Hi Charlie,
I feel the good , better, best measure is there, to allow a positive sense of engaging with the practice, at any level of ability. It is that engaging with the practice that counts, and feeling good about it, and you shouldn't bring into the practice experience, any sense of limitation, or measure of accomplishment, relative to your position. With a content of both active and inactive, along with the possibility of helping others, your cup is full.
If I viewed a more intense level of standing, like someone who could stand in a deep stance, I wouldn't reclassify my standing, as 'good'. I wouldn't go there, as I usually don't think of my position in those terms,but rather, just experience my practice. It doesn't enter my mind. Perhaps someone who can levitate, is best, and that moves the low stance guy to better!!
One could look at meditation positions too. Most people can't sit in a full lotus. I don't think the measure of good better best is necessary to realize in that practice either, relative to position. Not that it is wrong, , ,it gives us a benchmark. I don't think it should come 'into' the practice experience though. Someone sitting in a half lotus, that perceives themselves as normal or somewhat healthy, probably doesn't think of their sitting position as just better... It seems to come up more, when some negative perception is felt, and the good better best is a way to experience a positive. It is most useful there. Again, I would suggest keeping the sense of where you are, relative to your position , out of your practice experience itself.
In a sitting position, you remove the challenge of standing. Again, in a more extreme, deep stance, if one did that practice, the stance can be very distracting to feeling energy. You feel your weak/sore legs more... Remove that physical/external work, and you can really focus on feeling the subtleties of qi. You could perhaps, focus on this heightened sensitivity, without having to deal with standing. Focus on feeling the energy. You might accomplish a heightened experience in the hand movements,breathing , visualization....that you later bring into standing, that you may not have found, working in the standing position and having your back distract you.
You have so many choices to engage with and go forward with.
I would check your physical alignment, just to make sure you are standing with a straight back. Check your lower spine alignment. Standing too sway backed creates discomfort. If you back up to a wall in your standing position, you can see how straight your back is. Sometimes, curling the pelvis slightlyunder and forward , aligns the lower back. You don't want tension there in adjusting that. Continually relax the buttocks/pelvis, so you have a sense of floating in there, not locked up tight,,, but open.
There are two energy points on the upper buttocks . Relaxing that area, is a muscular thing, but also can help open that area energetically. I find that area can tighten up frequently, and needs to be continually relaxed. Tension, can cause back pain too, especially if you are out of alignment.
I would suggest trying your active exercise sitting. Sit on the edge of the chair, back straight, chin tucked. Be aware of a good connection to the ground, feet flat. This is a more attentive way to sit, as opposed to sit back in the chair. Have all the alignments in place short of standing. Afterward your session, try just standing.
Just the first position in level I, of just standing. Work on your alignment, relax the buttocks/pelvis, and mostly focus on lower dan tien breathing. Just stand. It is powerful qigong to just stand too. Keep your arms clear of your body's sides, slightly spread the fingers to fill with qi. You might find you can reconstruct your initial alignment to just standing, and make progress with that singular element.
Give it your focus.
Standing, in essence and sequence, is before the forming of yin and yang. Look at that from a creation event standpoint relative to the forming of the universe, the forming of yin and yang. Standing is big, and very singular. You stand in great possibility.
After your session sitting, you will have a good warmth , be more focused, all your channels will be open, and then you can try standing, coming from that, and focus on the alignment, opening the pelvis, breathing ....lots to engage with on this fundamental level.
love,
gallen
I recall this famous martial master who was in older martial arts films. There was this scene , with him sitting in a chair. Someone sneaked up behind him and pulled out the chair. He remained sitting, without the chair. Think big. :-)
