Qigong in a Rest room? Yay or Nay?

You’ve fallen in love with the artwork of qigong and also you need to squeeze in some extra apply. Good for you! I adore it!

Possibly you’ve obtained some downtime at work (assuming you continue to commute to work). With one of the best of intentions you resolve to apply within the one place the place you will have a modicum of privateness: the lavatory.

Is that okay?

I’ll provide you with my greatest reply in a second, however first, let me present you the way I usually arrive at solutions for questions like this one.

For many years, I’ve labored to demystify the artwork of qigong, each for my college students and my very own edification. I attempt to reduce by means of all of the BS in order that we will discover sensible, twenty first century options with qigong. This no-BS strategy has been highly effective for me, and it’s an strategy that my college students admire too. I assume that, in case you’re studying this, you are feeling the identical manner.

I’m not caught on custom. When a selected qigong custom now not appears relevant to trendy life, I abandon it or at the very least set it apart. I don’t do that evenly, and I take my candy time earlier than making a choice, but when one thing isn’t serving us, then I’m not afraid to encourage college students to disregard a number of of the numerous qigong guidelines which can be on the market.

For instance, I used to be taught to not apply qigong barefoot outdoor. For over a decade, I adopted this recommendation blindly. I simply didn’t do it. I used to be a very good boy!

Later, after discovering the Minimalist Shoe Motion, I began to rethink the barefoot rule. Round this time, I additionally discovered from a qigong grasp who advised me that practising barefoot was not solely allowed, however fascinating!

And so I began to experiment by myself. I started to apply qigong barefoot within the grass, on sand, on concrete, and indoors. By this time, I used to be fairly delicate to power, so I might really feel what was taking place.

After a couple of years of this, I made a decision that it now not made sense to inform college students to not apply qigong barefoot. I simply couldn’t discover a good motive. If practising barefoot is in some way dangerous for my power, then I couldn’t really feel it within the quick run nor did I see any damaging results in the long term both. If something, it was the other. I observed many advantages once I apply qigong barefoot.

And so I wrote a weblog put up about my expertise, and I modified my tune about practising barefoot, with a couple of caveats.

That’s how I wish to function. As a lot as attainable, I don’t wish to take issues on religion. Nor do I would like my college students to easily do as I say.

That stated, my reply about practising qigong in a toilet may shock some individuals. Right here’s my present opinion: I feel it’s a foul thought to apply qigong in a public toilet.

I used to be taught to not apply qigong in bogs as a result of the power is “damaging”. I bear in mind this concept being unusual to me at first. All of it appeared so woo-woo to me. However then logic prevailed.

A toilet, I spotted after some thought, is a spot particularly designed to deposit our “damaging” power. And we don’t ever deviate from this, besides maybe whereas tenting. We don’t, for instance, generally really feel lazy and simply go poop within the nook of the room the best way a canine may. (I’m you, Sgt. Pepper!!)

I used the time period “damaging power” above. It’s a generally used time period. However what does it actually imply?

Keep in mind that the traditional Chinese language didn’t view power the best way we see it right now. We find out about protons, neutrons, and electrons. They didn’t.

Destructive power has turn into a ubiquitous phrase in arts like qigong. And perhaps the phrase is helpful for contemporary practitioners. However we have to keep in mind that previous qigong masters had no phrases like this. Each phrases, “damaging” and “power”, include so many refined connotations that we hardly even discover them anymore.

Destructive, for instance, implies dangerous. It additionally implies a damaging cost, like an ion.

Power implies electrical energy, one thing qigong masters had zero expertise with.

What about yin and yang? Isn’t that the identical as optimistic and damaging? I’m glad you requested!

No. It’s not the identical. The factor to grasp is that yin and yang are relative, not absolute. For instance, we’d name a girl yin in comparison with her husband, however when in comparison with her daughter, she is yang.

Equally, there’s no such factor as “damaging power” in an absolute sense. What‘s damaging to people is usually optimistic to different issues. Manure is an effective instance. It’s poisonous to horses and people, however nice for gardens! Equally, CO2 is poisonous to people, however nourishing to crops.

What we should always actually be saying is that the power in bogs is damaging to us people. In different phrases, that loo power will not be negatively charged like an electron; it’s simply poisonous to us.

And after we say “power”, it’s a unfastened time period for something invisible in a toilet. Keep in mind that the traditional qigong masters didn’t take pleasure in figuring out germ principle (though they obtained amazingly shut!). Loos are stuffed with germs — micro organism, viruses, and even that pesky coronavirus.

Public bogs are even worse. No less than your toilet at house is full of YOUR germs, proper? However what concerning the toilet at work?

Right here’s what clinched it for me: If I dropped a bit of chocolate on the ground of a public toilet, would I decide it up and pop it into my mouth saying, “5 second rule”? Hell no. I really like chocolate however not that a lot! Even earlier than the age of COVID, there isn’t any manner I might eat one thing off the ground of public toilet.

Within the age of COVID, I feel the argument is even stronger. We all know now that the coronavirus can linger within the air, particularly indoors in locations with poor air flow. So practising in a toilet is certainly dangerous.

For individuals who don’t know me, I reside in a flowery campervan. After my divorce, I bought every thing, embraced minimalist dwelling, and purchased an RV. This setup works for me as a result of it permits me to spend so much of time in nature, like within the image above, the place I parked in Sedona for every week. (If you wish to observe my adventures, I put up them on my Instagram account.)

I point out this as a result of my campervan is about 82 sq. ft whole, together with the lavatory. In different phrases, my “home” is smaller than many trendy bogs. Hell, it’s smaller than many closets!

Does the damaging power of the lavatory seep into my dwelling house?

I’ve thought of this loads since I moved into my campervan. My conclusion is that if damaging power from the lavatory is affecting me, I can’t inform. However there are some things to bear in mind:

1. It’s not a public toilet. I’m the one one who makes use of it.
2. I can maintain it as clear as I like.
3. The air flow within the van is amazingly good.
4. I don’t apply qigong within the toilet. Not that I might. It’s smaller than you possibly can probably think about.

I do apply qigong contained in the van when it’s raining, like it’s proper now this morning in Florida. However the power within the campervan is so immersed in nature that it at all times feels good in right here. I’ve home windows on 4 sides, plus a ceiling fan with a skylight. It’s not tenting by any means (I’ve a rest room, in spite of everything), however I actually do really feel like I’m out in nature.

If I have been dwelling in an 82 sq/ft condo with just a few home windows and poor air flow, then it is perhaps a distinct story. In that case, if my apply house have been proper close to the lavatory, I might work arduous to enhance the air flow by including followers and opening home windows whereas practising. Or, if that didn’t really feel proper, I might power myself to apply exterior.

A typical argument is that it’s higher to do qigong in a toilet than to not do it in any respect. It is a logical fallacy referred to as a false dilemma. It’s not an both/or state of affairs. There are different choices.

Since there are such a lot of different choices (see under), it appears clear to me that it’s NOT higher to do qigong in a toilet. The dangers outweigh the advantages, particularly if COVID is right here to remain for some time because it appears to be.

For instance, in case you catch even simply the common flu from practising qigong in a toilet, then it’s not price it. We shouldn’t get sick from qigong. The alternative.

Okay, so bogs are out. What different choices are there?

1. Observe One Finger Zen all day, ideally whereas strolling exterior.
2. Gratitude is the last word “do it anyplace and invisibly” apply. Do it within the automotive on the best way to work.
3. Loving Kindness Meditation when you get the dangle of it, might be practiced on coworkers, the barista at Starbucks, and even your boss. Particularly your boss.
4. The two Minute Drill is ideal. Go exterior, even when it’s chilly or sizzling. It’s solely 2 minutes.
5. Smile From the Coronary heart is just like gratitude, and likewise invisible.

If a coworker occurs to see you practising your 2 minutes of qigong, it’s simply explainable as a solution to stretch after sitting. You possibly can even provide for them to hitch you! You’ll be amazed at how many individuals will take you up on the provide.

Save the longer qigong routines for later, if you find yourself in a extra appropriate atmosphere.

Qigong is my life. I feel deeply about this and experiment continually. My opinion, after a lot consideration, is that practising qigong in a public toilet is solely not definitely worth the danger.

Now I’d love to listen to from you. What do you suppose? Have you ever ever practiced in a toilet? Will you proceed to take action? Greatest regards, Sifu Anthony I’m Anthony Korahais, and I used qigong to heal from scientific melancholy, low again ache, nervousness, and power fatigue. I’ve already taught hundreds of individuals from everywhere in the world how you can use qigong for their very own cussed well being challenges. Because the director of Flowing Zen, I am absolutely dedicated to serving to individuals with these arts. Along with my weblog, I additionally educate on-line programs and provide in-person retreats and workshops.

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