Recommendations for vocal problem

[ANegin]

Hi folks, I wonder what you think of my current medical problem. Please consider this post and give council!

My vocal chords became damaged or infected somehow while I was teaching abroad, and the problem persists now that I am home. My voice is extremely weak. It has been like this for more than half a year.

I strive to practice chi kung as instructed, and interestingly almost every practice session seems to go towards healing my lungs and throat. During spontaneous chi movement I tend to collapse on my back, drumming my chest, coughing, flexing my throat and retching like a cat with a hairball. So far, no hairballs have come out, although I do feel better after a session than beforehand. The feeling of an irritated or clammy throat abates after practice and isn't as frequent now as it used to be.

I practice at least once and at most twice a day, usually just through repetitions of Lifting the Sky. Occasionally I add Pushing Mountains and/or Carrying the Moon. I feel that my throat is slightly better than it was in the fall of last year, no more. Perhaps I can improve my practice to expedite my healing?

- Andrew

[Andy]

Hi Andrew,

Your practice routine sounds reasonable, and from your description it seems as though your chi is working at healing you.

As to how you could improve/expedite your recovery, I'll leave that to an instructor to answer...

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Andy

[Dorit]

Hi Andrew,

besides all I would strongly recommend you to visit a doctor, just to be sure that there is nothing severe with your throat or lungs. If there is nothing to really worry about you might decide if you get treated your illness, or just overcome it with your Qi-Gong practice. The thing is, even if you would have to take medicine for a while your practice would help you to recover more quickly. Besides, you might also decide to try some alternative healing method together with your Qi-Gong, e.g. Chinese medicine. .

My best,
Confermezza

[ANegin]

Hello again!

Andy - Thanks very much for the well-wishes. I often find my problem disheartening, since it limits the way I can interact with people each day. Each person cheering for me brings relief and a smile.

Confermezza - Thanks and not to worry, I am already receiving professional medical attention. Unfortunately no one has yet figured out what exactly is wrong with me! It's a good thing that with chi kung, we don't need to know that. I am currently waiting for the results of several lab tests.

- Andrew

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Andrew,


Can you tell me what Shaolin Wahnam courses / classes you've completed? I'm happy to give you advice, it's just easier when I know what you've been taught.


Best wishes,

[ANegin]

Can you tell me what Shaolin Wahnam courses / classes you've completed? I'm happy to give you advice, it's just easier when I know what you've been taught.

Gladly! I was in Florida a few years back when Sifu Wong taught a set of three seminars involving the three exercises I mentioned, plus Cosmic Shower and Sinew Metamorphosis. I felt I hadn't practiced the latter two enough over the past six months to bother mentioning them when I opened this thread. I also own Chi Kung for Health and Vitality.

In the past I always practiced Lifting the Sky and Pushing Mountains the most, because somehow I felt I grasped those exercises better than the others. I'm still not sure I "get" Cosmic Shower. It feels a lot like my Carrying the Moon. I've started doing Sinew Metamorphosis/Flicking Fingers every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday though.

- Andrew

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Andrew,


Whenever you practice any dynamic chi kung patterns, make sure your breathing is gentle. This is very important.


Based on your description, I'd say chi is definitely working through your blockage. Therefore, any exercise that gets your chi flowing well is good. Just enjoy your chi flows, let whatever comes out come out naturally, and don't worry about how your chi flow should manifest.


You may also try this:

When breathing out through the mouth during a dynamic chi kung pattern, you can do so in an open manner by keeping your mouth gently and comfortably quite open, and letting your breath flow out openly. It is important not to do this forcefully, but gently. It should always feel nice and comfortable.


When you let go, enjoy long good chi flows.


I'm sure you'll be rid of your problem soon enough. However, if the problem persists, I would recommend you to see a Shaolin Wahnam instructor personally for guidance. If you happen to be near Florida, you should take advantage of the opportunity to see Sifu Anthony Korahais. He will definitely have excellent advice for you.


Best wishes,

[AlexBaranosky]

Great advice Markus,

I'd like to add that since you're in California, you may also want to get in touch with Sifu Anthony Spinicchia.

All the Best,

[Markus Kahila]

since you're in California, you may also want to get in touch with Sifu Anthony Spinicchia.

- Most definitely. Thanks for pointing this out.


Best wishes,

[ANegin]

Thanks very much to everyone for the advice and support. I'll try the more open breathing method suggested by Sifu Markus. As for Sifu Anthony Spinicchia, where is he now? I checked www.wahnamwest.com and there is no information on the page for special events and regular classes. I suppose I could email him.

I'll let y'all know how my health progresses in the future.

[AlexBaranosky]

Hi Andrew,

Sifu Anthony is in Las Vegas.

His website is www.eliteqigong.com

May I ask where you found his wahnamwest.com link? We're trying to replace all of his old website links with his new site.

Thanks!

Alex

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Andrew,


It's good to remember that the advice for open breathing I gave is just an approach, it's not the method. Your main method should be chi flow.

In any case, all the best with getting better! I'm looking forward to hearing about your success


Best wishes,

[ANegin]

Hi Alex--I knew of the wahnamwest.com site because it was mentioned at the Florida seminar I attended. Hmm... I think I remember you from that seminar, too! I remember someone looking like your profile picture laughing often from chi flow and sharing something with the group about chi kung bringing him luck. Was that you?

Anyway, I haven't seen a link to wahnamwest on another Wahnam-affiliated site recently. However, wahnamwest and shaolinwahnamwest.com come up before eliteqigong.com when searching Google with terms like, "Shaolin Wahnam Anthony Spinicchia." Perhaps links to eliteqigong.com could be added to these sites, for the benefit of others?

Also, thanks Sifu Markus, I see what you mean. You suggested a new way of working towards cleansing and harmonious chi flow, not something that reduces its importance.

- Andrew

[AlexBaranosky]

Yeah that was me! Actually, my avatar picture was from that course.

[ANegin]

Ah-hah! Now I have a face to place with the... face.