Qi Relaxation Exercise 4
Empty gaze
Of course there is some minute muscle work going on inside the eyes, but this exercise is for the face muscles around the eyes. Also, it is to help create the blank facial expression mentioned above. Since the eyes are essential in any facial expression, an empty gaze is needed to make that blank face. Remember that this exercise can be done immediately after the previous one, or at the same time.
The Book
The life energy qi (also chi or ki) explained, with several very easy exercises to awaken, increase, and use it. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
|
How to do it
- You can do this exercise standing, sitting, or lying down. It is good if you have a clear view in front of you, at least some ten feet ahead – but the more the better. If you are indoors, you can look out a window.
- Close your eyes very firmly. Squeeze the eyelids shut, so that most of your face wrinkles, at the same time as you inhale through the nose.
- Open the eyes, suddenly and completely, at the same time as you exhale through your mouth. You will notice that it takes a little while before your eyes have focused on what you have in front of you, and during that short time your gaze is quite empty. You want to prolong that moment, so try not to focus your gaze on anything at all. It can be hard at first, but by practice you should be able to extend the period before your eyes fix on something.
- Repeat, preferably several times – especially if you find it hard to keep the empty gaze more than a couple of seconds. If you do not improve at it, then stop with the exercise. You can return to it another time. It is likely to get better each time you try it anew.
The empty gaze is not only restful, but also linked to a state of mind that is particularly delightful and rewarding – similar to the one you can reach in meditation. Empty mind is how Zen describes it. You can really relax if you can have an empty mind between the times when you involve yourself in something or other.
Qi Relaxation Exercises
Here is a set of simple exercises by which to make your body relax. That's important to release your body enough to increase your qi energy flow. I recommend you to follow the order given below, at least in the beginning, when you familiarize yourself with the exercises and what they do to you. After that, you can choose according to your own needs.
© Stefan Stenudd
This is a chapter of my book Qi: Increase your Life energy.
My Books About Life Energy
Here are the two books I have written on the subject of life energy. This website contains some of the material from the first one.
Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Qi — Increase Your Life Energy
The life energy qi (also chi or ki) explained, with several very easy exercises to awaken, increase, and use it.
Life Energy Encyclopedia
Qi, prana, spirit, ruach, pneuma, and many other life forces around the world explained and compared. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
My Other Websites
The many life force beliefs all over the world, ancient and modern, explained.
Taoism, the old Chinese philosophy of life, based on
Tao, the Way. Also, the complete
Tao Te Ching translated and explained.
Aikido, the peaceful martial art. Its basics, principles, techniques, and more — in texts, images and videos.
The 64 hexagrams of the Chinese classic
I Ching and what they mean in divination. Free online reading.
Other Books by Me
Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Tao Te Ching
The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained
The great Chinese classic, translated to English and extensively commented.
Aikido Principles
Basic Concepts of the Peaceful Martial Art
Aikido principles, philosophy, and basic ideas.
Fake Lao Tzu Quotes
Erroneous Tao Te Ching Citations Examined. 90 of the most spread false Lao Tzu quotes, why they are false and where they are really from.
About Me
I'm a Swedish author and aikido instructor. I've written several books about aikido, qi energy and other life force concepts. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching the thought patterns in creation myths.
Click the image to get to my personal website.