Self-Healing Chi Kung
By Laraine Crampton

Based in the Taoist concept of life as the subtle interplay and interweaving of the five essential elements of nature (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), Self-Healing Chi Kung is a simple, gentle, systematic approach to the self-management of one's physical, emotional and spiritual health. This series of basic exercises can be used to assess one's general health and balance, to strengthen areas of weakness or deficiency or reduce areas of stagnation or excess and regularly balance and harmonize one's energies.

Useful to those within a wide spectrum of individual health and mobility, Self-Healing Chi Kung may be practiced by individuals restricted to bed or wheelchair, as well as by those with abundant levels of energy and activity. Many people first learn these exercises in order to recover their health and physical freedom, but then continue them for years after, in order to balance, maintain and enhance their renewed health and well-being, and to correct temporary disturbances in their energies before their health becomes affected.

The first focus of Self-Healing Chi Kung is on abdominal breathing ("baby" breathing or "belly" breathing), in order to bring fresh breath and good chi deep into the abdomen to fill the lower energy field known as the "Tan Tien" (pronounced "don tea-in") and refresh the whole body. Then one learns to move one's attention and breath to direct chi into the key meridians flowing in the midline of the trunk and back, the Ren and Du meridians, which strongly influence the balance of yin and yang energies in the body. This circular flow, called the "Microcosmic Orbit" or "Minor Orbit Circulation" (see pg 145 of the Workbook of Spiritual Development), is the essential breathing and chi circulation pattern underlying each of the five exercises of Self-Healing Chi Kung. 1

Prior to each session of Chi Kung, one warms up and initiates chi flow by a few minutes of quiet sitting or standing and engaging in deep, gentle breathing and focusing on the Microcosmic Orbit for a minimum of three cycles. Once ready to begin, the student learns simple postures and key points of awareness in the body, by which to focus one's concentration during the exercise. With additional knowledge of the natural correspondences of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water (see the introduction to The Tao of Nutrition), the student is ready to begin applying basic breathing and movement to each major organ system of the body.

The Wood element, for example, directly corresponds to the "Liver" energy of the body and spirit, with its positive tendency to flourish and grow, and its negative tendency to turn into frustration and anger if over-controlled or if left to run wild. Part One of the Wood Element exercise helps clear the Liver of stagnation, releasing >constrained' chi to flow smoothly and restore natural cycles in the body, such as peaceful sleep, appropriate dealing with anger or frustration, and, for women, regular menstruation. Part Two of this exercise is directed towards cleansing and refreshing the energies of the entire body, now that the Wood Element has been restored to its proper place in the circle.

Similarly, each of the other exercises has portions that focus on clearing excess or strengthening deficiency in the particular organs and channels influenced by the Fire, Earth, Metal and Water elements, and restoring harmony to the whole body. These exercises may be used individually (to cleanse one's spirit of the effects of an encounter with a bad-tempered co-worker, or to strengthen the digestion following a bout of flu or indigestion, for example), or as a group. Those who regularly cultivate their energies with the whole cycle of Self-Healing Chi Kung exercises report greater confidence in their health, more clarity and focus as they work or play, a stronger ability to keep their perspective and live in the present rather than being disturbed by past events or encounters, and greater immunity and resilience as they go about their daily activities. Of equal importance from a biomedical perspective, individuals who regularly practice these exercises report decreases in high blood pressure, greater regulation of blood sugar levels, increased stamina with improved cardiovascular function, improved sleep and digestion.

If you have been wanting to start an exercise program that is effective and also easy to learn, Self-Healing Chi Kung may be a good choice. If you are not near an area where a Self-Healing Chi Kung class is being offered, a videotape of the complete series of movements is available through SevenStar Communications.

Footnotes

1. If one is not accustomed to Chi Kung practice and needs to learn to be comfortable with breathing in a deep, relaxed way while guiding one's Chi, it will be very helpful to learn the simple exercise in the audiotape "Stress Release Chi Kung" before continuing to the exercises related to the Five Elements. This exercise is taught as introductory practice in YSU's courses in Self-Healing Chi Kung.