When practicing Qi Gong any exercise on one side of the body is also performed on the opposite side to achieve balance. The yin/yang of complimentary balance is one of the basic principles of Qi Gong exercises. Balance is one of the most important ways to achieve good health, longevity, happiness and creative productivity.

We need balance between:

Mind/Body

Doing/Being

Right brain/Left brain

Action/Rest

Yin/Yang

Alone/Group

Work/Play

If we go to an extreme on one side of the scale in any of these areas, we as individuals, groups and society become imbalanced, and - at worst - create war with ourselves and others.

The Yin/Yang symbol also shows us that we can’t have one side without the other, that we are whole beings, that our mind/body/spirit is really one. We “inter-are” with ourselves and other living beings. Thinking dualistically about balance, as if one “side” is better than the other, can exist without the other, is illusion. There is no yin without yang, no inside without outside, no me without you. Seeing the two as one is important to being human, being here in the now, being alive, functioning as a mind/body in a world full of energy.

Our meditation teacher gives the example of our right hand accidentally hitting our left hand with a hammer. The hands don’t start accusing and fighting with one another. The right hand drops the hammer and soothes the injured left hand. Our hands are not separate from us, from our whole body. We are one, not separate parts.

Sometimes when I am fearful, anxious or upset about a mistake I’ve made, I beat up on myself, thus sending a “second arrow” of pain into my heart. Instead of having compassion for that little girl in me who said something unskillful or interrupted someone, I make her feel worse about herself with added blame and guilt. I need to remember the example of the right hand dropping the hammer, holding the wounded left hand, comforting myself for the error and doing what I can to make amends quickly, then to let it go. I’m human. I will make more mistakes. But beating up on myself doesn’t help. It merely adds to my pain and dysfunction.

When we are hurting, let us use the energy of mind, breath, our whole body, to soothe and heal the injured or stressed area of ourselves. Moving our bodies brings calm to our minds. Calming emotions with Qi Gong and meditation allows the body to rest. True balance comes when body/mind/spirit operate as one.

Photo by Ray MacLean

Practicing qigong is so simple and so powerful. You cannot do it wrong. You can only do it good, better, or best. ~Chunyi Lin

Balance. It seems as if I have always been looking for balance. In how I use my body, my emotions and, yes, even my bank account. With the training I've received in the Alexander Technique, my awareness of how I use myself was raised considerably. Learning Qi Gong and Tai Chi, I've had many opportunities to incorporate my AT training and substantially increase my Qi flow.

Recently my life has been out of balance. We decided to have our home painted, and this decision led to many other decisions and a lot of work. Good work, mind you, but work that took weeks of time and effort. Letting go of hundreds of books and recorded music. During this process, I frequently experienced decision fatigue, was often emotionally lost in memories and generally tired. We did maintain our daily practices of journaling, Qi Gong and Meditation. No matter how busy, we both dedicate at least 90 minutes daily to these activities first thing in the morning. Even though recently I have felt out of balance, without our morning practice I would have been lost.

We also decided to teach Five Animal Play Qi Gong this fall at the Takoma Park Recreation Center. We've always loved many parts of this form, but there is one exercise in the Crane form that we've neglected until recently - the Crane Stretching It's Wings Behind. A very difficult, yet simple exercise which addresses balance. As does The Crane Stretching Its Wings which I've practiced for over 10 years. I decided it was time to re-learn this exercise.

We've incorporated Crane Stretching its Wings Behind into our daily warm-ups for the past month. In the past week, I've been addressing the exercise throughout my day. As a break from my guitar practice in particular. Today while enjoying a very fruitful guitar practice, I began The Crane Stretching Its Wings Behind. After pausing to direct my alignment with the AT directions, I began to move. Stretching first with my right leg and both arms extended behind me and then the left. The fourth time through this exercise, my hands came alive with Qi. I noticed my shoulders were relaxed, allowing my arm pits to open easily, which is important for the heart channel which begins here. My balance was graceful and the energy flowed. This is the first time I've experienced the simple power of this exercise, but trust that it will not be my last.

How are you stretching your practice? Finding your balance?

Photo taken from our Sunlight Qi Gong Class this past Spring.