Springtime Chi for Practitioners
“Remember that the quality, results, and success of a bodywork practice is a reflection of our chi, not our advertising.”
Spring Chi
Spring is generated by rising energy. It is chi that moves upward and outward, transforming from it’s internal recessive winter state.
In nature, it is energy moving up from the roots to the branches of the trees; it moves from deep in the ground up and out into the atmosphere. It is felt on that first day near the end of winter, when we feel the cold bareness break and the smell of spring is in the air. In the human body, we feel chi move from a protective inwardness to an outward relaxed feeling - a letting go. Emotionally and mentally, we move from reflective to creative.
For many, chi can get stuck in the winter state. This creates energy deficiency, anger and frustration, as the energy is unable to change to the upward and outward direction of awakening spring chi.Recognizing the effects of this blocked or sluggish transition of the seasonal energies can be an important diagnosis with our clients and ourselves. Discomforts and complaints (whatever the symptoms are called) may be a direct result of inefficient seasonal transition.
What Makes a Practice Thrive
Remember that the quality, results, and success of a bodywork practice is a reflection of our chi, not our advertising. Clients come to spend time in the energy matrix that we create and nurture. Treatment skills are only a vehicle for transporting an atmosphere of wellbeing to the client’s system.
“Music transports the listener into the mental state of the composer.”
As practitioners, working with our own chi is the most effective way to expand our practice. This is not only in terms of numbers of treatments, but also the dimension of positive effects. When the practitioner develops his or her chi flow, it creates a more dynamic experience for the client and practitioner. Below are some practices that you can use to nourish your chi, particularly for this time of year in the northern temperate hemisphere.
Some Exercises to Support Winter - Spring Chi
Walking on grass barefoot in the morning:
This practice transports upward rising morning/spring energy from the earth through the body. Chi is conducted via the morning dew and enters the KI #1 vortex for distribution though the system. It particularly opens the liver and gallbladder, which are the organ manifestations and core of spring energy.
- Breathing Exercise:
- Begin in standing position.
- Breathe in deeply while stepping forward, and simultaneously raising your arms with palms up.
- Step back to the starting position while breathing out.
- Repeat a,b,c while stepping forward and back with the other foot.
- Repeat a,b,c,d 10- 12 times
- Daily Skin Brush:
- Brush the entire skin surface with a brush, loofa or towel.
- For a more penetrating effect dip the brush in hot ginger water.
- Repeat one or two times daily.
This practice helps to bring energy to the surface of the body. It opens the the pores and improves breathing. It helps the body clean out and discharge deep inner stagnation.
- Integrating Nature Music:
- Go to a place where you can hear birds singing.
- Expand the layers of the outerbody membranes.*
- In this expanded state listen to sound and melodies of the bird songs. Notice the sensation of the s ound frequencies vibrating through your system.
This practice has numerous transformative effects and is also very entertaining. Interacting with the vibration of the bird song energy creates an uplifting flow of natural chi and initiates movement, positive emotion, and mental clarity.
* Please click on the following link for a free 30-minute guided audio to learn how to expand your outerbody: Energy Body Expansion
Earth and Solar Influences
There are yearly cycles of energy expression that are similar to seasonal changes. This dynamic is expressed in the astrology system of 9 Star Ki. On this larger level of influence, we are moving from a water year to a fire year. This again is a shift from water energy and its characteristics to the most outward moving and active energy of fire.
We are presently moving from a water (1) year into a fire (9) year
We are presently moving from a water (1) year into a fire (9) year
Some Element Characteristics
Winter/Water - internal, reflective
Spring-Wood - outward, creative
Summer/Fire - active, social
Late Summer/Soil - gather, convergence
Autumn/Metal: retraction, shedding
In other words, not only are we moving from water to wood energy due to the seasonal change, we are also moving from water to fire in terms of the yearly 9 Star Ki change. This could compound the tendency for people to get stuck in the demands of seasonal change. Therefore, the need for identifying and addressing the water energy shift can be even more important this year in order to maintain well being and balance with our environment.