Golden Shower Meditation

If you feel that everyday worries and concerns are getting the best of you, Golden Shower Meditation may help. This meditation should be done first thing in the morning, and the afterglow will remain with you for the rest of the day.

First, you must assume a meditative position, sitting in a straight back chair or cross-legged on a mat. Close your eyes and fold your hands in your lap. Breathe deeply from your lower stomach (dantien) for several minutes. Concentrate only on the inhale, releasing the exhales completely. Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth and relax your lips and jaw.

Imagine a golden ball of light hovering above your head slowly spinning counter clockwise. It radiates a wonderful loving energy that you begin to feel on the top of your head and shoulders. You enjoy this beautiful feeling for several minutes as you continue to relax every muscle of your body.

Slowly the golden ball begins to emit a fine mist of healing energy that you begin to feel on your head and face. The mist turns to light rain and the golden droplets begin to run down your face and shoulders. The golden rain feels warm and wonderful as it lovingly saturates your clothes and soaks your body. Your skin absorbs the healing warmth as it flows through your body removing all worry and pain.

The rain continues to flow through your head, shoulders, torso and legs as it finally sinks into the earth carrying with it any concerns, worries and bodily pain. The golden shower will continue as long as you want, and you carry the wonderful, clean, glowing feeling with you for the rest of the day.

Namaste

Are Negative Thoughts Keeping You Awake at Night?

Does worry or negative thought keep you awake at night? Or do negative thoughts creep in to your mind during the day eroding your peace of mind and happiness? Or do these thoughts dredge up bad memories you would prefer to forget?

In fact, most of us have had experiences in our lives that were unpleasant or traumatic. Unfortunately these memories seem to be burned indelibly into our minds and are hard, if not impossible, to erase. When these emotions kick in our bodies react causing stomach tightness, blood vessel constriction, and other flight or fight reactions. These reactions, if left unchecked, can actually cause physical harm and lead to many illnesses. And this is not the worst of it.

Worry, negative thoughts, and bad memories and the emotional responses they evoke are addictive. And like any other addiction, the habit of entertaining these thoughts is hard to break. So where do we look for answers and what can we do to overcome these addictions?

The ancient masters, of course, faced these same negative thoughts and worries as we do today. Through the centuries they developed techniques to thwart these mental detractors and passed them down through generations. These techniques are taught today and include the three major topics: meditation, qigong and tai chi chuan.

Namaste

What is Qigong?

Recently several students have asked me about qigong (chi kung). So I will attempt to give you a basic explanation as it relates to the training we provide through Radiant Palm Tai Chi. Qigong is fundamentally a breathing exercise that makes use of various body positions that are held by the practitioner for several minutes at a time.

Holding these positions works the major muscles of the body, and those who practice regularly develop amazing muscle strength. What may not be known by novices is that qigong can be an excellent conduit for moving "qi" or life force energy throughout the body. Learning these techniques is best accomplished through a guided program of instruction.

Although most students find the discipline of qigong to be difficult at first, there are advantages to those students with mobility issues, such as balancing, stepping or kicking. Simply standing or sitting and holding prescribed forms while focusing the mind can be done by almost anyone. Qigong, in fact, gives many people an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of strengthing the body and sharpening the mind they would otherwise not have through Tai Chi or other dynamic physical exercises.

So if you have limited mobility, why not try qigong? If you learn to practice this amazing exercise, you will realize more muscle strength, a sharper mind, and be more relaxed. What more can you ask for?

Namaste