Focus: Talk Doesn't Cook the Rice

Hello to everyone from Mars Hill, NC. I am on the last day of my Qigong retreat. Our teacher Michael Winn has a great saying, 'Talking won't cook the rice.' The  Chinese character for Qi is a grain of rice in a pot and as it cooks, it emits steam or qi. So to create the qi, we need to practice. So this week I invite you to be playful in your practice. Beginning with the three Intentions (posture, breath, and focus), ask your body what it needs and then make that your practice,  remembering that you have a large basket of practices to choose from (self massage, breathwork, movement and meditation). As you flow through your practice,  listen inward to decide when your body needs something else. Going inward and letting your body guude your practice will cook the rice slowly, generating lots of steam or qi. 

Focus: Smile, Breath and Go Slowly

I recently attended a class taught by Roger Jahnke, author of the ‘Healer Within.’  Whenever I practice with Roger, I am always reminded of the beauty of going slowly and just focusing on the deep breath.  Allowing the breath to continue to slow down as the practice develops.  

As you practice this week, experiment with going slowly.  Let go of any focus on what the next movement is and allow the breath to deepen.  As your breath slows down and your focus goes inward you will find that your practice deepens. Here are some ideas of breath practices: 

•  Beginning with focusing on our posture.  The lengthening of the spine allows for more expansion of the lungs.
•   Xi, Xi, Hu breathing, this practice is a two part inhalation with a long one part exhalation. Try to make the exhalation as long as the two inhalations combined.
•  Adding a pause.  If it is comfortable for you, you can add a pause at the end of the inhalation and the end of the exhalation.  Always noticing what feels comfortable with your body and staying in the comfort zone.
•  Expanding breath.  As you inhale imagine the breath expanding the lungs as you exhale imagine releasing from that area ‘ letting go.’ Then, with each breath imagine that the breath expands past the lungs, eventually, the breath expanding out to every cell in the body and then releasing whatever you need to let go of.
•  Gratitude breath.  As you breath, focus on an organ within your body.  Beginning with appreciation for what that organ does, without us ever asking it to perform a function.  Let that feeling of appreciation grow into gratitude and a smile.  Imagine actually smiling at the organ with gratitude as you focus on your breath. 

Smile, breathe and go slowly. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh