Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Breathing in Qigong

I'm wondering what you would lose if, instead of taking deep breaths coordinated with the movements of the active exercises or with the energy movements of the meditations, you reverse breathed without deep inhalation and coordination.

The reason I ask is that my workout conditions are not conducive to deep inhalation. I live in Miami where it is way too hot and humid to work out outside (not to mention the mosquitos!). Neither can I breathe deeply inside since my allergies are triggered by indoor dust, dog dander, etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

regarding breathing:
Here is a web address with some information from Master Lin called "Three vital elements of Qigong Exercise". Note the word "vital". http://www.beyondhuman.com/qigong-3elements.htm
more on that: An average person only uses a fraction of their lung cells in regular breathing. With deep breathing you increase the usage of your lungs, increase your oxygen intake, thus increasing your energy intake. Also, air becomes stagnant in the lungs, it is good to totally exchange that air, at least once a day. The three deep breaths that Master Lin mentions prior to exercise/meditation, is a good way to "change" air, along with deep breathing, as done during the exercises. Shallow breathing doesn't empty or fill the lungs.
You should find a space you feel comfortable in. It doesn't sound like you are happy with your environment. Perhaps a different perspective to your environment. I would choose any natural environment over say, Manhatten! I live in Minnesota. Right now we are having extremely hot and humid weather. Mosquitoes are referred to as the state bird! I prefer to be outside for qigong work. I go out early in the morning , and early evening when the heat is less. As I am familiar with extremely cold weather, I savor some heat, it is great for relaxing, slow breathing, and opening up. I put on alittle mosquito repellent. It is not ideal, but it works. Perhaps making an area mosquito free.. Some netting, citronella, screen tent? Maybe even a daily , short pilgrimage to some other spot that feels better. Maybe you need an air purifier for indoors. San Diego or Hawaii would be nice! :-)

Thanks for your reply, gallen. I talked to a Spring Forest coach today, and she said that breathing is not that important in level 1. The most important thing is the visualization. This is what allows you to heal yourself. If you go on to level 2 or higher, then breathing takes on greater importance.

I hope Pete comments on this as I was quite surprised by this answer. I would have thought that breathing was most important on any level. After all, it is qi (breath) gong (work)!

I would be hard pressed saying what the most important thing was, level 1, or otherwise. Maybe intention...
It is all relative to one's situation and/or
condition. I still stand by my original answer.
I was addressing your question in regards to qigong in general, which I feel applies to all levels of study. Whether or not it is the most important thing, was not the question I was answering. Master Lin states, very clearly,in the "Three Vital Elements of Qigong Exercise", breathing technique is important. This is in the Level 1 manual.
If I was working with someone who had physical problems breathing, I would take that into account. The breathing would still be important, but, perhaps other aspects of practice, like visualization, would be unrestricted to this same person,and a nice aspect to excel at, to empower this person's healing process, and inturn, improve the breathing. That's it! I'm outta here......
Breath, visualize your situation as you would like it > happy trails.

Here's another side to the breathing question. The LSC coach told me that Pete sometimes visualizes himself doing the active exercises. On a trip, for instance, he will visualize himself doing the exercises while he sits in an airplane, etc. If this works well, then the breathing and movements aren't so important and the visualizations must be very important!

I tried this on a recent short trip. I was very calm throughout the trip, even when my flight was delayed for an hour. I just sat in a corner, closed my eyes, and visualized myself doing qigong. At the end of my trip, I did find a quiet spot and actually do the Gathering Qi ending exercise.
I would definitely try this again on my next trip.

I would suggest not fixating on what aspect is more important. All these things you mention are good. The idea here, is that you have choices, that apply differently to different people, different times, and different situations. Once more, speaking of the big picture herE. No one is going to tell you that breathing is not important regarding qigong. No one is going to tell you that the visualization isn't important regarding qigong. If you can't do the breathing for some reason, do the visualization. If you can do both, great. This is a compassionate system that allows healing and growth for anyone who wants to pursue it. It offers alternatives for anyone with limitations, to move forward and make progress.

I agree completely. I was just trying to determine the boundaries of qigong. I am amazed how flexible it is, and how you can accomplish something almost no matter what restrictions you have. I have been doing taiji for over eight years now, and so have some familiarity with neigong (internal)systems. When I was younger I also did a lot of work with waigong (external) arts, so I am just trying to fit everything together into a coherent picture. Thanks for your insights.

Breathing is very important in Level 1. Without it you will die.

Breathing technique is not vital--it becomes vital in Level 2, however. It is more important that you slow your breathing so that you are breathing 3-5 cycles per minute, less if you can. Deep breathing is very good.

Visualization is vital and so is being able to feel the energy. You do not want to focus on a problem, but focus on the energy flowing through your body, focus on blockages turing to air and going to the ends of the universe.

Hi, folks

Personally, I am of the experimentalist nature. As I see it, if you get good results without synchronizing the breathing part of Qi Gong, then you get good results without it.

If this happens, does it mean not to be concerned about the breathing part? No. It means that if a person's allergies or environment mitigate against deep breathing, then you don't do the breathing. You do what you can do, no more and no less.

I like the idea of consulting a Qi Gong coach if you feel really unsure about any aspect of Qi Gong. But, as I see it, the ultimate coach has got to be yourself. You're working from the reality of how the exercise affects your own particular body-mind-self, not a general blueprint that affects everyone equally.

Paranthetically, and I address this to the person with allergies, are you trying the cure that involves getting regular shots of very small amounts of the offending substances? That didn't really work for me, but it absolutely *did* work for quite a few people I happen to know!

best wishes,
Mike
moochy_hope@yahoo.com

Hi, Pete
You say that visualization is important and not to focus on the problem, but rather the energy flow.
OK, but what if I want to deal with a specific problem like obesity or cancer? I recall the Qi Gong manual talking about visualizing things like animals carrying the offending problem out of one's system. But then we are visualizing the problem, and not the energy flow.
Does this mean that we have to spend some time visualizing the energy flow, and an entirely different time visualizing the problem being solved?

Confusedly,
Mike
moochy_hope@yahoo.com

quote:

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Originally posted by Pete Bissonette:

Visualization is vital and so is being able to feel the energy. You do not want to focus on a problem, but focus on the energy flowing through your body, focus on blockages turing to air and going to the ends of the universe.[/B]

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