In the Quiet of the Flow: What the Slowness Reveals: An Experience of the Weekly Qigong Classes

Yining Lu

By Yining Lu, Open Spirit Intern

One of the reasons Open Spirit caught my attention when I was applying for internship was the weekly Qigong classes. How rare and how fortunate it is to find a place in the United States where Qigong classes are offered on a weekly basis, and how unusual it is for a place to openly acknowledge and endorse a practice from a wisdom tradition that is entirely foreign! I had an intuitive feeling that this was exactly the place I was searching for-- a place which truly lives up to the implications of its name: Open Spirit.

My first experience with Qigong was in China, where I volunteered at a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) center, learning massage and moxibustion. One of the daily practices of those TCM practitioners was Zhan Zhuang (Standing Posture Practice). Zhan Zhuang is a still practice where practitioners squat slightly, settle the Qi in the lower abdomen, and position their arms in front of their chests as if holding an energy ball. Those TCM practitioners would stand still with their backs to the sun for an hour after lunch, when the Yang Qi (the active, positive side of the energy) from the sun reached its peak. The purpose of such a practice is for the practitioners to become more aware of the flow of Qi inside their bodies, encompassing them, and connecting themselves with other beings. Just as TCM goes beyond treating the physical body to focus on the state of the whole being and the flow of universal energy, it trains practitioners to become more attuned and receptive to this subtle, ever-present flow of Qi, which is also perceived as the source of healing energy.

This year, I have practiced with Kathleen for several times on Wednesday mornings. It serves as an extraordinary opportunity for me to taste the flavor of Qigong in my body, rather than just in my mind.

Just as Buddhist masters often say that it takes at least twenty minutes of meditation to truly enter a meditative state, and fitness coaches say that it takes at least twenty minutes of workout to start burning your fat, somehow the first twenty minutes always proved to be the most challenging. Initially, it was easy to feel bored. Although I understand in theory the physical and spiritual benefits of Qigong, I still could not stop wondering how many more calories I could have burnt within this one hour at gym, and whether these slow movements were truly as effective as they were claimed to be. These thoughts clearly reflected how wired I am to an environment where we are always chasing after specific goals and prioritizing efficiency.

After I passed the roughly twenty-minute threshold, though, it often felt as if a switch had been flipped in my consciousness. The impatience, boredom, and frustration previously clouding my mind seemed to be penetrated by a sudden bright and clear awareness of the presence of my breath. Only after I had calmed my mind and heart, I started to hear the breath within my breath—the subtle flow of energy throughout my body. It was incredible how the movements seamlessly synchronized with the rhythm of my breath. As they created a beautiful choreography, the subtle energy began to manifest, generating warm sensations between my palms, and inviting me into its flow.

I then realized how accustomed I am to ignoring the presence of such profound source of comfort and nourishment, which is so accessible once I truly pay attention. It is a gift from the universe, yet we often overlook it, manipulating and forcing it to follow our own self-imposed motions and chasing our self-imposed goals, instead of slowing down and listening—allowing ourselves to be led, instead of trying to lead.

Kathleen once explained to me that the healing effect of Qigong comes from its ability to actively move through the body’s meridians. While massages can help ease tensions along the meridian pathways, Qigong is a practice which enables the Qi within our bodies to flow actively through the meridians, rather than being passively pushed and pressed. Perhaps, the gist of Qigong practice lies in helping us reverse the habitual narrative. The learning happens in being still instead of moving, slow instead of fast, following instead of leading, seeking instead of claiming, and letting go instead of holding on tightly.

The universe has its Way-- are we seeking it, or are we closing our eyes and ears, trying to construct our own?