Energy exercises for Vitality

Breath and energy form a bridge between body and mind. Many traditions both Eastern and Western have exercises to strengthen and the mind/body connection which we can practice every day to improve our vitality, health and longevity.

You can live two months with out food, 2 weeks with out water, but you can only live a few minutes without air. There are two types of breathing: cleansing and energizing. Cleansing breath detoxifies the body and stresses exhalation. Energising breath collects and stores vital energy and focuses more on inhalation. We unconsciously do this every day for example with a sigh (cleansing) and a yawn (reenergizing). Correct breathing can enhance the bodies supply of vital energy. We can consciously focus on our breath, slowing it down, counting the inhalation for four, then holding gently for two and slowly exhaling for four counts and holding for two. As you practice daily you can extend the counts. In healing different breathing patterns can be employed to move, generate and clear energy.

The microcosmic orbit is a loop of circulating energy around the body incorporating the two governing channels of Chinese medicine. When the energy flows uninterrupted optimal circulation, nerve stimulation and energy are provided to the whole system. The easiest way to open the microcosmic energy channel is to sit in meditation a few minutes each morning and relax. Allow your energy to automatically complete the loop by letting your mind flow along with it. Start in the eyes, and mentally circulate your attention with the energy as it goes down the front through your tongue, throat, chest and navel, and then up the tail bone and spine to the head. At first you may feel nothing, but eventually the current will begin to feel warm in some places around the loop. The key is simply to relax and try to bring your mind directly into the part of the loop being focused on. This is different from visualizing an image inside your head of what your body part looks like or is feeling. Experience the actual chi/energy flow. Relax and let your mind flow with the chi in the physical body along the natural circuit.

The inner smile is a simple exercise even children can have fun with. Image the loving smile on your face and the feeling of being reunited with a loved one.  Close your eyes and smile at your organs. Begin with the pituitary and pineal glands in the head. Smile down on the thyroid, parathyroid, thymus and heart. Feel love and happiness grow from the heart centre. As you smile to the lungs, feel courage rise. As you smile to the spleen, stomach and pancreas, feel openness and fairness. As you smile to the liver and gallbladder, feel kindness. As you smile to the kidneys and the bladder, feel gentleness. As you smile to the sexual organs, feel creativity. When you smile at your organs, negative energies will gradually change into positive life force. Send this inner smile to any other part of you which feels in need.

For more information on these and other practices check out texts on Toaism by Mantak Chia., Daniel Reid and other authors

The information presented on this site is presented as a information guide and reference only, and is not intended as a substitute for competent advice and guidance by a qualified practitioner.

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