Note: this article was originally published on March 6, 2020.

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) is all over the news. The word “pandemic” is being tossed around by the media and even a few experts. Toilet paper is in short supply. People are freaking out.

What can you, as a practitioner (or wannabe practitioner) of qigong, do to defend yourself against this deadly virus?

In this article, I’ll give you the most level-headed advice that you’ll find anywhere on the internet. No really. It’s pretty crazy out there. Be careful who you take advice from, including (ahem!) certain politicians!

Speaking of being careful, I’m not a doctor, an epidemiologist, nor an immunologist. I claim no expertise except in the self-healing art of qigong.

I do, however, have a robust immune system (thanks to qigong) and I have studied Chinese Medicine for nearly 2 decades. I also owned a wellness center during the H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic of 2009. Oh, and I traveled to Asia to learn qigong right in the middle of the SARS pandemic! (Crazy, right?)

Still reading? Interested in my opinion (plus some cold hard facts)? Let’s dive in…

If it Bleeds, it Leads

In high school, I worked for the school newspaper. Even back in the late 1980s, I was well aware of a phrase that sums up the news business:

“If it bleeds, it leads”.

This phrase reminds us that the news industry love articles with blood, danger, death, and fear — because those articles sell. Those articles ALWAYS lead, meaning that they go on the front page.

Unfortunately, good news just doesn’t sell. That’s not how the human brain is wired. We’re wired to notice threats and that’s why the news is always full of bad stuff.

I’m not saying that there’s nothing to worry about or that you shouldn’t take steps to protect yourself from this coronavirus.

My point is simply this: It’s all-too-easy to get overwhelmed by the news.

And vice versa — many people are so desensitized to the constant stream of negativity from the media that they’re just ignoring the coronavirus news entirely. That’s not a good idea either!

Shoot for the goldilocks zone in the middle — where you acknowledge that the media loves stories about fear, but you also acknowledge the essential facts of the current situation.

Here’s a quote that I love:

“I honestly don’t believe that man was meant to know everything going on in the world all at the same time. A man turns on the TV and all those commentators bombard him with the local, the national, and the international news. The newspapers do the same thing and the poor guy with all the immediate problems of his own life is burdened with all those of the whole world.” – Richard Proenneke, from “One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey”, first published in 1973.

Cold Hard Facts about COVID-19

Instead of listening to the media (or politicians), where can you get advice?

I recommend Johns Hopkins rather than the Center for Disease Control (CDC). So far, the CDC has proven to be bogged down by red tape and politics. If you want the latest, science-backed information about COVID-19 then look no further than this link:

Click Here for Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (and bookmark the page for later)

On that page, you’ll even find a global map of the coronavirus cases, recoveries, and deaths.

And they even have an infographic with some of the basic facts about COVID-19.

The Flu and Your Immune System

Many people (including certain politicians, ahem) don’t realize that the regular flu is deadly. For perspective, here are the leading causes of death in the US for 2017:

1. Heart disease: 647,457
2. Cancer: 599,108
3. Accidents (unintentional injuries): 169,936
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201
5. Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383
6. Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404
7. Diabetes: 83,564
8. Influenza and pneumonia: 55,672
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 50,633
10. Suicide: 47,173

The regular flu is a top-10 killer. Every year, 30-80k Americans die from it. So that’s not good news.

But there’s good news too: The regular flu DOESN’T kill millions of people.

For example, last winter, 42.8 million DID NOT die from the flu despite contracting the virus. How cool is that!!

How to Fight the Coronavirus

What if I told you that your immune system is the ONLY way to overcome this coronavirus?

Since there’s no vaccine available yet (and there won’t be one for 12-18 months), this is a no-brainer. It’s the obvious truth.

But what if I told you the same thing is true of the regular flu?

“The flu shot!” you might argue. And you’d be partially right. But only partially.

Many people mistakenly think that the flu shot works like antibiotics, that it just kills the virus somehow. But it doesn’t.

The flu shot works by stimulating your immune system and tricking it into fighting the virus. It is basically a chemical signaling mechanism.

Your immune system does all of the heavy lifting by creating antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) which then go to fight the virus.

Your Mighty Immune System

Remember the 42.8 million people I mentioned earlier who got the flu but didn’t die? How did they do it?

Quite simply, their immune system kicked the flu’s tiny little ass.

Let’s look at some numbers:

• Of those 42.8 million people, only 37%  got the flu shot, or roughly 15 million people.
• The flu shot is only effective 67% of the time. (In other words, even if you get the flu shot, you have a 1 in 3 chance of it not working.)
• This means that, of the 15 million people who got the flu shot, 5 million survived without the help of the vaccine.

I’ll do the math for you and sum up: roughly 32 million (out of 42.8 million) people beat the flu without the help of the flu shot. 

And it’s likely that the number is much, much higher because some people, like yours truly, have such strong immune systems that they only get sick for a day or two and thus don’t bother seeing a doctor.

This is NOT The Flu

Let me be absolutely clear: COVID-19 is not the regular flu. Current estimates suggest that COVID19 is 10-30 times more deadly than the normal flu. You should take the coronavirus seriously, especially if you are elderly.

But there’s a dilemma here, and it’s an important one.

Taking this situation seriously is one thing, but succumbing to fear is another matter entirely.

If you’re in a constant state of panic over the coronavirus (or the stock market, or anything else) then you’re actually wreaking havoc on your best defense mechanism!

How To Suppress Your Immune System

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Someone smart said that.

Here’s how this relates to COVID-19: Fear suppresses your immune system.

Remember what I said about newspapers selling fear? If you constantly read the newspaper, then you are constantly suppressing your immune system.

Look, I’m not suggesting that you be irresponsible. There are practical steps you can take to protect yourself (see below).

But if you TRULY want to protect yourself, then you must ALSO take steps to protect your immune system.

Of course, there are some important things you can do to increase your odds, most notably — wash your hands. More on this later. But my point is that if you are running around in fear, then you are compromising your immune system.

The big takeaway here: there are many ways to support your immune system (see below), but panicking and running around thinking that the sky is falling is NOT one of them. 

Fear and your Gallbladder

There’s another problem with fear. In Chinese Medicine, the Gallbladder Meridian is responsible for making decisions. But when you’re constantly afraid, the Gallbladder Meridian’s ability to make decisions is compromised. (Water not nourishing Wood, for the Five Element geeks out there.)

Modern science is saying the same thing. When you’re afraid, you make bad decisions, forget things, and generally walk around as if you have blinders on.

Remember what that smart person said about the only thing we have to fear?

It’s bad enough that fear suppresses your immune system, but it also makes you dumber! Yikes!

Staying sharp is critical for protecting yourself against the coronavirus. For example, if you’re trapped in fear mode then you might forget to wash your hands — which is basically the #1 thing you can do to protect yourself (and others).

11 Practical Tips for Protecting Yourself

Okay, now that we are no longer freaking out, now that your mind is a little clearer, here are some tips, both Eastern and Western, to protect yourself:

1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap. Here’s how to do it right: Sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself as you wash. Then sing the “How old are you now” part. When both parts of the song are finished, you’re done, but not before. This should take about 25-30 seconds. Don’t forget to wash all parts of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails.

2. Practice qigong every morning to engage your immune system. (If you don’t know any, you can learn some qigong for free right here). The ancient Chinese masters said that qigong activates our “wei qi”, which translates to “guardian energy”. In other words, practicing qigong activates our immune system, which is precisely what modern research is discovering about qigong. The best news here is that you only need about 2 minutes of qigong to activate your wei qi. Do something that I call the 2-Minute Drill several times per day to keep your wei qi flowing smoothly.

3. Don’t touch your eyes or nose when out in public. Seriously. You have to break this habit, but it won’t be easy. If the virus gets on your hands it’s no big deal — unless you touch a mucous membrane like your nose or your eyes. The average person touches their face over 10 times PER HOUR! It’s going to require a good amount of mindfulness to stop touching your face. Speaking of mindfulness…

4. Use Square Breathing when out in public (see the video below). The Navy SEALs use this ancient method to stay calm and focused during their missions. You can use it too. I’ve experimented with this while going grocery shopping, and it definitely helps me stay more mindful, which means that I don’t touch my face as often.

5. Take supplements. Take anything that you feel boosts your immune system. Personally, I like to take high doses (1000mg 3x per day) of vitamin C because I’ve had experience with it working, and also because of promising ongoing research in this area (link, link, and link). But take whatever you like. Even if that supplement turns out to be a placebo, it can still help to protect you! Placebos can work even when you know that they are placebos! (link)

6. Get plenty of sleep. The research is clear — people who don’t get quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. You’ll need better sleep hygiene for this, which is a hot topic on the internet. If you want to get started, I recommend Dave Asprey’s blog post on the subject.

7. Don’t panic. Be responsible and take action, but don’t panic or else you will shatter your immune response.

8. Don’t shake hands with other people. This is an outdated habit and we should all stop. You are literally saving lives if you stop shaking hands with other people. Use prayer palms, a fist bump, or Spock’s Vulcan salute. Doing this will not only protect you from the coronavirus but the regular flu as well. (Note: people in China are greeting each other by touching their feet in order to protect from the coronavirus. Cool!)

9. Take Vitamin D3 supplements (with K2). There is some evidence to show that Vitamin D3 (with K2) protects against acute respiratory tract infection, which is the real danger of COVID-19. Supplementing with Vitamin D is safe as long as you take it with K2. So you’re looking for Vitamin D3 with K2. If you do get COVID-19 and start to get the respiratory infection, take your Vitamin D3!

10. Carry hand sanitizer. They make wipes and gels and sprays. Use whatever you like. I bring sanitizing wipes with me to the supermarket, but many groceries now have them as well. Use them. Wipe down the shopping cart handle, wipe your hands after you pay the cashier, and maybe wipe the cart one more time to pay it forward. (Note: if you can’t find any in your area, you can make your own hand sanitizer using this recipe.)

11. Practice One Finger Zen all day long. If you know some qigong and you can feel qi, then this is a great option for while you’re out and about. I wrote an entire blog post and shot a video on the subject. Check it out here.

So there you go. Those are my thoughts on COVID-19. Now I’d love to hear from you. What other ways do you support your immune system? Let us know in the comments below.

And if you found this article helpful, please share it with friends and family. Knowledge is power!

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 11 Practical Tips For Dealing with the Coronavirus appeared first on Flowing Zen.

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The post Why Sitting is Killing You (and How Qigong Can Help) appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“So what you’re telling me,” Brian said, “is that eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough every night is screwing with my qi?”

He was smirking. It was obvious that Brian already knew the answer.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of qi (or vital energy), you probably know that ice cream isn’t exactly health food.

Think of qi as the natural flow of all your body’s systems — including the flow of blood, lymph, hormones, and information. Anything that screws with this flow also screws with your health.

Brian already knew that ice cream was screwing with his qi. But he didn’t know why.

Was it the sugar, the dairy, or something else that he hadn’t even thought of?

And that’s precisely why he came to see me.

In fact, Brian had a specific goal.

“I know you will get to the bottom of this,” he said, “and I’m betting that you’ll find a way for me to keep some ice cream in the mix.”

I’ll talk more about Brian’s story in a little bit, but first, let’s look at all the surprising things that can screw with your qi!

17 Surprising Things Screwing with Your Qi 

This list is not exhaustive, but instead focuses on some of the biggest issues that my wife and I have seen over the years.

Rather than list EVERYTHING that screws with your qi, I’ll discuss the things that might not even be on your radar.

I’ll also give you ideas for managing these things.

1. Sugar

Okay, this one isn’t surprising. You already know that sugar is bad for you. In qigong terms, this is because it messes with your Stomach Qi.

Cutting out sugar ain’t easy. I know because, for most of my life, I had a terrible sweet tooth. I finally kicked the addiction when I did a 30-day detox program called the Whole30. You can buy the book, or get tons of information on their website for free. They’ve really got the program down to a science. 

There are a ton of sugar detoxes out there. Find one that works for you. For me, the 30-day detox made it EASY to say no to sugar.

2. Prescription Drugs

It’s a sad state of affairs when medicine that is prescribed by a physician can also harm you, but alas, that’s the world we live in. Here are some of the worst offenders:

Opioids are lifesavers, but they are also dangerous. I’ve seen opioids wreak havoc on the lives of students and clients. Please educate yourself about opioids, and only take them when absolutely necessary. It’s such a big issue that I’ve written an entire article on the subject. 

Synthetic hormones like birth control pills may contribute to something call “leaky gut”, and also suppress your natural biorhythms (by design). I’m not saying you need to stop taking the pill, but you should be aware that it does screw with your qi.

Antibiotics are overprescribed in America. Period. Even when they are absolutely necessary, they still screw with the beneficial bacteria in your digestive system, thus inhibiting your immune system. A good probiotic will help, but remember that you need to take them for up to 6 months to restore the gut flora. 

Anti-depressants can be a godsend, but they can also raise your risk of suicide, which is so ironic that it hurts my heart. However, getting off anti-depressants is tricky business, and should always be done with medical supervision. And of course, you will need an alternative to manage your depression. My book tells my own story of depression, and how I used qigong to treat it. The book also comes with a free online course that will teach you the basics of qigong.

3. Non-prescription Painkillers

Many people still don’t know that Advil and Tylenol can be dangerous. Yes, they are sometimes necessary, but if you are popping 800mg of Advil every day, the you are screwing with your Liver Qi and your detox mechanisms.

I’ve wrestled with chronic pain, and I empathize with the struggle. I know that painkillers often feel like an absolute necessity to sleep or just get through the day.

Luckily, there are better and safer solutions to pain, like qigong and acupuncture. Make it a goal to cut down on over-the-counter painkillers. Your liver will thank you.

4. Gluten

If you are sensitive to gluten, then cutting it out can make a huge difference.

Gluten is just a protein, but it can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune issues. It also contributes to leaky gut syndrome.

The problem is that gluten is ubiquitous in the West. Many people don’t know whether or not they are sensitive until they quit for 30 days.

A Whole30 (see #1) will help you get to the bottom of this and other food sensitivities, and also teach you how easy it actually is to avoid gluten.

5. Cell Phones

It took me a while to accept this. I’m a techno-junkie. I love my iPhone.

At present, there’s no conclusive research that cell phone radiation causes definitive harm. But there’s also no conclusive evidence that it doesn’t.

Cell phones are big business, and there is a lot of money at stake. Like with tobacco, I believe it will take time for researchers to challenge the big money of cell phones.

You should know that this isn’t some sort of woo woo conspiracy theory. There’s already research that says that  “the regular and long term use of microwave devices (mobile phone, microwave oven) at domestic level can have negative impact upon biological system especially on brain.” [PubMed Source]

I’m sensitive to my own energy, so I was able to do my own experiments with my cell phone. I’m now convinced that the 3G signal screws with my qi. I have no idea how MUCH it screws with my qi, but I’m not taking chances.

That’s why I bought an anti-radiation case for my phone. I also keep it on airplane mode as often as possible.

6. Bad Feng Shui

Qigong is all about the flow of qi through humans.

Feng shui is another Chinese art, but it’s all about the flow of qi through spaces and buildings.

We all know that some rooms just feel right. And some rooms feel wrong. That’s feng shui.

If you live in a house or work in a place that has terrible feng shui, then it might be screwing with your qi.

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to feel the bad energy if you’ve been living or working there for a long time. This is yet another reason to go on a mindfulness retreat.

Getting out of your regular environment and into a new environment with amazing feng shui (like our retreat center in Costa Rica) can be a game changer.

Feng shui is greatly misunderstood in the West, but if you are curious to learn more, then I recommend this book as a primer.

7. Ejaculation

Sorry boys, but if you ejaculate too frequently, then you lose qi.

On the other hand, if you ejaculate too infrequently, your qi stagnates.

How are we to solve this conundrum? 

Two thousand years ago, the Su Nu Jing (素 女 經) , a classic text on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), advised how frequently a man should ejaculate to maintain optimal health. The following chart shows the guidelines from that classic text.

Your miles may vary.

8. Pregnancy

Some women feel fantastic during pregnancy. Some women don’t.

Either way, creating another human being from scratch undoubtedly drains your qi.

In China, women are given a least 1 full month, and often much longer, to rest and restore their qi. During this time, they are waited on like queens. Often, they aren’t even allowed to dress themselves because it is considered too strenuous!

We’ve got a lot of catching up to do in the West! Maternity leave here in the U.S. is awful. Women are hardly given any time to replenish their qi.

While it’s a testament to the inner strength of American mothers that they can give birth and then go back to work 2 weeks later, I think we can all agree that it would be better if they were given plenty of time to replenish their qi.

Regardless, practicing qigong after giving birth is the #1 way to replenish the qi that you’ve lost.

9. Structure

According to Chinese medicine, the proper alignment of your body matters. And this alignment depends on bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and also qi.

For example, if you are lordotic (abnormal lumbar curve) or kyphotic (abnormal thoracic curve), if one shoulder is higher than the other, if one leg is longer than the other — then your structure is off.

And when your structure is off, it blocks many other forms of treatment, including acupuncture and qigong.

In my qigong school, we address this issue with exercises that align the qi.

Here are some other good ways to work on a healthier structure: massage therapy, cupping therapy, yoga, pilates, and foam rolling.

10. Vampires

No, not the movie kind. I’m talking about [cue scary music] ENERGY vampires. 

You know the type — those people who suck your energy dry. They don’t necessarily do it on purpose. They can be good people.

But this is a real phenomenon.

If you don’t draw healthy boundaries., if you let the vampires continually drain your qi, then you’ll constantly be depleted.

Qigong also helps by strengthening your energy field, replenishing your lost qi, and by giving you the courage to draw healthy boundaries.

11. Cold Stuff

In Chinese medicine, the human metabolism is likened to a furnace. If too much of your food and drink is cold, then the body will need to use extra qi to heat it up before it can be metabolized.

If you eat a lot cold cereal, ice cream, or raw veggies, or if you drink a lot of iced beverages, then you may be screwing with your metabolism and your digestive system.

This is why acupuncturists will often tell you to stop putting ice in your beverages, or to cook your vegetables instead of eating them raw. 

12. Insomnia

According to Chinese medicine, sleep is a natural form of qigong that replenishes, harmonizes, and restores your qi.

If your’e not getting quality sleep, if you don’t wake up every morning feeling incredibly well rested, then you’ve got insomnia.

In the West, sleeping poorly has become the norm. We just accept it.

Thankfully, sleep hygiene is becoming a bigger issue, even in corporate America. Arian Huffington wrote an entire book on the subject of sleep.

Two things really help with improving sleep hygiene.

First, get yourself a pair of blue blocker goggles and put them on at dusk. My wife and I look ridiculous wearing them at night, but we don’t care.

Second, cut out all caffeine after 1pm. It ain’t easy, but it definitely helps.

13. Nutritional Deficiencies

Your body can’t generate qi without the right nutrients.

In other words, what’s screwing with your qi is something that you’re NOT getting, like vitamin D, B12, folate, vitamin K, or magnesium.

Sometimes, this is caused by a genetic issue, like with the MTHFR genetic mutation, which requires proper supplementation. Sometimes, you’re just not getting enough B12. Sometimes, you aren’t getting nearly enough sun. 

But one thing is for sure — the deficiencies will show on your blood work.

Often, you’ll need to ask for (and pay for) an expanded blood test in order to get to the bottom of these deficiencies. You also need someone who can interpret them correctly.

14. Hair, Skin, and Beauty Products

Modern makeup can have some awful stuff in it.

For example, lipstick often has lead in it. Yes, that poisonous substance that we go to great lengths to protect our children from — you’re putting it on your lips!

Other beauty products like perfumes and hair products often contain terrible things too, including carcinogens.

All of this junk screws with your immune system and your hormones.

Check your products here for a toxicity score.

15. Smoking & Vaping

Okay, this one isn’t surprising. People know that smoking is bad for you. But what’s surprising is that nicotine products are still legal and easily available.

I quit smoking ages ago and it was one of the best things I ever did. Here’s the method that I used.

16. Alcohol

This one surprised me. Of course, everyone knows that too much alcohol is bad, but what about all the research that says a glass or two of wine is good for you?!?

It may or may not be true, based on the latest research. But one thing is for sure: If you can’t take 30 days off alcohol, then it’s not healthy. Try 30 days off and see how you feel.

17. Thoughts

Your thoughts affect your biology. Read Bruce Lipton’s work if you want to learn more about how this works.

In short, your thoughts affect your emotions, which affect your nervous system and your body chemistry.

In my experience, the single most effective way to change deep-rooted thoughts is to practice qigong (including sitting meditation).

Brian Lives Happily Ever After

I’m curious: How many of these were surprise for you? Let me know your score in the comments below.

As for Brian, he lived happily ever after.

I actually found a nice compromise that allowed him to continue eating ice cream.

First, I encouraged Brian to take a 30-day break from ice cream using the Whole30 method described above. This gave his body a chance to detox.

Afterward, with the help of an acupuncturist, I figured out that dairy and sugar weren’t the real culprits (even though they were also screwing with his qi).

It turns out that the cold from the ice cream (see #11) was strongly aggravating Brian’s digestive system.

Thanks to the 30-day detox, Brian was able to easily cut down his portions of ice cream. He also eliminated iced beverages from his diet — a trade he was happy to make in exchange for ice cream.

And of course, I taught Brian specific qigong exercises to help heal and nourish his digestive system.

Brian does a Whole30 every year now, but otherwise, he is able to enjoy a small bowl of ice cream every night.

[cut to Brian riding off into the sunset with a bowl of ice cream] 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 17 Surprising Things That Are Screwing with Your Qi (Energy) appeared first on Flowing Zen.

You’ve learned qigong and/or tai chi from a good teacher, and you’ve been practicing for at least 1 year.

You’ve gotten good results — and yet you still have some lingering health issues.

Meanwhile, other people have been able to overcome those same issues using qigong. And yet you can’t seem to do that for yourself.

Why?

I’ve seen it in many times. For example, I once had two students literally standing next to each other in a class.  One of them had overcome arthritis in about 6 months using qigong. The other student, however, was still suffering from arthritis even after 2 years of practice.

This is a perfect example of the gap that exists between theory and reality that I mentioned in a previous article, What We Can (and Can’t) Heal. 

In theory, your problem can be healed, but in reality, it hasn’t happened.

I’ve seen people reverse arthritis many, many times. And people all over the world are reversing it with diet, acupuncture, chiropractic, and other methods. So there’s no question that — in theory — arthritis can be reversed.

Then why does arthritis reverse itself in some people, but not others?

The answer is simple: Something is blocking the energy.

To narrow down the possibilities, let’s assume that you’re following the 3 Golden Rules, and that your dosage is correct.

Let’s also assume that, in theory, your particular problem can be healed, even if that’s just theoretical.

Then what’s blocking you?

Well, it’s complicated.

What’s Blocking You?

The human body is an incredibly complex healing machine, and there are many things that can potentially block your energy.

I developed the Blockage Wheel (see below) in order to help students figure out where they might be blocked.  I’ve identified 12 blockages that students commonly run into. I’ll explain each blockage below.

The idea is that the wheel should roll as smoothly as possible. Here’s a perfect Blockage Wheel. In other words, this person has no major blockages in any of the 12 major areas.

In the picture above, all 12 areas are completely even, making for a very smooth ride on the wheel.  This is what you want.

But your Blockage Wheel probably looks more like this:

If you’re like most people, then some areas are better than others. Maybe you eat well and exercise, but you don’t rest enough.

The end result is the same — your ride is bumpier than it should be.

Let’s take a closer look at each blockage.

1. Emotional Health

Are your emotions flowing, or stuck?  In Chinese medicine (including qigong), all physical ailments have an emotional component. Each of the 12 Primary Meridians have emotions directly associated with them. For example, if you are fearful, then there may be a blockage in your Kidney Meridian, and this blockage may be contributing to your back pain.

Suggestions: Focus on Purifying the Qi. Neuro Emotional Technique is also wonderful.  There are many other methods out there as well. If it works, use it.

2. Physical Body

How is your posture? If you are mildly kyphotic or lordotic, then your energy is not flowing smoothly.  In Chinese there’s a saying that “you need not worry about getting old so long as your spine is straight.”

Sometimes, this is referred to as a person’s “structure”.  If your structure is off, if you are hunched over, then this blockage needs to be corrected. 

Physical strength and flexibility (or a lack thereof) are also factors that can affect your structure and your health.

Suggestions: Strength and flexibility can be built holistically with proper qigong and tai chi exercises. Focus on Aligning the Qi. Another option is the Alexander Technique.

3. Sexual Fulfillment

Humans are sexual beings. Sexual energy is part of being alive. If your sexual energy is blocked, then it can cause all kinds of problems, especially with hormone production.

I should mention that there are qigong techniques that can help to circulate sexual energy even if you don’t have a partner. This is how the Shaolin monks and nuns remained celibate for years without going crazy.

Suggestions: Read my article entitled 17 Ways to Unblock Your Sexual Energy.

4. Spirituality

Are you connected to something bigger than yourself? Sometimes, the blockage is deep in the spirit.

For example, I believe that my own depression was a crisis of the spirit.  For the atheists out there — don’t forget about nature and the cosmos. Are you connected to those things? If not, then this may be what’s blocking you from healing.

Suggestions: Focus on Unifying The Qi. Or you can go deeper into your own spiritual tradition. Go to your church or temple, and try to connect with something bigger than yourself. Personally, I’m also fond of communing with the church of nature.

5. Creativity

Creativity is not just for artists. Humans are creative animals. If there is absolutely no creative outlet in your life, then this could be what’s blocking you.

Suggestions: Sign up for an art class. Learn to dance. Try a musical instrument. Start a journal. There are plenty of creative outlets out there for you to choose from. Personally, I also enjoy practicing qigong as a form of creativity.

6. Environment

Your house, your work place, the climate where you live — these things have a profound affect on your health.  This is an entire subject of study called Feng Shui.

I once heard a qigong teacher tell a student to move out of his apartment because the Feng Shui was so bad. I’ve heard that in some houses, the air quality is worse inside than it is in some major cities, like LA or NYC.

Suggestions: Focus on Discovering the Qi in your environment. Read books on Feng Shui if you like, or just use your common sense. How does your house or apartment feel? Is it clean? Is there enough natural lighting for a plant to grow? Is your bedroom dark enough for you to sleep at night, or is there ambient light from outside? How is your bed?

7. Your Mission

Are you clear about your life purpose? Are you fulfilling it?

If your work is pure drudgery, if there is no time during the week where you feel that you are making strides in your mission, then this could be a blockage.

Suggestions: Spend time figuring out what you want to do with your life. This worksheet is a good place to start.

8.  Rest

Just a guess here, but you probably don’t sleep enough. You probably stay up too late, and get up too early. You probably don’t take naps. And even when you do sleep, you probably don’t sleep deeply.

Am I right?

Sleep is one of the ways your body replenishes and restores itself. A lot of theories suggest that we should be getting 8-10 hours of quality sleep every night. If you’ve been getting 5 hours of restless sleep for years, then that could be part of the problem.

Suggestions:  Go to sleep earlier. Do a 30-day experiment with going to sleep 1 hour earlier than normal.  Or experiment with cat naps (10-20 minutes).

9. Money

I see this blockage all the time in students. On a practical level, if you can’t afford my online courses, then money is literally blocking you from healing yourself.

Or if you’re constantly stressed out by your finances, then this is a big stress on your energy. Many people just cannot relax into working on their health until they fix some of their financial problems.

Suggestions: Learn Prosperity Qigong if you can. If not, then practice lots and lots of gratitude. It seems like a paradox, but if you practice feeling grateful for what you do have, then your financial stress will start to dissipate.   There are also many ways to get healthier on a budget, which you can try to implement.

10.  Tribe

Humans are social animals. We all need a community. It could be a group at church. It could be a sports team. It could be a book club.

Why is this important? Research has shown that belonging to a community has a profound effect on your overall health and longevity. In fact, one study said that a sense of community is more influential than whether or not you smoke.  In other words, loneliness is worse for your health than smoking!

Suggestions: Join our amazing Facebook group. Seriously. It’s such a great group of people. Even if you hate Facebook, create a dummy account just for that group. It’s worth it.

Or find another community that you enjoy spending time with. Check Meetup.com or Facebook events or other sources. And then spend time with your tribe at least 2 times per week!

11. Diet

This is a big subject and one that I usually try to stay out of.  It’s gotten to the point in America where it’s virtually impossible to have an intelligent discussion about diet.

People often have dogmatic views about nutritin, and are thus easily offended. 

But if you’re blocked in this area, then you might need to open your mind and make some changes. And the first change may be to open your mind.

Suggestions: Start with Michael Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food” (here’s my affiliate link). This is one of the sanest and most even-handed books about nutrition that I’ve ever read.

12. Mental Health

Your thoughts and your beliefs affect your health, your energy. If you haven’t yet read it, I highly recommend that you read The Biology of Belief.  (That’s another affiliate link, by the way.)

This book, written by a Western scientist, explains the fascinating world of epigenetics — a world where your thoughts and beliefs can change the expression of your genes! Everyone should read this book!

Mental health can also refer to your clarity of mind. If your mind is dull, if you can’t concentrate, then this will block you from learning the things you need to learn to fix your health.

Suggestions: Learn how to control your thoughts, rather than letting them control you.  Qigong is a wonderful way to do this, but there are many meditation methods that also work well.

Got questions about anything above?  Go ahead and post them below.  I’m happy to answer them as best as I can. 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 12 Things Blocking You From Healing with Qigong appeared first on Flowing Zen.