Qigong

Finding deeper friendship with the pulse

A bit of magic happened yesterday.

As River and I were on our morning hike through the woods, I was having an internal conversation with myself about how my relationship, practice and study of Qigong has felt like such a sense of coming home to myself. It feels as though this ancient work has been resting within the depth of my bones (Jing, physical body) since birth, and was waiting for the moment for my energetic (Qi) and spiritual (Shen) bodies to tap my bones and say “we’re stirring with curiosity.”

At the same moment this internal conversation was occurring, 3 deer leaped across the trail only a stone’s throw away. I said out loud to River, “how beautiful!” and we continued onwards. No less than 1 minute later, a doe and her fawn slowly tip toed across our path. They didn’t spook or startle, not even at River, they just continued onwards on their own trail. As we made our way around the nearby pond, we encountered herons, turtles, ducks, peepers, woodpeckers, an owl - well, countless bird species, really.

This is Qigong. Taoism is the ancient philosophy of living in rhythm, in harmony, in common vibration with the Tao - or the flow of the universe. In these woods, River and I were not considered intruders or something to be avoided, we were fellow member’s of Nature’s orchestra contributing our own pulses to this universal song. These woods and I have always been confidant’s but my devotion to Qigong has deepened the friendship in a way that is visual, tactile, auditory, olfactive and downright obvious.

In these woods, River and I were not considered intruders or something to be avoided, we were fellow member’s of Nature’s orchestra contributing our own pulses to this universal song…..

Thanks Pinterest, you rock. Well, tree. I MADE A JOKE EVERYONE.

A brief touch on the physical. The physical movements of Qigong (weigong refers to the physical motion) have profoundly shifted my internal stagnation (the proof lives in more regular bowel movements, friends), more easeful luteal phases (which as a woman with endometriosis means a lot) and less irritability and reactive tendencies (I am Wood but I am also Fire). This deepened relationship with my own body through Qigong has inevitably steeped itself into all movement practices on Range. This is how it feels for me………once you tap into the pulse, you can’t remember a time without its continuous hum. Suddenly, a deadlift transforms into pulling Yin energy from the earth beneath the feet. It’s funny, haven’t we always talked about the root system? But now the roots are alive traveling up bubbling well, permeating our bones, muscles and fascia.

“This was delicious, like sipping in a cool breeze that rearranged my (previously very stagnant) inner world. Also, I really feel like Qigong fits so beautifully into the world of Range.” - Christie

“I cried with your first official Qigong video, it felt so aligned, something I’ve always felt called to, your journey merging and unfolding here with us. I experienced so much gratitude. Then again with this one I had a vision of myself doing this sequence and practice all the way up until I’m 80. A life long way of tapping in and showing up for myself in connection and movement. It brought me so much peace. I cherish this deeply. A gift truly. Thank you Kara.” - Issa

“I've been meaning to tell you that your addition of qi gong to this platform has been incredibly life giving. Your ability to keep the poetry of this ancient wisdom alive is an absolute gift. Range just got even juicer!! As if it wasn't already the juiciest! Thank you, thank you. Thank you for learning this, letting it touch you, and giving it to us. It has touched me!” - Nicolette

We are so tempted to ask the questions of “how long should I practice?”, “how many days a week?” and this moment of connection with the woods on a Saturday morning whispered to me, “carry me with you always”. I would love to offer you a ritual.

The next time when you’re out for a walk, think of the following mantras associated with the Wu Shen Cycle.

“I am” - Winter, Kidneys and Bladder, Zhi (Water)

“I become” - Spring, Liver and Gallbladder, Hun (Wood)

“I nourish” - Summer, Heart and Small Intestine, Shen (Fire)

“I sustain” - Late Summer, Spleen and Stomach, Yi (Earth)

“I surrender” - Autumn, Lungs and Large Intestine, Po (Metal)

When I am in the woods, I slow down my pace and repeat the spiral of “I am, I become, I nourish, I sustain, I surrender”…….you are practicing Qigong….always transforming and always shifting. Life is embracing the mystery of our impermanence and continuing onwards anyways.

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My friends of Range, thank you for embracing my constant hunger for beginning again. I am a seedling of this work and how beautiful it is that we can unfold alongside each other? The deepest thanks to my teacher, Stephanie Nosco. I completed her 5 Spirits training and look forward to a lifetime of learning from her and others. If curious about practicing or learning from Stephanie, please visit Nosco Learning.

To practice Qigong with me on Range, please visit Qigong on Range

Range explores the breadth of being human through the practices of Pilates, mobility, strength training, functional movement, dance, breathwork, restorative practices, Qigong and wherever else life takes us…..

With a warm spiraled filled hug,

Kara