Have you gotten off track with your Qigong or Tai Chi practice? If so, you’re not alone. Building momentum with your practice is one of the biggest challenges for beginners. I see this problem again and again in students. The good news is that if you sincerely want to get back on track, you can do it. These tips will help.
1. Know that Everyone Struggles
Sooner or later, everyone must face this issue. Even the most disciplined students go through phases where they stop practicing. It’s human nature.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”- Thomas Edison
The sooner you acknowledge that failure is part of the learning process, the sooner you can get yourself back on track. I’ve failed, and so have my top students. What makes us successful is that we accept failure as part of the process.
2. Read a Book
My teacher’s books are strewn all around the house. I’ve been reading them since 1997, but they still have the same effect on me. Whenever I read them, even for just a few minutes, I get inspired. And when I’m inspired, I practice more.
If you don’t own all of my teacher’s books, then I think you’re nuts. His books are treasures. Never before in history has so much quality information on these arts been available for so cheap. Get them.
There are other good books out there too. Heck, even bad books can sometimes inspire me to practice. After reading a bad book, I feel grateful to have such a good teacher, and the gratitude inspires me to go practice!
3. Do the 2-Minute Drill
I originally developed the 2-Minute Drill for students who had stopped practicing. For whatever reason, it was too difficult for them to jump straight back into the 15-Minute Routine. The 2-Minute Drill, however, was something they could manage.
Do you have 2 minutes? Of course you do. That’s why the 2-Minute Drill works so well — because it’s doable. I recommend that you set a goal to do the 2-Minute Drill every day for 30 days. If you fail, then just try again, without beating yourself up (see tip #1).
4. Take a Class
Do you live in Gainesville? If so, do you realize how many students reading this sentence from all over the country are envious of your ability to simply pop into class? (Maybe the long-distance students will comment below to encourage the local students!)
Before he moved to Florida, my student Chris would drive 8 hours from New Orleans to learn from me every few months. My student Christina (who is now married to Chris!) would drive 2.5 hours from St. Petersburg every week. Other students have flown or driven from New Mexico, Oregon, California, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Wyoming, Texas, New York, and even Alaska!
If you live in Gainesville, then it’s simple. Don’t make things complicated. If you want to come back to class, then just do it.
For those out of town, it’s harder, but still doable. Sign up for one of my workshops, or plan to come to Costa Rica for a retreat, or make the trip to Gainesville. It’s worth it!
5. Create Space
Is there room in your life — physically and metaphorically — for these arts? Is there a clean, comfortable place where you can go practice whenever you want? If not, then maybe you’ve just found the missing puzzle piece.
Years ago, I moved into a beautiful apartment overlooking a park in New York City. My friends helped me move in, and I asked them to leave the master bedroom empty.
“Why leave it empty?” a friend asked.
“Because that’s the practice room,” I replied.
“But it’s the nicest room in the apartment!”
“Yep. And that’s why it’s going to be the practice room.”
I created space for my practice. At the time, this was a big shift for me because I had been cooped up in tiny apartments for years, making it difficult to practice during the winter. As soon as I gave myself a nice practice space, things started to change for me. Suddenly, I found it easy to practice!
We have a room for everything — eating, sleeping, watching TV — but we have no room for Mindfulness.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
If you don’t yet have a place to practice, then create one. It can be a room, a porch, a gazebo in the back yard, but it must be comfortable, it must be convenient, and it must be readily available. Your space should be inviting, and it should entice you to practice.
6. Talk to Sifu
Sometimes, what you need most is a little support from your Sifu. Even if you probably know what he’s going to say, it can be reassuring to hear it. Your Sifu often has exactly what students are desperate for — perspective.
If you know me, then you know that I don’t just teach; I cultivate relationships with my students. Even though I’ve taught thousands of people, I know almost all of them by name. (If I don’t yet know your name, then I promise to learn it quickly if you start talking to me!) If I’m your Sifu, then you have a relationship with me. Use it!
If I’m not your sifu, then I encourage you to go talk to yours. As a Sifu, I can almost guarantee that yours will be happy to hear from you, and happy to help. (If not, then it might be time to find a new teacher.)
7. Read My Blog
My blog is a modern tool that helps me to address subjects that are meaningful to students. And guess what? Lots of students struggle with practicing, so it’s a common theme on my blog. In many ways, my blog is for you!
Blogs are great because they are dynamic. For example, you can scroll to the bottom of this post right now and leave a comment. (Yes, it’s really that easy.) And I will respond to that comment, creating a conversation. And because that conversation is public, it helps to create community among all the people reading.
If you aren’t on my email list, then get on it so that you can receive updates about new blog posts.
Zenfully yours,
Sifu Anthony
Sifu Anthony Korahais used Qigong to overcome clinical depression, aching low-back pain, chronic bronchitis, and a heart murmur. He is the founder and director of the Flowing Zen Center in Gainesville, Florida, and an internationally recognized teacher in the world of energy arts. To contact Sifu Anthony directly, click here.
I’m one of the student who flies into Gainesville, FL every year to attend Sifu Anthony’s Qigong, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi workshops. With driving and layovers it takes me over twelve hours to get to Florida.
I only attend about once a year because that’s all I can afford. By the time I add in air fare, hotel, and car rentals, I haven’t been able to reduce the cost of a trip below $1,000. I don’t consider that to be expensive as I am able to learn enough from one workshop to practice for the upcoming year.
I do wish that I lived in Gainesville, FL and could drop in on classes. With Sifu’s unlimited plan I could attend as often as I liked for around what one trip costs me now.
Thanks, David. Your investment is certainly paying off. Keep up the good work!
I can definitely say that I envy anyone that lives in Gainesville who can just pop into one of Sifu’s classes!
I can’t believe just how accessible Sifu and Sigung are; they’re literally an email away! Other sifu’s that I’ve trained under in the past would only speak to me in person; if I had a question about a point in practice, I was out of luck for the next 1-4 months before I saw them again.
I can also attest to the importance of having a good space. Last semester, I’d wake up at 5:00am and bike to campus so that I could have a particular courtyard all to myself without distractions. I’m more often doing my daily practice at night. Because I sleep on the floor (well, the carpeted floor!) and I have everything up on a bookshelf or suspended from the ceiling, I have an excellent floor space in which to practice. I have to wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that my cat and my roommate’s cat spend so much time in there! =)
Good stuff, Fred. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad that you found a space to practice your Kung Fu!
Sifu Anthony,
I have ben reading Chi Kung for health and vitality by Master Wong Kiew Kit.
I saw you web site and that helps gave me hope to make my plans of coming to Gainsville.
Do you please have a DVD that I can purchase to continue practising the Qigong stated in the book while I plan for my trip to learn details from you?
Last year I suffered from Sciatica with very cruciating pains but due the simple practices from the Chi Kung book I became well to the surprise of everyone around me.
Now I have problem with periodintal disease which i need to deepen my practise. My dentist tried to help but still my gums are still painfull. Please let me know if a DVD from you will deepen my practise while I budget for my trip to Gainsville.
Light and Gratitude.
Kyogi
Dear Kyogi,
I don’t have any DVDs. Learning from DVDs can be problematic because it emphasizes physical form rather than energy cultivation. I recommend that you continue learning from my teacher’s books, and also take advantage of my free downloads. Come down to learn from me in person, or consider coming to Costa Rica to learn from my teacher.
You may be inspired to know that one of my student’s overcame a so-called “incurable” periodontal disease. You can read his testimonial here: http://flowingzen.com/testimonials/
All the best,
Sifu Anthony
Hello Sifu Anthony,
Thank you so much for your inspiration message.
I am working on it so hard to come over to Gainsville.
If by dealing with Grandmaster’s book alone with such a marvelous result; how is it like to have the actual experience with a teacher. you will definitely see me there.
God bless you for helping mankind the way you do.
I really appreciate your reply.
Thanks again
Kyogi
I am greatful to be a patient of Christina’s (in St. Pete) who talked me into taking your course at The Vinoy in St. Pete a couple of years ago. I just recently (after many failed attemps of practicing the 15 minutes daily) incorporated the 2 minute drill into my everyday life. I am eager to learn the Five Animal Play to help with some underlying issues and wondered which book I should purchase from your website? BTW, I am coming up to Gainseville (for a graduation) this weekend and will be popping in to check out the studio. I’m very excited! Thanks for making this website available…it’s a jem!
I am greatful to be a patient of Christina’s (in St. Pete) who talked me into taking your course at The Vinoy in St. Pete a couple of years ago. I just recently (after many failed attemps of practicing the 15 minutes daily) incorporated the 2 minute drill into my everyday life. I am eager to learn the Five Animal Play to help with some underlying issues and wondered which book I should purchase from your website? BTW, I am coming up to Gainseville (for a graduation) this weekend and will be popping in to check out the studio. I’m very excited! Thanks for making this website available…it’s a gem!
Great. See you this weekend, Amy!
Dear Sifu Anthony,
I save all of your emails and I am happy that I saved this one in January, 2012. My practice has been like one who is learning to drive a “stick shift” car. You give it the gas and let out the clutch. If you do it too fast or too slow, the engine dies, and you start over. In some cases, frustration takes over and one decides it’s easier not to learn to drive a stick shift.
I have also felt as if I have let you down when actually, I’ve let myself down! The problem has been back pain increasing rather than decreasing. I know you have said to work through it, but like the stick shift driver, the pain overwhelms the desire to continue.
I appreciate your idea to do the 2-minute drill every day. I can do that! I will do that! Thank you so very much.
Frank
Frank, you haven’t let me down. I hope to see you next time I’m in Arkansas.