Signs and Sensations, Deviations and Corrections
When people start practising chi-gung, they almost invariably experience some unusual reactions and sensations. In most cases, these are normal signs of progress and no cause for alarm. Chi-gung completely reorganizes the entire human energy system and gradually restructures the body as well. Basic vital functions such as respiration and circulation, nervous and immune responses, digestion and metabolism, all become far more efficient, energy levels are greatly elevated, and higher spiritual faculties that have lain dormant since birth are spontaneously awakened. The human system grows more sensitive to even the subtlest changes in the ambient energies of the environment, including weather, seasonal shifts, pollution, unusual cosmic phenomena, and so forth. All of these factors combine to produce a variety of reactions in body and mind as the system starts adjusting to the new currents of power that pulsate through it as a result of chi-gung practice.
People who are particularly sensitive to energy usually notice these reactions soon after taking up chi-gung practice, while others don’t begin to experience them until after a few months of regular practice. Still others notice very little or no reactions to these changes. Regardless of your individual degree of sensitivity to these external signs of internal transformations, chi-gung always prompts fundamental changes in the human system, whether you become consciously aware of them or not, but learning to recognize these symptomatic signs can be very useful as guidelines for adjusting your practice and monitoring your progress over time.
Some of the most commonly encountered reactions to chi-gung are regarded as universal signs of progress, clearly indicating that positive long-term changes have occurred in the practitioner’s system. Some sensations, however, are simply natural physiological responses of the body and brain to the enhancement in respiration, circulation and other vital functions that are experienced during practice as a direct result of deep abdominal breathing. Reactions that reflect fundamental changes in the system usually disappear after a period of time, as body and mind adjust to these transformations, whereas natural physiological responses to improved respiration and circulation usually recur whenever chi-gung is properly practised, although one soon grows so accustomed to them that they no longer seem unusual.
Most signs and sensations manifest themselves physically, such as feelings of heat or cold, soreness or pressure, perspiration or itching. Others manifest psychically, and sometimes these reactions confuse or alarm the practitioner, even though they are quite harmless. Indeed, some psychic signs should be seen as cause for celebration, since they indicate major ‘spiritual breakthroughs’ (shen-tung).
Psychic responses to chi-gung arise from two major sources. One is the awakening of dormant cerebral functions of the temporal human mind, such as prodigious improvement in memory and learning, activation of latent creative talents, and so forth, due to the stimulation chi-gung provides to large sections of the brain that have never before been utilized. As these formerly unused parts of the brain are brought ‘on-line’ for the first time, all sorts of creative talents and cerebral powers which one never realized were there suddenly begin to manifest.
The other source of psychic sensations in chi-gung practice is purely spiritual, not the result of improvements in brain function. As the practitioner progresses through the higher stages of internal alchemy and begins to cultivate the universal awareness of primordial spirit, signals may appear that indicate the awakening of formerly hidden spiritual powers, such as telepathy, extrasensory perception, clairvoyance and so forth. Sometimes described in Western psychology as ‘paranormal’ or ‘supernatural’, these powers are in fact perfectly natural and par-for-the-course for adepts who practise the higher yogas in all mystical traditions. However, since adepts who achieve such powers rarely display them to outsiders, they are often regarded with suspicion by ordinary people as forms of magic.
While most of the reactions one experiences as a result of chi-gung practice are either positive signs of progress or natural physiological responses of the body and brain to improvements in vital functions, some sensations indicate deviations in energy, and these should always be met with prompt corrective measures to prevent them from causing deeper problems to develop. Deviations can occur when energy gets stuck in certain parts of the body, such as the head, or becomes blocked in the meridians due to tension or other obstructions. Deviations can also occur when energy enters the wrong channel or is not properly transformed and balanced during practice. Factors that can give rise to deviations include poor posture, wrong breathing methods, failure to complete the warm-up and/or cool-down stages of practice, and negligence in observing the basic precautions, such as practising when emotionally upset or during inclement weather and aberrant cosmic conditions. When deviations occur, corrective measures should be applied immediately, before they have repercussions in the circulatory, nervous and endocrine systems, or damage other parts of the body.
First we’ll take a look at some of the common signs of progress in practice and some of the natural physical sensations produced in response to energy work; then we’ll deal with the most frequently encountered deviations and the measures that may be taken to correct them.
Signs of Progress and Sensations in Practice
Numbness and Tingling
Numbness and tingling are quite normal reactions in the beginning stages of chi-gung practice. When sitting in meditation for periods of 20 to 30 minutes or more, the supply of blood to the legs can become constricted, especially in the lotus postures, resulting in numbness. This can also happen when standing in the Horse stance for a long time, before the muscles and tendons grow accustomed to holding this position. With prolonged practice, this reaction disappears, as the joints of the legs get looser, the muscles grow stronger, and the circulatory system adjusts to delivering blood to tissues under pressure. Meanwhile, you can easily relieve such numbness by pausing in your practice to stretch, rub and/or tap your legs to stimulate circulation.
Tingling usually occurs in the extremities, particularly the hands and feet. This has two causes. One is the enhancement of microcirculation to the extremities, which draws extra supplies of blood and energy all the way out to the fingers and toes. The other cause is improvement in transmission of nerve impulses throughout the nervous system, which is somewhat akin to stepping up the current in an electrical system. Once the nervous system adjusts to this change, the tingling sensations will gradually disappear.
Trembling
Trembling often occurs in the early stages of practice as a natural reaction of the muscles to enhanced circulation of blood and improved nerve transmission. Another common cause of trembling is chronic muscular tension in various parts of the body, such as the shoulders or back. As energy circulates through the channels, any muscular tension it encounters along the way tends to block the free flow of energy, causing the muscles to tremble as energy tries to push its way through those tissues. Trembling can also occur as a result of over-exertion, such as standing for too long in the Horse or exerting too much muscular effort in performing the exercises.
Sometimes trembling occurs spontaneously during chi-gung practice, even without any muscular tension or over-exertion and not as a result of enhanced circulation and nerve function. This may occur in the arms or legs, the abdomen, or even the entire body. Spontaneous trembling is a clear sign of progress, for it means that the major channels of the energy system are opening up and that energy is flowing freely through them. One should neither encourage nor discourage such trembling, but simply take note of it and let it take its natural course. It usually stops as abruptly as it starts, and after the body, particularly the muscles and nerves, becomes accustomed to the higher level of power in the system, such trembling gradually ceases altogether.
Heat
Sensations of heat in various parts of the body during practice can occur as a direct result of improvements in the circulation of blood and energy to parts of the body previously deprived of sufficient circulation. In this case, the sensation will gradually subside as the nerves in those tissues grow accustomed to this stimulating effect. Heat can also rise in certain parts of the body as the result of uneven circulation of energy during practice, due to incorrect posture, incomplete breathing technique, muscular tension, emotional imbalance or other factors. In this case, one should pay closer attention to the basic precepts and precautions of practice and make appropriate adjustments.
Another type of heat often experienced in chi-gung is what’s sometimes referred to as ‘psychic heat’. This type of heat is generated purely by energy, particularly when it activates latent powers in the chakras, and it indicates concrete progress in practice. For example, as sacral energy begins to rise strongly up the spinal channels, it awakens dormant powers in the various chakras located along the spine, and as these faculties begin to stir, heat is generated. Kundalini yoga in Hindu tradition and the tummo yoga of Tibet, whereby heat is generated in the abdomen through deep breathing and visualization techniques, are other examples of internal energy practices that produce sensations of psychic heat.
Heat may also be experienced when chi-gung activates healing responses in the body. If bacteria, toxins or other factors that can cause disease are present, the immune system will often ‘turn up the heat’ to literally ‘burn them off’. This is a natural healing response and indicates that the practice is successfully eliminating factors which can cause disease and degeneration in the body. In this case, when those factors are eliminated from the system, the heat produced to deal with them will naturally subside.
Cold
Sensations of cold experienced during chi-gung practice may be due to several factors. In still sitting meditation, especially during the winter, it may simply be due to a net loss of warmth as the body radiates heat out to the surrounding air, which is colder than the body. In this case, one should be sure to wear sufficiently warm clothing, or drape a blanket over the shoulders, during still practice. When practising moving exercises, even in cold weather, this is usually not a problem because the body will generate more than enough internal heat to compensate for external cold.
If you practise chi-gung when emotionally upset, particularly when the emotion involved is chronic fear or acute fright, sensations of cold are a common side-effect and can occur even in the hottest weather. Nervous tension can also trigger cold spells during practice. Practising under such conditions runs counter to the basic precepts of practice and blocks circulation of energy, which in turn inhibits blood circulation, especially to the extremities, resulting in sensations of cold.
Cold sensations can also be a sign of detoxification. If the body is highly toxic, chi-gung will stimulate the immune system to expel the toxic elements from the body, resulting in occasional chills and shivers. This is a natural reaction to the detoxification process and a positive sign that your practice is working to cleanse your body and purify your energy.
Another type of cold sensation sometimes felt during practice is the so-called ‘chi chill’. This has nothing to do with cold per se, but is rather a manifestation of chi moving through the channels, especially along the surface of the body. You may suddenly feel a chill shivering up and down your spine, or raising goose flesh on your arms or legs. This is a physiological reaction to energy surging through channels that have long been blocked, and it usually disappears after the nerves in those parts of the body become accustomed to the new stimulation.
Sweating
Warm sweating is a natural reaction to chi-gung practice, indicating that energy is circulating through the channels. As energy moves through the system, it causes the pores to open, thereby allowing excess Fire energy to be released through the skin as warm sweat. This is an external sign of internal energy on the move and indicates that one’s practice is progressing well.
Sweating is more common in moving forms of chi-gung, but it may also occur in still practice. In still meditation, even though the body is kept immobile externally, energy is moving internally, which opens the pores and pushes excess heat to the surface for elimination. If there is a lot of excess Fire energy inside the system, sweating will occur even when practising in cold weather. When this happens, one should dry off the body with a towel immediately after practice and change into dry clothes. Avoid taking a shower for at least 20 to 30 minutes after practice, to allow the pores to close again.
Soreness and Pain
In the early stages of practice, certain parts of the body may feel sore due to insufficient strength in the muscles and tendons. It takes about six months of regular practice for the muscles and tendons in the legs to develop enough strength to support the body in the Horse stance for prolonged periods. In still sitting practice, soreness may occur in the lower back and waist, as the muscles and tendons in those parts stretch and strengthen to support that position.
Another cause of soreness and pain is incorrect posture. If one stands or sits without attention to the basic points of posture, circulation may become obstructed in the knees, ankles, waist and/or lower back, causing those parts to feel sore. This may also occur if one commences chi-gung practice without first stretching the muscles and tendons and loosening the joints with a series of preparatory warm-up exercises to limber and balance the body.
Headache and Eyeache
Aching sensations in the head and eyes are usually a result of incorrect breathing techniques during practice. If the mind is not kept focused on the breathing during practice, there is a tendency to retain the breath too long upon completion of inhalation. Since inhalation draws energy up the spinal channels into the head, retaining the breath for too long causes energy and blood to accumulate in the head, creating stagnation and pressure there that can cause painful throbbing, particularly in the eyes. Another possible cause of discomfort in the head and eyes is muscular tension in the neck and shoulders, which blocks free flow of energy and blood to the head. A third source of this reaction is failure to conclude a practice session with a series of cool-down exercises to collect and store energy in the lower abdomen. When this happens, excess energy is left lingering in the head, which can cause a painful throbbing sensation.
In still sitting practice, the eyes may ache when the practitioner tries to focus his or her eyes on the tip of the nose as a means of internalizing attention. When practising chi-gung, whether moving or still, the eyes should always be kept unfocused and completely relaxed. Trying to keep them focused on a specific point throughout a practice session causes tension in the muscles of the eyeballs, resulting in a throbbing eyeache. This can be relieved by rubbing the palms together till warm, then placing them over closed eyes and holding them there for a minute or two.
Headache and eyeache are therefore not signs of progress, but rather indicators of incorrect technique. When breathing is smooth, eyes are kept unfocused, and tension in the neck and shoulders is released, these sensations usually subside immediately.
Insomnia
Many practitioners experience a period of insomnia when they first take up chi-gung practice. This is quite normal and nothing to worry about. Chi-gung stimulates secretions of hormones and neurotransmitters, enhances circulation of blood and energy throughout the system, particularly the brain, and activates large areas of the brain that were formerly dormant. The overall result of these effects is to elevate vitality, awaken latent cerebral powers, and readjust the body’s sleep rhythms. After the body and brain grow accustomed to the heightened state of vitality and the enhanced secretions of hormones and neurotransmitters, the system will settle into new sleep patterns that require less time asleep but provide deeper rest. Meanwhile, you can help yourself fall asleep at night during the initial period of insomnia by focusing attention on the exhalation stage of breathing when you go to bed at night. As you exhale, visualize each part of your body becoming more and more relaxed, starting from the feet and moving gradually up the legs and torso, down the arms to the hands, and up the neck to the head.
Sexual Excitation
Increased sexual excitation is a positive sign of progress in chi-gung, indicating that deep abdominal breathing is being correctly practised. When one breathes deeply into the abdomen, it stimulates secretion of hormones in the glands of the sacrum, particularly the testicles and ovaries, and this in turn increases sexual drive and sensitivity to sexual stimulation. Kidney-energy, which governs sexual drive, is also elevated by deep diaphragmic breathing due to the stimulating massage effect of the diaphragm descending against the adrenal cortex on top of the kidneys.
While this may be taken as a sign of progress, men must be especially careful not to misuse this enhanced sexual energy for hedonistic purposes. Sexual fluids are the basic fuel of internal alchemy, and if the extra supplies of sexual essence generated by chi-gung are wasted on ordinary sexual indulgence, rather than being transformed into energy and raised to the head to nurture spirit, the resulting loss of vitality is even greater than that experienced when not practising chi-gung, because greater amounts of fluid will be expelled from the body with each ejaculation. Therefore, it’s advisable to practise Taoist sexual yoga with a partner or sexual self-massage without a partner to regulate and recirculate your sexual energy, as a supplemental regime to support and enhance your chi-gung practice.
Burps, Coughs and Gas
Chi-gung effectively drives toxic elements and stagnant energy from the internal organs, and sometimes these are expelled as burps, coughs and intestinal gas (flatulence). This is a normal sign of detoxification, and a positive indication that chi-gung is being correctly practised.
People with chronic stomach or liver problems, for example, may experience frequent bouts of burping during practice. If the lungs are congested, coughing may occur to loosen and eliminate phlegm. If the bowels are full of gas due to incomplete digestion or the presence of parasites, chi-gung will cause this gas to be passed out through the anus. These reactions should not be suppressed, for they indicate that a cleansing process is occurring. When the internal organs are rebalanced and their functions restored to normal, these reactions will naturally subside and cease.
If your system is highly toxic when you first take up chi-gung, particularly due to excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs, in addition to burping, coughing and passing gas, you might also experience a runny nose, watery eyes and frequent yawning. These too are normal signs of detoxification, and they will gradually subside as your system sloughs off the accumulated toxins. You can accelerate this process by increasing the time spent in practice until your body is thoroughly cleansed, then cut back a bit.
Dizziness
Dizziness can occur as the result of several factors. If there are imbalances in brain chemistry when chi-gung is started, or if large portions of the brain have been chronically deprived of sufficient oxygen for a long time, the restoration of adequate secretions of essential neurotransmitters and the enhanced oxygenation of brain tissues can result in sensations of dizziness. These usually subside after a few months, when the brain grows accustomed to functioning at a higher level of essence and energy.
Dizziness may also result from the elimination of accumulated toxins from the brain and neck. Toxins, particularly heavy metals, tend to accumulate around nerve tissues, which are most densely concentrated in the head and neck. As these toxic particles are loosened and eliminated, they can cause temporary sensations of dizziness as they circulate through the brain.
Dizziness can also be caused by retaining the breath for too long, or breathing too hard.
Itching
Itching sensations during chi-gung are quite normal during the early stages of practice. As energy circulates through the skin to strengthen the protective shield of Guardian Energy around the body, it sometimes feels like tiny insects are crawling around just below the surface of the skin. This can also happen when practising Energy Gate Breathing (see Fig. 31). As energy is drawn into the body through various energy gates, an itching sensation may occur there, particularly on top of the head; this is a positive sign of progress.
Itching may also be caused by detoxification, as the body drives toxins out through the pores of the skin. When the toxins have been eliminated, this sort of itching will naturally disappear.
Heaviness and Lightness
Sensations of heaviness and lightness are normal reactions to increased assimilation of energy from nature and the cosmos. Strong infusions of terrestial energy from the earth tend to cause feelings of heaviness, while enhanced inflow of celestial energy from the sky can cause feelings of lightness, as though the body were about to lift off the ground and float away. This is simply the way the nerves respond to increased levels of energy from Heaven and Earth as they circulate through the human system. The heaviness will subside after a period of time, as the body grows accustomed to the extra inflow of terrestial energy. Sensations of lightness, however, may continue to occur indefinitely, particularly in still sitting practice, which tends to elevate energy upward in the human system and sometimes even projects the energy of spiritual awareness out through the gates on the crown or forehead. This is a positive indication of progress, but when it happens, you should apply intent to draw your awareness back into your body before terminating a meditation session.
Laughing, Weeping and Shouting
Sudden outbursts of laughter or weeping or spontaneous bouts of shouting during chi-gung practice are perfectly normal reactions, indicating that deep-seated imbalances within the vital organs and their associated energies are being successfully rebalanced. However, many people become so alarmed by this phenomenon that they abruptly terminate their practice. Far from being a cause for alarm, these are positive signs of progress, indicating that health is being restored at the deepest levels.
Recall that each of the emotions is associated with a particular organ, such as anger with the liver, fear with the kidneys, joy with the heart, and so forth. Speech is one of the most powerful manifestations of energy in the human system. Therefore, if there is a lot of anger bottled up in the liver, chi-gung will bring it up and purge it from the system, thereby restoring proper balance to the liver. Shouting is one of the most effective ways to vent such pent-up anger and disperse it into the atmosphere. Similarly, grief may be expelled from the lungs by sudden outbursts of weeping, and laughter may be used to rebalance the joyful energy of the heart. The resulting emotional equilibrium is one of chi-gung’s most beneficial effects on health.
These reactions are also ways of eliminating other forms of stagnant energy from the system. You may suddenly feel a strong surge of energy running up the spine and erupting as an outburst of uncontrolled laughter. Or you may feel compelled to burst out in song. Don’t be alarmed by any of these reactions, for they are very effective ways whereby the energy system rebalances itself spontaneously.
Spontaneous Movement
This is another normal chi-gung reaction that sometimes alarms newcomers to the field. When body, breath and mind enter a deep state of calm during practice, sudden movements of the head, limbs, torso or whole body may occur spontaneously without any volition by the practitioner. This indicates that deep-seated imbalances within the energy system are being corrected, and that stagnant energy is being driven out of the system through various channels and gates. If there are obstructions in any of the meridians, spontaneous movements in the parts of the body where the obstructions are seated may suddenly erupt as energy pushes through and opens circulation there. A dancer, for example, may experience spontaneous uncontrolled movements in the legs, as the energy in those channels is rebalanced. A person with back problems may start shaking and shimmying the entire spine, as though dancing the ‘Twist’ to a tune that only he or she can hear. This indicates that long-blocked spinal channels are reopening and that spinal energy circulation is being restored and rebalanced. Such spontaneous movements, which are always a sign of progress, should neither be encouraged nor discouraged. Simply let them occur naturally, take their course and pass of their own accord. If they become especially intense, you may get down on the floor and roll around to facilitate the process of rebalancing.
The manifestation of supernatural powers indicates progress in the highest levels of practice. As internal alchemy progresses and primordial spirit is progressively awakened, a variety of spiritual powers may be spontaneously activated. While this is a very good sign, it also calls for great self-discipline and spiritual virtue, lest one become distracted by them or, worse yet, try to put them to use for personal fame and fortune. According to all the world’s great mystical traditions, the manifestation of esoteric spiritual powers is a clear sign that the practitioner is approaching the highest state of awareness. These powers are a blessing from the universe, but they also represent a real test of the practitioner’s sincerity and spiritual integrity, for there is always the temptation to utilize such powers for profit. When that happens, the entire basis upon which the powers were gained is eroded, and they are soon lost, leaving the practitioner with nothing but regret.
Supernatural powers may manifest as luminous visions of deities, energies or cosmic phenomena that appear in the ‘mind’s eye’, sounds or voices heard in the ‘mind’s ear’, and spontaneous insights into the past, present or future. Visions of deities may indicate the attainment of the power to commune with higher spiritual entities in other dimensions of the universe. Voices may be the sound of deities or other spirits trying to communicate with the awakened practitioner, or incoming thought-waves from other people’s minds, indicating the awakening of telepathic powers.
Intuitive visions of particular events unfolding in the future reflect the achievement of clairvoyance. All such signs must be handled with the greatest respect and vigilance. It also takes time to learn how to interpret such visions, voices and insights, and how to properly utilize them. One should never discuss them with anyone else other than a highly qualified spiritual master, nor should one focus too much attention or attach too much value to them. Whenever they occur during practice, take mental note of them, and perhaps record them in a private journal, but never engage in practice exclusively for the purpose of cultivating these phenomena. Ultimately, they are side-effects of practice, signposts along the way to the final goal. So if you shift the focus of your practice to the signs, you will certainly lose track of the path and lose sight of the goal.
As for utilizing such esoteric spiritual powers for practical purposes, one must be extremely careful to do so only when absolutely necessary to help others in distress, and only when conventional methods have failed. Most important, one should never take personal credit or demand rewards for such revelations and insights, but rather credit them to the universe from which they came and offer them as gifts to those who need them. And whenever they occur, one should make a gesture of acknowledgement and appreciation to the universe, such as a slight bow of the head, a whispered prayer of thanks, or reciting an appropriate sacred syllable (mantra). Such gestures reinforce the growing bond between one’s individual spirit and the primordial spirit of the universe and help keep the personal ego from trying to claim credit for or profit from these powers.
Deviations and Corrections
Headache
The sort of headache discussed in the previous section is a sign of incorrect techniques in the beginning stages of chi-gung practice and usually stops occurring when the basic precepts of practice are more carefully observed. However, if headaches continue to occur even after one has been practising regularly for several months, and if they persist even after a practice session is over, this indicates that a deviation in energy may have occurred and should be corrected.
Headaches of this sort are most often caused by excess energy and blood getting trapped in the head. If breathing is property performed and posture is correct, then the cause is most likely to be found in the mind. Some practitioners are so eager to gain quick results from their practice that they tend to force their minds to concentrate exclusively and excessively on looking for results, rather than simply concentrating in a more relaxed manner on the basic points of practice. When this happens, too much energy is drawn into the head and held there by the state of mental concentration. This in turns draws excess blood to the brain – ‘blood follows where energy leads’ – causing pressure that can easily give rise to headaches.
If insufficient attention to breath also occurs as a result of such over-concentration on results, one tends to retain the breath too long, which deprives the brain of sufficient oxygen and allows carbon dioxide levels to rise, and this may contribute to headaches. Such impatience can also cause one to neglect the final cool-down stage of practice, which again compounds the problem by leaving all the excess blood and energy that has accumulated in the brain lingering there throughout the day and night. Finally, any sort of impatience during practice tends to cause muscular tension in the neck, which blocks the outflow of blood and energy from the head, thereby prolonging such headaches.
• Corrections. Whenever this sort of headache occurs, you should immediately stop practising and take measures to draw the excess blood and energy out of the head. First of all, roll the shoulders and stretch the neck to release tension there. Regulate your breathing in such a way that the compression stage is eliminated (i.e. do not pause to compress after inhalation) and focus attention entirely on long, slow exhalations through pursed lips, as though blowing out candles on a birthday cake. This sort of breathing prompts energy to descend down the front of the body into the lower abdomen, and if the neck is completely relaxed, the outflow of energy from the head will not be impeded.
Another measure you can take is to massage the temples with the knuckles or fingertips, and apply acupressure to the Wind Pond points, located at the base of the skull-bone, where the neck enters the head (see the section on acupressure in Chapter 6, “Working with Touch”). You may also rub the palms together till warm, then place one palm on the crown of the head and rub gently in a circular motion, while placing the other palm on the navel and rubbing that spot in a circular motion as well. As you do this, visualize energy pouring down the front of the body like a waterfall, draining the head and filling the lower elixir field.
Finally, devote some extra time to the cool-down stage after your main practice to draw excess energy down into the lower abdomen for storage. Continue practising these measures until you stop getting headaches.
Pressure in the Upper Elixir Field
When excess energy accumulates in the upper elixir field in the head, particularly after prolonged periods of Microcosmic Orbit meditation in the sitting posture it can cause a dull throbbing sensation between the eyes. This means that instead of flowing smoothly through that point, energy is collecting in it, resulting in a build-up of stagnant energy there. This is a deviation of energy that, unless corrected, can eventually cause chronic headaches, eyeaches and blurry vision.
• Corrections. Whenever such throbbing pressure is felt between the eyes, take a break from your practice to release the energy there. Rub palms together till warm, then use the tips of the index and middle fingers to slowly rub the area between the eyes in a circular motion. After six or seven circular rubs, draw the energy out to the sides of the head by pressing the fingertips firmly against the ridgeline just above the eyebrows and moving them sideways towards the temples. When they reach the temples, continue pressing evenly and moving the fingertips downward past the ears, along the jawline to the chin, then flick the fingertips out and away from the chin to expel the excess energy into the atmosphere. Another way to do this is to use the fingertips to draw the stagnant energy down between the eyes, along both sides of the nose, down around the corners of the mouth, and flick them downward from the chin to expel the energy from the head.
Pressure in the Middle Elixir Field
Uncomfortable sensations of pressure in the solar plexus usually indicate stagnant energy accumulated there or over-exertion of the diaphragm, or both. If this deviation is not corrected, it can lead to painful inflammation of the diaphragm and a bloating sensation in the solar plexus due to stagnation of energy in this major energy centre. It can be caused by trying to force the diaphragm to breathe more deeply than its flexibility naturally allows, particularly when practising reverse abdominal breathing, by practising when there is tension in the chest and ribs, and/or by practising in a state of emotional turmoil, which tends to trap energy in the solar plexus.
• Corrections. First of all, pay careful attention to your breathing and make sure that you are not using too much force to move the diaphragm. It usually takes three to six months of regular practice before the diaphragm becomes sufficiently flexible to breathe deeply without exerting excess force on it. If you find yourself forcing the breath during your practice, ease up a bit and let the diaphragm expand only as far as its natural flexibility allows. The diaphragm’s natural flex will increase gradually, and your breath will grow proportionately deeper by itself, without forcing it.
A more immediate corrective measure is to rub the palms together till warm, then place one palm directly over the solar plexus and the other palm over the first palm, and rub in circles with a firm and even pressure. After six to eight circular rubs, draw the palms apart in opposite directions, rubbing them along the lower ribs and out to the sides of the ribcage, then down the sides to the hips. When palms reach the hips, flick them out to the sides to expel the stagnant energy into the atmosphere.
Pressure in the Lower Elixir Field
Throbbing pressure and uncontrollable trembling in the region of the navel indicates that energy has become stuck in the abdominal wall and grown stagnant there. For purposes of collection and storage, energy should enter deep into the lower elixir field behind and below the navel, in which case it does not cause pressure or become stagnant, since it circulates freely from there through the eight major channels of the Macrocosmic Orbit. Throbbing pressure in the abdominal wall, however, occurs when too much energy has been drawn into the abdominal muscles during deep-breathing practice. This is usually the result of tensing the abdominal wall too much in an attempt to deepen the breath. While the abdominal wall must certainly move in order to breathe with the diaphragm, the expansion and contraction should occur with a minimum of muscular exertion. Excess exertion draws excess blood and energy into those tissues, and the resulting muscular tension traps them there, causing pressure, tremors and stagnation. If this is not corrected, it can give rise to indigestion, gas and discomfort in the stomach and lower intestinal tract.
• Corrections. Check your breathing to make sure that you are not over-exerting your abdominal muscles, and adjust your technique accordingly. For more immediate relief, rub the palms together till warm, place one palm over the navel and the other palm over the first, and rub in circles. After six to eight rubs, draw the palms apart without taking them from the surface of the body and rub downward towards the crotch, past the sexual organs and down along the inside of the thighs to the knees. When palms reach the knees, flick them out to the sides and away from the legs to disperse the stagnant energy into the atmosphere.
Pressure and/or Pain in the Lower Back
Pressure and pain in the lower back is usually due to incorrect posture, especially in still sitting practice. If the spine is not kept straight and the back is allowed to slump during chi-gung, energy becomes blocked and stagnates there, causing sensations of pressure and pain. The resulting diminishment in blood circulation reduces delivery of oxygen and permits accumulation of carbon dioxide, lactic acid and other metabolic wastes in the muscles supporting the spine, causing tension and sometimes cramps. This in turn further blocks energy flow and increases pressure and pain, and if the deviation continues uncorrected, it can also begin to interfere with nerve transmissions through the spinal cord.
• Corrections. If you notice throbbing pressure and pain in the lower spine during practice, first pause to correct it and restore free flow of blood and energy, then adjust your posture to prevent a recurrence. Rub palms together till warm, place them over the kidneys, and rub downward to the buttocks repeatedly. You may also help restore circulation by using the backs of the hands to vigorously tap both sides of the lower spine from the kidneys down to the coccyx. Another corrective measure is to practise the spinal stretch introduced as a warm-up exercise for still meditation in Chapter 10 (see “Still Meditation”). If you’re using the cross-legged posture for sitting practice and still feel pressure in the lower back even after adjusting your posture, try placing a thicker cushion, or adding a folded towel to the cushion you’re using under the buttocks to further elevate the pelvis and reduce the burden on the lower spine.
Nocturnal Emissions
This deviation usually occurs only in males and indicates that excessive amounts of sexual secretions are accumulating in the sacrum, without being transformed into energy and raised up to the head to combine with celestial energy and nurture spirit. Deep abdominal breathing stimulates the sexual glands in the sacrum to increase production of hormones and semen, but if this enhanced sexual essence is not converted into energy and circulated through the rest of the system, it creates pressure for release below, and sometimes this release occurs involuntarily during sleep as nocturnal emission, or so-called ‘wet dreams’.
In TCM as well as chi-gung, this way of losing semen is regarded as particularly harmful to men, because the ejaculations are completely uncontrolled. In addition to draining away all the extra supplies of precious semen produced as a result of chi-gung, it causes a total depletion of sexual energy. If such emissions occur once or twice a week, or more, and no corrective measures are taken, this deviation can result in a severe depletion of vitality, immune deficiency and lowered resistance, critical loss of cerebrospinal fluids (from which the body borrows to produce more semen), and impairment of mental clarity, memory and other cerebral functions.
• Corrections. If this deviation begins to manifest, men should correct it immediately with the following measures. Practise the anal lock frequently throughout the day and night to build up strength in the tissues of the urogenital canal so that semen does not flow out so readily. This also helps draws sexual energy from the sacrum up through the coccyx into the Governing Channel and upward to the head to nurture spirit, thereby reducing sexual pressure below. At night before going to sleep, practise the yoga posture known as the ‘Candle’ (shoulder stand with the palms placed firmly against the kidneys to form a foundation of support and the legs raised straight up above the head. This helps drain excess sexual fluids and energy out of the sacrum and reduces the pressure to ejaculate during sleep. Probably the best measure of all is to practise Dual Cultivation sexual yoga with a cooperative partner, engaging in prolonged sexual intercourse while deliberately holding back ejaculation. This practice greatly strengthens the contractive power of the urogenital canal and instils an instinctive response to contract the canal and withhold emission of semen whenever the urge to ejaculate arises, even in the throes of the wildest wet dream.
Energy Overflow
Building up your energy supply faster than your ability to circulate it smoothly through the channels can cause the deviation of energy overflow. This usually happens when beginning practitioners become over-eager for results and focus too much attention on drawing more external energy into the system than they can transform internally, with too little attention paid to the basic points of posture and breath and insufficient skill in circulating energy through the channels. This tendency to grab for more power than one’s system is prepared to handle causes excess energy to accumulate in various parts of the body, and if it is not corrected, it can cause serious damage to the organs, overheat the blood, produce nervous tension and give rise to other problems.
• Corrections. If energy accumulates too quickly inside and starts causing pressure, excess body heat and tension, you should slow down or stop your practice for a while. Spend more time doing still sitting meditation and less time on moving exercises. Review the basic precepts of practice and focus more attention on body and breath. When working directly with energy, focus exclusively on circulating energy through the channels, not on drawing more energy into the system through the gates.
Mischannelled Energy
When energy has grown strong due to prolonged periods of regular practice, but the mind remains distracted, agitated and out of tune with body and breath, energy may deviate and enter into the wrong channel, throwing the whole energy system off balance and causing congestion, excess heat, over-stimulation, energy conflict or other problems in the specific organs and tissues related to that channel. One of the first signs of mischannelled energy is unaccountable pain and pressure in particular parts of the body, especially in the solar plexus or abdomen, a twisting, screw-like sensation of pain that radiates outward and cannot be attributed to sore muscles, incorrect posture or poor circulation. If not corrected, this can cause impairment of vital functions, illness and intense discomfort.
• Corrections. If you feel that energy has been mischannelled, stop practice immediately, recline on your back in the ‘Corpse’ posture (see “Lying” in chapter 7), and make a conscious, patient effort to totally relax your whole body, as well as your mind. When the entire body becomes deeply relaxed and the mind grows calm, all the energy channels will open, allowing energy that has entered the wrong path to be re-routed in the right direction. This happens naturally, without any effort, but only when body and mind are totally relaxed and breath is well regulated. Refrain from further chi-gung practice for as long as you still feel pain or pressure in that area, but continue taking measures to relax the whole body until all deviant energy has been recirculated through normal channels and symptoms of discomfort disappear. When you commence regular practice again, go back to the basics for a while, working to balance body, breath and mind before focusing attention directly on energy again.
Fainting
This is a rare deviation in chi-gung, and the main danger involved here is falling on to a hard surface and hurting your head or bruising your bones when doing standing practice. Fainting can be caused by breathing too fast and too forcefully, retaining the breath too long during the compression stage, standing up too suddenly after a long session of sitting practice, or raising up the head too fast from a bowed-down position during moving exercises. All of these factors can result in abrupt shifts in blood circulation and oxygen levels in the brain, causing extreme dizziness and temporary loss of consciousness. If this deviation is not corrected and continues to occur frequently, it can cause serious imbalances in cerebral function and raise the risk of injury due to an uncontrolled fall.
• Corrections. The first corrective measure to prevent fainting is to ease up on the compression stage of breathing. Continue to practise deep diaphragmatic breathing, but don’t use as much force to drive or hold the breath, and breathe slowly and gently enough so that you cannot hear the sound of your own breath.
Also be sure to apply the neck lock after inhalation to prevent too much blood from rushing up the carotid arteries into the brain. After a sitting session, stretch your arms and neck, rub or tap your head, and take a few long deep breaths to stimulate and rebalance blood circulation before slowly standing up. When practising moving exercises that call for the head to be lowered to waist level or below on exhalation, be sure to raise the head up again very slowly on inhalation and refrain from compressing the breath after such manoeuvres, to avoid excessively sudden shifts in the balance of blood and other fluids in the brain.
Signs, sensations and deviations can all be very useful in chi-gung as indicators of how energy is moving and developing within the system and how one’s practice is progressing, and as guidelines for making positive adjustments in technique to prevent negative effects from faulty practice. Familiarity with these various sensations and side-effects also prevents unnecessary alarm and confusion when they arise and enables each practitioner to fine-tune his or her personal practice in accordance with the unique way each individual’s system responds to energy work. Like road signs along the motorway, signs and sensations help keep your practice on track, signal you when it’s time for a pit-stop, and prevent your energy work from drifting off course.