Does anybody even read this, any more?
My calves were sweating today. Usually, sweat is concentrated in the places one would expect to find it — armpits, back, and so on. But today, the backs and sides of my lower legs were sweaty. Part of the reason is that I was doing a lot of work with horse stance today: knees bent, buttocks tucked under, a knot of concentration just under the belly button. The legs were getting a workout they don’t normally get.
When I began this process almost thirteen months ago, I couldn’t hold horse stance for more than a single posture. I had to rise out of that posture almost as soon as I’d gotten into it. There were muscles that had rarely been used; there were tendons that hadn’t been stretched. More than 370 days of daily practice later, I can tell you — those muscles do build up strength, and the tendons do stretch. In the immortal words of that band of British sages, “I got better.”
Some days, like today, the qi gong seems to be more important than the form; some days the form is more important that the qi gong. My energy and attention seesaws back and forth between these two, and I have to wonder — isn’t this normal? Doesn’t the body know to work at what the body needs?
Good work in relation to your daily practice and writing about it – keep practicing. Anyone who does Tai Chi will find this v interesting.
that was meant to be “Now keep practicing and blogging”, damn spell-cheker and it’s tricksy auto-correct, that’ll teach me the evils of falling in to habits.
Yes. No keep practicing and blogging!
I kinda figured that you meant “Now”, even if WordPress didn’t let you say that.
I’m glad to hear that you’re up and about after your “doors wide open” experience, and are back in the meditational saddle again. The letter sequence meditations sound intense.
Thanks. The doors wide open experience was a bit like doing no martial arts for years and then trying to do a whole class with a low level of fitness. It knocks you off your feet for days but gives you an insight in to how far you have to go. One day I may be able to channel the same amount of power and not collapse in to a heap. Regarding the letter meditation, it’s become a part of my daily life. No more intense than say skiing down a mountain on your daily commute, a blast the first few times and then it becomes the new normal.
I read this! I’ve been learning the short form for about 15 months, and your daily musings have given me much encouragement and food for thought and deeper understanding.
I’m glad to hear it… so… when are you going to start keeping a daily diary?
I’m still reading. Keep it up!
Glad to hear it! How goes Feldenkrais?