Hi Dennis,
It is a very limited view of qigong framing it so much in reference to a physical practice, or physical accomplishment or ability in reference to active exercises. If you remove some of the content/thinking/extra energy of how you see yourself and your practice, you can make progress in an unlimited sense.
Your current body, as well as being "Dennis", is this lifetime. You are an eternal being. In meditation, you engage with a process that aligns with the eternal aspect of you. I continually find that to be a wonderful thing. "The thing." Nothing physical about that. It would be very beneficial to you , to engage with the meditations, and leave out the content regarding perceptions of time, relative to your practice, or physical limitations, or anything else in this lifetime. When you sit down or lie down to meditate, try letting go of all the content regarding this lifetime. It can be a simple little letting go sensation or visualization or feeling/intention as you enter your meditation. No more Dennis, no more Dennis with the bad back, no more 'I'm doing my exercises in a limited way', or Dennis engaged with a compromised version of SFQ. This is not the case.
We all start somewhere, when we engage with qigong. Where, at what level, or ability, is not important. The practice , is important. From whatever point we engage, we then begin to transform. This is the best we can do in regards to self healing, transformation, regeneration, or self realization.
You have a mind, a body, a spirit and soul. The soul is perfection. The spirit, is another deal. How do you feel? How is your spirit? How is your spirit relative to how you perceive youself, your situation? 'You' can make unlimited progress regarding your spirit, in your qigong practice. You can accomplish emtiness, regardless of your physical limitations. With spiritual transformation, spiritual focus, all non physical aspects of self, you can transform your overall being. You can approach the physical aspect of this practice from focus on the meditative piece of the practice. You don't have to think about that! Just do the meditations, they take care of themselves, and they are transformative. You will feel different about yourself, gain new, positive perspectives on working with your body, or approaching that. Wisdom, also comes through meditation.
Approach the active exercises grounded in the meditations and the truth of who you are. An eternal being. Do whatever is doable. Relax and enjoy it. One exercise can be enough. No reactions or opinions about it. It will grow from wherever you start, doing however much you can. It is a life style practice of continual transformation, without limitation. You have an opening within this practice, through the inactive exercise that is unlimited. Spiritual energy is unlimited. Spiritual and universal energy work together,,,,touch each other..
love,
gallen
