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  • Using Chi Kung to benefit us in everyday life

    Using Chi Kung to benefit us in everyday life is something that has interested Mark, Tim and I (Fully Alive ) for a number of years. We have been lucky to have many conversations with Sifu about this topic. It has been the basis for a number of the UK Summer Camp courses over the last few years.

    How do you use the skills you have developed in your practice of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung in practical ways in your life?

    Sharing this kind of thing is useful. It ensures that Chi Kung isn't seen as an esoteric, mystical art but one that has practical application in modern life. It also a useful way of explaining the reasons for practicing Chi Kung to people who aren't sick but want to operate better in life or to get more out of it.

    With metta,

    Barry
    Profile at Capio Nightingale Hospital London Click here
    Chi Kung & Tai Chi Chuan in the UK Fully Alive
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  • #2
    To me, feeling fresh, energized and relaxed, is already a great benefit in life.
    Engage and maintain joyful practice!

    May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.

    Anton Schmick
    Shaolin Wahnam Germany Nord

    shaolinwahnamchina.com
    http://chikunghamburg.wordpress.com
    http://shaolinwahnam-nord.de
    http://kungfu-luebeck.de

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    • #3
      Decisiveness, Attentiveness, Directness and Presentation

      Dear Sifu Barry,

      I have noticed since the UK summer camp 2017, that I overcame my problem of having to speak and present myself in class. Previously I would become very nervous, my heart would beat faster and when other students or the teacher would ask me questions I would have a mental blockage and would not be able to respond. Being a University student in my last year, presentations and class discussion are common and important, and chi kung not only allows me to pay more attention in class, but also allows me to freely express myself. Whenever i am forced to express myself I always keep in mind the moment at the summer camp where I had to execute a combat sequence with Jas in front of everyone. I kept forgetting the sequence because I was moving to fast, maybe due to nerves. I just remember everyone telling me to slow down and Sigung pointing out my mistakes repeatedly, but it took me several tries to actually do it. This experience had a good impact on me. Now before I present or speak, I take a brief pause and think of my Dan Tian. This first slows down my thoughts and then allows them to flow freely but logically. These are only some of the wonderful benefits that I have been blessed with!

      Kind regards,
      Miguel

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      • #4
        I personally enjoy the fact that my life has become very mystical, often dealing in the mystical on a daily basis. I think the mystical and esoteric are essential parts of modern life, and by diving into the mystical, once optimum health is achieved, one gets to lead a fully aware life.

        There really is no need to reach for further justification of continuing our practice of qigong on a daily basis. The justification that it keeps us healthy, free of stress, free of mental fog, helps us to get more joy out of life, fulfills us spiritually, and gives some of us psychic abilities seems like more than enough to me. As they say in the South, everything else is just gravy on the biscuit.

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        • #5
          How do you use the skills you have developed in your practice of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung in practical ways in your life?
          In general I don't actively think about applying skills I've learned to different scenarios; I would say the skills/benefits of my practice simply are always there and automatically improve whatever I'm doing/not doing. If it's helpful, I'll list examples of particularly interesting benefits I've received over the years:

          - Greatly reduced jet lag. Last time I returned to USA from Asia I was normalized in about two days.
          - I learn much faster, more efficiently and more effectively. This would happen to anyone who relaxes their body and clears their mind.
          - Much faster "problem"-solving; solutions appear easily.
          - I think the last time I was sick was in 2011. I was taking care of my girlfriend when she had the flu, and even though I got sick after her, I recovered before her.
          - I sometimes forget who I am.

          Andrew
          Love, and do what you will.

          - St. Augustine

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          • #6
            Benefits for daily use

            Here are a few useful things from Shaolin Chi Kung (and SW kungfu) practice, that I have noticed recently. There are a lot more, but these are the first to come to mind.

            - Being able to act and stay calm even in difficult situations
            - Being able to let go of anger and sadness more easily
            - Not being afraid of being afraid
            - Overcoming challenges more easily and effectively
            - Feeling good and relaxed in my own body, free of pain
            - Having enough energy for everyday things and more
            - Being able to create more easily (using chi kung state of mind for painting ect)
            - Being healthier the older I get. And not actually feeling old at all.


            Best wishes,

            Nessa
            Nessa Kahila
            Shaolin Nordic Finland
            Instructor
            nessa@shaolin-nordic.com

            www.shaolin-nordic.com

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            • #7
              I used to cook with a gas stove and found sending chi to the burned finger(s) prevented any blistering and pain the times I burned myself.

              Like Sifu said when I mentioned it to him, the best solution is to not burn yourself in the first place.

              I am back to cooking with an electrical oven.
              When one door closes, another one opens.

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              • #8
                Dear Barry,


                Sipakgung or Sissookgung,


                thank you for the thread, also liked the answers so far.


                Behind your question isn't there the question how far you can 'adjust Chi Gung' to the 'western standard mind-set'?


                'Esoteric' means originally 'closed-circle', if it would be 'esoteric' there wouldn't be Chi Gung courses and classes people could attend, so it's quite clear it isn't esoteric.


                What's wrong about 'mystical' and what is it? Isn't procreation, childbirth, childhood, parenthood mystical, isn't a sun-set? Got myself a book about the kinds of fish in the lake in central Switzerland where I'm living, it says there are eels, but all the eels in the world would only be born in the Sargasso Sea in the Caribbean: their parents went there and died after procreation, the young eels all swim back to the lake where the parents lived, in this lake's case from the Caribbean to North Sea, then up the Rhine River, then up the river 'Reuss', then into the lake, where they cannot pass they 'crawl on land', after some years they swim back to the Caribbean: not mystical?


                If somebody leads a 'modern life' that exludes a sense that life is mystical maybe this would be 'a goal' that can be achieved through Chi Gung? Because isn't it like this: five minutes into 'Generating Energy Flow' (our 'basic course') with Sitaigung and one will experience something called 'Chi Flow' that does not fit into 'such a modern life' or 'western mind-set' anyway?


                'You cannot wash yourself without getting wet', maybe if people are not ready it's even better they don't start learning 'Shaolin Cosmos Chi Gung' (or shall we change the name because people could think 'Cosmos' sounds too mystical, as does 'Chi'?)?


                Now, how to explain the reasons to practicing Chi Kung to people that are not sick? That's for my taste kind of a strange question, honestly said.


                Sitaigung said at the recent courses in Bern that we do not even emphasize that you can overcome sicknesses with Chi Gung and this is also because we don't like to set not helpful directions for our practise, it's not about 'sickness'.


                So, we've usually got 'Health, Vitality, Peak Performance, Spiritual Cultivation' as benefits. Health means more than just 'not sick in a western sense', like the absence of a sickness as diagnosed by a western doctor, it means really healthy, alive and kicking and with our Chi Gung one can stay so up to an old age. So, everything here is for those that are not sick (those that are, of course can overcome it as first step).


                But people may not be interested in either of it? Isn't Sitaigung always saying 'then you really have to do Chi Gung'?


                And to the benefits he says usually 'you become better at anything you are doing'...wow, it's good for everything that one likes or does anyway, even the colors get brighter, the sun-set looks nicer, everything looks more beautiful etc. (you could add better parent, better partner, better at work, better sex, food tastes better, need less sleep, more drive to do or learn new things etc.).


                So, as a matter of fact, I've became better at handling client complaints ('real or supposed software issues'), would this really be more interesting as what's said above?


                Now, honestly I also don't get the feeling it works like 'applying or using skills or Chi Gung'. Kung Fu means 'Skilled Man (incl. Women)' and Chi Gung is the 'Ernergy Skill' of it, so it's primarily not an 'it', it's a 'he' or 'she', one develops oneself. And one get's better at anything one does, 'the skills are there, present'. One's 'applying oneself' one could say.


                If you would ask me how to explain this, I would just say the above, but only if somebody sincerely asks me.


                These were just some thoughts that came up,
                Sincerely,

                With Shaolin Salute,
                Michael

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                • #9
                  I’ve always practised Chi Kung and Kung Fu together and have never practiced one without the other. So my benefits are as a result of practicing both Kung Fu and Chi Kung, but it can also be said that Kung Fu is Chi Kung. The daily benefits I have noticed includes:

                  Being calmer and more peaceful in my heart
                  Have more confidence in myself
                  Increased vitality
                  Increased mental clarity
                  Becoming healthier and stronger
                  Feeling more love and compassion towards those around me
                  Feel more accepting of difficult people and difficult life experiences
                  Able to let things go more easily
                  Enjoy life more

                  I can also say that all of the above benefits contributes to me being a better son to my parents, a better husband to my wife, a better father to my children and a better friend to those around me.

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                  • #10
                    Thanks

                    Thanks to everyone for their responses so far.

                    Just a reminder of the question being asked:

                    How do you use the skills you have developed in your practice of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung in practical ways in your life?
                    One of the things we have noticed with our students is that the skills they develop often naturally begin to affect their everyday life. We, and they, have found it useful to notice this consciously. Obviously this isn't necessary but people have found it useful anyway . Realising the benefits

                    Others have talked about realising they could have used a skill, but only after an event/situation had occurred. They have said this has helped them the next time they were approaching a situation/task to use a skill with awareness.

                    Some have found it useful to hear how others are benefitting and realising they could use their skills for similar situations/difficulties.

                    Others have come to us with challenges in their lives and we have been able to explore how they could use skills they have developed to improve the situation or outcome. This is a theme we may come back to in a future thread.

                    One of the things Sifu often talks about is the benefit of setting objectives for your Chi Kung practice. Again, not necessary but I have found it useful. It helps to check that my practice is working effectively. Sharing things here might help someone else find something they could usefully set as an objective for their practice.

                    These practical things that we have encountered with long-term, respectful and diligent students is another reason for starting this thread. So, hopefully others can benefit.
                    Profile at Capio Nightingale Hospital London Click here
                    Chi Kung & Tai Chi Chuan in the UK Fully Alive
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                    • #11
                      Language

                      Language/words are obviously useful as a means of communication. It/they can also be limited and are most easily used when there is a common understanding of them. This can be a challenge in an international setting.

                      Just for clarification, when I am using the word Esoteric I am meaning the following dictionary definition:

                      adjective: esoteric
                      intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialised knowledge or interest.

                      So, in that sense, I am certainly hoping any potential students don't see it as an esoteric art .

                      Regarding the word Mystical - there are two main threads of meaning in English dictionary definitions:

                      adjective: mystical
                      relating to mystics or religious mysticism

                      having a spiritual symbolic or allegorical significance that transcends human understanding.

                      relating to ancient religious mysteries or other occult or esoteric rites.

                      of hidden or esoteric meaning
                      and

                      inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination.

                      concerned with the soul or the spirit, rather than with material things.

                      At Fully Alive, we focus on the second of these meanings. We aim to help people to practice Chi Kung well enough to get practical benefits in everyday life. From our perspective these include awe and fascination with the everyday world and a sense of themselves beyond the material. If you have any experience of how these benefit you we would really love to hear.

                      With metta,

                      Barry
                      Last edited by barrys; 5 October 2017, 02:36 PM.
                      Profile at Capio Nightingale Hospital London Click here
                      Chi Kung & Tai Chi Chuan in the UK Fully Alive
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                      • #12
                        Hi Barry Sisook,

                        Would it be possible for one of the Fully Alive teachers to give some of their own examples of using chi kung skills in daily life? That might help us better answer your question.

                        Best,
                        Andrew
                        Love, and do what you will.

                        - St. Augustine

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by barrys View Post
                          Thanks to everyone for their responses so far.

                          Just a reminder of the question being asked:

                          Thanks Barry Sisook. Well, I can scrub that mental clarity benefit of my list above . But in my defence, I can claim English is my second language .

                          One of the main skills we train in our daily Chi Kung practice is to empty our minds of thoughts to get into a chi kung state of mind. This skill has enabled me in my daily life to replace negative or unproductive thoughts with positive ones more easily. Another skill we train daily to get into a Chi Kung state of mind is to relax physical and emotionally. Because of this training, I have better awareness of what it's like to be really relaxed physically and emotionally. Therefore if I start to get physically or emotionally tensed, my awareness picks this up very early. I then use the skills from my daily Chi Kung practice to relax and let go of the tensions.

                          Another valuable skill from our daily practice that I use regularly is smiling from the heart. I generally use this in two ways in my daily life. The first is when I have a thought that I am grateful for something, I then just smile from the heart because it brings that gratitude thought to life so much more and I feel so much better in that moment physically, emotionally and spiritually.

                          Another way I have used smiling from the heart is to let go of physical tension or pain. If my training is hard physically and I feel the physical tiredness and tension is starting to creep in, I find a smile from the heart somehow just disperses that tiredness and tension out of me to a useful degree, allowing me to continue more comfortably. Another example are times when I have had a painful physical accident. If I am in a public place where chi flow is not appropriate I'd just relax and smile from the heart. Again, this action just disperses to a large extent the pain and tension that I instinctively feel within the first few seconds of the accident. I think smiling from the heart works in this way for me because when I smile from the heart, it generates a chi flow inside of me which I can mildly feel and this chi flow helps to disperse any physical tension or pain I may have felt at the time.

                          Best wishes everyone

                          Martin

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                          • #14
                            Hi Martin,

                            I actually thought your first answer was very useful already. This one is even more detailed.


                            Hi Andrew,

                            I also thought your answer was very useful as well.

                            A couple of examples from my own experience:

                            One of the things that really struck me in my early learning from Sifu was "very good, carry on" when I explained some weird and wonderful experience I had in Chi Flow. I partly took this to mean not getting caught in the intellectualisation of experience. It served me very well in my Chi Kung practice. I have also got better at not being too quick to jump to conclusions in everyday life. This has helped me when a person's actions have led to me experiencing hurt or anger. By just "carrying on" I have, to the best of my ability, avoided adding any "heat" to a situation. It has also meant their actions have often slowly come to make a more helpful sense than jumping to the conclusion, for instance, that it was a personal insult or attack.

                            Learning to be relaxing has helped tremendously in both enjoyment and being proficient when I took up cycling. I watch many of the people I cycle with tense up when they try to go faster or up a hill. For me it has become increasingly natural to be relaxing - even when applying more energy. And I am still enjoying developing this skill.

                            Looking forward to learning more from people sharing their experience.

                            With metta,

                            Barry
                            Profile at Capio Nightingale Hospital London Click here
                            Chi Kung & Tai Chi Chuan in the UK Fully Alive
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                            • #15
                              Thanks for your clarification, Uncle Barry.

                              After thinking about it, here are a few times I've actively used a chi kung skill in daily life, rather than passive skills that are always present.

                              - Healing Injuries: Last year I tripped, fell and sprained my ankle one day. It didn't hurt much at the time but later that night, even after chi kung, the pain was so bad all I could do was take a painkiller and lie down. The next morning I did chi kung and used the skill of sending chi to my ankle and was then able to walk at about 80% capacity. The next day I was back to normal.

                              - Traveling: Before a long trip I will sometimes use a pattern like Flicking Fingers to generate a stronger chi flow and will use the skill of adjusting the type of chi flow I enjoy to focus on building, rather than cleansing/nourishing.

                              After being on planes where there is a lot of stagnant chi, I will use a pattern like Lifting the Sky or Carrying the Moon and shift the chi flow to focus on cleansing to feel refreshed.

                              - Post-Meditation Stabilization Sometimes in sitting meditation I'll experience a big internal shift or clear some mental rubbish, which can initiate an energetic shift in me. After a little rest period I like to enter standing meditation and use the skills of smiling from the heart and just flowing to allow the new energies from the shift to settle, which I think is the process of nourishing.


                              This was one of the suggested threads that came up today: Integration of Shaolin Arts in Your Life

                              Best,
                              Andrew
                              Love, and do what you will.

                              - St. Augustine

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