Breathe in Energy, Breathe out Pain with a gentle Qi Gong Movement Meditation
By Eline Kieft
Often when you feel unwell, moving is often the last thing we want to do. We simply don’t have the energy or the motivation for it, or we are afraid to increase our existing pain.
However, you will be surprised that movement can be a real gift to shift your perception, relieve pain, and increase energy. It does not necessarily mean that the pain disappears completely, but perhaps it becomes more bearable, as you connect to a space in which you can navigate pain and exhaustion, rather than these experiences defining you.
This movement meditation is designed for moving when you are in pain, or when you feel very tired. It is based on Qi Gong, which is a Traditional Chinese Medicine movement practice. Its Taoist philosophy goes back thousands of years and is strongly inspired by nature.
What is Qi Gong?
Qi Gong provides an opportunity to bring your life force in motion, to articulate joints, stretch and strengthen muscles. When we don’t move, the idea is that ‘Qi’ can get stagnant in joints and muscles, causing stiffness and even pain. With gentle movements we can let energy flow through all the joints and muscles, keeping our body active and resilient.
This Practice
This particular sequence is inspired by a practice called the Three Treasures, of Body, Heart and Mind, which are intertwined with Earth, Nature and the Universe. Through conscious breathing and gentle movement, we invite these treasures to inspire and replenish us, to make space for positive emotions and clear our minds. You don’t need a lot of physical energy to get started, nor any prior experience to participate.
You can do the movements seated, as well as standing. If you choose to sit, I recommend a chair with a straight back and no armrests, to give you more movement range. Feel free to modify the movements to suit your body as it shows up today. You can do this sequence as often as you like or repeat specific movements that you particularly resonate with.
The movements are slow and therefore have a very low risk of injury. However, if a movement doesn’t feel good, modify it. Make it smaller, slower, softer, or adjust your posture. You know your body best, so listen to what you need.
About Eline Kieft
I am Founder and Facilitator of Clover Trail, an embodied path full of empowering techniques for health and happiness that help you thrive in life. Movement is one of the techniques I love sharing with you. I am a trained Movement Medicine teacher and Qi Gong instructor. I also have an auto-immune condition that causes persistent pain. So I intimately know that place of being too tired or in too much pain to move, and yet when I get off the couch to move a bit, however brief and gentle, it is always an incredible gift. This practice invites and encourages you to find that resource inside yourself. Even if your body struggles and you might feel it lets you down, even if you are in pain, exhausted, or both, it doesn’t mean that you cannot BE. You and your body are truly worthy and magnificent, and I wish you well on your journey.
*This is not a cure or a replacement for current pain management activities, but an opportunity for exploration of your own body and movement. Please listen /watch first to decide if you want to take part. You could check with your healthcare professional if any activities are best avoided for you. Decide if you think its ok to participate or wait until another time, as best suits your needs. Please make sure you have enough space to move and follow local COVID-19 guidelines. The practice pages on this website do not provide medical advice and the views and opinions expressed belong to and are the responsibility of the author(s) of the practices. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the practice!
