Category Archives: Qigong

Socially acceptable

Qigong is going well. I just returned from week three and have to say, it’s changing me (for the better). I can see it will take a long time and some deep practice to experience the enlightenment that’s possible. Funny thing is, I always thought I was pretty enlightened. 

My family and friends often comment that I’m a little “out there”. I recognize those blank stares and glazings that usually follow some long drawn-out story about how our energy is all connected and how we create our lives as we intend. But, this is different. This is all that plus ultimate acceptance of what is, in this moment.

This morning, in a moment, I said, “get dressed,” very loudly to Korey. Then I made him a checklist of everything he needed to do if he wanted to “play” before school. He left the checklist on the counter for me, absolutely complete. He’s very process-oriented.

I recognize in myself the things he does that bother me. I can be running way late, but will still stop to check my email, facebook, gmail and twitter accounts, quite often sitting down to comment or “like” something. I’m careful about my “likes” though, because all these subsequent notifications that someone else has “liked” or commented on a post tend to drive me crazy, especially if I have no idea who the people are. But, we are all connected, right? So, I guess their “stuff” is my stuff, how I choose to process it is up to me. (That probably didn’t make sense.) It’s all about the karma and that’s why Qigong is so fascinating to me.

What I need is a checklist to get me out the door and to bed before 2 am.

Tomorrow, I think I’m going to buy a new vehicle. Stay tuned!

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No expectations

The ability to live your life with no expectation is hard to master. Our minds are full of shoulds, coulds, woulds and what ifs. It’s a tough, drippy tap to turn off. For me, freeing myself of  judgement (both of self and others) is when I’m the happiest, just enjoying the ride of my life, arms in the air.

Qigong started tonight and guess what? That’s what it’s all about. I’m definitely in the right spot. Don’t ask me to repeat what I learned, I’m still absorbing. It will unfold, be patient and I’ll share it all as it comes to my enlightened self. 

Immediate benefits:  my cold is better and this stiff pain in my right foot (from crashing into Justin on the trampoline a couple of weeks ago) is exiting. I can actually wiggle my toes again.


Anticipation

Tonight I did my homework and researched Qigong. Wow, I’m really excited now.  Watching the videos, it’s coming back to me just how much I loved tasting the sampler back in 2000.  I know I have a VHS tape here somewhere, but it does me no good because who still owns a VCR anyway?

I didn’t realize there are so many benefits to Qigong, what with the exercise and healing powers it brings. It’s been effective for acute and chronic illness and I’m psyched…can you tell? Maybe my cold will be gone this time tomorrow night.

Korey got the Stanley Cup tonight for a week. We are planning a parade for Saturday or Sunday. Stay tuned, I’ll post a video. His hockey tryouts are Sunday as well. And, he has his second 1 to 1 hockey school session on Saturday, so he should be good and ready. I hope he makes one of the more competitive Novice teams so he will remain keen. Last year his hockey desire was waning a bit from no action. I’m biased, but I think he’s a great goalie with lots of potential.  A natural. I’d post a video, but Youtube is not accepting my upload right now…it must be full of Kanye West/Taylor Swift/Patrick Swayze uploads tonight.


And now for something new…CFQ Qigong

Tuesday I start a new course in CFQ Qigong. (I’m mindful of how difficult it is to type a “Q” without adding a “u” after it).

Back in 2000-2001, I took a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, affectionately called BMAP (Body-Mind Awareness Program) from someone who has become a great friend to me. Actually, my current circle of influence is still speckled with souls from this group. During this program, I was introduced to Qigong and I remember it being an extremely relaxing, healing form of movement that seemed effortless yet effective. 

I’ll be exploring Qigong with Dana Marcon of DM Personal Training, who was my fitness instructor back in the 90’s at my company’s gym….funny how time evolves us.

Level 1 focuses on the meridians and level 2 on the mind. Through the course, I will become certified to teach Qigong and I’m already envisioning my application, although open to all possibilities. I haven’t started yet, remember.

Anyway, my goal is to record my journey through my blog, so if this bores you, tune out…but wait, don’t really, cause, you know me:  I’ll probably forget to update and jump into another topic of interest, like my kids or how much I miss my boyfriend.

Oh, and I just finished a two week “Fat Flush Program” (Anne Louise Gittleman) and lost 12 pounds, but it’s creeping back now that I’ve allowed some gooey good food in my mouth. The best thing about the fat flush is that you can always start again. So, tonight it’s a long-life cocktail (get the book) and some fishoil (by Ascenta Health…an innovative Nova Scotia company). Tomorrow I’ll start with the hot water and lemon to cut through the KFC  and DQ ice-cream I devoured tonight. As I type this, I can actually feel the acid reflux symptoms again and can’t believe I lived that way for so long.  It is true, whole real food makes you feel whole. 

Are you like me?  For years I would experience excruciating pain in my chest, become  light-headed, anxious and my mind would not be clear about anything. I would wonder if other people ever felt like that or if it was considered somewhat normal. I can’t imagine we are supposed to live our lives with constant aches and pains and a foggy-ness that clouds your entire being. The Fat Flush allows you to return your body to a normal natural position, free of the heaviness.  Your liver will love  you.

It’s not overly restrictive. Last night’s dinner consisted of pan-seared scallops, baked salmon trimmings, 1 small baked potato, green beans  and cucumber.  It was yummy and I’m having the rest for lunch tomorrow.

I’ve actually been doing the Fat Flush for over 5 years. Every once and a while I would spend two to four weeks eating really good and it always paid off. Unfortunately, when you have an insatiable sweet tooth and a busy life, it’s easy to fall off the flour/milk/sugar wagon.

That, and all my friends and family just smile and say, yes…that’s tasty Heather; but stop asking me to contribute.