EFFORTLESS EFFORT

Sandratonn class blog

The Daoist teaching of “wu wei” is extremely helpful for relaxing into the flow—of your energy and your life. In class, I usually define “wu wei” as “effortless effort.” This doesn’t mean doing nothing or being limp or lazy. In fact, in the Daoist teachings, wu wei is also described as the act of “effortless action.” It’s acting, but in a way that goes with the flow of nature, including our own nature, which is energy. Wu wei is getting out of our own way so energy and life can flow. It is being aligned with ourselves, instead of resisting what is flowing through our body and our life.

For example, perhaps instead of putting so much effort into a project or relationship or routine that drains your energy, you might instead do less, or follow through on a feeling or inspiration you normally wouldn’t. A different outcome is guaranteed and you may be surprised at the unfolding of the experience.

Maybe instead of trying everything possible to heal an injury or ailment or disease you will, just for something different, do one thing that feels exactly right—something nourishing, timely, loving, simple, easy.

Instead of working too much, maybe you’ll work less, but dive in deeper and find that your work and your life change.

Maybe, instead of wishing for the end of a yoga posture, you will not judge the experience as good or bad, or comfortable or uncomfortable, but will instead soften, don’t try so hard, and simply experience it in that way.

These are a lot of words to describe something so simple and logical. Simple, however, isn’t always easy when we’ve built actions and patterns and behaviours on the idea of “no pain, no gain,” and “hold on tight.” I am challenged not just every day, but often every hour and sometimes minute to minute to let go of the idea and habit that more effort and harder effort is the way to create my best life. This goes against nature, which goes against myself.

Lao Tzu said, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

I invite you to join me in opening to the idea and shifting to the reality of wu wei—effortless effort. To float and swim and ride with the river instead of pushing upstream. This takes exploration, awareness, acceptance, courage, kindness to self, breath, posture, and flow. For me, it takes qigong.

Namaste,
Sandra

© Sandra Tonn

DETOXIFICATION with QIGONG

Sandratonn class blog

We’ve been told by countless magazine articles and books that detoxification is an uncomfortable process, usually involving an extreme remedy of eating a lot of one food (rice? cabbage?) or drinking a disgusting concoction (olive oil and lemon with cayenne pepper?) or taking a lot of expensive supplements.

From a qigong perspective, detoxification is not just a purging of the digestive tract, and need not be painful or extreme. A spring detox can happen as naturally as spring itself.

Since each of us is a microcosm of the universe—since we are nature—it makes sense that spring is our time to move and go with the flow. Part of this movement is detoxifying the body. In spring the seasons are in balance—yin and yang. If our bodies are not reflecting or matching this harmony, one thing we can do is look to our liver, the organ that is at its peak in spring and, physically, the body’s most important detoxifying organ.

From a qigong perspective, which comes from following the Dao (the way of nature), bringing the liver to its highest level of functioning, and the body to harmony, means going with the flow of nature. Presently, nature is letting go of the still, cold, and silent ways of winter, and starting to move. Ice is melting and water is flowing. Trees are budding and sap is running. Early flowers are blooming. New growth and new life is being created.

In our spring qigong classes, we are spending some time purging stale, sluggish, or stagnant liver Qi and inviting in new, fresh, healing Qi. Our movements and breath work in “Punching with a Steady Gaze,” is a safe, but powerful way to transform.

We can also help the liver to detoxify by working with our lymph system. In comprehensive report on the physiological effects of a regular qigong practice, Qigong Institute’s Roger Jahnke, OMD, says, “Breath, movement, and posture all have specific effects on the production and circulation of the lymph.”¹

Jahnke also concludes that a regular qigong practice helps the body to effectively metabolize oxygen and eliminate both environmental and dietary toxins from the body. In class this week we will help the detoxification process with the safe, but effective practice of “Hitting the Detox Points,” and also by massaging the body’s main acupressure detoxification points. We will also continue to cultivate a smooth flow of Qi through the body—another of the liver’s many jobs—by working with our tendons.

Just because qigong feels so good, and is so accessible and gentle, don’t make the mistake of dismissing the powerful impact it can have on our physical and energetic bodies. In fact, original research published in the medical journal Alternative Therapies (Li, Chen, and Zhixian, 2002) suggests that qigong is so effective for detoxification it may be successfully used to help heroin addicts, and without side effects.² The study results showed a reduction in withdrawal symptoms in the qigong group occurred more rapidly compared to other groups and that from day one the qigong group had significantly less symptoms and lower anxiety.

Qigong is powerful. Qi is powerful. Qi is our life force. Let’s flow with it, detoxify, renew, blossom, and grow.

Namaste,
Sandra

1. Jahnke, Roger. Physiological Effects of Qigong. Qigong Institute. Retrieved from: https://qigonginstitute.org/docs/Article___Physiological_Effects_of_Qigong.pdf
2. Li, Ming, Kevin Chen, and Zhixian Mo. “Use of Qigong Therapy in the Detoxification of Heroin Addicts.” Alternative Therapies, 8(1), Jan/Feb 2002. Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e0d2/bde35ca84e299df6ec818ce7d0ce0955de0e.pdf

© Sandra Tonn

THE WOOD ELEMENT

Sandratonn class blog

Matching an element to a season and an organ is a pretty foreign concept for us in the West, but the longer I practice and study qigong the more natural it seems to embrace this traditional Chinese concept. The more time I spend in nature, the more awareness and curiosity I have for it and myself. The more I feel the energy of nature, including my own, the more the five elements theory makes sense to me and becomes a means of understanding myself and nature.

Spring is the first season in the cycle of nature and wood is a good representation of this beginning. This season has the energy, the Qi or life force, of wood—like a tree rooting into the earth at the same time it reaches for the sky. A lovely balance, like the balance of yin and yang energies in spring.

In the five elements theory, wood is said to regulate our vision, both physically and spiritually, as well as our ability to adapt to the changes and possible obstacles that this fresh new season brings. If the energy we need to act on our vision and adapt to changes is blocked or stagnant, we may instead experience the energy of anger and frustration.

I know a woman who quits her spiritual practice in the spring and summer because she feels she is too busy with company coming and going. Instead of committing to the practice that keeps her grounded and honours her deepest calling for creativity, balance, and meaningful growth, she endures panic attacks and visitors and waits for the rains of the fall and winter to then recover before beginning the cycle all over again.

Instead of feeling the pressures of mainstream society’s spring season—more commitments, company coming, and gardening to catch up on—spring can be a time to match nature and be inspired, energized, and supported by the balanced energies of wood.

Working with the liver and its meridians—the wood element’s yin organ—can help to get our wood Qi flowing. When we have strong wood energy we can clearly see our opportunities for new growth, new beginnings, fresh and new ways of being. With the help of the wood element’s yang organ—the gallbladder—we can be decisive about our goals and act on them with calm confidence and wu wei, effortless effort.

Root down into what nourishes and supports you and reach for the sky to grow and blossom naturally in whatever way feels absolutely perfect for you on this natural and incredible journey. When life seems to get busy, it is even more important to commit to your practice—to move and breathe with the natural rhythm of your deepest self.

Lao Tzu said, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

Namaste,
Sandra

© Sandra Tonn

WORKING with the DAO in the SPRING SEASON

Sandratonn class blog

Yin organ: liver
Element: wood
Colour: spring green
Sense organ: eyes
Tissues: tendons, ligaments, connective tissue
Acquired emotions: anger, frustration, irritability, resentment, envy
Natural virtues: compassion, patience, generosity, creativity, decisiveness

In the spring, the liver’s energies are at their peak, which is why it’s the perfect time to work with a focus on the liver. In the way of nature (the Dao), it is a time of new life and growth of plants. In the physical and energy bodies, spring is also a time for new growth and expansive energies. It is a time to blossom and express ourselves, including our creativity and our emotions.

In the Daoist philosophy the liver is known as the “tree of life.” The tree symbolizes the wood element with its roots reaching deep into the earth while at the same time its branches stretch toward the sun. A tree’s stability and flexibility are also characteristics of the liver. A tree is rooted, or grounded, but can bend in the wind. The liver’s meridians maintain the health of the body’s tendons, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissue, helping to keep us resilient and flexible and allowing Qi to move within and through us.

Physically, just as trees emit cleansing oxygen, the liver is a major detoxifying organ, and controls the circulation and storage of blood. Energetically, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi in the whole body. Spiritually, the liver is related to inner spiritual sight.

Blocks or imbalance in the liver and its meridians are often related to headaches, allergies, menstrual irregularities, digestive ailments, high blood pressure, arthritis, muscle weakness or stiffness, uneven emotions, fatigue, resistance, and vision problems. Anger can be a helpful emotion, but not if one is stuck in it or has an excess of it.

The heart benefits from work with the liver because wood is the “mother” of fire (heart/summer) in the creation cycle. In other words, summer is born from spring and wood generates fire, which means liver health is directly related to heart health. The liver’s function is to cool (soothe) the heart, but if there is not enough blood and energy for the liver to do its job, the heart suffers with excess heat resulting in hot emotion and anxiety. For the liver to do its job, its own “mother” the kidneys, our energy batteries, must be nourished and healthy.

Flowing and balanced liver Qi helps us to make sound decisions, put our plans into action without procrastination, and be flexible and able to adapt and change. We have a vision and are able to walk our unique path without blindly following what others think or want. We are able to be compassionate, creative, and kind and patient with ourselves and others.

In our Spring Qigong and Dao Yoga series of classes, we will use meditation, Qi self-massage, Dao yoga and breathing, and flowing movement to gently cleanse and renew the liver and the whole body. We will focus on the health of the sinews and eyes, express and move the energy of anger in a healthy way, and invite in the compassion, kindness, and creativity that this season and organ offer.

Spring is a fresh and exciting time to practice, with so many relaxing and balancing rewards.

Namaste,
Sandra

© Sandra Tonn

TRANSITIONING from WINTER

Sandratonn class blog

As we near the end of our Winter Qigong series, and the end of the winter itself, we can use the silence and stillness we’ve cultivated over the winter to look inward and notice how we are responding—physically, emotionally, and energetically—to the shift in seasons. Are we resisting in any way? Perhaps wishing to stay in a hibernating state? Are we feeling reluctant to give up the nourishing darkness and depth of the winter practice? Or are we perhaps feeling an urgency to rush into the future, into action and get busy?

Hopefully, with some awareness, we are able to relax into and experience the shifts, both subtle and obvious, that the transition from winter to spring offers. Just as the weather can be variable and unpredictable this time of year, so too can our energy and our body’s needs.

We’ve spent a great deal of time filling ourselves up with nourishing yin energy, with peace, calm, and wisdom. We’ve actively worked to transform stress, fear and energy that was frozen, hard, or held. Slowly we are beginning to trust and feel the strength and power we’ve restored in our energy battery. Our practice is still offering nourishment, but we’re also showing our strength in movements such as the Golden Turtle and, this week, with its companion, the Water Buffalo.

In the Water Buffalo we use qigong’s fire breathing, bringing warmth and energy to the kidneys. The deep-breathing Water Buffalo, charges from the water (winter’s element) with natural self-confidence and energy. This movement is also very tonifying for the entire digestive area, helping us to digest both our nourishment and our life experience.

It’s good that spring is coming. It’s been a long winter. But let’s not forget the authentic peace and calm we’ve cultivated over the quiet, dark months. Let’s also remember the work it took to restore our energy battery so we make wise choices, as the earth springs to life, about when and how to express our energy.

Let’s ride a calm wave of winter, and flow gently into spring. Feeling so nourished and powerful, we can slowly, naturally, like the buds slowly appearing as if by magic all around us, open to the new energy of spring. With spring we welcome the wood element and all the new growth in our lives that come with it. Opening to spring means opening to the energies of the liver and to the kindness, creativity, and freshness of life.

Namaste,
Sandra

© Sandra Tonn