Searching For An Effective Qigong Method (Please Answer Questions)

[PestiferMundi]

Many thanks to anyone who takes the time to respond to this topic in the requested format.

 

My idea for this topic is simple. A lot of people think the method they've practiced is "a good method" and in some cases "the best method". But there's a lot of cognitive biases involved with that, including the "sunk-cost fallacy" (e.g. you've invested so much time into the practice that you refuse to move on because then you've lost that huge investment of time and effort). In some cases, they've only experienced results from an ineffective training method because they spent so much time "bruteforcing" their way towards "success" (it is possible to cut bread with a spoon instead of a knife, but why would you or anyone want to do that).

 

I've even spoken to some people online who said they've practiced qigong for years and they've never felt qi energy, and to me that's a perfect example of "sunk-cost fallacy". They are attached to the practice itself regardless of results, because of the time and effort invested, it's become a part of who they are.

 

I've also seen too much of a degree of difference in how people "measure" what they consider to be a genuine energetic qi experience. From people who say just feeling a slight warmth in their hands was proof of qi, to others saying it was like a noticeable jolt of electricity moving through their body. So just asking someone if they've "felt qi energy" with their particular method is actually a vague question that doesn't paint the full picture.

 

My goal is to pool together the collective experiences of the qigong practitioners here in a way that would allow me and other noobs to more easily find an effective qigong practice. There's honestly too many variables when it comes to things like this, so I'm trying to filter out as many variables as possible for the next method I test.

 

People I'd Like Answers From:
Individuals that have practiced a specific and named qigong training method, specifically one that any person could find a book or course for online (In English) because the training is publicly known (e.g. Spring Forest Qigong can be found online for free very easily, even the course material). Doesn't have to be a free download though, just something anyone could gain access to and even buy (e.g. Flying Phoenix Qigong seems good but you won't find anything free for it online, you'd likely have to first buy the volume 1 dvd training method to test it, you can't find any free books for it online either).

 

If you learned from some master in person and experienced qi energy that way, that's great, but none of us noobs will likely ever encounter that master or have the money and time required to get daily/weekly in person training from another master, so as much as your advice may be valid, it won't really be useful for the purpose of this topic for getting specific methods and specific details for personal unguided practice, and having a clear specific source that is repeatable by mostly everyone.

 

Specific Questions I'd Like Answered (Please Number & Answer Them In The Stated Order):
NOTE: Please Add "-!Answer!-" (everything between the quote symbols) to your response so that people can quickly find the training methods and your application of the method in this topic (it's like a search tag), as there may be some discussion going forward and the tag allows for anyone to quickly find the answers to this topic automatically.
1.1. Name of the qigong training method that allowed you to feel qi energy for the first time (really important that it's the first time, as doing something comes a lot easier once you've experienced it once, and practicing other things after that first time may have only been effective because of that first time)?

1.2. If it wasn't exactly qigong (Chinese origin) but of some other origin (e.g. Korean "Sundo" or Japanese "Kiko"), what is it and where does it originate (answer all of the following questions as you would if it was a qigong method)?

1.3. State the source of the qigong training method (book, course, etc. - include the author/creator name) - Not quite sure about the forum rules, but if you aren't allowed to directly link to it because it's seen as "advertising" or something else unacceptable, I'm sure you can at least just state the name of it and the name of the author/creator.
2. What was the qi energy experience and what made it "undeniable" to you that it was qi energy (what distinguishes it from all the other body sensations or energetic experiences you've already had, that made you believe it was qi)?

3. What should one avoid doing during practice that may unintentionally get in the way of generating that energetic experience (if the source you stated already goes into detail about this then you can just say to refer to the source material)?

4. Were you using any herbs, drugs, or hallucinogenic substances within a week of that experience, or on the very day of that experience?
5. How long did you practice before you first had that experience? (e.g. around 1 month)?
6. How often did you practice (e.g. every day or only on weekends), how long was the practice session (e.g. 20 minutes), and how many sessions (e.g. two 20 minute sessions per day or one session)?
7.1. Did you practice any martial arts prior to that qigong training method or did you practice it along-side the method, if yes then name it/them (if there is a book/course/etc. source, please state it too)?

7.2. If yes to Question 7.1, is the martial art you practiced directly related to the qigong method (e.g. The Yiquan martial art from my observation basically has a hardwired qigong training method - Zhan Zhuang)?
8. Did you practice any kind of occult/meditative exercises prior to that qigong training method or did you practice it along-side the method, if yes then name it/them (if there is a book/course/etc. source, please state it too)?

9. If you are willing, include any other details you think would be relevant to the training and the goal of experiencing qi energy for the first time?

10. What are the possible risks of the method if overdone, if not done properly, or even if done properly as the method is "extreme" (assuming the practice bears such risks)?

11. Does the method have advanced levels/goals after the first bare minimum goal of experiencing qi energy for the first time and what are they? (e.g. Flying Phoenix Qigong has multiple volume dvds, never tried it but if the volume 1 standing exercises allowed me to feel qi energy, the next obvious step would be to continue training it and then move onto the volume 2 seated meditations, but not all qigong methods have such a clear and outlined path so that's why I'm asking this question)?

Edited 20 hours ago by PestiferMundi
small typo

[ChiDragon]

4 hours ago, PestiferMundi said:

My idea for this topic is simple. A lot of people think the method they've practiced is "a good method" and in some cases "the best method". But there's a lot of cognitive biases involved with that, including the "sunk-cost fallacy" (e.g. you've invested so much time into the practice that you refuse to move on because then you've lost that huge investment of time and effort). In some cases, they've only experienced results from an ineffective training method because they spent so much time "bruteforcing" their way towards "success" (it is possible to cut bread with a spoon instead of a knife, but why would you or anyone want to do that).

Welcome!
I see why you are seeking for answer of what Qigong is all about. It seems there are lot of information out there but not to your satisfaction. IMMHO It is because there is no real answer that can help you to understand what is Qigong. There is only one definition in the Chinese language. However, the true definition of Qigong was never went across the western world. The reason was that Qi was mistranslated as energy. People take off and make up their own story about Qigong. That was why they got nowhere even after many years of practice. 

If you want to learn Qigong, you must disregard all the things that you'd heard from the west and stick to the real Chinese definition of Qigong. I have not seen that the true definition of Qigong was translated into the west. When I read some explanations about Qigong online, I just bite my tongue and swallow it.

Edited 16 hours ago by ChiDragon

[-ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ-]

@PestiferMundi
 

"-!Answer!-"
 

1.1. Name of the qigong training method that allowed you to feel qi energy for the first time (really important that it's the first time, as doing something comes a lot easier once you've experienced it once, and practicing other things after that first time may have only been effective because of that first time)?

 

Flying Phoenix 

 

1.2. If it wasn't exactly qigong (Chinese origin) but of some other origin (e.g. Korean "Sundo" or Japanese "Kiko"), what is it and where does it originate (answer all of the following questions as you would if it was a qigong method)?

 

N/A

 

1.3. State the source of the qigong training method (book, course, etc. - include the author/creator name) - Not quite sure about the forum rules, but if you aren't allowed to directly link to it because it's seen as "advertising" or something else unacceptable, I'm sure you can at least just state the name of it and the name of the author/creator.

 

DVDs and zoom lessons with Sifu Terry

2. What was the qi energy experience and what made it "undeniable" to you that it was qi energy (what distinguishes it from all the other body sensations or energetic experiences you've already had, that made you believe it was qi)?

 

Felt like a cool menthol heat moving around my body. Not a feeling that occurs naturally.

 

3. What should one avoid doing during practice that may unintentionally get in the way of generating that energetic experience (if the source you stated already goes into detail about this then you can just say to refer to the source material)?

 

Don’t overthink or be too tense, just relax 

 

4. Were you using any herbs, drugs, or hallucinogenic substances within a week of that experience, or on the very day of that experience?

 

No

5. How long did you practice before you first had that experience? (e.g. around 1 month)?

 

About a week

6. How often did you practice (e.g. every day or only on weekends), how long was the practice session (e.g. 20 minutes), and how many sessions (e.g. two 20 minute sessions per day or one session)?

 

Every day for 2 hours 

7.1. Did you practice any martial arts prior to that qigong training method or did you practice it along-side the method, if yes then name it/them (if there is a book/course/etc. source, please state it too)?

 

No

 

7.2. If yes to Question 7.1, is the martial art you practiced directly related to the qigong method (e.g. The Yiquan martial art from my observation basically has a hardwired qigong training method - Zhan Zhuang)?

 

N/A

8. Did you practice any kind of occult/meditative exercises prior to that qigong training method or did you practice it along-side the method, if yes then name it/them (if there is a book/course/etc. source, please state it too)?

 

No

 

9. If you are willing, include any other details you think would be relevant to the training and the goal of experiencing qi energy for the first time?

 

Practice every day

 

10. What are the possible risks of the method if overdone, if not done properly, or even if done properly as the method is "extreme" (assuming the practice bears such risks)?

 

Zero

 

11. Does the method have advanced levels/goals after the first bare minimum goal of experiencing qi energy for the first time and what are they? (e.g. Flying Phoenix Qigong has multiple volume dvds, never tried it but if the volume 1 standing exercises allowed me to feel qi energy, the next obvious step would be to continue training it and then move onto the volume 2 seated meditations, but not all qigong methods have such a clear and outlined path so that's why I'm asking this question)?

 

Yes, progress to the next dvds and then have lessons with Sifu Terry for the advanced practices

———————————————————

 

If you want to try what Flying Phoenix feels like before getting the DVDs or starting lessons with Sifu Terry, check out this video of GM Doo Wai doing the “Monk Holds Pearl” exercise:

 

 

 

You can do it standing, seated or lying down. You can ignore the part about the ginger.

 

Try it out and let me know how it feels!

 

Edited 6 hours ago by -ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ-