dangers of yi jin jing

[iceman7]

hello....i practiced the yi jin jing qi gong 3 days ago....i have a lot of energy but im quite worried right now because i havent slept and i have nausea sinced i practiced it.....i just cant sleep...the energy i felt is very overwhelming,..i tried to meditate and put the energy back to the dan tien but it doesnt work....really need some help....tnx...

[yeniseri]

Did you do 'shougong' (ending routine) that is characteristic (should be) of all qigong methods?

[dissidente]

Increasing Qi flow lessens the need for sleep.

Depriving yourself of sleep may well have caused your nausea.

[iceman7]

shuogong?....i guess i mislooked that part....@ the end of the 12 postures i just tried to circulate my chi and store it back to the dan tien....tnx for your replies...it is very much appreciated....

[clairvoyager]

Have you practiced for a day 3 days ago, or 3 days in a row or more time? In such a case, it seems to me very unlikely that you would have had such a dramatic effect in such a short period of time.

Are practicing the forms, or the massage or both? I have not trained yi jin jing because I can't fit it in my schedule, but for what I understood in a seminar, the main part is the massage. In that part you must keep your mind in the lower dan tian. If your mind drifts (and it will happen occassionally) or you are not focused, then the energy circulates, and can cause trouble. I remember a story about a couple of gays having arrhythmias because of incorrect practice. You should be very careful. If I were to practice yi jin jing for seriuous, then I would like to start with proper supervision.

Good luck!

[iceman7]

i practiced only once 3 days ago...i did 6 repititions in each posture... i didn`t do any massages...

[dissidente]

When the qi goes in, it goes in. Massage and perfect posture are proper method, but not absolutely necessary for you to feel the effects of Qi flow.

[styrofoamdog]

I assume you mean the Damo waidan exercises? These are fairly intense exercises used to build up qi. In my opinion, they are dangerous if you have major blockages or cannot bring your qi back to the dan tian.

In my experiences, basic forms for circulating qi, along with nei dan meditation to build up the dan tian, are important before moving on to forms such as the Damo waidan forms. They give practitioners an important safeguard in practice.

[Dave C.]

hello....i practiced the yi jin jing qi gong 3 days ago....i have a lot of energy but im quite worried right now because i havent slept and i have nausea sinced i practiced it.....i just cant sleep...the energy i felt is very overwhelming,..i tried to meditate and put the energy to the dan tien but it doesnt work....really need some help....tnx...

Where's your teacher? Why aren't you asking him or her? If you don't have a teacher and you're trying to do this on your own, then stop immediately. Try to find a doctor of Chinese medicine in your area and make an appointment.

Practicing qiqong without a teacher is a very, very bad idea. Books and videos, no matter how good, are not a replacement for a teacher.

[iceman7]

tnx for your concerns and replies everyone.....im a tang soo do practitioner by d way....my teacher taught me basic qigong and d 24 yang tai chi form....of corz as a certified martial arts fanatic, i research on qigong....one of my resources in chi kung is the book qigong for health and martial arts by dr yang. actually i just tried the movements out of curiosity.....i guess it was a rude awakening for me....a good learning experience....hehehe..my mind is still not strong yet and i need more practice....lots and lots of it!!!!! i`m all ok now...i did my basic qigong forms and gradually the overwhelming heat sensations disappear.........tnx again for your concerns.....it is very much appreciated........................!

[styrofoamdog]

It's okay to make mistakes sometimes, if you are able to clear them up. Qigong need not be regarded as something inherently very dangerous. And Dr. Yang did not write that book with the idea of only presenting the Damo waidan forms for those who had learned them already.

But while I enjoy Dr. Yang's books, sometimes I wish that he would add in a bit more caution about forms such as these. Presenting forms that involve not only building up qi, but also tension, can be quite dangerous for those who have not first built up a good foundation for them.

With safer forms that emphasize circulating qi, you will be much safer and have better results. From that book, the ba duan jin and buddhist breathing would be useful for you, I think.

[Dvivid]

Actually, Dr. Yang ALWAYS mentions the dangers, and he cautions students in EVERY book and DVD (and class!). Including that book, Qigong-The Secret of Youth.

Sub-Chapter: Disadvantages. Page 93-95, And Pages 104, 107.

Sub-Chapter: Important Training rules, starting on Page 119.

Etc.

And on Page 286 in capital letters.

He is VERY careful to give full disclosure in detail of the pros and cons of each qigong technique and how to progress carefully.

[styrofoamdog]

He is not using that book, though. He is using Qigong for Health and Martial Arts, which barely includes any warnings or notes on who should be practicing the exercises. And it introduces the Yi Jin Jing's Damo waidan forms, Xiao Zhou Tian, and Da Zhou Tian, among other practices.

[pacek]

I`ve been practiced for 15 months acording to the book, first doing massages and then hitting with all kinds of things like wooden and steal hammers. Now I`m working my back and arms and doing a small circulation. I haven`t got any problems and I work daily 3 hours.Your case may be that you are not practicing regulary.

[lilman]

Dr. Yang does list warnings in the book Qigong for health and martial arts. If you read all the pages not just the exercises, they are there. Thats the danger of working with books. people dont make sure they understand thoroughly before practice...
It is important after every Qigong that you do exercises to return Qi to the lower dantian and break up Qi stagnation through massage or other exercises. In Da Mo's Wai Dan set it is more likely that you will have Qi stagnation, which Dr Yang does mention in that book, and you will have to use massage, sitting meditaion or other practices to relieve the issue. He also suggests doing the Wei Dan then sitting meditation then the massage techniques. The Wei Dan build up local QI and it flows to the dantian. Wuchi meditation leads Qi to the lower dantian and breaks up stagnation. The massage is a cooldown technique which breaks up stagnation...
Qigong has a path. It is safe and easy to stick to the Highways. But men love Byways. Which is why they do not reach enlightenment.

[lilman]

2 simple energy dispursing techniques if you feel over energized from personal experience:

1. Sit in meditative posture, or a good standing on stake posture. inhale, exhale using reversed abdominal breathing. Emphasize exhale, and exhale with open mouth. If sitting, concentrate on Lower Dan Tian on inhale. Imagine Qi exiting mouth and Bai Hui on exhale... if standing, concentrate on lower dan tian on inhale, imagine complete Qi exiting 5 gates and mouth on exhale. Repeat till you feel a normal Qi level. Make sure you do your massage afterwards.

2. Or the easier way, masturbation with ejaculation. Do not have sex cuz you mutually exchange Qi with a partner if your doing it right. Just do it until you feel normal or slightly drained. 24-48 hours, whatever feels right for you, in other words, you shouldnt feel drained while practicing Qigong when your ready, practice your Qigong with the cool down sets of sitting meditation, or exercieses to lead Qi to lower dan tian and massage.

[iceman7]

i agree with sir lilman....dr yang`s book had warnings bout practicing qigong....its a very informative and wonderful book by the way....i guess people have just different results when they practice certain qigong. tnx for the tips sir lilman.....one thing, how do i do the massages?:)

[lilman]

Oh, I thought they were in that book, I had it once before but it got stolen so I can no longer reference it... Well Ill tell you, its pretty simple to follow.

After sitting meditation, at the end of your practice, still in sitting posture, all massages should be done in 3 repetitions each;

1. Bring Yi to focus by beating the heavenly drum. Place both hands over ears with middle fingers touching right above base of skull on back of your head. Flick your pointer fingers off your middle fingers so it hits the back of your head. It sounds like drums in your head and helps focus your mind. This also helps when your over whelmed with stress to get your focus back.

2. use the tips of your fingers to massage the top of your head from front to back in small circles, and at the back of your head, at bai hui, push down and pull down to the left and right a couple times. This will open Bai hui and clear stagnation in your head.

3. Youthfull image massage, 3-5, with thunmbs on temple, rub accross forehead from center across outside and down to eyebrows, with both hands simultaniously, using fist with pointer finger knuckle out. then use pointer fingers of both hands to rub the 3rd eye to clear any Qi stagnation that may be there.

4. Eyes, put thumbs on temples, use sids of fingers in C shape to rub across eyebrows, from center out, then fromtop of nose in a circular motio up around the bottom of eyes to temple. Then briskly rub hands together to create Qi in hands, when hot cover eyes. Roll eyes in all directions, relaxe about 5 seconeds, open eyes still covering with hands, imagine Qi entering eyes and repairing vision. Close eyes and move hands away, leave closed about 3 minutes before slowly opening while you do rest of massages.

5. Face. rub with palms down from temples to base of chin, press points on sides of nostrils, and rub 3 times, then straight down past lips to chin, then press on point at center of mouth above lips and just below nose with both fingers, rub 3 times, then spread out and down around lips to chin, rub back of hand across bottom of chin to either side.

6. Neck and torso, Rub the back of your neck from base of skull down to shoulders and from shoulders to top of arm. rub counter clockwise circles on middle dantian until any stagnation is cleared, rub back of hands up and down on kidneys until warmth is felt, then rub forward and in to meet both hands at lower dantian 3 times.

7. Arms, Rub from shoulders down to palms like brushing away dirt, and rub center of palm where you feel heat hard in counter clockwise circles.

8. Legs, Stretch legs out in front of you, slightly bent and spread, but relaxed. Rub down to your feat in the same manner. Bend one knee at a time and rub counter clockwise circle over whole knee, then brish down to feet from knee again. massage your feet, expecially Lao gong point at center of feet.

9. I suggest following up this cooldown exercise with walking meditation. If you dont know how to do it Ill explain if you ask.

[yeniseri]

All qigong teachers who have trained properly will give warnings associated with qigong practice. If another teacher did not mention anything it may mean that person did not have had a proper grounding in yangshengong/qigong practice or he picked it up somewhere without the proper instruction.
My own teacher showed us shougong first as preparation for basic practice!

[styrofoamdog]

Dr. Yang does list warnings in the book Qigong for health and martial arts. If you read all the pages not just the exercises, they are there.

There are exercise-specific dangers for the Yi Jin Jing forms, and he does not really cover those. He only mentions the risk of san gong, and not to practice after sex, after a large meal, etc.

I think that it is one of the best books on qigong, but some extra caution is necessary when using it, because it does not cover the exercises in-depth.