EXERCISE TO
INCREASE KI-FLOW TO THE HANDS
Copyright © 2002 James Deacon
The
following technique, for increasing the circulation of ki to the
hands, is a simple yet profoundly beneficial one.
This
technique comes
from the loose 'conglomeration' of miscellaneous practices and
techniques referred to as reiryoku no michi:
"the Way of [connection with] Spiritual Power"
or, alternatively:
"the Way of the Soul's Power"
It can be practiced
seated on a chair, stool or bench, or in a crosslegged posture
or in the seiza posture.
Choose
a time and place where you are unlikely to be disturbed - initially
5 -10 minutes will be quite sufficient for practice - with regular
practice, the time you invest in the exercise will naturally increase.
Take off your shoes. And wherever you are doing this exercise
- indoors or out, make sure the floor/ground is both comfortable
and warm. Do not practice this on cold floors/ground, do not practice
in the cold, generally.
Sit up straight (comfortably so - no need for rigid military-style
posture - this will only impede the technique). Rest your hands,
palms down, on your legs.
'Hara-centre'
yourself: i.e. focus loosely in your seika tanden (the
area deep inside your body, mid-way between your navel and the
top of your pubic bone) - co-ordinating body & mind.
Become loosely aware of the natural rhythms of your breathing.
The term used is: 'watching the breath' - this implies non-interference
with the natural process of respiration. Do not seek to consciously
breathe - merely be aware that you are breathing effortlessly.
After
a couple of minutes, keeping your shoulders and your arm as relaxed
as possible, cover your left ear with the palm of your right hand.
Continue to let your breath flow effortlessly.
When you feel your right arm beginning to get tired (let it get
to the stage of being a 'good tired' but don't over do it), gently
lower it to rest palm up on your right thigh.
Again, keeping shoulders and arm as relaxed as possible, this
time cover your right ear with the palm of your left hand.
Continue to let your breath flow effortlessly.
When you feel your left arm beginning to get tired, gently lower
it to rest palm up on your left thigh.
After a moment's pause, cover your left ear with the palm of your
right hand again, and also cover
your right ear with the palm of your left hand - arms and shoulders
relaxed as possible - your breath flowing as effortlessly as possible
also.
Again,
continue until your arms feel tired , then once more gently lower
them - this time palms down - on your thighs.
Rest.
Many people may find this exercise a little awkward at first -
it just takes a little getting used to.
(It will also help if you wear light and loosely-fitting clothing
on your upper body.)
The
length of time you can maintain this exercise for will increase
with practice, but it as much (if not more) about quality
of practice as it is about length of practice. Your arms
and shoulders must remain relaxed, your breath must remain effortless.
