Some teachers say that you need to practice qigong for hours every day in order to get results.
I’m not one of those teachers. I advocate short, high-quality sessions. The fundamental 5-Phase routine that I teach is only 15 minutes long, but it’s powerful medicine.
I encourage my students to bookend their day by practicing once in the morning, and then again in the evening or at night. (Click here if you want to learn the 5-Phase Routine online.)
But what about all those hours in between sessions? Is there anything we can do to get more mileage out of our qigong?
This video will show you an easy but powerful form of Walking Qigong. Although I shot this video with my students in mind, you can still benefit even if you practice a different type of qigong.
By adding this simple trick to your day you will:
- Learn how to get your qi flowing all day long
- Discover a fun way to practice mindfulness
- Practice qigong while walking the dog
- Do qigong covertly without anyone knowing
- Deepen any qigong exercise that utilizes the One Finger Zen hand form (一指禪, yi zhi chan)
- Open the Five Gates (dantian, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers).
- Magnify the health benefits of walking
Check out the video here:
Watch the video to learn this technique, and then leave me a comment. How does it feel? Can you feel the qi? And how do you feel after practicing this technique for a few days? From the heart, Sifu Anthony
Sifu, beautiful walk! Wow, I feel so much hand energy just doing the posture while watching. Looking forward to my next walk.
Now, what can I do on a bike ride? 🙂
Hi Sifu, Moira from South Africa.
Thank you so much for your teachings.
How would I treat spastic colon with Chi ?.
I am Nicolas Duggans Mom in SA.
Warm Regards
Moira.
Hi Moira. The trick in this video will be good for you, but this article will explain what it really takes to heal:
https://flowingzen.com/19278/which-qigong-exercise-should-you-practice-for-insert-problem/
Thanks for the video. I’ve taken several of your workshops but never learned one finger. Watching your video sitting here, I practiced what you were doing and moved my hands in small circles and could strongly feel the chi. When finished I assume we focus on storing the chi as in our practices. Good luck on your journey.
Hi Sifu. Enjoyed the video and the scenery, beautiful area. I can feel qi easily but this is the first time I’ve felt it doing one finger. Being able to start qi flowing this way anytime I want to is great! Thank you for this!
Hi Sifu, Tom J here, we lived in Oregon for 35 years and traveled thru Calif. many times on way to Baja. One time coming back we scouted the East side of Salton Sea and spent a few days camped on beach at State Park. The silence there is like drinking from a mt. spring we think you would enjoy it. Thank you for “walking one finger Zen” I’ve been doing a version I created walking in place and raising hands to horizontal position w/ bent wrist one finger Zen. I repeat up to 103 X and love the Qi created.
P.S. we’re moving from Fl. to Dandridge, Tn. 4/27
Tom and Juanita
Thank you so much Sifu. I love these video blogs. I injured my elbow area months ago, and I don’t even know how I did it. Now any kind of strain on that arm aggravates the injury. Even lifting several pounds or any kind of workout that engages the arms causes issues. I’m surprised (and worried) that it’s still not healing. I do Qi Gong every day once or twice using the 5 phase routine. I also walk a lot, and will add in the one-finger zen and hope it helps with the healing. I can definitely feel the Chi in my index finger when I do it. Feels nice.
Soft tissue takes time to heal. The trick is to avoid reinjuring it, which isn’t easy. Keep on qigonging on and I think you’ll be pleased with your results.
I LOVE this technique that can be used anywhere and anytime. My fingers are tingling even as I just walk through my house!
Fantastic!
Hi, Thank you. Yes, I felt the qi but not in my hands. I felt it elsewhere. It’s the first time I’ve noticed the movement of qi in my body!! (ps, watching your video when your turned in circles made me a little queasy.) 🙂
Keep trying. You’ll feel it in your hands!
Hi, I get a similar result to Donna.
I don’t really notice much in my hands, but do feel the effects quite strongly in my body. Any tips?
For both you and Donna, I think the solution is simple: keep practicing. If you are doing the 5-Phase Routine at least 5 times per week, then it’s only a matter of time before you discover the qi in a way that leaves no doubts.
Dear Anthony, you are so kind and generous to share your knowledge this way. I practice qigong most days and feel the qi very easily, years of practice does help, but one finger zen is something new and quite amazing. I felt it just now while sitting watching the video, and it is a wonderful thought it can be practiced anywhere, anytime or all the time. With many thanks, Sandie
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful!
P.S I am emailing from not quite so sunny Melbourne Australia. Please thing of bringing the van and the beautiful Sgt Pepper and see our lovely country and give some teachings.
Sandie
Love this mudra! I remember the first time I tried it in the 8 brocades, a few years ago, it was a bit like training a puppy to sit….:-)
But my brain quickly got the pattern. Though you take this to a much wider field of mindfulness and practice and that’s so good!
I have a Class of seniors who love these exercises and who love the walking styles I bring to them . I will certainly introduce this mudra to them and look forward to their reactions:-)
Thanks so much!
What a delightful Vlog! I started walking around the house with my hands in the hand posture as I watched the video. I was remembering practicing it while watching TV, just as you mentioned. Coincidentally, it was just yesterday that I introduced the first One Finger Zen exercise to my students! Thank you Sifu, you’re an inspiration!
Glad it was helpful!
I love the free form video style! So much more relaxed and open than your regular video’s. Looking good! Thank you for sharing! Love, Dennis
Wait, are you saying that my regular videos are stiff and closed?!?
Just kidding. Thanks for the feedback. More walk-and-talks coming soon!
Hi, Thanks for sharing. Love it that i can practice qi gong all along.
You’re welcome!
❤ your walk and talks! Keep it up!
Thanks! More coming soon!
Are there any limits with regard to how long one can practice it daily? Can it be done between 12-15 p.m.? Won’t the energy from fingers harm other people if they are directed towards them?
Thank you.
” Learn how to get your qi flowing all day long.”
Is it always a good thing Sifu Anthony,to feel the qi all day?
I can feel the qi all day when I am in quiet surroundings.
Is it always a good sign ?
Hi sifu
This is interesting but…… if i do too much qigong..ie do it all day..wont i get diminishing returns from the practise.
Or even burnout?
Ive already been through or going through the backend of a healing crisis. I think i did too much. From no qigong to 2 x 5phase routines and it whacked me out.
Im back down to one a day which is how i should have started and feeling bit less sluggish now.
Just wondering on diminishing returns though from doing it more…or discouraged reactions if i do it all day with zen finger and i dont see any positive results etc..
What are your thoughts
Thanks
Thank you for this! I have been working my way through your videos but this is the first walking one I have watched, and I love the informal style of it! Seeing the beautiful scenery and lovely Sgt Pepper made me feel as if I was there, which was a treat as I am in Coronavirus lockdown in the UK. But we are allowed one daily walk outside, so I will be practicing this daily from now on. Thank you for making your knowledge and experience available.
The very first time I tried this- following your video instructions, the Qi in my hands was very strong. I practiced it even while driving, as I sat at a red light, or going about my work during the day. How powerful and simple this is! Thank you for de-mystifying this healing art. I am for unstressed learning- as I have spent 20 years teaching children. People cannot learn if they are stressed. You are so effective at reassuring and encouraging your students. Thank you. You are so gifted as a teacher. So blessed to find you.
Have recently tried Lifting the Sky and just now tried the One Finger Zen and wow felt the sensation in my fingers almost immediately. Encourages me to keep practicing and learning more.
Interesting. I tried this some time ago when I was first looking at your website. It worked in the sense that as I walked I could feel my fingers buzzing. We haven’t been walking much recently as UK spring has closely resembled a cross between winter and the monsoon season. Now we have burst into summer I tried it again with similar results.
My qigong has progressed considerably since I first tried and as an experiment I tried just walking with my hands relaxed by my side with fingers spread and that resulted in a more intense buzzing in my hands than the one finger zen method. One problem I find is that as I enjoy the walk my fingers relax out of the one finger zen position and I am forever putting them back. Perhaps just being relaxed puts me in a better frame of mind regardless of the hand position!
Sifu! So great to spend some time with you. I felt the chi right away, no doubt because I’d been a years-long student of yours when you were in Gainesville. I was walking back and forth inside my apartment as I watched you walk and talk on the video and, in addition to the chi in my hands, I felt the sensation of growing taller, the feeling of being 10 feet tall! Even though I now need a walker for my 1/2-mile daily walks, I have a Rollator–with wheels that move easily in all directions–so I can hold the handles gently with my fingers pointing down in the one-finger zen position as I walk. Blessings. I miss you.
Nice to hear from you, Mary! I’m so glad you found this helpful. I miss you too.
Really interesting, After reading this article, it was time for my morning 5 phases routine and during lifting sun and moon & pushing mountains my hands wanted to be in one finger zen, so I alternated between regular hand form and one finger zen to experiment and the Qi sensation felt stronger during the one finger zen…! Is it ok to implement it like that or should I try to avoid it for some reason…? Even tho, it just felt great I always wonder about unwanted after effect… Thanks!
Sure, you’re just doing OFZ instead of Pushing Mountains! The only issue is that OFZ is more focused than Pushing Mountains. The full set of OFZ includes fajin. So you’re missing that part. But don’t you practice some kung fu?
Yes, I’ve been dabbling with a bit of everything since I was 6… Until, I found internal martial arts! Done 3 years in a physical school, then had to move out… So I’ve been practicing the simplified basic level form of taiji zen for 10 years, waiting for the school to bring out the intermediate level online… Until I learned recently, they closed for unknown reasons… So, I’m starting over with your online taiji, but never learned about OFZ, did learned about fajin in Xing yi & Taiji. I’m not sure I learned the correct way, since my 1st internal teacher did think that if you were not Chinese you couldn’t understand… -_- …
And the second program, was a basic simplified routine, without much of the internal stuff.
So if you add something with a little fajin, like OFZ, the 18 Arhats, a taiji or xinyi form with fajin, or anything that expresses some power, it will be more balanced. Alternatively, you can do a vigorous FBSW to let the energy circulate.