Wuji Swimming Dragon Breathing

For the past several weeks I've been assiduously working with and achieving tremendous benefits from your "Qigong for Healing" video program. However, the breathing pattern for the "Wuji swimming dragon" exercise is unclear to me. Could you please clarify this for me?

Thank you for your note and good energy…I am always so happy to hear from people who are practicing Qigong and discovering their healing potential.

The "Swimming Dragon" is a beautiful move, and I must say, one that I do every day...I might not have time to do a lot of Qigong on a given day (although I am learning to incorporate the principles of Qigong in everything I do) but the "Swimming Dragon" is one form I do all the time.

It is simple, yet powerful…and when done correctly, can provide an excellent stretch from the ankles to the neck...and open Qi flow throughout the body--especially throughout the spine.

As for the breathing, the idea in the video was to simply use one hand (the right, but it can be the left too) as the "breath guide." This means, when that hand is moving towards the body, you inhale…when it is moving away from the body, you exhale. The idea is to just use the movement of one hand to guide the breathing pattern. For many people in the classes I teach, they have shallower breaths when they are first learning, so we work on an interim practice that allows for a breathing rhythm that uses both hands...staying with the idea of "exhale when moving away, inhale when moving towards the body"; try to find a pattern that works for you.

The key is to find a rhythm and then ease into it…even if your lose the rhythm in the middle…it's OK, naturally ease back into it. It seems that the brain responds positively to patterns that synchronize movement and breath...this helps to create the relaxing sensation we feel (and what can be measured on the EEG in the lab). I believe it is this synchronization in movement and breath that allows for smooth Qi flow and explains why people derive such positive benefits from moves such as this.

The key is to find your own rhythm within the rules and principles that are taught. It is your body and only you know it best...listen, trust, and keep practicing. I know that any Master has reached that level because of regular and sincere practice...listening all the time to the innate wisdom that lies within...and trusting in this from a deep place.

Another key is to learn to "feel" the sensation as your palm (and the key Lao Gong point in the middle of your palm--on the Pericardium Meridian) as it passes around the energy field (Wei Qi field) of your body... especially the abdominal region called the Lower Dan Tien. With practice, you will learn to sense the movement of Qi in this field... and understand how important it is to help the flow of Qi in your organ systems to maintain good health.

I wish you all the best in your practice.

Peace.

Please remember to consult your physician or healthcare provider before you do any kind of exercise to make sure it is safe for you.