2025-07-07 Qigong Class Mindful Breathing And Relaxation

This is from a Qigong Class I taught on 7/7/2025. The emphasis is mindfulness of breathing and bodily relaxation. Also focuses on gathering energy to the dantian. The session is roughly 20 minutes long.

Transcript

Find movement, Stillness, That we sit still and we focus on the movement of our breath because we're never really totally still. Feel the breath come in, Feel the breath go out. That is a starting point. I invite you to close your eyes so you can focus inward. Feel the breath come in, Feel the breath go out. All the while that you're breathing in and breathing out, You relax, You let your body relax, Relax your body. Start with the big ticket items, The arms and the legs. We have most conscious control over those areas. Relax the feet, The calves, Thighs and hips. Relax the hands and fingers, Wrists, Forearms, Upper arms and shoulders. As you breathe in, Breathe out. I invite you to imagine that as you breathe in, You draw in more than just air. Draw in energy. Energy comes in through the nose, Travels down to that middle dantian, A sphere behind the navel. And as you exhale, It gets absorbed into the tissues surrounding it. And it's okay to pretend, It's okay to do it as if. What would it look like to breathe in chi? What would it sound like? What would it feel like for you? And the sound may be you describing to yourself, Breathing in chi, Bringing it down to my belly, My middle dantian. It could be self-conversation. Arms relaxed, Legs relaxed, Breathing. Letting the stillness of relaxation spread to your torso, Low back, Belly, Mid and upper back, Chest, All the organs therein. As you breathe, You're gradually building up your reservoir of chi. Energy for your organs and tissues to help with healing, Well-being and growth. This is the movement within stillness. Movement of your breath, The movement of chi being drawn in and collected while the body rests and the mind becomes calm, At ease. Letting that relaxation spread to your throat, Neck, Your whole head, Face, Jaw, Chin. Even your tongue can relax. Breathing in, Breathing out. Gently drawing in oxygen. Gently drawing in fresh and vibrant energy. The lovely thing about this is that it's not an act of will or willpower. It's just a matter of imagining it, Pretending like it's happening. And it'll happen. So whether you notice your breath coming in or out, Notice the sensations of chi being drawn into the body. That's both forms of movement within the stillness of your relaxed body and calm mind. I invite you to take a little bit more full breaths in case your breathing's gotten real quiet. Filling up even more with fresh air, Wiggling your fingers a little bit, Wiggling your toes a little bit. When you're ready, Open your eyes.