Qi Smoothing

Relieve anxiety and chronic stress in your life

Place feet hip width apart and bend the knees slightly. Move mindfully and quietly. This practice is designed to relieve anxiety, irritability, moodiness and chronic stress in your life.

Raise the right arm to shoulder height, bend the wrist and have the middle finger and thumb touch. From the heart center the left hand descends down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body.

Raise the left arm no more to shoulder height, bend at the wrist and have the middle finger and thumb touch. From the heart, guide right hand slowly down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body.

Return to raising the right arm to shoulder height, subtly move the weight as the arm rises. Bend the wrist and have the middle finger and thumb touch. The left hand descends down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body, as the right arm stays raised.

Raise the left arm no more to shoulder height, bend at the wrist and have the middle finger and thumb touch. Keep the left arm at this position as you guide your right hand slowly down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body.

Return to raising the right arm to shoulder height, subtly shifting the weight as the arm rises. Bend the wrist and have the middle finger and thumb touch. Keep the raised right arm at this position as you guide your left hand down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body.

Note: One hand and arm moves, as the other arm remains raised to shoulder height in a mudra.

Coordinate the breath with your movements. Inhale as the left arm rises to shoulder height, middle finger and thumb touch. Left arm stays raised.

Exhale as the right hand slowly descends through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body and up to shoulder height. Pause at the end of the exhale as middle finger and thumb touch.

Inhale as the left hand begins to descends down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm and away from the body and up to shoulder height.

Pause at the end of the exhale as middle finger and thumb touch.

Exhale as you direct your gaze to follow the moving right hand, as the right hand descends through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body and up to shoulder height. Pause at the end of the exhale as middle finger and thumb touch.

Inhale as the left hand begins to descends down through the midline, pushing out thru the palm and away from the body and up to shoulder height. Pause at the end of the exhale as middle finger and thumb touch.

Exhale as the right hand slowly descends through the midline, pushing out thru the palm, down and away from the body and up to shoulder height. Pause at the end of the exhale as middle finger and thumb touch.

As you push down thru the midline and out and away from your body, visualize Releasing blockage and trapped energy... smoothing the flow of Qi.

Note that we exhale as the right arm descends thru the midline out and away from our body and we inhale left hand descends thru the midline out and away from our body.

We do this to promote a healthy Liver.

The liver is responsible for the smooth flowing of Qi (our life force) throughout the body. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly. So, for optimum health, we want to move our Qi.

The liver also controls the tendons. The liver stores blood during periods of rest, and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility.

Keep the eyes open and Direct your soft gaze to follow the moving hand. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function.

This practice is excellent to do on the morning or during periods of stress and is excellent to do outdoors - outside air helps liver qi flow and relieves irritability.

Also, it's an excellent practice during breaks from your computer.