Psychotherapy and Qigong as Changing One’s Life stance

Description

This class today is an experiential embodiment of my Substack article on Psychotherapy as Changing One’s Life Stance. There are so many different components of each tradition; so, why do I say that the essence of that both traditions is about changing your life stance? — And I mean “stance” on physical, metaphorical, spiritual, and psychological levels. You’ll learn an integral approach to “stance” that honors and values the differences between traditions, and it creates an amalgam for more holistic practice. Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy and  Bodymind Healing Qigong are offered as  self-healing practice traditions.*

Qigong is much more than exercise. Stillness becomes a form of self-inquiry. Movement becomes a way of discovering psychological and emotional patterns. Intention provides a way to consciously choose a new stance toward life. In that sense, Qigong and psychotherapy are portrayed as different paths toward a similar goal: bringing hidden material into awareness and using that embodied awareness to create healing and transformation.

* Note: The videos and articles are not a substitute for your health professionals work with you on your issues. Consult with your medical doctor and health professionals before practicing the methods put forth here and listen to your bodymind, honoring your individual limitations to avoid physical injuries and potential regressive material arising that you might not be ready to handle.

What you’ll learn about in this class:

• Cross-cultural psychophysiological initiatory practices using stillness and posture to create psycho-spiritual change: Western psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, early Buddhism, the Greek mystery tradition, and Qigong. 

• A brief history of psychotherapy looked at through the lens of “psychotherapy as changing your life stance.” How does Freud’s method of lying down posture, with therapist being silent parallel and evoke the journey to the underworld in the Greek mystery tradition. Also, for example, you’ll learn how Cognitive Restructuring, and Gentian’s Focusing can create a transformation of life stance.
• The Greek mystery tradition’s stillness (hesychia, ἡσυχία) practices. Stories from my trips to Greece about the imaginal esoteric practices at the Greek sacred sites, i.e. Epidaurus, Delphi, Trophonius, etc.
• Controversial theories about posture and stance corrections from the Bodhisattva Warrior Tradition. Was early Buddhist postural initiation practice the root of modern Standing meditation qigong practice?
• We’ll practice the Bodymind healing Qigong Extended short Form from the perspective of Qigong (static and movement practices) as pathways to changing one’s life stance. For example:

1. 1. Shape shifting Stances i.e. Standing like a Tree (Zhan Zhan) . To cultivate groundedness.
   2. Tai Chi stances have four dimensions of purpose:self healing, spiritual unfoldment, self defense and chasing one’s life stance psychologically. Learn and experience how the first stance of Tai Chi called “Commencement,”can express these purposes. 
   3. Prayer stance #1: A Wounded Healer’s Qigong Ritual. 
   4.  Prayer stance #2: A Metaphysician’s Facing Death Stance-Becoming the Star you Are.

•  Experience how Qigong Standing mediation postures from Yi Chuan Qigong evoke psychological and physical processes which transform physical and psychological blocks. For example, shaking blockages loose. 
• Shape shifting stances for psychological and physical health. 
• “What do you Stand for?”  Double entendre intended.. Learn how your intention can be expanded to make Standing meditation and Taoist movement practices personally meaningful to you and what you need to transform in your life. The spiritual, psychological and physical dimensions of Standing meditation and Chinese internal arts practices.