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• 5/17/2019  9:14 AM
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Working with Chi Video

Working with Chi

Everything is energy and in Chinese medicine we hear of energy, or chi referred to as Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang does not imply an inherent and unchanging state. Rather it is a label used for energy in a specific state of change. Let’s take the idea of H2O that is arising with a range of temperatures that its properties are wet and fluid. In an everyday conventional world we would label this H2O water. We then put the glass of water in the freezer and it arises with a range of cold temps and it becomes very hard, cold and condensed. In Taoism I would say that the H2O is now most Yin, in an everyday conventional world I would change the label to ice. I then put the ice on the stove and it arises with heat and it becomes very hot, vaporous and expanded and in Taoism I would say the H2O is most Yang and in my everyday world the label would change to steam. No matter what the label; Yin or Yang, ice, water or steam it is still all the same H2O. Energy is energy.

Our thoughts are energy or Chi, our spirit is Chi and our bodies are Chi. Like the H2O these things are not associated, they are if fact one in the same with different labels depending on how expanded or contracted they are. Change one, we change them all. When we have difficulty how do we know where to start working, I say start where the difficulty is presenting.

I work with the body, Chi in its most condensed form. Everything I am offering is intended to work with how things manifest on the body. This series of blogs and video blogs are tools that I use with clients and work very well. It does not mean that one may not also need to use talk therapy to work with the mind and spiritual practice for deeper matters.

The first step to working with the Chi of the body is to learn to use the language of the body. The mind uses words to speak and be heard, the body uses breath, movement, touch and sensations. The next thing to understand is that Chi follows the mind and the mind follows the breath. Our awareness is certainly our thoughts but it is also physical awareness as well as our intuition and spiritual awareness. We will learn to use touch, movement and breath work to work with the body’s awareness.  It hears us through the experiences of the five senses. 

Following the exercise demonstrated of the video clip is one way to work with energy that is stuck in the myofascial area, or connective tissue.  Energy is sent to the outside of the body or the connective tissue to act as our defense when we encounter external objects, experiences or situations that might invade the body such as cold, damp, wind or situations that may appear threating to us. This energy is called Wei Chi and can easily get stuck leaving us feeling tired, sore and achy.  Moving this energy along will certainly rejuvenate the body.

As we encounter the outside world things fall into three categories; like, don’t like or don’t care. Most will land as a don’t care with us but for the like and don’t like take a moment to be aware of where and how that feels, the physical sensations. Be present and when you have the opportunity the exercise in the video clip is a great way to help the energy move along. We may still need to deal with a person or situation but the energy will not be stuck on the body.

Future will continue to add to our tools to work with and hear our bodies. You are your own healer !  

Video Working with Chi