|
Equine Qi Gong- the MacroCosmic Orbit
Val Hampson, MA
Qi gong (sometimes spelled Chi Kung), the ancient precursor to Eastern
martial arts, is all about working with energy (qi or chi)- feeling it
and moving it through movements, thought, intent and visualization. It
is a powerful approach that enhances health and physical, mental and
spiritual well being.
In qi gong, all things are imbued with the life force energy of qi.
Modern physics also shows that everything is made of energy. In qi gong,
you tune into your energy and the qi all around you and learn how to
work with and move it. You can also tune into the qi of your horse.
.....
Qi gong is great to practice with your horse.
Horses are already masters at sensing energy. Interestingly, the basic
stance one takes prior to many qi gong exercises is called the ‘horse
stance’. In that position, you stand with your feet facing forward and
about a shoulder width apart. Adopt a relaxed posture with your arms
hanging loosely by your sides. Bend your knees slightly. This gives you
a balanced posture from which you can move and flow easily. You can
relax in this posture and learn to remain in it comfortably for an
extended period of time. Qi can flow freely and unimpeded form this
position. As you can see and feel, the horse stance is also similar to
the riding body position.
From this position, you can close your eyes and sense each part of your
body feeling it and or ‘visualizing’ it. Is it tight or lose, hard or
soft, warm or cold, colored? Any images associated with it, sounds,
sensations or messages? Linda Kohanov’s Epona style uses a similar
technique to scan the body and it is an important part of optimizing
awareness when working with horses.
You can conduct a complete qi gong exercise, the macrocosmic orbit, in a
few minutes with your horse. This exercise may enhance your awareness of
both you and your horse’s physical and energy bodies. You also will move
pure chi through both you as a rider and your horse. This may help focus
both of you as well as ground and energize the two of you. You may find
old blocks shifting or new intuitions.
Try the macrocosmic orbit several times by yourself on the ground until
you are thoroughly comfortable with it. Then try it in a safe place away
from loose horses in the general vicinity of your horse, but still on
the ground. You may choose to simply practice in this way. You will
receive much benefit and your horse can, too! If you are quite
comfortable with the practice, your horse, and feel it is safe, you can
move to the next step.
If you have a stable, solid, trained horse and you are an experienced
and competent rider and know your horse well, you can practice while
mounted and standing still. Make sure your horse is settled and not
nervous or overexcited. You should ask someone you trust to hold your
horse while you do the exercise. If at any time you become uncomfortable
or your horse becomes uncomfortable stop immediately.
The Macro-cosmic Orbit----
Unmounted, while standing on the
ground.
Adopt the horse stance.
Close your eyes. Visualize your actions and the energy as
you do the following (think of the motion of bringing a jump rope
around-without the jump and following the contours of your body very
closely, but not touching)-
Slowly bend into a half sit forward and allow you arms to follow down
near you feet.
Take a long slow breath in while you…..
Visualize energy rising from the ground into your fingertips and up the
back of your legs, following along with your hands up the back of your
legs (but not quite touching)… as you rise to stand again in the
horse stance…
bending your elbows , then your arms out and behind- visualizing the
energy going up your buttocks, your back, your spine, through your
shoulders, up the back of your arms as you now raise them shoulder
height…
then, hands with palm-in moving to the back of your neck, up the back
of your head,………pausing behind your head….
Breathe out and then take a deep full breath…..
as you raise your arms above your head…. visualizing the energy now
coming down from the Sky, the Source, into the top of your head…..moving
your hands to just above your head, palms down….
and on the long slow outbreath…
slowly wash the energy down your face, head and arms…. moving down the
front of your body… following the flow of energy down the front of your
body to your naval.
Right below your naval, stop your hands for a moment and allow the
energy to fill your lower abdomen and pelvic area.
Then, keep flowing the energy down the front of your body, all the way
down the front of your arms and legs to your feet … bending forward at
the waist as you go until your reach your feet….allowing any ‘extra’
unneeded energy to return to the earth.
The Macrocosmic Orbit
while mounted, standing still with your partner
holding the horse. You will be doing this through visualization, not
movement.
On the long, slow inbreath,
visualize the energy rising from the ground into the horse’s hooves and
your feet, up the back of both your horse’s legs and yours, up your
backs and back of necks, back of heads, resting at your and his crown.
Visualize chi energy coming from the Sky, the Source, into the crowns of
your heads.
Breathe out long and slowly while you….
Visualize the energy flowing down your horse’s and your front face,
throat, front body, gathering and holding the energy at just below the
naval and where his ‘naval’ would be… filling with qi…. then flowing
down the front of arms, legs, and into the hooves/feet with any ‘extra’
draining into the ground.
Open your eyes. You are complete. Take a few moments to notice how you
and your horse feel.
You may feel more focused, and you and your horse may move lighter, more
freely and with greater connection, as well as many other benefits. You
may also notice a carry-over of benefit beyond your riding…for both you
and your horse.
When I do this exercise, I feel greater clarity and an easier, fuller
flow of my energy. I notice that my horse steps livelier with a little
more collected posture. We move more lightly and a bit more fluidly. We
definitely have a greater connection and improved communication. And we
both have more fun!
Please send me an email with anything you notice from doing these
exercises, if you wish. I am interested in your experience.
Val Hampson, MA,
is an energy worker, qi gong practitioner and Reiki Master. EAGALA certified, Val is an experienced
educator and psychotherapist
with a master's degree in counseling psychology. She is an author and
the editor of Equus Spirit.
Contact her at
valh@equusspirit.com
Read more Equus Spirit articles
HOME
|
