Body Lab: Exploring Embodiment

Replay from June 26, 2022

A student in this class mentioned they just haven't been able to feel stretched out enough, even after stretching. And, because I love problems solving for my students, I taught a class with a lot of pumping actions in stead of just your traditional stretching stuff.

In Qi Gong we move the body to cultivate, move, absorb and sustain energy (Qi), aka our life force. One technique utilized here is know as pumping also called pulsing. Our fascia, muscles, lymphs and organs love being pumped as it assists the release of accumulated toxins, warms up and invigorates the body without overexerting (important during hot seasons) and lubricates the joints.

Often, continuous contraction and release relieves tightness and stagnation better than a static stretch. In sports medicine it is called a dynamic stretch, but Qi Gong takes a much broader view than what the muscles fibers are doing. It approaches the body as a holistic system and emphasis on energy flowing through the whole being not just a particular set of soft tissue. As we know, we develop tension over time and it isn't just sourced from the muscles, the conditions of our outer collective world as well as our psyche play a huge part in developing and maintaining our state of tension. To bring awareness and even compassion for our tensions can lead us to know ourselves deeper. What we care about deeply as well as our fears maybe living right in that cranky shoulder.

As a movement coach, I have the honor of helping people step on the path to something they desire - more confidence, more sensuality, power or vulnerability between partners to name a few beautiful requests. When I work with performing artists, we discover why the character moves how they move, what are the tensions and what does the body have to say about the conscious and unconscious feelings.

PRO TIP:

>Journal what you desire to embody today?

I often start with grounding the feet with the Tune-Up balls so we may begin our embodiment work present and awake with the here and now. The ground gives us both energy from the Earth and helps us slow down-which is useful for deep listening. After that, we explore the tensions for the secrets that the body has been holding onto for us so patiently. Use patterns like circles and waves with your arms, hips, ankles and spine to flow into a non-linear space somatically. Keep moving without thinking. Connect to your low belly, our energy center of the lower Dantien if you feel rigid or start to think about what or why you are doing this.

Stay spacious as the ego will try to trip us up when we touch on some guarded material, but trust the body as it will find a way to move in surprising ways that may be brand new to you!

Hope you enjoy this class.

To you wellness,

Rie

This recording is for your personal practice only, please do not teach or share the content of this recording without permission- this is for safety reasons. You are taking this video class at your own risk, please seek your doctor’s advise if you have any health concerns.

If you are interested in a 1-1 or teacher training with Rie, please contact us for more information.