What you will do
Christopher starts with a move called sifting. You breathe in and turn your palms up as your hands rise, then breathe out and turn your palms down as your hands lower. The incoming breath energizes and the outgoing breath releases. On the exhale you imagine your hands as vents and yourself as a grounding rod plugged into the earth, letting go of stale energy you picked up along the way.
Next you bring your hands up in front of your heart and separate them, one palm up and one palm down, so that heaven and earth pass through the middle. You add a side stretch, then loose fists by the shoulders: arch back on the inhale and round your back on the exhale.
Later you hold a chair or wall to swing one leg, and you do a leg meridian stretch. In most of the moves the breath keeps flowing. Christopher calls the breath the vehicle for Qi. He offers options along the way, such as staying with the extensions if leaning creates compression on the other side.
Questions people ask
What is sifting in Qigong?
Sifting is a simple move Christopher teaches in this routine. You inhale with palms up as the hands rise and exhale with palms down as the hands lower, imagining stale energy flowing out through your hands and into the earth.
Should I hold my breath during Qigong movements?
In most moves, no. Christopher teaches that the breath is a vehicle for Qi, so you keep it flowing. He notes there are times to hold it on purpose.
Can I change the moves in this 15-minute Qigong routine?
Yes. Christopher offers options, such as staying with the extensions if leaning creates compression on the other side.
Keep going
To find your own rhythm after this routine, begin with the free class and getting-started guide.
Read more
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Learn Qigong is educational and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, check with your own practitioner before beginning a new practice.
