Trunk

Lately I've been standing in very natural stance, arms at side - a little out to the sides (what Yoda has referred to as "gun-slinger" posture). I keep my breathing centered in the lower tan tien, but I allow my meditation to migrate amongst the three centers (power, love, wisdom).. Allowing the energy to move there as seems natural, doing some refinement at the center, and resolution into the deep-center of each. I find that this approach is providing much easier, more fluent, and more coherent, integration. I've been thinking for some years, now, suspiciously - that all the time just on one center (lower tan tien) is a somewhat silly approach. Experience is confirming, for me, that a three-center approach is more fruitful. Allowing for the fact that the lower energies are denser, so there is generally more time spent refining the lower center. And that the lower center is a good basis for breathing. But to include the love and wisdom center energies in the curriculum, in the blend, is just balanced and healthy. Trunk

Experimentation is a very important part of learning, whether entirely on your own or as part of studying within a system. And, if you're on your own, its likely that you could enjoy some learning, some integration. And its worth while, rewarding even; there are lots and lots of people cultivating on their own (well, at least qi gong and cultivation in general). But what gets produced, compared to learning within an authentic lineage of Tai Chi (or Xing Yi, or Ba Gua), there's no comparison. There just isn't. And I'm not just saying the orthodox line, here; this is based on observation.

Yeah, and that's just the tip of the iceburg with this guy. He goes beyond beyond, and just keeps on going. He had a hilarious promo video on his site some years ago (maybe still there?). He was promoting his qi gong services with 10 times the vigor and a fraction of the class of a used car salesman. I showed it to my teacher at the time (who is a very funny guy), and we laughed our asses off. It was like an SNL take-off on a qi gong ad. Astonishing that it was really an ad in earnest. Wow. This is the first guy I think I've just railed away at re: character online. I don't like this guy. Dat's a fact, Jack.

That's Gary Clyman. His body shape looks like he has some development, and the martial stories about him are impressive. But he has the most loud annoying childish temperament of anyone I've seen. I bought one of his videos some years back (all of his products are $pricey!$), and I couldn't stand to watch more than 1/3 of the way through. His personality is that bad. I threw out the video.

I've never been very flexible. Stocky and bulky, I've always had to have some regular weighted exercise just to warm up and relax. So the ideas of qi gong that works the muscularture (like 1-legged work) and "loaded stretching" are interesting for me. Bridges are currently beyond my ability, but i'm curious to inch towards it. Saw the ad for Pavel's "Loaded Stretching" and have been experimenting with a variation of the stretch shown on the DVD cover, but with arms extended above the head, careful to evenly load the full back (not stack the load in any one place). Any of you bought the DVD? Reviews? Then, as a counter exercise, this: (which, btw, I got from here.) Curious about what any of you guys who are bulky/tight do for stretching that suits you. Trunk

WHY did you have to SAY THAT?!? (Now I'm thinking, "What kind of a creature is a Yoda?", and "What do their peckers look like, shaved?" All I know, is I don't want to know!)

Wow! Good work! Inspired.

"Hsi Lai" means "to the West". I happen to know it 'cause there's a "Hsi Lai Temple" (Buddhist) here in the L.A. area. Its a large beautiful Buddhist temple in Hacienda Heights. Actually, the largest Buddhist temple compound outside of Asia. (No relation to the person who wrote that book.)

I just started doing the ab.wheel, standing. I do it up to a wall, to stop the wheel at the angle that I can handle. An unexpected benefit: I find that the strong tension that it puts on the lower ab works the attachments of my abs to my pubic bone, and is effectively releasing some stagnation there that I've not released through other methods.

Yup.

I find that if I get in a some stretch like that, and practice lower tan tien breathing (gently, but expanding~contracting all the way around), and some k1 breathing - it produces really interesting results.

Didn't see one in that shot, but I get the idea. Don't think I wanna buy the ball for just that one thing, but might as I get more into it and think that'd be the thing to get me over the hump. For now, I'm gonna review Furey's material that I have - and maybe visit my local yoga studio for tips.

I think the Tea Garden has an herbal formula, that includes He Shou Wu + other herbs that direct the effect to the scalp, called "Hair Tonic" or some such. Tea Garden website You can call their 800 number and talk to an herbalist. Don't know if its really effective or not. Noni juice testimonial for hair loss Dunno 'bout it for this either.

Two new essays, that both still need some polish and maybe a bit added - but far enough along that I'm posting them - and taking a few days rest. 1. Concise Overview of Cultivation 2. Jing-to-Light Transformation (bindu teachings) from AlchemicalTaoism.com Any comments, ?'s, etc. - helps me improve the essays so that they're more easily understood by everyone (even sometimes applied). Trunk

I've been experimenting with doing very mild versions of Lin's Sexual Chi Gong for Men while in Supta Baddha Konasana.

Correct. Its holding the feet and pelvis near eachother, with no effort on your part, such that you can just relax into it. The pose can be done without the strap, but its not quite as effective. If there's effort to hold the feet close in.. that creates tension in the pelvis and inner thighs - the very places that you need to relax into to get the goodies of this pose.

Had a little earthquake here in L.A. a few minutes ago (~1:55pm). The little ones are fun!

Nice. Another good description. The Tibetans describe cultivation similarly, using "the vase" metaphor; it fills from the bottom up.

Good description. imo, as I've said before, the centers provide a better map of this issue than the organs. http://www.precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/ShenTheory26252.htm The issue for resolution then becomes activating each center as a tan tien, a "medicine field", through its relationship with the deep-center, as well as the centers sharing medicine through the central channel.

If you search Amazon.com for "mudra", there are several good resources that result. I have at times been fascinated with hand postures (my hands liked to, wanted to, posture), but too lazy to really research much at the time. Think I'll read a bit now.

This (mixed) stuff has been working for me http://www.nonijuice.us/index.htm - and, per VCraigP's comment in this thread, its the brand to get. Trunk

Since orig post, I've been exploring more lower tan tien breathing while in various positions (some yogic, splits, some just minor position changes while standing). I've found that the work in supta baddha konasana has assisted my forward bending side splits work. ..an edit, later in the day.. I find that if I keep my feet flat on the ground, while working on psuedo-splits, and alternate lower tan tien breathing with Kidney-1 breathing, that works really well to help stabalize my ltt with the level of stretch that I'm working on. Keeps more connected to earth, rather than just solely stretching.

My computer is outta commission, sitting here at local coffee shop. Whole site interesting though... and I gotta log off cause i just ran out of time.

All cool links. While I think that all & any hip openers are helpful for jing cultivation, the few that combine groin-leg opening with the reclined position - in a way that you can relax into - are especially effective. One of my TCM friends says that there are liver channels (think "circulation" and "emotions") that run up through the inside of the groin, up into the lower belly. Many stretches for leg opening are combined with leaning forward. So, while you are opening your legs, you are closing the angle to your lower belly. Then, with most things that open the belly (like bridges), your legs stay together. Supta Baddha Konasana does both: opens the legs and opens the lower belly. Its a very powerful combination. Adding Lin's breathing (or experimenting with adding a variety of ltt breathing), and I think we've got a real can opener. I'm keen to hear you guys' experience with this sort of experimentation. Trunk

I've thought that lychi berries (aka: Lycium, gojizi) make a good complement to the noni juice. The noni seems to be.. well, does a lot of things.. but I do feel that its cleansing effect does take some work - can be somewhat wearing, and that being careful to nourish with time off from noni, or nourishing foods etc, is a good thing. Lychii berries came to mind (and were suggested by a friend who 's a dr of tcm) as a good and tastey complement. In fact, I'd love to have a juice of blended noni and lychi juice! The lychi berries are so sweet and tastey and nourishing; I bet it'd taste good and be very balanced, super healthy.