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.

Look to Qigong and Nature Wildlife Recording as Health Therapy

Turning to time in the outdoors and working with Qigong has paid off for me physically and mentally.

Alligators can be quite vocal in the SMNWR

Lately I've been helping someone obtain their disability entitlement. This required much time filling out paperwork and driving, sometimes even going out of state.  All in all we were successful however the stress was significant.  Trying to navigate bureaucracies usually comes with constant challenges.  Drving for hours at night under heavy rainfall is even more stressful.

So living with aortic dissection now during the flu season I found myself stressing to the point of heart palpitations. The palpitations have receded now though and I can thank my Qigong meditation and breathing practice, as well as spending more time working with my Sony recorders in the marshes and swamps of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Hiking out in nature is a form of moving meditation and really has had a positive impact on both my physical and mental health. More soon.

Three Hours Full Moon Frog Melodies; Pig, Green Tree and Southern Cricket Frogs

Why do I love listening to frog calls?  Well, the answers to that question have their origins way back into the lives of my prehistoric ancestors; long, long ago.

Three Hours Full Moon Pig, Green Tree and Cricket Frog Melodies

Today, as a deep forest and swamp audio recordist I have collected hundreds of hours of frog call recordings. 

There are recordings of almost every frog known to live here in the Florida wilds in my sound library.  Some of my favorite local frogs and their calls are; pig frogs, green tree frogs, leopard frogs, bullfrogs and many more.  

One of my all time favorite frog calls comes from the Southern cricket frog, Acris gryllus.

The click-click-click calls of Southern cricket frog choruses remind me of my childhood, having grown up in Hialeah on the fringes of the frog filled Everglades.

However when I look at just why frogs and I 'click' together I see many more reasons than just familia nostalgia.

Anatomically speaking, humans and frogs share similar designs in middle and inner ear structure. Frogs though, instead of having an outer ear like humans, have a tympanum, an outer membrane covering that acts like an exterior ear drum.  This specialized audio adaptation allows frogs to hear very low frequency vibrations; vibrations I refer to as earth whispers.

With their highly developed hearing ability frogs can detect even the faintest noise an approaching predator makes.  Over the eons our ancestors came to rely on listening to nighttime frog calls for signals that all was safe and well around the camp.  When the frog choruses would suddenly go silent, well then it was time to be on the lookout for whatever was stirring in the surrounding bush.

As long as frogs were calling from the forests around the camp our ancestors could be safely assume the area was free from danger.  They could then sleep well knowing all was clear.  From an evolutionary perspective, frog call cues have in their own way truly shaped human behavior traits.

Additionally, frog calls also usually indicate the presence of nearby water and a well developed ecosystem, habitat traits our ancestors would have sought out.

I am convinced that over deep time our human brains began to subtly associate night frog calls with the idea of a safe space to sleep and that is one of the reasons I like listening to frog call audio at night.

But not only do frog calls provide me with a sense of relaxation, they also are rich in music rhythm, key, tone and meter.

The rhythmic and repetitive nature of frog calls usually provide me with a sense of calm and relaxation. Science has shown that natural sounds can lower levels of cortisol and other stress hormones and also slow heart rate. This soothing effect can help us feel more connected to the natural world, fulfilling much of our nature connect need that can't be fulfilled in the city.

On a pure biological level, frog calls are refined vocal attempts to attract females.  Females respond best to the most beautiful calls/songs.  As such, I find that different frog species calling together create amazing nighttime musical symphonies of brilliantly composed vocalizations; soothing music to relax by, full of healing vibrations, tapping frequencies; amazing audio creations.

Moreover, most frog choruses are not only designed to attract mates but to also confuse predators.  An alpha male frog usually leads the group chorus where he is followed by other frogs in different locations around the pond who then call out in a delayed or offset rhythm.  The time lag between calls of the lead frog and others is barely perceptible to human ears but to predators like birds and reptiles the offset vocalization rhythm interferes with the predators ability to assess the location of the calling frogs.

This group defense strategy is referred to by biologists as the 'precedence effect'.  The precedence effect is similar in concept to the double strands of electric fences farmers install around their crops to confuse deer. 

Frog calls can also gently engage our involuntary attention without demanding much cognitive effort. This helps our directed attention—which we use for most cognitive tasks—to relax, allowing for mental restoration. After an afternoon of hectic farm work here, frog background 'music' really does help me refocus from the outdoor problem solving analyses to focus on blogging, writing, doing research or even doing my qigong exercises.

Finally, advertisements (calls) are just a small part of the human/frog relationship.  Xenobots, medicines, infrasounds, frog based cultural practices and understandings of broad ecological concepts are topics for further frog posts.  Today however, simply listening to frog calls offers us humans so much.  We just need to take the time to listen and pay attention.

The above Soundcloud link will take you to a three hour frog call audio clip I recently recorded in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.  The recording is primarily of green tree frogs, pig frogs, Southern cricket frogs, Southern field crickets, mole crickets, cicada and other wildlife.

I love this audio clip for it's extreme chill genre and have been listening to the recorded calls most nights lately.

Hope you enjoy and benefit from the frog calls as much as I do.

Self Care, Skin Care, Lemon Water, Qigong and Survivor Life

 More self care time well spent. Its Saturday and there are so many chores to catch up on!!!!

Fresh lemons, squeezer & water bottle; drink for the morning

Yes, I am going to take the time to self massage my arms with jojoba oil and zinc oxide sun block. Yes, I am going to squeeze a fresh lemon and make a jug of sippin lemon water for the morning.

Jojoba oil and zinc oxide sun block for arms

In addition to the arm care and lemon water I've already participated in my morning Qigong Bare Awareness meditation and am about to work on a qigong Dantian flow!

Like one of my doctors tells me, 'Kevin, your number one goal is to stay alive as healthy as possible'!!!!

The chores can wait. Loving my body!

American Alligator Vocalizations, Mother and Hatchlings, SMNWR

 Three minutes of early morning female mother alligator vocalization with her juveniles in a shallow primarily freshwater depression type pond near Ring Dike and Cedar Creek east of Stoney Bayou Pool in the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge. 

St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Alligator Vocalizations, May 2023

May 2023. Sony PCM M10 recorder, Clippy EM272Z1 stereo microphones, windbubbles & drybags. One way I differentiate between male and female adult alligator bellows, besides seeing the alligator, is through spectrogram analysis. Male bellows tend to have more infrasound (usually 16 to 20Hz) components to their bellow than females. I know this gator was a mother because of her interactions with the hatchlings. Carolina wren and Eastern Wood-Pewee calls can be heard in the background as well as Southern Cricket frogs and Green Tree Frogs.

Healing: Receiving Serious Health Diagnoses, Anger & Bargaining Responses

 Today we are briefly discussing the anger and bargaining phases of the grief model outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. 

Receiving Serious Health Diagnoses

When a person receives a cancer or aortic dissection or aneurysm diagnosis, after the initial shock and denial phase, they may experience the anger and bargaining phases. These stages are characterized by anger directed at various sources, manifesting in numerous ways and also often an attempt to negotiate, usually with a higher power, in a desperate hope to reverse or lessen the reality of their situation.

During the anger phase, it is crucial for the individual with the diagnoses and their loved ones to understand that this reaction is a normal part of the shock and grieving process. As we mentioned in the previous post, mental health professionals can provide essential support during this time, helping the individual express their anger in healthy ways and explore the feelings underlying their anger.

Some of the ways anger may be expressed by persons diagnosed with aortic dissection and/or cancer can include:

Anger at the Unfairness: After the reality of the diagnosis sets in, it is common for individuals to feel a deep sense of injustice. They may question, "Why me? Why now?" This anger can stem from the perceived randomness and unfairness of their situation, especially if they have been living a healthy lifestyle or are young with many unfulfilled plans. I personally have asked the ‘why me’ question time and time again.  This reaction is normal and I now acknowledge these feelings as valid when I begin to dwell on the ‘why me’ questions.

Anger at Physicians and Health Care Providers: Some people may feel anger towards their physicians or healthcare providers. This can result from frustration with perceived delays in diagnosis, dissatisfaction with the course of treatment, or simply as a transference of their fear and helplessness.  I personally am so over directing anger at my doctors.  After years of dealing with both my diagnoses and my doctors I am frankly just tired of blaming anyone, including my attending health care professionals. However for others, blaming doctors is a recognized emotional response.

Anger at God or a Higher Power: For those with spiritual or religious beliefs, anger may be directed towards God or a higher power. Individuals may feel abandoned or punished and may struggle with their faith during this challenging time.  I've been there done that with this type of anger.  Today my world view has more of a Daoist flavor so there aren’t really any ‘Gods’ or ‘Personal Higher Powers’ that could even hear me.  But for those with beliefs in a higher power, this avenue of blame is normal.

Anger at Oneself: There can be feelings of self-blame, especially if the individual believes their lifestyle choices may have contributed to their illness. They may also feel frustration at their body for "betraying" them.  Today, after many years, I’ve learned to love myself for whom I am, dissection and cancer and all.

Anger at Family and Friends: It's also common for individuals with a terminal illness to experience anger towards their family and friends. This can stem from a perception of being treated differently or from frustration over others' inability to fully understand their experience.  Caregivers, family and friends have it as hard as us, IMHO, in dealing with those of us that were diagnosed with these serious illnesses.

It's important for loved ones and caregivers to practice patience and empathy, avoiding taking any anger personally. Encouraging communication and providing a safe space for the individual to express their feelings can be beneficial. Over time, as individuals processes their anger, they may move towards the other stages of grief, such as the other phase we are going to briefly discuss here, the bargaining phase.

As for the bargaining behavior often experienced, here are some ways bargaining behavior may present:

Negotiations with a Higher Power: A person may seek to make a deal with God or a higher power, promising to live a better life, devote themselves to service, or make other significant changes in exchange for a cure or more time. 

Regret and Remorse: The individual may spend a lot of time thinking about what they could have done differently to prevent their illness. They may regret past lifestyle choices or not taking symptoms seriously earlier. This period is often characterized by guilt and self-blame.

Revisiting Past Choices: The person may start obsessively considering different scenarios in which their illness could have been prevented. They might think about what could have happened if they had made different decisions about their health, diet, or medical treatment.

Seeking Alternative Treatments: In their desperation to find a cure, the person might start exploring alternative treatments and remedies, often in cases where conventional medicine has provided no solution or hope.

It's important to note that, like all the stages of grief, both the anger and bargaining stages are not experienced by everyone, and can occur in any order. Additionally, these stages are not rigid categories, but rather part of a framework to help us understand the typical emotional process involved in dealing with terminal illness.

It's also crucial to approach a person in the anger and bargaining stages with empathy and patience. Many of us are grappling with the harsh reality of our imminent mortality and are seeking to exert some control over our situation. Mental health professionals can provide invaluable support during this stage, helping us process our emotions and gradually move towards acceptance of our diagnoses.  Like my mother used to say, “after ten years its not the first thing we think of when we wake in the morning”.

I’ve found that dealing with these serious medical diagnoses is a journey, one that has many twists and turns.  For me, acceptance of my diagnoses took time.  Today my understanding of the grief processes has led me to appreciate each and every breath and moment.  Next post we will discuss the last two remaining phases of diagnosis grief; depression and finally acceptance.  Many blessings as always, Kevin.