Healing
I did not go to China with the intention of “healing.” I did not “have” anything that I needed to be healed of. Then I went on this China journey. I had many experiences. There was healing involved.
Dictionary.com provides these definitions of “heal:”
- to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.
- to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile:
- to free from evil; cleanse; purify: -to heal the soul.
Definition of healing #1: to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment
I definitely feel that my body was restored to health.
First “aha!” - Water. Celebrate life!
I am normally a healthy drinker. By that I mean I drink decaffeinated coffee, teas and herbal teas, limit my intake of fresh fruit juice, and when I do enjoy it, I water it down. No soda or sugary beverages, 1% milk in my coffee and the occasional wine or beer. In China, drinking only water and green tea (okay, yes, we tried Chinese beer!) had a restorative effect on my body. My head felt clearer, I had more energy. After 21 days of this regime, I felt lighter somehow, as if I had eliminated toxins I never knew were a part of me. My feelings are substantiated by research. According to HealthPrep, drinking water is like preventative medicine. Drinking water helps eliminate toxins from your blood and supports the optimal cell, tissue, and organ functions. It can help prevent kidney stones and other illnesses, and help relieve headaches and body aches. Studies have shown that drinking plenty of water reduces the risk of death from coronary heart disease. Drinking water helps thin the blood and as a result helps lower blood pressure. In addition, good hydration promotes healthy skin, reduces mental fog and ensures healthy brain function, improving both your focus and your mood. On an intellectual level, I knew all of that, but when put into practice along with other “healing” practices, the benefits were much more apparent.
(To be continued. In the meantime, enjoy these photos and this practice which will help you discover qi.)
Practice: The Flowing MotionThe Three Mindful Adjustments or the Three Treasures (posture, breath, mind focus) will be explored in depth in my next post. Here, the focus is on the Flowing Motion movement. The Flowing Motion circulates blood and nutrients, decreases brainwave frequency to alpha range, which in turn brings about a relaxation response. It is also enhances endurance and balance.
- Stand in a comfortable manner, feet hip distance apart, allowing knees to be soft, shoulders to be relaxed, and gently rising through the crown of the head as though suspended by a strand of pearls. Hands are relaxed at the sides.
- Bring your attention to the breath and inhale and exhale deeply in a relaxed manner.
- Allow your mind to focus on the breath and the hands.
- Begin with hands at your sides and slowly hands raise them to gather a ball of qi in front of the body. Continue to raise the qi ball to forehead level.
- Turn the palms outward and lower the hands in front of body, allowing them to come back to the sides.
- Repeat, letting waves of relaxation wash over the body.