FLOWINGLY STILL
Students and some instructors enjoyed “Flowingly Still” at a regional chi kung class conducted by Sifu Wong in Spain a few years ago.
The following discussion is reproduced from the thread Abdominal Breathing posted by Darryl Collette in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum on 11th February 2003.
For an example of 'Flowingly Still', during the last Intensive Kung Fu course with Sifu I experienced something I had never felt before.
While doing Stance Training, I was sitting in Horse Stance with my fists above my hips, listening to my breathing and focusing on my Dan Tian. I felt the chi massing at my left hand and continued to think of my Dan Tian, quietly confident my chi would go there in its own little way. Instead, the sensation continued to build untill I was suddenly aware that my left arm was fully extended in a straight punch, very very different from moving while in chi flow.
It felt completely natural to be there, so I left it there and continued with my breathing. Afterwards, I asked Sifu what I should have done and he replied "yes, Flowingly Still".
Tom, by all means post your questions regarding practicing “Lifting Body” or any other patterns. Indeed, there are many of Sifu's students who post here, in particular Joan and WahnamCH who have accomplished great things with their own Chi Kung practice that far outweigh anything I may have accomplished so far.
As to your questions regarding moving or staying still, do not worry about them. The movements are happening just now as you are freeing blockages, returning to natural movements, or the Tao if you wish. Dynamic patterns for two months is such a little time, yet already you are reaping the benefits of your practice. Every now and again, your Chi Flow will be silent and still, or slow and serene, or wild and reckless, or even all three one after the other.
The most important thing to remember is not if you are doing it right, but that you are doing it well. If you want, practice the form for “Lifting Body” three or four times, then relax and just stand, listening to your breathing. If you move, move. If you stand, stand. Let everything just pass you by and enjoy your practice. Don't worry about getting results, or doing the form until you feel the chi building, take it easy and gently, especially at the beginning. These exercises are very powerful, not to be underestimated or over-trained. The next day, do Lifting The Sky and enjoy your chi flow as normal.
As the weeks and months pass by, start making your “Lifting Body” sessions more frequent, say from once per two to three weeks to once per week, then maybe twice per week and so on.
Always follow your “Lifting Body” with “Lifting the Sky” the next session, it is a treasure in itself and not to be underestimated.
Darryl Collett