 10 percent weight again.
2. No standing and sit! – Most common problem is to stand up and bend the knee or stand up and sit down. Use the tail bone to measure this, your tail bone shall be on the same level all the time during the practice.
3. Internal organ also has substantial and insubstantial, and sense this with your move.
4. Borrow the force from substantial leg – once the substantial one takes the control, it starts slowly pushing the ground so the weight start shifting to the insubstantial leg. Make sure you carefully sense the force bounced back from ground.
5. Transmit the force from ground to the waist then to the center of the back then to the shoulder, then to the elbow, then to the palm.
6. Switch the leg when your one side is getting tired. Repeat this left and right.
This shall be practiced for any new students for at least 10 min a day, for advanced students, make the step bigger to increase the strength of the leg.
Breathing: Nature, for advanced practitioner it shall be discussed separately.
Ms. Guo Lin was a teacher of traditional Chinese painting and was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 43 and had her uterus removed in 1949 while she was in Shanghai, China. In 1960, the cancer was found to have spread to her bladder, so her doctors removed half her bladder. However, this did not help, her cancer remained and spread and after four other operations, the doctors gave up and in 1964, told her she had only six months to live.
She did not give up hope, but she did not know what to do. As she was cleaning up her home, she found ancient Qigong texts left to her by her late grandfather (a Taoist priest) and began to practice these forms. She found them to be very effective. After six months, she found that her cancer had gone into remission.
In 1970 she started teaching other cancer patients in the parks of Beijing. Her style was called New Qigong Therapy and soon, word was spreading that many of her students were benefiting from this “new” qigong. By 1977 she had gained national prominence and was teaching about 400 students daily in Beijing. She worked tirelessly until her death in 1984 at age 78 (of a cerebral hemorrhage), after having survived cancer for over 34 years and after helping thousands recover from the pain and suffering of various ailments. She had travelled throughout China to lecture, teach and demonstrate.
Now her Qigong style is named in her honor, and it has spread to many countries around the world.
There was a TV special on health called “The Healing Heart”. Near the end of the special was a segment on Guo Lin Qigong. It was about the Shanghai Cancer Recovery Club. These people, instead of being passive in their fight with cancer, were out everyday walking, moving, and breathing in a very special way.
All over Shanghai there were people getting together every morning, hundreds of people in dozens of places, to practice these Qigong forms to help fight their cancer. These groups were run solely by cancer survivors who had used this Qigong. At the time the show was taped, in Shanghai alone, there were almost 3,000 people in these cancer recovery clubs, and besides the Qigong classes they also scheduled group trips, met for yearly anniversaries of members survival, and generally supported each other in their fight.
Now, over a million Chinese with a variety of chronic diseases have learned Guo Lin Qigong, and the various groups claim to have an amazing amount of success (over 80%). One must take these types of claims with a grain of salt, since many of the people may not have been medically diagnosed. However, many hospitals that treat cancer in China will recommend Gou Lin Qigong as part of the treatment.
Guo Lin Qigong was credited as an agent in many cases of cancer remission by the Chinese government. These successes inspired the creation of a cancer survivors club in Beijing, then spreading to many other cities. Today, Guo Lin Qigong clubs can be found all over China. There have been studies done, in China, that seem to prove or provide evidence as to this Qigong’s effectiveness.
Guo Lin Qigong has become a social and medical phenomenon in China. No longer passive, the patients are very active in their own recovery which is strikingly different than what usually happens here.
This Qigong form can be used as an addition to any cancer recovery program. It should not be used to replace any cancer therapy prescribed by your physician. We offer no explicit nor implicit opinion or claim on the effectiveness of practicing Guo Lin Qigong for those with cancer or any other ailment. It is our wish to provide information on Quo Lin Qigong so that those interested can learn this style.
Reference: jadepowerqigong.com
INTRODUCTION OF GUO LIN QI–GONG
by Coach Xu
The new Guo Lin Qi-Gong (GLQG) is a type of self control Qi-Gong therapy consisting of a combination of both slow movements and peaceful meditation. It was initially developed by the late Qi-Gongist, Mrs. Guo Lin who was born China in 1909 and died in late 1984. She was a famous painter noted for her mountain and river scenes of China. When she was six years old, she followed her grandfather to practice child Gong and play Hua-Tuo’s animal analogue demonstration. During her many travels, she visited many famous Qi Gongist throughout China.
In 1949, she contracted cancer of the uterus. Even in spite of her numerous operations, the cancer could not be controlled. In her search for a cure, she turned to the old, traditional Chinese treatment of Qi-Gong. She studied various medical books and continuously applied Qi-Gong therapy to cancer healing. After ten years of
research, she developed a new system of Qi-Gong. Her therapy integrates movement with meditation. Her approach proved to be effective and easy to learn. Since 1972, patients have been using her treatment throughout China. More than ten thousand cancer patients have practiced her new GLQG treatment to fight their cancer. A lot of her cancer patients got healed and did not have any cancer recurrence. In studying the successful cases, it was revealed that GLQG is an acceptable method to add to the treatments integrating TCM with WM. (TCM–Traditional Chinese Medicine, WM–Western medicine)
The Shanghai Rehabilitation Club for cancer patients was established in 1989. in 1993, a survey was conducted of its 1,054 club members having cancer. The survey results revealed that 64 percent of the members having cancer had recovered. It was conclude that of those cured of cancer, 85 % were persistent in exercising GLQG
Some of the benefits from properly practicing GLQG therapy were improved s1eep, appetite, improved immune functions that contributed to preventing replaces and metastasis, improved quality of life, and prolonged survival.
Today, there even a few teachers of GLQG outside of China , in the United
States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong and Macao. As a
result, there are adherents of GLQG in these areas. Due to the favorable reputation of
Qi-Gong teachers in the China, our teachers were invited to teach at the Qi-Gong
Association of Japan twice, Once in 1992 and again in 1993. -
The special features of GLQG are that it:
1.– improves physical conditioning which in turn prevents and cures diseases
2.– emphasizes self-training discipline so as to not require external motivation by others;
3.– differentiate Qi-Gong modes, program, and, duration which is, based on the different kinds of diseases including the cause, nature and’location the cancer as well as the physical condition of patients;
4.— is easy to learn and has no proven side effects. However self-training; should be advanced step-by-step and the patient’s willpower must be developed so that they can exert all of their strength.
There are several modes to apply the new GLQG program of treatment, such as:
* Walking with wind respiration:
– natural walking
– quick walking
– stable walking
– 1, 2, 3, point walking
* Waving arms slowly up and down and opened and closed
* Massaging of the Yong Quin acupoint and head
* Hand and Feet rods
* Making special vocal sounds
* Walking slowly for patients with chronic diseases.
The purpose of this meditation exercise is to clear energy blockages along the front and back channels; to physically clear the roots of sickness; and to open the energy centers along these channels.
I highly recommend this exercise. If you have time to do only one Spring Forest Qigong technique, do the Small Universe. It is extremely helpful in opening blockages and balancing all the energy in your body. We have many energy channels and energy centers in our bodies. When energy starts at one point, visits all the channels and centers in the body, and comes back to the starting point, we have what is literally translated from ancient Chinese wisdom as a “Big Universe.”
The most important energy channels are the back and front channels in the torso. When energy starts at one point on these channels, visits all the parts of the system, and comes back to the starting point, we have what is called a “Small Universe.” By focusing on moving the energy along these two main channels in the Small Universe, you have a profoundly positive effect on the Big Universe of the whole body.
The back channel starts at the lower Dantian area, which is behind the navel. It goes down to the bottom of the torso, travels up along the spine to the top of the head and comes down from the middle of the forehead stopping at the roof of the mouth. It governs all the Yang or male energy channels in the body. The front channel also starts from the lower Dantian area, goes down to the bottom of the torso, travels up the body, passing through the heart and throat, and stopping under the tongue. It governs all the Yin or female energy channels in the body.
These two channels automatically connect together four hours a day: at midday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and at midnight between 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Qigong practitioners like to meditate at noon and midnight because it takes less energy and generates greater benefits.
Nearly all the important energy centers are arranged along the back and front channels. As a result, a blockage in the heart energy center could cause not only heart problems but problems in the lungs, breasts, chest or even mental problems. A blockage in the tailbone could cause reproductive organ problems, low sexual energy, or even headaches. A blockage in the cervical bone #7 of the spinal cord could cause headaches, fever, diabetes or even lung or heart problems.
The Small Universe is the easiest meditation technique to open these two main channels. I have created an audiotape and CD with beautiful background music and guide you through each movement in this meditation. Especially if you are a beginner, it is very difficult to do this meditation on your own.
Listen to the master’s voice on the audio tape. You will hear two sounds [ ... O O H M … ] and [ … M U AH … ]. (If you do this meditation without a tape to guide you make the “O O H M” sound with your first inhalation and visualize the universal energy flowing into your body and collecting in your Lower Dantian, which is behind your navel. As you exhale, use your mind to move the energy to the next area of your body as indicated in the picture. On the second inhalation, make the “M U A H” sound and again visualize the energy flowing into your body and collecting at this next point. Then as you exhale, use your mind to move the energy to the next area of the body. Repeat this sequence throughout the meditation.)
Reference:
Born A Healer: I was born a healer. You were born a healer, too!
by Chunyi Lin / Gary Rebstock
ISBN 0974094412
This exercise is very good for healing the lungs and skin and to balance the energy inside and outside of the body. If you are doing the Moving of Yin & Yang prior to doing the Breathing of the Universe you make the transition in the following way. Finish the Moving of Yin & Yang by slowly bringing both hands to a stop in front of your navel at the position of your lower Dantian. For men, stop with your left hand inside of your right hand. For women, stop with the right hand inside of the left hand. Again, your hands do not touch each other or your body. This space allows you to keep the feeling of the emptiness.
• Now, focus your mind on your lower Dantian and take three slow, gentle, deep breaths.
• Then, as you inhale the fourth time, move your hands apart and open to the sides.
• As you exhale, bring your hands in towards each other but your hands do not touch.
• Continue doing this movement with each inhalation and exhalation, slowly and steadily.
• Imagine you are using your whole body to breathe.
• When you open your hands, feel the energy as it expands in the space between your hands.
• When you close your hands feel the energy being compressed in the space between your hands.
• With practice, and perhaps very quickly, you will actually feel the energy expanding and compressing.
• Use your hands and body to feel the energy moving while you use your elbows to guide the movements.
• While you inhale, visualize the pure universal energy flowing into your body through every part of your body and gathering in your lower Dantian.
• While you exhale, imagine any pain or sickness turning into smoke or air and shooting out from every part of the body to the end of the universe.
• Do not let your body sway while doing these movements. Just keep your body still and relaxed and always wear a smile on your face. Do this movement for 5 to 10 minutes or longer if you have the time.
By moving your hands in this manner and combining the breathing technique, you help to open blockages in the whole body, especially the lungs. When you finish this movement, stop your hands in front of you as if you were holding a ball of energy in front of your navel – your lower Dantian. Take three slow, gentle, deep breaths in through your nose.
Reference:
Born A Healer: I was born a healer. You were born a healer, too!
by Chunyi Lin / Gary Rebstock
ISBN 0974094412
This exercise is very good for healing your internal organs. Through the guidance of your mind and the movement of your hands, the heart energy and the kidney energy join during this exercise opening many blockages in the body.
Again, you may do this exercise standing, sitting, or lying down. Use the same body positions as in the Beginning of the Universe and remember to place your tongue gently against the roof of your mouth.
• Continue to breathe deeply and gently as you raise your right hand, the Yang male energy, to the upper
Three Basic Spring Forest Qigong Exercises chest while you raise your left hand, the Yin female energy, to the lower stomach.
• Your hands and fingers remain slightly open to receive energy, with your palms facing your body, without touching the body, to create a sensation of emptiness.
• As you raise your hands, visualize a transparent energy column in the middle of your torso shining with beautiful colors. This energy column runs from the top of your head to the bottom of your torso. The size of the energy column depends upon your visualization. (If you have difficulty holding this visualization, don’t force it. Simply say it once in your mind and then know that the energy column is there.)
• Hold this position for about 30 seconds, longer if you wish, then slowly start moving your hands. Your right hand moves out and down to the bottom of the torso while your left hand moves in and up to your face. Again, your hands do not touch your body. • Continue moving your hands slowly in this circular pattern. Your hands move at a rate of 3 to 5 circles each minute.
• While moving your hands, visualize the energy moving up and down the transparent column and visualize the channels in the torso opening completely. (If you have difficulty holding this visualization, just say it once in your mind. Then, feel confident the transparent energy column is there and focus on guiding the energy with your hands. Feel the energy moving. This is a relaxed focus. It shouldn’t feel forced.)
Do this exercise for 5 to 10 minutes or longer if you can. The more time you spend doing this exercise the deeper you will start to go into the emptiness.
Reference:
Born A Healer: I was born a healer. You were born a healer, too!
by Chunyi Lin / Gary Rebstock
ISBN 0974094412
This exercise helps bring your focus back into your body and wake up your internal energy.
• When doing this exercise while sitting, try to sit up and keep the spine straight.
• When doing this exercise while lying down, lie on your back and keep your spine as straight as possible.
• When doing this exercise while standing, stand straight with your toes pointing forward and bend your knees a little. (If you want to lose weight bend your knees a little more.)
• Set your feet a little more than shoulder width apart for good balance while standing.
• Eyes look forward. An Introduction To Qigong
• Wear a smile on your face to relax every part of the body and stimulate your brain to produce endorphins.
• Draw your chin back a little to straighten the entire spine. Energy travels up and down the spine in the governing channel more easily when the spine is straight.
• Drop your shoulders and move your elbows outward a little.• Open your hands and gently spread your fingers. When you open your fingers you open many energy channels in the body. When you close your fingers you close these channels.
• Slowly take a deep, silent, gentle breath through your nose. As you breathe in, draw the lower stomach in a little. As you breathe out, let your stomach out. This makes it easier for the Yin and Yang energies to communicate with each other and create balance.
• Imagine using your whole body to breathe. Visualize the universal energy coming into every cell of your body and collecting in the lower Dantian. This is a primary energy center in your body. The lower Dantian is located in the area behind your navel.
• When you exhale, visualize any pain or sickness changing into smoke and shooting out from every cell of your body to the end of the universe.
• Gently close your eyes and lips.
• Now say the password in your mind: “I am in the universe. The universe is in my body. The universe and I combine together.”
• Continue breathing slowly, deeply and gently and feel the emptiness, the quietness, the stillness of the universe.
Do this exercise for 2 to 3 minutes or longer if you have the time.
Reference:
Born A Healer: I was born a healer. You were born a healer, too!
by Chunyi Lin / Gary Rebstock
ISBN 0974094412