agentofchaos Posted December 16, 2009 a couple years ago I lost most of the use of my right arm to a type of bone cancer, which makes it impossible to do any of the qigong meditation/chi gathering techniques I've seen. If anyone has any advice on how to gather chi with only one useful arm it'd be much appreciated. My main goal is to develop my chi, I want to be healthier and prevent my cancer from reoccurring. Any advice is welcome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fizix Posted December 16, 2009 a couple years ago I lost most of the use of my right arm to a type of bone cancer, which makes it impossible to do any of the qigong meditation/chi gathering techniques I've seen. If anyone has any advice on how to gather chi with only one useful arm it'd be much appreciated. My main goal is to develop my chi, I want to be healthier and prevent my cancer from reoccurring. Any advice is welcome. based on my own experience/limited knowledge, the lost use of an arm would not hinder your ability to engage in effective chi kung/nei gong... yes, you might be limited to certain moving exercises, but overall it's definitely not impossible to progress in a practice. I'd suggest some Dan Tien breathing and simple stillness meditations at first, sitting and standing, I think the results might surprise you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sloppy Zhang Posted December 16, 2009 (edited) like fizix, my post is also from my limited experience/knowledge: Â Chi follows your intent, so as long as you have a powerful intention and a strong willpower, really try to feel, and just keep at it, you can and will be able to move chi even if you are not physically moving your arm. Moving is certainly nice to do, because it helps connect a feeling of movement of body with a feeling of movement to chi, but you can just as easily move another part of your body and apply that feeling to the chi movement in the area of your body that you cannot physically move. Â On top of that, there are types of practices in which you do the movements completely in your mind without physically moving your body (in other words, 100% with your intent), and you can get the same benefit from those. So not being able to move one arm is not a problem at all Edited December 16, 2009 by Sloppy Zhang Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aetherous Posted December 16, 2009 If you're doing a qigong movement, it works just as well if you imagine/feel your arm moving. It's truly not a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted December 16, 2009 Like the others I'm not an expert, but I don't think the physical arm is that important. There are times I do a chi gung routines without physical movement, just using 'phantom' limbs. There are times it feels stronger and more flowing then when I use my body.  Sincere practice and a good teacher are more important.  Michael  P.S I mostly do stuff from Michael Winns video's Fundamentals and Pan Gu. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agentofchaos Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks a lot for your responses, that's actually very helpful. I've never been sure how important the movements were to getting results. I would love to find a good teacher that didn't cost a fortune in my area, but it's hard to know who legitimately knows what they're doing when it comes to using chi, among other things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voidisyinyang Posted December 16, 2009 You can do this "small universe" or microcosmic orbit exercise:  The "microcosmic orbit" or "small universe" is considered the foundation of the Spring Forest Qigong practice. There's an excellent practice c.d. that's only $10 -- just scroll down to the Level 1 Sitting Meditation c.d.  http://www.springforestqigong.com/instructional_tools.htm  That guides you through the practice -- and can take you to the most advanced levels.  Thanks a lot for your responses, that's actually very helpful. I've never been sure how important the movements were to getting results. I would love to find a good teacher that didn't cost a fortune in my area, but it's hard to know who legitimately knows what they're doing when it comes to using chi, among other things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted December 16, 2009 If there is a will there is a way:   If that Chinese can do something as difficult as Chinese calligraphy you shouldn't have any issues with practicing any Qigong system. Do Zhan Zhuang if you can't move your arm, but if you decide to do a moving form use your intent to move Qi in the corresponding meridians (Yin and Yang):  http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...g-meridian.html http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...m-meridian.html http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...t-meridian.html http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...n-meridian.html http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...o-meridian.html http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/me...e-meridian.html   Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
