"Breathe Deep" - The Qigong Newsletter
Issue V. 5.0 May-June 2000
Welcome. The hope of this free e-zine is to inform
you about what is happening in the Qigong (Chi Kung)
community. We are in fact a community...one composed
of different styles and different personalities, yet
one sharing a common goal. To sincerely practice
Qigong, it is our responsibility to support each other
and remember that an infinite and pure Qi ties us together
as one. To understand Qigong, it should be our
wish to inspire others to become responsible for their
own health and spiritual well being. May this newsletter
become the forum for your words and energy...and a place
to learn and grow together. Peace. Francesco
Garripoli, Editor
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of Contentments
Editorial: Ruminations and
Celebrations
For those of you who have known me as "Garri"
through my books and video projects, I ask you to flow
with my Taoist nature and accept my return to my Italian
name Francesco. Life is always reminding me to
"let go" of what appears safe and comfortable...
why should a name be any more or less an expression
of this? When it became clear in my heart that
my energy, my Qi, no longer resonated with "Garri,"
I knew it was time to let go of that moniker and adopt
a new (or old in this case) one. Isn't that what
Qigong ultimately teaches us? To remember our true nature
and to not get attached to the "form" or physical
outward expression of who we are. For me, practicing
Qigong helps me to remember these things... that my
body is in fact a reflection of who I am, but certainly
not "who I am." Qigong's slow movements
and deep breathing helps me to regain a certain sensitivity
and clarity that gets masked during the course of normal
life. It is with this sensitivity that we can learn
to "feel" the shifts in energy around us. This
is the essence of Feng Shui. Real Masters will
tell you that there is no "training" for this
art of placement and energy flow. Learning to cultivate
your sensitivity and clarity through Qigong meditation,
you will learn to "sense" Qi in a more tangible
way. With this comes the understanding of physical
placement for the most efficient flow of Qi. With
this also comes the ability to aid in the healing process
of others and yourself. It can also help you sense
the "rightness" of things like your name. I
am grateful for the help of my friend and I Ching advisor,
Qigong Master Sha Zhi Gang, in guiding me on my decision
to change my name. With the change of any fixed
"pattern" in our life comes an unblocking
of Qi and certain freedom. May we all continue
to find the courage in our lives to gain sensitivity,
listen, and act on the blocks we perceive. This
is the true path of healing.
This has been quite a month of activity in the Qigong
world. The Chinese government continues to deal
with Falun Gong practitioners throughout their country,
a subject that polarizes many. The subject will
be addressed for the first time in an in-depth interview
on Vision TV in Canada. Details below.
It was a time to congratulate Bill Douglas for his
incredible work to bring World Tai Chi Qigong Day to
reality. I know that all the people who participated
in this global event on April 8th truly felt a sense
of community amongst fellow seekers and practitioners. This
is the spirit and prayer of this newsletter project.
Congratulations also to Dr. Effie Chow for her effort
in creating another wonderful event with the Qigong
Summit 2000 in Washington, D.C. This event brought
together a wide range of Masters and practitioners from
around the world to share and discuss research and policy
for the future of healthcare.
This issue of Breathe Deep is another step in its fun
evolution. Thanks to everyone who contributed: Meng
Qing with a short article introducing two contemporary
Qigong masters whose contributions have shaped the formation
of mass Qigong practices in China. Rick Ugino,
John Du Cane, and Janet Graham all contributed from
their hearts. Check out the "aura" photos
and don't forget to answer the Qi Poll question. Thanks
for helping to make this newsletter a reflection of
the WHOLE Qigong community... that requires joyful participation. A
few thousand people are sharing together in this now...
and it feels great!
We hope this newsletter can inspire you to learn more
about Qigong and keep the concepts of Qi and energy
healing interwoven in your daily life. Sometimes we
need reminders, outward expressions of community. This
is the hope my wife Daisy and I had in creating ""Breathe
Deep" - The Qigong Newsletter.
In a few hours we'll be leaving to China with our Spring
Qigong Study Trip... funny how this newsletter managed
to make it out on time... a lovely combination of Qigong
focus and several hundred miracles...
Help us make this free bi-monthly newsletter a tool
to create community among Qigong practitioners who practice
a myriad of different styles. The outward form may be
different, but the essence remains the same. In this
we share a single heart. Contribute to this newsletter
however you can and help it to become a tool to reflect
our growing community around the planet. Share
it with those who will benefit.
Thank you for your support and for keeping joy an important
part of the healing process.
Peace.
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Guest Article: Jiang Weiqiao
and Liu Guizhen: Two Pioneers of Contemporary Qigong
By By Meng Qing
Qigong is known as an ancient breathing exercise. Its
origin can be traced back to at least two thousand years
ago in ancient China. The techniques and theories of
Qigong have been preserved mainly by traditional health
professional and in Chinese religious traditions, but
have never entered into the public sphere except for
martial arts. Until the beginning of last century, Qigong
exercises were developed mainly in relation with health
cultivation, religious rituals and martial arts. Such
exercises were created and practiced among physicians,
elites, Taoist and Buddhist monks, and martial art masters.
The techniques and theories were often deliberately
kept secret. Traditional Qigong texts are usually written
in very difficult and mysterious language and forms,
they were usually handed down to a single successor
or only to family members. Many techniques are taught
through oral communication in order to keep secret from
the outsiders. Qigong was never a mass phenomenon.
Today Qigong exercise became so popular in China. Since
the 1980s, it is said that nearly 70 percent of China's
urban population is involved into Qigong practices.
Qigong has become an effective health tool that everybody
can have access to. This phenomenon of mass Qigong practice
is largely due to the innovation of traditional styles
of Qigong from the beginning of last century and the
revival of traditional culture in China since the 1970s.
This article reviews contributions of two pioneers of
contemporary Qigong--- Jiang Weiqiao and Liu Guizhen---
for their efforts first made Qigong exercises became
available to the public.
1. Jiang Weiqiao and "Yinshizi Jingzuofa"
Jiang Weiqiao (1873-1958), born in Changzhou (Jiangsu
province), was the author of the famous book "Yinshizi
Jingzuofa" ("Yinshizi’s method of quiet
sitting"). Jiang was a well known educator and
best known as one of the first Qigong experts who introduced
Qigong exercises to the public.
Jiang Weiqiao had weak health since a young age. When
he was 28, a severe disease called pulmonary tuberculosis
almost killed him and forced him to be isolated. He
began to practice a Taoist style of Qigong called "small
heavenly circuit," four times a day for 85 days.
This experience changed him into a complete new man---
he has not only recovered from pulmonary tuberculosis
but has also been released from all kinds of ill feelings
that bothered him for years. He thus continued this
"small heavenly circuit" method for several
years and later turned to Buddhist style of Qigong exercises
until his death.
Jiang Weiqiao went to Japan for study during his thirties
as many Chinese intellectuals of that time. In Japan,
"quiet sitting" was very popular because of
the methods created by two Japanese--- Okata and Fujida.
Jiang Weiqiao was surprised by the scientific approach
adopted by both Japanese and the popularity of their
methods that led tens thousands of people to gain better
health. In China, Qigong practice was much less known
by the public and often misunderstood as being superstitious.
When Jiang Weiqiao came back to China, he decided to
introduce Qigong as a health tool to the public. In
1914, he published his first book--- "Yinshizi
Jingzuofa," a method combined the Taoist method
"small heavenly circuit" with his own training
experiences. Jiang Weiqiao’s method, as he wished,
was well received and became the most popular Qigong
style of that time. Four years later, he published a
sequence in which he added two new methods derived from
Buddhist Tiantai style. Since then, Jiang practiced
uniquely Buddhist style Qigong--- from Tiantai to Tibetan
Buddhist style. During the 1950s Jiang continued to
promote Qigong as a tool of keeping health and disease
prevention. He worked as the supervisor of the Qigong
clinic in Shanghai, gave many public lectures about
Qigong and contributed several important publications
related to Qigong practice. Jiang Weiqiao died at the
age of 85.
2. Liu Guizhen and "Neiyang Gong"
During the 1950s, Some traditional Qigong experts and
practitioners innovated certain traditional styles of
Qigong into simpler styles and began to apply them to
medical uses. The term Qigong was first used to generalize
any breathing exercises and this was an important contribution
of Liu Guizhen (1920-1983), the sixth successor of "Neiyang-gong"
("Inner-Nourishing Qigong").
Due to severe health problems, Liu Guizhen, a communist
activist during the civil war, went back for recovering
to his home town in the countryside of Hebei province
in 1948. There, he began to learn Neiyang Gong from
his uncle who was the fifth successor of this popular
style of Qigong. Neiyang Gong was created some 300 years
ago and has been only taught orally to a single successor
of each generation. After practicing Neiyang Gong for
100 days, Liu Guizhen returned to work with full health.
Since 1949--- the founding of people's Republic
of China, Liu Guizhen began to work in state own clinics
teaching Neiyang Gong to patients with permanent illness.
The effects were outstanding, so in 1954 Liu Guizhen
established the first Qigong clinic in the city of Tangshan.
Liu began to apply Qigong treatment to various illnesses
and received significant positive results. In 1956,
the clinic was enlarged and moved to the city of Beidaihe
where became the centre of Qigong treatment in China.
Liu Guizhen published two books related to Neiyang Gong
and Qigong treatment in 1957. His contributions lay
not only on introducing Neiyang Gong to the public but
also on reexamining the popular Qigong methods and applying
them to treatment.
Liu Guizhen was forced to stop working in 1964 due
to the Cultural Revolution. He was allowed to work again
only in 1980 after long time of political abuse. Unfortunately,
Liu Guizhen died in 1983 when he was ready to contribute
again his experiences and knowledge regarding Qigong
exercises and treatment. Neiyang Gong, for the book
that Liu Guizhen left, is and will be always available
for the public.
From the late 1970s, Qigong exercises came once more
to the public as a health tool. The popularity of "Guo
Lin New Qigong," Hexiang Zhuang ("Crane Qigong")
and Dayan Gong ("Wild Goose Qigong") marked
the return of the powerful Qigong exercises. Between
1980 and now, more than 200 Qigong masters came to the
public teaching their techniques. Many of them are allowed
to form popular Qigong organizations. There are many
schools, publications, clinics and training courses
related to Qigong in China. Many Qigong masters also
travel to overseas teaching Qigong. Nearly 200 million
people are said to practice various styles of Qigong
in China today, many are doing so for obtaining better
health and longevity. Undoubtedly, without the early
efforts of Jiang Weiqiao and Liu Guizhen, the long mysterious
Qigong exercises would probably have not become an effective
health tool for hundreds millions of people today. Ms.
Meng Qing (Meng is her family name) is a Ph.D. history
student at the Université de Montréal
in Canada mengq@cam.org
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Applications: Energy Exercises
for Treating Cancer
By Richard P. ‘Rick’ Ugino
My exposure to energy work came after College in Rochester
New York while training at a Chito-Ryu style Karate
Dojo in the years 1972-1978. In addition to the karate
and hung gar kung fu we practiced, higher ranking dojo
students were also taught rudimentary health exercises
like "The 8 pieces of silk" and the "I-Chin-Ching"
to help the body get ready for Internal work. Little
did I know that my continued interest and training in
both Qigong and the Neijia would help save my life less
than twenty years later.
What really changed my feeling and understanding of
Qigung and internal energy work was my training in XingYi,
Form of Mind Boxing, begun in 1982 after one of my Black
belts, John Isone, returned from a sabbatical on Taiwan.
John was directly trained in the school of the XingYi
legend, Hung Yi Zhang and even was trained a short while
by Hung Yi Mien, the Gao style Ba Gua master of the
family. Returning from Taiwan, John began a XingYi
class and I symbolically put on a white belt and went
to the back of the class to begin to learn XingYi. For
the next five years, I only trained XingYi and the internal
breath exercises I had learned up to that point. The
final year of class, a student at the school, Steve
Martin, started training those interested in the 8 mother
palms of Chen Ting Hua style Ba Gua. I was most fortunate
to be receiving real Neijia training while digesting
and expanding my own knowledge.
I was diagnosed with Cancer in October of 1992. After
numerous visits to my Doctor and a series of tests,
there was still a question of what I had. The final
diagnosis came after a procedure called a Medialstynoscopy
in which an incision is made in your chest and samples
of tissues were taken from my lymph nodes. It was
after this procedure that a correct diagnosis of Hodgkin
s Disease was made. I was sent home and my Family
Doctor was given the sad duty of informing me, by phone,
that this was, indeed, Cancer.
My treatments started that November and I underwent
10 months of Chemotherapy and 8 weeks of follow-on Radiation
therapy before my disease was declared in remission.
I had the usual effects of weakness, tiredness and feeling
generally emotionally drained during my treatment time.
I was fortunate that the military system and my work
supervisor in particular were extremely sympathetic
to my plight and as supportive as possible.
During this time, as much as possible, I attempted
to keep up with normal activities. This included
an exercise period at least three times a week and every
period combined western style stretching and fast walking
with both Qigung exercises, the 5 fists (5 elements)
of XingYi and a few of the XingYi energy forms, ‘water
skimmer’ being chief among them. In addition, I
had cobbled together a short, health-related version
of Taiji, from the Yang style that I did at the end
of my workouts.
My Oncologist was amazed that I could continue to work
in addition to attempting to keep exercising. I actually
increased my time slow jogging on a treadmill while
I was being treated! Part of this effort was to
remain as normal as possible, the other part was to
employ those physical/mental methods I knew to make
my mind'strong and attempt to defeat the disease. In
addition, I felt I had an extra burden to carry with
the disease. I was a Military Officer who might someday
have to face death in service to our country. I also
considered myself a "weaponless warrior" since
I had studied one form of Martial Arts or another for
the past 25 years. There was an old expression
in Japanese Karate that goes, "To overcome fear
is to overcome death and to overcome death is the Spirit
of Karate." I knew the quote by heart but until
this time, I had not realized the depth and real meaning
of this saying until I was stricken with cancer! I thought
how I faced something like this would tell me if my
other training and experiences had really prepared me
for a life and death situation. My Training in
the Internal Arts most especially prepared me to
face this horrible disease, training where in an oft
quoted maxim "The mind commands, the body obeys
and vital energy (called Qi) follows"! I was a
firm believer that if the Doctors could hold off and
kill the disease with the modern drug/radiation therapy,
I could finish the process with employment of this mind-
energy!
Today, I am Cancer free and dedicated to spreading
the word about what the energy exercises can do for
anyone with such a disease. It not only works but works
well. And in 1998, I was able to speak with my
first energy instructor Ted Ricketts for the first time
in more than twenty years and say ‘Thank You’
for introducing me to energy and it's health uses. Without
this knowledge, I'm sure my life would have been
very much different.
Richard P. ‘Rick’ Ugino is a longtime martial
arts and Qigong instructor who works with individuals
and corporations from his home base in Hilton, NY xingteacher1@yahoo.com
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Written Word: How Qigong
Can Help you relax Out of Stress
By John Du Cane, M.A.
Our birthright is to swim in an ocean of pleasure and
harmony, luxuriating in the rolling swell of life. As
young children—if we are fortunate—we live
that birthright. We celebrate life with a buoyant, carefree,
vital engagement in the everyday moment.
Then something starts to happen to us. We begin to
tense up. We begin to close down. We begin to lose touch
with our bodies and live in our heads. We become confused
about our feelings. We start to regret the past or fantasize
about the future. We begin to fragment. We start to
lose our fluid integrity as fully expressed and responsive
human beings.
What happened? In a nutshell, stress happened.
While a certain amount of stress is natural to life,
our search for technological shortcuts to comfort and
convenience has ironically created unprecedented waves
of stress in our modern lives. Our nervous systems are
constantly reacting to a barrage of phone calls, faxes,
e-mails, frenzied traffic and numbing schedules.
Life seems to have become more of a struggle, with
less rather than more time to rest. Sooner or later
we really hit the wall. We end up sick in bed. Or a
major crisis stuns us into a temporary halt. Stress
has got the better of us. Not surprisingly, the World
Health Organization is now listing stress as a prime
contributor to the five leading causes of death—
such as cancer and heart disease.
Although most of us are now aware of the dangers of
stress, We've become so addicted to the surges and swings
of feeling associated with stress, we can no longer
imagine life any other way. If things get too quiet
we start seeking out a new stressor to react to, for
another chemical jolt, another toxic surge of excitement
and nervous expenditure.
The Most Effective Self-Care System in the World?
There are many ways to intervene in this vicious cycle
and reclaim our peace of mind—restoring balance
and serenity in our lives. Meditation, yoga and moderate
exercise can all help. But, after twenty-five years
of personal research into what works best to counter
stress, I've found the ancient Chinese art of Qigong
to offer the surest results.
So why and how is Qigong so effective in managing stress?
First, Qigong emphasizes and teaches how to breathe
correctly into the lower stomach. When we breathe this
way consistently, our lymph systems are effectively
activated, detoxifying the body and sending a gentle
stream of energizing oxygen into the tissues. Activation
of the lymph system automatically triggers a relaxation
response throughout the body. We automatically feel
balanced and "well." Qigong also activates
the lymph system with off-the-body stroking movements
and an emphasis on pumping the legs with up and down
squatting movements.
Secondly, Qigong's strong mental emphasis on internal
relaxation shifts us out of the sympathetic nervous
system (associated with fight-or-flight and our normal
reaction to stress) into the parasympathetic nervous
system (associated with feelings of pleasure and harmony).
This is so important. Overuse of the sympathetic nervous
system depletes our adrenals and floods the body with
toxic levels of cortisol. We literally burn ourselves
out. But like rats hitting the button for more cocaine,
we just can't stop. Qigong slowly seduces us back
into the gentle world of the parasympathetic and over
time we build up a "body-memory" that allows
us to choose a different, relaxed response to stress
rather than the frazzled, knee-jerk reaction we usually
employ.
Thirdly, Qigong balances the meridian energy flow in
the body, through scientific movement and direction
of mental intention. Areas that are depleted are restored
to their correct levels; areas that are excessive are
"calmed down." As we become more energetically
balanced, we are automatically capable of better adjusting
to daily stress.
Fourthly, Qigong practice builds the skill of becoming
tranquil and appreciating the value of that tranquility.
Qigong accomplishes this by meditative standing and
sitting practices where we go deep inside and use our
attention to release ourselves emotionally and psychically.
Significant healing occurs at this level of Qigong practice,
with tremendous implications for stress management.
Lastly, Qigong integrates our three major centers or
"brains," the third eye area, the heart center
and the stomach. In the computer age, we have become
"headier" than ever, losing touch with the
wisdom of our hearts and the grounding of our stomachs.
Western science and organizations like HeartMath have
proved that attention on the heart center can entrain
the head to process emotions in a less stress-inducing
manner. Through its emphasis and cultivation of all
three centers, Qigong ensures maximum resilience when
it comes to handling stress effectively.
Qigong is like a practical course in acceptance and
letting go. We learn how to conserve our energy and
stay calm, whatever the pressures. We learn how to gain
control of our inner being and take responsibility for
enhancing the quality of our lives. These are skills
you can use and apply for the rest of your life.
John Du Cane, who began his Qigong studies in 1975,
teaches Qigong in the Twin Cities and is the author
of four Qigong videos. He owns a publishing and mail
order business devoted to Qigong and related health
systems. For more information on classes and for a free
catalog of Qigong resources, contact John at Dragon
Door Publications, PO Box 4381, St. Paul, MN 55104.
Tel: (651) 645-0517. E-mail: dragondoor@aol.com. Web:
dragondoor.com
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News: Reader submissions and press
admissions
Qigong in the Media
June 8 and June 9 - Vision TV in Canada will air
the first, in-depth television expose on Falun Gong,
the group that has been in the news for months as the
Chinese government has been curtailing their activities. This
important two-part series, directed by Dominque Darmon,
airs at 7:00 pm and again at 10:30 pm each evening on
their "Skylight" series. Francesco (Garri)
Garripoli's interview will appear in Part 2 on June
9th.
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Update
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (WTCQD) was an amazing
experience. Thank you everyone in some 40 countries
who got involved and especially thank you Bill Douglas
for your tireless effort to bring this vision to reality.
Many newspapers and television networks, including Fox
TV, covered this event helping to achieve its goal of
raising consciousness about Qigong and Tai Chi: worldtaichiday.org
The Qigong Institute's Public Access Pages
The Qigong Institute (QI) is now offering a free service
to it's members that will help to build the Qigong community
in a positive way. Check out their web site at
Qigonginstitute.org and
click on "Join Directory." Here you ll
get instructions on how teachers and therapists can
have their services listed and made available to students
and interested seekers, effectively providing a unique
web site for each person. QI is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to providing sound scientific information
on Qigong and its applications in healthcare.
Featured web site
Check out this new web site we just heard about from
Patrick Kelly. He s created this free site (with
no hooks or ulterior motives) in six languages: respire.net
Thanks Patrick!
The Hunger Site
The Hunger Site at the U.N. is a great web site. All
you do is go to the site, click a button and somewhere
in the world some hungry person gets a meal to eat at
no cost to you. The food is paid for by corporate
sponsors. But, you're only allowed one click per
day so spread the word to others.
Please visit the site and pass the word: thehungersite.com
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Voices: Reader submitted testimonials
and inspirations
Shine Like the Sun and Moon
By Janet Graham
My Qigong practice group had the idea of having an
aura photograph taken before doing Qigong, and then
after, to see if there would be any difference. It
was a fun evening. And the results did show changes. Some
people had dramatic color shifts, others just got clearer
on the same colors. The greatest part was the interpretations
by the man taking the photos, Mike. For most of
us it confirmed what we intuitively already knew, and
some where given suggestions that have already proven
helpful in their journeys of life. And it was a
way of visualizing, seeing energy, which we work with
every day in our Qigong practice. (See photo in
PhotoQi section below.)
(Dedicated to Mike, for his unlimited patience and
kindness.)
An ordinary day
The sun shines brightly
Twilight arrives
Until the moon glows lightly
A group gathers
For an evening of fun
With aura photography
And a session of Qigong
A rainbow backdrop
Brightens the area
As each sits in the chair
Smiling at the camera
The Qigong itself
Was short and sweet
As we sat close together
Working in the chi
Quietly once more
To see if anything changed
Photos were taken again
And how it works, explained
Emphasis was given
With regards to our being
The aura is only a portion
With much more yet unseen
As each went in
To have the photos compared
Interpretations were given
Making all even more aware
That we are beings of light
Which may radiate from our faces
Or seen on special film
And felt through chi experiences
Another lesson gained
Overall from the evening
Was on opening oneself
To the inner lights shinning
And our potential
Of using the body and mind
To adjust from within
Changing the lights that shine
Until we balance
Becoming more in tune
To shine naturally as the sun
And resonate fully with the moon
Copyright 3/14/2000 Janet Graham swan3@erols.com
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PhotoQi: Reader submitted photo
of the month
This month's photos were taken with a special camera
set up to capture the energy field around a person called
an aura. The image on the left was taken first. The
image on the right was taken again of the same person, only after he engaged in 45 minutes of Qigong meditation
practice. It is believed that this shows a clarity
of his being, as seen in a reduction of the white "cloud"
around him.
Courtesy of Janet Graham swan3@erols.com (See
her poem and explanation in Voices section above.)
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"Love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant."
-- Anonymous
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