Trauma Surgery Survivor with Shoulder Pain? Lets Move Healing Qi!

Last week we discussed the three deltoids muscles and how we can keep them mobile and manage shoulder pain. This week we discuss the four muscles beneath the deltoids - and these are commonly referred to as the rotator cuff muscles; the Teres minor, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Subscapillaris.  Lets look at some easy, fun Qigong flows to help manage the health of our shoulders and their supporting muscles.

Regulating the Qi and Microcosmic Orbit, Two Qigong Flows to Start Any Workout With

Qigong for Seniors. Start moving the Qi in any workout with these two flows, Regulating the Qi and Microcosmic Orbit. Regulating the Qi facilitates the rising, expanding and falling of Qi while the Microcosmic Orbit balances Qi flow up the Du Mai, over Bai Hui and down the Ren Mai, integrating Qi throughout the Triple Warmer. These two Qigong flows are a good way for Seniors to keep their shoulders flexible and energy flowing.

Ba Duan Jin Eight Silk Brocades

Ba Duan Jin 15 min this morning here is sunny South Florida. What I am learning from videoing myself is 1. Need to work on transitions 2. Practice narratives for each flow based on a thorough understanding of the movement and how the movement affects the body 3. On Shake the Head Wag the Tail I am working on a much smoother sweeping down and up motion. Daily practice!

Healing Power of Nature Sounds

 You need these cosmic sounds! My thoughts on why nature bathing is so very important.

I go to swamp for many reasons & one healthy reason is for my body to take in the vibrations made by Frogs; mostly Leopard Frogs, Lithobates sphenocephalus, this time of year (winter solstice). Vibrations commonly associated with sound reach our brain through several different paths; through our ear's auditory canal and also through bone and body fluid vibrations. Humans evolved over time integrated into nature's cosmic vibrations. Our body uses nature vibrations for many purposes, especially for managing,-balancing moderating and healing. Filling ourselves with these vibrations on a regular basis is key to avoiding industrial revolution-type machinistic frequencies that depress parasympathetic responses and stimulate fight or flight sympathetic cortisol production. Simply put nature's vibrations usually are healing. I've written often about how frog vocals have had a part in fashioning our DNA over millennia (as long as frogs were calling out at night predators were not adjacent and our body could more easily relax). Frog's vocal vibrations (as well as night birds, crickets and other wildlife) down-regulate our nervous system. When our body is bathed in these sounds our auditory cortex within the temporal lobe processes vibrations not only from our ears but also from vibrations resonating through our bones and body fluids. This is the fundamental basis why forest bathing is so healing (as a native Floridian I like 'swamp bathing' or spring/ocean bathing'). And I'll leave you with this tidbit to stoke your wondering; try turning your head so different ears face the direction of the wildlife calls. Our right ear sends 'sound' to the left hemisphere of our brain & alternatively the left ear sends signals to our brain's right side for processing. Evolution has fine tuned this diurnal auditory processing to be practically simultaneous however my supernova-like right hemisphere constantly is at odds with the more logical approach of left brain's OCD logic. By alternately turning my left/right ears towards the frogs I can experience a multi-dimensional sound bath, infusing me with powerful cosmic frisson. Read the internet about this word frisson. Frisson is a gift form the cosmos, a process within our body similar in many ways to powerful dopamine-like healing responses we are most familiar with. Swamp bathing is healing in so many ways. Nature freely provides this medicine for us.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBd14MZzXYuS6PGJoAgMwVA/community?lb=Ugkxm1UVfgXLNbUMNE6D4OtxFG_5A1bvuPJr

Nature Sounds Provide Healing Power

Lotus Grows From the Mud Lido Beach Moon & Sunrise Qigong

Another one of my favorite YOQI® Qigong moves, Lotus Grows from the Mud flow on beautiful North Lido beach in Sarasota, Florida. Lotus flow symbolizes renewal and rebirth and I'm reminded of some of the historical Oriental art pieces depicting the lotus plant as clasping a newborn baby in its leaves. This flow balances the Chong Mai central channel Qi flow while allowing us to gather and integrate Earthly Yin Qi and Heavenly Yang Qi. The imagery of the lotus blossom opening is so beautiful and awakens my shen spirit. #YOQI® #Qigong #yangsheng #KevinSonger #sarasotaqigong #floridaqigong

Drawing Down the Heavens, Qigong on the Beach for Seniors

Drawing Down the Heavens this morning's North Lido Beach Qigong Practice. Drawing Down the Heavens is one of the basic, fundamental movements/flows of Qigong and is often used to integrate Qi and balance our Triple Warmer. We begin feet shoulder width apart in Wuji posture, beginning to gather earthly Qi with our palms facing earth. On the inhale we raise our arms, rotating palms up to the heavens to gather heavenly qi. This sunrise came to my face, balancing my Ren channel while the moonlight across my back flowed into my Du Mai. Yin and Yang dance in nature. Qigong is a such a fulfilling path to experiencing the Tao. #YOQI® #Qigong YangSheng #KevinSonger

YOQI® Qigong has healed my body.

I give credit to the gentle flowing movements of my YOQI® Qigong practice for healing much of my post surgery health issues.  Always grateful for western medicine and how my kidney cancer and aortic dissections were/are treated & managed, however surviving survival I credit YOQI® qigong with.

Resistance Band Shoulder Work North Lido Beach

I love this resistance band exercise and incorporate it into my daily #qigong routine

Why I Will Practice YOQI® Qigong Every Day, The Rest of My Life

Butter is Amazing. My Aorta approves.

 So tired after clinic yesterday I binged on butter - why? #aorta #yangsheng #healthyeating

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in the Bog

 #3 of 6; "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in the Bog"

17" x 16" x 2" live edge Eastern Red cedar slab (Juniperus virginiana). This piece is number 3 of 6 pieces in the Discovering Florida Seep Head Bog collection set. Fire torch, oil pigment & resin.
Florida native plants & wildflowers included in this piece are; fruiting Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), Flowering White Topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia leucophylla), Bog Buttons ( Lachnocaulon anceps), Florida cooters, (Pseudemys floridana floridana), Bidens mitis (Small fruit beggarticks), Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), Xyris floridana (Florida yellow-eyed grass), Marsh rosegentian (Sabatia dodecandra), Eastern Tiger Swallowtails Papilio glaucus

Florida Native Bog Plants 7 the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Qigong's Chong Mai Channel and Wuji Posture Explained

Kevin discusses Qigong's Chong Mai channel & Wuji Posture in this short video. The Chong Mai is thought to be the very first energy channel formed after conception, running down the center of the body from the top of the head, Du20, Bai Hui down into the lower dantian and exiting at Ren 1, Hui Yin. Keeping the Chong Mai tonified and straight is important for vitality & efficient blood and Qi flow. Wuji posture is the fundamental meditative stance in Qigong and Taichi. Kevin discusses how Wuji posturing can ensure the Chong Mai is straight and free from stagnation by lifting the pubic bone and tucking in our chin as taught by YOQI®'s Marisa Cranfill.

Yi Jin Jing Marrow. & Muscle Changing Sarasota Nov 24

I love this YOQI® tradition Yi Jin Jing Qigong flow. Yi Jin Jing is an ancient and traditional medical Qigong flow supposedly originating with the Bodhidharma, a historically renown Buddhist monk from around 5th century CE and responsible for the spread of Chan Buddhism. Yi Jin Jing, 易筋经, literally says "transform sinews classic" and this YOQI® lineage style is one of my favorite flows. Here the Yi Jin Jing may look easy however with appropriate breathing, pauses and position holds the flow will truly tonify QI potential, release muscular stagnation and move the blood. We use two main Qigong tools here; the clenching of fists - tightening and releasing then repeating, and the hissing exhale of breath - purging stagnant Qi and excess heat from our body. May you be blessed and filled with Qi.

The Dao of the Beach

Sublime beauty of the energy sun, ocean & earth form together at the beach. #balance #yangsheng #qigong #dao #tao

Ba Duan Jin Nov 28 Lido Key

Ba Duan Jin is an ancient medical Qigong flow for moving QI & Blood while strengthening tendons & muscles & opening fascia & Qi channels. Ba Duan Jin translates "Eight Pieces of Brocades" & though the movements are slower, timed with our lower dantian breathing (belly breathing), this flow truly builds vitality with regular practice. I love Ba Duan Jin flow and am so glad to have learned this Daoist version from Marisa at YOQI®.

https://youtu.be/nQ6an8A9Ahg?si=hewEdHhXUWndcLTP

Aortic Dissection Life hack of the day for Sunrise #Qigong

Sunrise #Qigong by the pool is a great way to start the day while the pourover coffee is brewing. So today I learned (TIL) I need to keep a spare key outside the house.  Qigong really has kept me limber and flexible but I barely could crawl through the 'Doggy Door' when I found myself inadvertently locked out. Thank goodness for Qigong & Doggy Doors.

Xi Sui Jing 4 Bone Marrow Washing Nov 24

Florida Native Plant & Nature Art, Wetland Upland Edges

 17" x 15" x 2" live edge Eastern Red cedar slab (Juniperus virginiana).  This piece is number 2 of 6 pieces in the Discovering Florida Seep Head Bog collection set.  Fire torch, oil pigment & resin.

Oil, fire & resin on Eastern Red Cedar #2 of 6, 15" x 17" x 2"

Florida native plants & wildflowers included in this piece are; fruiting Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), White Topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia leucophylla), Bog Buttons ( Lachnocaulon anceps), Florida cooters, (Pseudemys floridana floridana), Bidens mitis (Small fruit beggarticks), Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), Xyris floridana (Florida yellow-eyed grass), Marsh rosegentian (Sabatia dodecandra), Mama Mockingbird with eggs - which really are often bright speckled blue- (Mimus polyglottus).

When in studio inspirations from years of swamp & forest exploration envelope me and I am transported to the most remote areas of our native ecosystems where the art becomes reality. This is the real place called heaven.

Most Restaurant Food Isn't For Me

 I ate a hamburger out tonight, at a popular restaurant here in Sarasota.  I had food here at home however have been studying all day and just wanted a break.  My home prepared food is so much better than anything I can get out.  Why do I want to go eat sub-par food out? Honestly I'm not sure.  I don't do it often.  After tonight I think I will do it less.

Yang Sheng suggests we eat local grown foods and prepare them with care using clean healthy ingredients.

Life is a learning journey.

Xi Sui Jing part 3

Section three of Xi Sui Jing, Bone Marrow Washing.

This section focuses on channels running through our arms and shoulders while massaging the liver, spleen and gallbladder as we turn from our lumbar region up through the thoracic into our cervical spine area. Bone marrow washing is one of my favorite Daoist flows for focus, breath work and balancing Qi. Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine