Proper Use of the Inversion Table

[Encephalon]

My neighbor gave me his inversion table when he moved. I love it, but would any of you advanced chi-flow folks consider specific usage, i.e., before nei kung, after, am or pm, east or west? Another technique that Frantzis recommends is flushing out stagnant chi by rising up on the balls of your feet and coming down onto your heels with a thud, three times. Seems to feel good, at least.

[Dainin]

Based on what my yoga teachers have told in the past about using a headstand bench, it's probably a good idea to gradually build up the time you spend inverted. There may be a possibility of eye problems from too much pressure.

 

The bouncing and shaking movements for dispersing stagnation seem to be pretty widespread. Jerry Alan Johnson does a few of them in his qigong video. There's also a psychologist, Bradford Keeny, who's done a lot of cross-cultural comparsions of these movements. He has a book called "Shaking Medicine" (I think) that I haven't read yet, but plan to eventually. Good luck!

[sasblamthanb]

You might consider selling your inversion table and using the money to buy inversion boots

http://www.inversiontables.com/gravity-boo...ravityboots.cfm

(Make your own rack. for bar use pipe suspended from chains and large ropes and handles on each side for mounting and dismounting)

 

Gravity boots open up so many more fitness and 'movement' possibilities

(including the "shaking" stuff ... see http://www.brainwavevibration.com/whatIsBW...ToPractice.aspx etc.

This is not an endorsement of that method. Rather it is offered to illustrate how much more safely 'compression free' such exercises can be performed when inverted

... and no, chi will not leak out the ears - anymore than it is already leaking out )

 

Any time of day is ok, but I think it is best to wait for at least 30 minutes after rising in the morning.

[Ya Mu]

Don't invert right after eating or something will come out your mouth!

 

Most recommend movement instead of just hanging, but whatever you decide to do approach it gradually.

 

I like rebounding qigong instead of the "bounce" you mentioned - much better on the body joints and much more effective. I practice standing Stillness-Movement on my rebounder.