Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Heart Problem

Some of you might remember that I posted a concern a few months ago regarding what I thought was some kind of heart problem. Level 1 active exercises and meditation seemed to be causing my heart to act "weird" and I was also having trouble catching my breath. I even consulted two doctors, who didn't recognize my symptoms when I tried to explain them.

Though some people thought I was having panic attacks, it turns out the problem was exactly the opposite - low blood pressure! Apparently I was TOO relaxed...lol. Symptoms can include palpitations and weak heart beat and thus a lack of oxygen to the tissues and shortness of breath. Blood pressure is not constant - in healthy people it normally varies by 20 points during the day - it's a problem when it drops below 90/60.

To add insult to injury, I was placing my hands palm up during meditation, as I assumed "everybody" has high blood pressure. Duh.

We're not health professionals here - I'm only offering a heads-up. A doctors office reading is what it is at that time, usually under stressful circumstances when blood pressure it is probably going to be at its highest. Diagnosis is therefore difficult, especially with all the media attention on high blood pressure. Who has low blood pressure for heavens sakes. Probably only me, but I wanted to mention it anyway since meditation is well known to lower blood pressure even further and most people are not familiar with the symptoms (apparently not even my doctors).

Peace and love,
Susan

Off the top of my head, palms up is the right position for low blood pressure.

How are you doing now?

You are perfection.
Iam2

Yep, Iam2 is right. It's palms down for HIGH blood pressure. You're supposed to have your palms up Susan. Read the manual again.

I have low blood pressure and I don't have your symptoms from it. I do however get shortness of breath from anxiety. That's why I mentioned anxiety to you.

Much Qi
Diana

Hi,
This may or may not have bearing on your low blood pressure and relaxation. Perhaps keeping your 'atennas' up and defined will help balance your state of relaxation. As opposed to really melting, be very conscious of lengthening the spine/suspending the crown, holding the hand position, palms up as mentioned, with the index fingers touching the thumbs...the contact being 'very' light, so a subtle energy connection is felt, hands expressed open. No sleepy pose, slumping, or wilting...These are all aspects of alertness and clearity, that can be within a state of relaxation. They are all elements that deteriorate as one can slump or tire. Keeping these elements present takes a soft awareness and gentle flex here and there, and the side effect is a clearity and wakefulness within your relaxation. I nice way to be in the present. Perhaps these elements will provide a more balanced state regarding your blood pressure.
love,
gallen

reverse breathing too, although it can become quite automatic. If any of these suggestions are of interest for you to try, please let me/us know. It would be interesting , to me at least, if these had an effect on your overall approach to relaxation, and low blood pressure.
-g

one more thing...I would be curious as to what your sitting position is, chair with back support, crosslegged, etc.. -g

I apologize! I keep thinking of things. Do you do any active exercise, before you meditate? I think that's it! love, gallen

Thank you all for your comments. I reviewed the manual and of course you are right. Palms up for low blood pressure. I've always meditated in the Japanese posture - probably because of my many years with NSA/SGI - and it's soooooo much more comfortable than crosslegged.

My symptoms were continuing 24/7 there for awhile, but mostly disappeared when I cut way back on the amount of time I spent doing SFQ. I've only brought up the blood pressure thing because I just recently discovered what the problem was and hoped others might learn from my experience. If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, have rapid pulse, heart palpitations and/or shortness of breath during or after SFQ, a drop in blood pressure could be involved.

When I found out about the blood pressure, I decided to try adding a positive reinforcement during the harvesting of the Qi - "blood pressure going up!!." This actually seems to help...lol.

Gallen, please tell me what "reverse breathing" is.

Peace and love,
Susan

Aloha Ananda,

The reverse breathing is the breathing method he teaches and recommends throughout the exercises and meditations. He introduces it (but not by name), at the beginning of the video and also in the manual in the Beginning of the Universe portion found on page 11.

There are many references to it on this Forum. Doing a quick search on breathing or reverse, will pull up plenty of references for you.

In regards to the blood pressure situation, after going through the "Beginning of the Universe" setup at the beginning of the work, say in you mind "All my channels are open, Blood pressure is up to normal!" Then continue into the work.

Much Love, Shawn

Ananda

I didn't understand this

"I've always meditated in the Japanese posture - probably because of my many years with NSA/SGI - and it's soooooo much more comfortable than crosslegged."

I'm curious about what the Japanese posture is and likewise NSA/SGI.

Love, Kev