The Power of our Mind
Many years ago we talked with my daughter's piano teacher about different ways to practice while learning to play piano. She told me how she sometimes practiced certain exercises as a child on a drawn keyboard when the real one was not available. It sounded fascinating although I was a bit doubtful how could it work.
Since then I had a few similar experiences myself in mind-body practices. While studying for a Qigong teacher we had to memorize a few routines for our final class and then present it as a group while the other students watched. It was amazing to sit in a chair observing other students doing the familiar routine and feeling in my body as if I'm doing Qigong together with them.
Another one happened just last week. It was a pretty challenging day for me. I was not at home and missing the comfort of my home meditation studio. Because I couldn't do any of my mind-body practices to the full extent (although I tried) I was feeling very crappy. And here I am, standing by the window looking at some trees swaying from the wind. The wind is taking the top of the tree round and round just like my body goes during meditation. I was standing there for a while, a good 10-15 min and during that time I felt as if I was meditating along with the trees. Very unusual experience. And I did feel a temporary relief, as if I meditated together with the trees.
I remember reading in a Qigong books how a woman was sick in a hospital, unable to move. Since she really needed to do her Qigong exercises she would close her eyes and imagine herself doing it. She felt the benefits as if she was practicing for real!
Trying to remember the words the author used to describe the phenomenon. (Can't remember what book or author it was, otherwise I would've looked it up) If a person is not able to do mind-body practice physically just imagining doing it in his mind can be as powerful.
Dec 12, 2023
Since then I had a few similar experiences myself in mind-body practices. While studying for a Qigong teacher we had to memorize a few routines for our final class and then present it as a group while the other students watched. It was amazing to sit in a chair observing other students doing the familiar routine and feeling in my body as if I'm doing Qigong together with them.
Another one happened just last week. It was a pretty challenging day for me. I was not at home and missing the comfort of my home meditation studio. Because I couldn't do any of my mind-body practices to the full extent (although I tried) I was feeling very crappy. And here I am, standing by the window looking at some trees swaying from the wind. The wind is taking the top of the tree round and round just like my body goes during meditation. I was standing there for a while, a good 10-15 min and during that time I felt as if I was meditating along with the trees. Very unusual experience. And I did feel a temporary relief, as if I meditated together with the trees.
I remember reading in a Qigong books how a woman was sick in a hospital, unable to move. Since she really needed to do her Qigong exercises she would close her eyes and imagine herself doing it. She felt the benefits as if she was practicing for real!
Trying to remember the words the author used to describe the phenomenon. (Can't remember what book or author it was, otherwise I would've looked it up) If a person is not able to do mind-body practice physically just imagining doing it in his mind can be as powerful.
Dec 12, 2023