Static Qigong - Lying Poses (Part 2)

In this class we will look at an important static form, the side lying pose. Its history dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1127). The author of the pose is considered to be the Taoist adept Chen Huashan. According to legend, he spent many years meditating on the sacred Taoist Mount Huashan and achieved immortality.

Chen Huashan wrote the work “Twelve Forms of Lying Exercise” and provided the book with twelve illustrations. Fortunately, all 12 forms are identical in terms of the posture in which the meditator is depicted. They all represent the 12 ways of Taoist meditation and inner alchemy.

The pose itself is simple. Twelve illustrations by Chen Huashan depict a person lying on his right side. The right side is preferred because this position of the body removes excess load from the heart located on the left. However, you can just as well take the pose on your left side, as shown in the picture in my book.

1. 1. Lie on your right side.
2. 2. Place your palm on the pillow and your head on the palm.
3. 3. The left hand lies on the left side the palm is on the thigh or groin area.
4. 4. The right knee is bent, the left shin lies on the right foot.
5. 5. The left leg (which is on top) is extended.

Chinese sources recommend this form for people suffering from neuroses and depression. The pose can be taken while performing any of the “third treasure” exercises.

Masters of Tao can perform the exercises while lying in bed or while sleeping. This is exactly what the 12 forms of Chen Huashan call for. I list them below. You will find that you are already familiar with many of them. 1 - “conquering the tiger and dragon” (lust), 2 - “gaining mental balance”, 3 - “harmonizing vital energy” (qi), 4 - “transmitting yin and yang”, 5 - “maintaining balance between yin and yang” , 6 - “making a fire”, 7 - “contemplating the hearth to heat the cauldron”, 8 - “preserving the essence (jing) in the body”, 9 - “resting in a paddock with horses and monkeys (emotions)”, 10 - “in search of elixir", 11 - "awakening the truth", 12 - "gaining immortality."

Try doing some internal exercises while lying in bed. Personally, I started doing them many years ago when I was having trouble sleeping. I focused on one of the energy centers, such as the tan tien, solar plexus, heart center, or babbling brook.

Very soon I became convinced that in this position it was easiest to manipulate the flow of energy. In a state of half-asleep, consciousness does not offer its usual resistance to the movement of energy.

I realized that the best time to study is early in the morning. True, in the morning I was not always sure whether I woke up or not. In fact, I was programming my own subconscious, since in the waking state the energy spread through the body almost automatically.

It is from this stage that the introduction to the “Taoist dream yoga” begins. Try waking up an hour earlier than usual. Before you go back to sleep, focus on one of the energy centers of your body.

After a few days of this practice, you will learn to concentrate while you sleep. If you succeed in this, you will soon be able to perform many Taoist yoga exercises in your sleep. If your efforts are in vain, don't be discouraged. “Dream Yoga” is for the elite and is not accessible to everyone.

You can try your luck just before going to bed. Concentrating on the “murmuring brook” has a soporific effect. It is possible that you will have amazing dreams. There is a chance that in a dream one of the immortals will honor you with his attention. Who knows?