This 15 minute vlog helps us experience how Qigong calms the busy mind.
Qigong For Calming A Busy Mind
Through our very busy day to day lives, qigong helps calm the busy mind. It helps us tune in within ourselves and let go of all the noise.
Nowadays, we are constantly being exposed with stimulation and noise. This creates a lot of haze in our minds. Most of the time, in this day and age, our brains are constantly running and we keep exposing ourselves to overwhelming stimuli. We are constantly processing and navigating through the day, so, we don't usually take our time to let the brain heal properly at the end of the day.
We must balance what we need to be doing and what we should be doing. This will help elevate our overactive mind.
How can Qigong calm a busy mind?
Let's dig into some Qigong process in our body to understand how Qigong calms the busy mind.
The connection of the brain (body) and the mind may be a very philosophical or spiritual topic, however, it is also very scientific. According to Dr. Michael Mannino, the mind is not separate or distinct from the brain (body). The mind and consciousness is embodied in our body. It has been known that the mind and the brain (body) are so connected that they might actually seem similar or indistinguishable. The mind is the product of the interaction between the brain and the body, as well as the interaction of the body with the external environment. Both the interaction of the brain and the body, and the interaction of the body and its external environment allows the emergence of the mind and cognitive processes.
The ancient Daoist already had this knowledge. For the Daoist and many different traditions and beliefs, the mind is closely related to consciousness, spirit, awareness, and other concepts. They know that the body is intrinsically connected to the spirit and the spirit is intrinsically connected to the body.
Science is now slowly catching up to this ancient knowledge. This just proves how the mind or the spirit is not just so esoteric as it seems, but is also something we can tap in through our physical state.
3 Harmonies and 3 Treasures of Qigong
Through Qigong, we tap into the 3 harmonies, namely: Body, Breath, Spirit. By engaging the 3 harmonies we cultivate the 3 treasures namely: Jing, Qi, Shen. The 3 treasures are 3 energy sources in the human body that are essential to supporting human life. The 3 treasures are stored and transformed in the 3 Dantians namely, Lower Dan Tian, Middle Dan Tian, and Upper Dan Tian.
Jing is our life source which comes from our DNA. It is stored and trasformed in the Lower Dan Tian. We get this from our parents and we aleady have this at birth. When we have a healthy amount of Jing, we can transform it and produce enough Qi. Qi then transfers upwards and is associated with the Middle Dan Tian. When we have a healthy amount of Qi we can transform it, and cultivate it into Shen. Shen transfers upwards to the Upper Dan Tian (brain). When we cultivate enough Shen we transform it into Wu wei (nothingness).
If we do our Qigong regularly we can cultivate enough Qi to help the mind cultivate enough Shen in the Upper Dan Tian (brain). This helps us reach maximum brain performance and helps cultivate the mind. Qigong calms the busy mind through the 3 harmonies and the 3 treasures.
Qigong Breathing Techniques
Breathing is one of the most powerful practices one can do to calm the busy mind. Although it may seem subtle, this practice has a very strong impact and benefits to the body. Qigong breathing practices are more focused on inner works or inner alchemy compared to dynamic Qigong exercises.
Neuroscience perspective of Qigong Breathing
Through Qigong breathing techniques, we tap into the Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest and digest). The principal nerve of the Parasympathetic Nervous System is the Vagus Nerve. This Vagus Nerve connects from the brain stem where the chemoreceptors are. The chemoreceptors are nerves which detect our breathing. From the brain stem the Vagus Nerve projects down to the Viscera to connect to our internal organs. Also, from the brainstem the Vagus Nerves projects upwards to the brain. The Vagus nerve is the nerve that allows our brain to connect and send messages to our organs and vice versa.
Breathing has an effect on the organs, because of the connection of the Vagus Nerve in the body. Breathing affects the heart rate and also affects the neural activity of the brain. Through Qigong breathing techniques we can control the brain and the overall states of stress and arousal of the body, and therefore, calming the mind.
Effects of Dynamic Qigong Movement in the Body
The physical body is only one aspect in Dynamic Qigong movement. When we do these qigong exercises we are not only strengthening the body but we are also strengthening our mind and spirit.
In the neuroscience perspective, when we do dynamic qigong it activates the pineal gland and the pituitary gland. Qigong's rhythmic movements, for example in the 5 Element Qigong, produce qi or energy in the body. When there is enough qi produced, these qi go upward to the brain to nourish the brain or Shen (Spirit). The effect of this is it activates the pineal gland and pituitary gland.
When the pineal gland is activated it releases hormones, such as melatonin. As a result, when melatonin is released, it transmutes into chemicals such as Pinolines and Benzodiazepines. Pinolines attack free radicals which harm our cells and cause aging. Benzodiazepines relaxes the mind, by reducing activity in the brain and the spinal cord. It also increases the effectiveness of Gamma Aminobutyric Acid or GABA. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that protects and calms down the brain.
When the pituitary gland is activated, it releases oxytocin. Oxytocin is also known as the "Love Hormone". As a result, when Oxytocin is released we tap into the Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest and digest). This helps our body relax and calms our mind.
Qigong Meditation and the mind
Qigong meditation allows us to let the qi that we have gathered in our practice to circulate more in our body. This helps us remove stagnation and blockages in our body. It also allows the qi to settle in deeper as we pulse, expand, contract and pack the qi in our body. In Qigong meditation, we can allow our body to ground the qi from the Shen or Upper Dan Tian into the Lower Dan Tian. This decreases unnecessary activities in the brain. Qigong meditation helps us release any more excess emotions, such as anxiety, worry, fear, grief and many more.
As we cultivate the 3 treasures, Jing, Qi and Shen we then go back to the state of Wu wei or emptiness. This allows our mind to go back to its original state, or the form before all forms, stillness, nothingness, or emptiness. When this happens, this allows our mind to relax and let go as we go deep and recalibrate through meditation. However reaching this state will take deeper and consistent practice.
Qigong routine to calm a busy mind
In this routine, we have Qigong breathing, Meridian Qigong exercises, 8 Trigram exercises, Zhan zhuang (Standing Qigong) and Qigong Meditation. It will really help to always have a good balance of different qigong exercises in our practice. I hope that the vlog can help you with your daily practice. This qigong routine is good to practice alone, or add it to your daily practices.
Qigong is a perfect balanced exercise. It helps cultivate not just the physical body, but as well as the mind and the spirit. Remember that the body is intrinsically connected to the spirit and likewise the spirit is intrinsically connected to the body. It is important that we do exercises like Qigong, to strengthen both. Harmonizing all the different aspects and layers of our body allows us to have a deeper connection with ourself. This helps us have a more controlled response to different stimuli that stresses our mind. Qigong therefore is a very efficient and effective practice which helps calm our mind.
