Qigong for Seniors, Fisherman Casts A Net

Moving Qi on the Beach as though we are casting a fishing net.  Circulates blood & qi throughout our shoulders, waist and back.  Massages our internal abdominal organs.  Be blessed with Qi!

Tree of Life Block Print

 Here is my (rather large) Tree of Life wood block print as a good wish to all for an adventurous 2025. I made the paper from a large fig blown over on the Edison Ford Estate in Fort Myers during Hurricane Irma. I boiled the wood pulp in lye for days and pressed out one large sheet of paper. The block took months to carve out and I did a two step press - one for the windy background using Cranfield Gold Oil then after the gold dried for a week I had just one opportunity at a hand press of the Live Oak Tree of Life press. Holding my breath when I removed the block I was inspired by the finished one of a kind print. The art is multilayered too in breath. A small swing invites one to come to the oldest of ancient life forms - plants - a tree, a Florida Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana. The human belief systems, from the eons of age Taiji disc & Buddha leaf & those symbols of early African-Persian times to the more nascent world views of Christianity & Social movements are all nourished, nurtured and given refuge by the Tree of Life. Plants have been the major life form on our planet for mostly 500 million years (500,000,000) whereas our homo-humans probably about 200,000 years. The Trees of Life have been around 2500 times longer than humans. I think it is an honor for a tree to be the host of our existential spiritual/cosmic art. I was blessed in doing the research for each world symbol during the preparation of the block. I literally made energy connections with peoples from around the world and from ancient of times. But I found my grounding in the tree. Perhaps this is why I love 站樁, Zhan Zhuang. May you be blessed and filled with Qi. Kevin - Yuan-Xiu Song

Unexpected Mysterious Find, Qigong on the Bay

Headed to do Qigong on the Bayfront for Aortic Dissection Survivors series and came across a mysterious holiday surprise. What a way to end 2024! 

Ischemic Stroke Risk Management with Qigong Spinal Cord Breathing

Ischemic Stroke Risk Management with Qigong Flow Spinal Cord Breathing, Lido Beach, Sarasota, Florida December Sunrise. Spinal Cord Breathing flow is one of my go-to Qigong flows for minimizing blood & Qi stasis or stagnation in the shoulder and neck area. After being on the heart-lung bypass machine for many hours during aortic dissection surgery I've been challenged with embolistic ischemia problems with symptoms ranging from forgetfulness, slurred speech, eye control and other stroke typical health patterns. Qigong gives me gentle, easy to do movements that help motivate, move and keep my circulatory & nervous system functioning as it should. Always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Be Blessed with Qi! Kevin

Playful Qi, The Many Directions of Qi Flow

Playful Qi Flow. Once we tune our body to oneness with Qi flow we can playfully move along with our energy flow patterns. Qi moves in many directions! Moon in Scorpio tonight - water element! Play with the kidney & lung channel Qi flow! Our YOQI® training teaches us to be cognizant and sensitive to how Qi moves in, out & through our body. Love this fun flow that opens out Lung and Kidney Channels.

Dragon Claws the Earth, Moving Qi on the Island, Sarasota, Florida

This YOQI® Qigong flow, known as Dragon Claws the Earth dynamically energizes my Yang Qi, especially flowing through my chest area. I love this flow because of opening lung, heart, stomach, gallbladder, urinary bladder and liver channels as well as the other arm Yin & Yang channels, especially focusing Qi flow in the chest. Lido Beach Qigong for Senior Citizens and everyone else. Inhale claws come up, exhale claws push out and drop! Be blessed and filled with Qi!

Sunset on the Island

Qigong & sunset on the island. #YangSheng #Qigong #Yin #Yang #YangXiu-Song

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

Xi Sui Jing Part Two of Four, North Lido, Nov 24

 Here is Part two of four in the Xi Sui Jing, Bone Marrow Washing flow.

This Qigong practice involves specific breathing techniques, body postures, and visualization to stimulate the flow of Qi (life force) through the body, with a focus on reaching the deep tissues including the bone marrow. Xi Sui Jing is one of my favorite Qigong flows and has been part of my aortic rupture & cancer healing practices for years. Be Blessed & Filled with Qi! #YOQI® Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine

XI Sui Jing, Section 1, Bone Marrow Washing

 Enjoy a brief video of the first section of Xi Sui Jing, Bone Marrow Washing. 

Xi Shui Jing, Bone Marrow Washing is a practice within traditional Chinese Qigong, particularly associated with Shaolin martial arts, that aims to cleanse and revitalize the body's internal energy (Qi) by focusing on the bone marrow level; essentially considered a practice for promoting longevity and deep internal healing. I love this flow. 

"Yang Sheng", Nourishing Life Practices

 My YOQI™ teacher shares much about the Daoist life approach of "Yang Sheng".  Learning Yǎng Shēng fundamentals has been a life changing experience for me, improving both my physical & mental health.

Yǎng Shēng Characters from Mandarin

Yang Sheng,  養生, can be translated as meaning "Nourishing life for longevity".  I've read translations, especially those written in the Ming dynasty era, that also convey the main meaning such as; longevity life,  nurturing vitality, cultivating life, nourishing one's vital principle.  Some additional older manuscript descriptions of Yǎng Shēng include:

• Preserving one's lifespan by keeping good health,
• Living locally,
• Working the land & raising food, and
• Keeping the mind and body healthy for longevity.

Some of the primary tenants of Yǎng Shēng include: 

• Self whole body care, especially self massage
• Qigong, yoga, stretching and exercises that move Qi & balance Yin & Yang
• Lower Dantian Breathing (belly breathing instead of chest breathing)
• Meditation
• Spending time outdoors in the sun & water & elements (think five element theory)
• balancing fire & water
• grounding into earth
• opening the Central Chong Channel to the heavens above & earth below
• balancing metal & wood elements
• Dietetics
• eating local
• organic & sustainably raised foods
• avoiding mono-crop raised foods and seeking out foods raised with complex biodiversity techniques (emphasis on Entourage Effect)
• avoiding all refined sugars & unhealthy fats
• Internal alchemy - Neidan - such as esoteric, 'spiritual alchemy'
• External Alchemy - Waidan - as Herbs from Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Sexual Health

"Yang Sheng"'s focus can be a healing pathway for us.  We will be looking at the most used components off "Yang Sheng" over the next several blogs.  Hope you will follow and consider how "Yang Sheng" can improve all aspects of your health.

Be blessed and filled with Qi.

Qigong & Acupuncture Has Given Me Back An Awesome Life

 I learn best from personal experiences. After my aortic rupture surgery I had to have help just to make it to the toilet from my recliner.  Today I walked miles on the beach, swam for almost an hour and worked with Bone Marrow Washing Qigong flow routines.

Moving Qi!

Oriental Medicine & medical Qigong both helped me move my focus back into nature based awareness.

Today I received an amazing treatment from a renown acupuncture practitioner, who I am also studying with, that combined the Liver 3 (Tài Chōng, 太沖) with Stomach 36 (Zú Sān Lǐ, 足三里) Large Intestine 4 (Hé Gǔ, 合谷) & EX-HN3 Yin Tang (印堂) & EX HN-04 Fish Belly (印堂) points needling.

Nothing is better than experiencing healing first hand.

In addition to acupuncture, Qigong, including Medical Qigong has given my body a totally new and exciting lease on life's activities.  Before Qigong my body was full of stagnation and I could barely hold my arms over my head.  Today my Qigong progress allows me to do most anything I want to physically.  Importantly, Qigong has taught me a 'better way' to accomplish what I want to do.  Now I move with intent rather than force, though when I need force my Qi flows strong.

So I am going to begin blogging again daily, sharing what, how, and why I am so convinced of the healing power of Yang Sheng modalities.  Be Blessed and Filled with Qi. Kevin.

Qigong For Seniors & Disabled, Separating Heavens & Earth Flow

 Part of the BaDuan Jin, Eight Brocades, 八段锦 flow come join me in this fun, healthy Qigong flow.  Qigong has literally saved my life and given me hops as a cancer and aortic dissection survivor!  Let's flow with healing Qi together!

Nature, Qigong & Life as a Cancer & Aortic Dissection Survivor

 Nature offers so much healing power to trauma survivors. 

I attribute the fullness of my post surgery life to daily Qigong practice.  Qigong is very much founded in nature's power.

Those tools Qigong has taught me to use & helped me with me have their roots deep within Five Element theory and Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches to healing.

While I normally share live Qigong exercise flows every Sunday noon on the Aortic Hope Channel this past Sunday was a bit different as I rambled on a bit about what I have learned concerning our senses (taste, smell, sight, sound and more) on the broadcast which you can listen to here if you are so inclined.

As a survivor whose verbal & cognitive capabilities have been limited by embolism activity due to surgical procedures, listening to myself talk live is sometimes cause for a smiling grimace or two or three.

But I've come a long way from barely being able to speak post aorta & kidney repair, largely in-part from the daily Qigong Judy inspired me to begin working with.  

Life as a survivor can be so very challenging.  Nature inspired Qigong works for me because of it's inherent simplicity (most movements are so very easy) and its capabilities to redirect my focus from cortisol focused modern life back to a nature-centric state of relaxation & fascination. 

Check out my Qigong flows on Aortic Hope's youtube channel and across my social media platforms.

Grow with us as we share how Qigong helps us live each day of our life to the fullest.