| INSIGHTS INTO METHODS OF CULTIVATION OF | | | | is moved to open up. The whole body must be |
| CHI | | | | relaxed from the top of the head to the tip of |
| Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga are internal modalities | | | | the toes. Standing meditation in various postures |
| used for the purpose of energy cultivation. This | | | | for long periods of time starts the process of the |
| energy, if carefully discovered in the joints of the | | | | chi coming out of the joints and sinking to the |
| body and successfully moved through the | | | | center of gravity of the body. Once it starts to |
| meridians can stimulate the organs and glands of | | | | accumulate, it is moved around the body by a |
| the body to function better and secrete the | | | | combination of the mind and either the tai chi, chi |
| proper enzymes leading to a better state of | | | | gong or yoga forms. |
| health. Yoga is popular with younger and middle | | | | In my class of qi gong for senior citizens I stress |
| aged people while tai chi and qi gong are popular | | | | long flowing movements done reputedly in a |
| with the older crowd. | | | | standing (not moving) position. Soon the chi starts |
| What drew me to tai chi was the slow rhythmic | | | | to accumulate and is felt as a tingling or bubbly |
| dance like movements of the body. I was at a | | | | sensation in the body. First we teach the proper |
| stage where I was looking for a soft martial art. | | | | movements which are repeated over and over |
| My practice and teaching of karate no longer | | | | again while we remain relaxed and soft inside. |
| fulfilled my longing for some sort of spirituality. | | | | Over the years the whole psyche starts to open |
| Without realizing it, through my practice of karate, | | | | up. These are mind body exercises. The mind |
| I had grown away from fighting and needed | | | | starts to calm. The body softens and relaxes. |
| something more in my life. It was like I was being | | | | The chi circulates through the entire body. |
| pulled away from the external art of karate and | | | | Spirituality develops and the practitioner starts |
| directed to follow a new and softer path into my | | | | down a new road leading to the discovery of the |
| own true nature. I had heard of chi, but knew | | | | true self. Old emotions stored in the muscles |
| nothing about developing it. For the purpose of | | | | surface and gradually fade away. Soon periods of |
| this article chi, ki and prana are just different | | | | total calmness infiltrate the practice and instead of |
| names for the same energy, magnetism or | | | | you doing the form, the form does you. This is |
| electricity that runs the universe. We are born | | | | the way of the internal arts. They are a road |
| with it, take it in with our food and breath and | | | | inward, back to a state of universal |
| renew it while we sleep. There are many | | | | consciousness. The intent moves the chi, the chi |
| methods of discovering and cultivating this energy. | | | | moves the body, and the mind focuses on the |
| Most important is the ability to relax the body. | | | | center of gravity. My instructor Lou Kleinsmith |
| That is why they are done very slowly. | | | | often said," What more can there be"? |
| Relaxation enables the meridians through which chi | | | | |