Aloha kdefro,
"Hug the Tree" is just my little pet name for the exercise you are refering to. It is not a part of the Level I or II program. Crack open the course and jump in. You can read alot on the internet, but when it comes down to it, one doesn't learn to swim on land.
shakurav brings up an intersting point regarding hand posture, and hand postures (or mudras), and body position can assist the process. You'll find out about this in the course regarding protecting of one's energy, meditating with high blood pressure, etc. Chunyi talks about placing the hands in the Forming of Yin & Yang position to help balance upper and lower energy. Your "Holding the world" helps focus on the lower dantian, which is why Chunyi recomends those your working on to hold it. You'll see the people in a classic holding their fingers together meditation pose, yet you'll find Chunyi doesn't mention for people to do this in the small universe, yet instructs it in the Moon, Sun, and Rainbow mediations later. This is because of what it's helping do to the channels and the purpose of the particular meditation.
Ahh...wide horse stances in katas...yes, those were some fun days.
Enjoy your experience with Spring Forest Qigong and this Forum, kdefro.
Shawn
