Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Pep Talk for a Newcomer

To the kind people of the Spring Forest Community,

I'm sure that some of this has been covered in other posts but I am looking for some advice on a way to move forward with my qigong. At the beginning of August I came down with what seemed to be a virus; swollen tonsils, swollen glands, fever, chills, crushing fatigue and a burning feeling in my chest. I was literally in bed for 23 out of 24 hours a day for almost two months. I have recently started to get a bit better, all of the fever, chills, sore throat, and malaise have finally gone and I'm able to sit up now and walk a little bit but I'm still so fatigued that I can't even put a home meal together yet (and I'm a chef!). As you can imagine I've been to every specialist in the city and they have been unable to diagnose what is wrong with me. I am being tested for Valley Fever this week (a fungus that lives in the soil in Arizona and California - I travelled to the desert in May) but they think that is a long shot.

In one of my darker moments a friend appeared with some information about Spring Forest Qigong and I saw it as a really tangible way to help myself. I ordered Course One and have been working on my practice for the last ten days or so. What I have found is that when I try to do the active exercises (which I can only do sitting down), I can do them and really enjoy them in the moment but about an hour after I'm done my lungs burn for about a day. I'm obviously doing too much.
Can anyone out there give me some advice on how to incrementally build up my qigong practice? Is there anyone who has been in a low energy situation like me who has managed to build an active practice up to at least a half an hour. How did you do it? I know that Spring Forest Qigong is going to help me but I don't want to take ten steps back before I take five steps forward.

I can do the Small Universe meditation lying down and it really helps me with the feelings of depression and hopelessness I feel right now. I always feel much better afterwards. I know that Master Lin emphasizes that active exercises are more important in the beginning but Is it enough for me to do just do the meditation until I regain more of my strength?
Any feedback that anyone has would be appreciated. Thank you. Lynn

I'm not sure how I missed it before but I've just read Peggy's post about practicing with chronic pain. The responses she received apply perfectly to my situation as well. I'm going to build my practice slowly and follow my instincts. Thank you!

Aloha DLJ,

I'm not sure of what Peggy Post you are referring to, however my suggestion would be to relax your breathing. If you are doing the Small Universe and need to take another breath to cover the entire "ohhm" or "Mwah," then do so. When doing the active exercises, adjust them to your even, relaxed breath.

(That and add yourself to the weekly group healing meditation list )

Much Love, Shawn

Thank you, Shawn! Your tip helped. I am finally starting to make some progress. My fatigue has started to lift - I do a half hour of Small Universe meditation when I first wake up in the morning and that really helps with my fatigue. I am now able to do about 8 minutes of the active exercises (sitting) and my lungs no longer burn. I signed up for the group telephone healing sessions and I'm finding them most helpful. On the first call I was literally moved to tears by Master Lin's kind, gentle, loving energy. I am starting to sleep much better.

A couple of quick questions for you (or anyone else who would like to answer):
1. I have been doing mostly Moving of Yin and Yang , Breathing of the Universe and Joining of Yin and Yang because they are fairly straightforward to do while sitting down. Should I add a seated version of Harmony of the Universe or is it better to first master standing versions of the previous exercises before I move on to Harmony of the Universe? (which seems like it might be a bit tricky to do sitting down).

2. My goal is to work towards a daily practice of 1 - 1 1/2 hours with the bulk of that being active exercise. Right now I am meditating for an hour a day and doing about 10 minutes of active. Is there any disadvantage to doing that much meditation this early in the game?

Thank you so much for all your help.

With gratitude,

Lynn

Hello! my belief is that SFQ or any other program are for you about you. There is nothing to rush, no completion to be met, so to speak. These practices are a living change that you add to your spacific paradigm. We all have different lives even though we are One. You might be doing just what is right for you right now. Your body and higher self speak to you and nudge you to do what is best for YOUR body, mind and soul. If you feel better, then you are on right track, practice more of same, do not worry about "how am i doing" You are doing fine if you follow your intuition.
Namaste'

I agree with rivers' response.

I will add that there is no disadvantage to doing more meditation than active and an hour is fine. Ultimately, SFQ IS meditation. The active exercises, movements and postures are there to help open channels and focus the energy.

An hour of Small Universe and 10 minutes of active exercise is a great practice. At your own pace, you can certainly work towards increasing the active component and it is good to have goals, but what you are doing now sounds great.

I wish more of my students would be doing as much as you are!

Aloha DLJ,

My suggestions above is also an analogy for your practice as a whole. Notice what was driving what how you were going about your exercises. Notice the beliefs, strategies, and goal focus that was resulting in a contracted breath and needless energy in the head.

Apply the shift you made with your breath and level of trusting the universe to how you go about your daily practice.

You may find that it's focus switches from the head to the heart, and from accomplishment to Love.

Much Love, Shawn

Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. I has helped me to stop being so goal-oriented and just enjoy the process. You'll be happy to know that I'm feeling stronger every day and yesterday I did a full 30 minutes of active exercise (a combination of sitting and standing).

With gratitude,
Lynn