KAI HE QIGONG – PART 1: BREATHING METHOD

Kai He Qigong translates to Open Close Energy Skill. This qigong system is good for both health and healing, and building power for martial arts. It is especially beneficial for people with joint injuries and arthritis, but not limited to the skeletal structure.  Once learned properly and practiced regularly, it can be used to relieve and heal basically any type of pain or degenerative conditions.
Below I explain the entire Breathing Method step by step.  This qigong exercise increases the Qi and blood circulation and acts to pump fresh synovial fluid back into the joint space, hence reversing/healing degenerative joints and the “normal” aging process!

Breathing Method
Every command below is done with Yi (intention) NOT Li ( external brute force).

1. Stand in shoulder width parallel stance, body straight but relaxed.
2. Cross the center of your palms (Laogong points) directly over a point approximately 2 inches below your navel (Qihai). Men place your left hand first and the right hand on top. Women place your right hand first and the left hand on top of it. (This is because the left hand is Yang and the right hand is Yin – it is an energetic connection, so place the dominant hand first).
3. RELAX!!!
4. Inhale and contract your belly towards your spine GENTLY. At the same time, very gently contract the anal sphincter muscles and lift UP.
5. Exhale and expand your belly away from your spine GENTLY. At the same time, relax the anal sphincter muscle and sink DOWN.
6. Practice this for a while until it is smooth and comfortable without any strain…
7. Next, imagine your entire waist (front, back, and sides) as an inner tube (all the way around). Inhale and contract your belly, low back, and sides all together, towards your spine GENTLY. (This is an extension of # 3 above – you want the entire waist area to contract towards your spine).
8. When you exhale, expand your belly, low back, and sides all together, away from your spine. (Extension of #4 above).
9. Next, when you inhale, imagine every pore on your skin absorbing Qi and taking it into the Dantian (area approximately 2 inches below your navel in the center of your body).
10. When you exhale, imagine expelling/emitting Qi from the Dantian out every pore on your skin and out of your body.
11. Next, when you inhale, imagine every pore on your skin absorbing Qi into the center of your bones.
    When you exhale, imagine the Qi from the center of your bones emitted out every pore on your skin.

This is the complete Breathing Method. Practice this for a while until it is smooth and comfortable and without strain. Make sure not to puff up your chest at anytime but keep it relaxed.

Kai He Qigong – Part 2  will explain step by step the Open Close Method.