Refuge on the Road

Summer is here and our routines are changing. Whether travelling, hosting guests, or moving to a new place for a few months, summer is a wonderful time to open up and gain perspective.  At the same time, travel and vacations bring their own challenges. Maybe the people you’re spending time with are not on the same schedule as you, or that unfamiliar bed is giving you a back ache. While it’s tempting to let go of your regular Qigong routing during times like these, that’s just when it’s particularly helpful to practice.  Take refuge in a minute or two of slow, diaphragmatic breathing; work out the kinks, whether physical or mental, with few rounds of “Spinal Chord Breathing”; stretch away the stress of a long drive with “Picking Cherries” (my fave while waiting for the e-car to charge).  And there’s never a bad time to shake out stagnation, frustration, or impatience. Use the “Cleansing Breath” technique for extra oomph, and watch as stress dissolves into the distance, making room for all the delicious summer qi to flow in and through you.