Summer Qigong: Tuning Into Your Heart's Rhythm

What if the energy that has you staying up later, moving more, gathering with loved ones, chasing the last light of the evening — what if it wasn't restlessness, but an awakening? What if it were your body, perfectly in sync with the season?

Over 4,000 years ago, sages looked to nature to find ways to extend life and remain healthy. They spent time observing how it ebbs and flows, and how the animals responded to the world around them. They didn't set out to invent Qigong — they set out to improve their health, to extend their life. What they discovered had no name.

They noticed how nature never rushes, and yet everything gets done. They took these principles and used them in their own lives. On June 21, at 4:25am ET, yang energy reached its peak — the longest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Energy of Summer

When we let the seasons guide our lives, what does summertime energy feel like to you? It can spark a desire to socialize, to travel, to be outdoors. It feels expansive as the days lengthen and we spend more and more time outside — concerts, picnics, family reunions, vacation.

Summer is the peak of that yang energy, ruled by the element of Fire. Yang energy is rising energy; it is expanding. Look outside — trees full of leaves, grass rich and lush, markets and gardens overflowing with fruits and vegetables. The ancient sages observed this abundance and believed the seasons have a profound cyclical effect on our well-being and growth. They taught that we are influenced by these changes and should live in harmony with them for longevity.

The Heart: Organ of Summer

In summer, the Heart is the organ of the season, paired with the Small Intestine. Consider the Western view: the heart pumps oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and removes waste from the cells. But it's also seen as the emotional center in both Eastern and Western traditions. Western science tells us there are about 40,000 neurons in the heart — compared to 86 billion in the brain and 600 million in the gut. The heart isn't a second brain the way the gut is, but it does have its own neural network that responds to its environment. It's often referred to as the heart-mind.

When the heart-mind is out of balance, we may experience scattered thoughts, anxiety, poor circulation, an aversion to heat, disconnection, and a weak spirit. Its virtues are acceptance, patience, joy, and unconditional love. The heart also feels all the emotions of the other organs — it is the emperor or empress of the body. The heart houses the Shen spirit, the connection between heart and mind. Shen is often translated from Chinese as "heart-mind."

Emotions are simply energy in motion — E-motion. We label them good or bad, but the problem isn't the emotion itself; it's our holding onto it when it no longer serves us. Even "good" emotions can cause dis-ease in the body when we hold on to them, like overexcitement.

Qigong Practices for Summer

Here are some Qigong practices you can try at home to help move energy through you and tune in to what your body needs.

Knocking on Your Heart

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands relaxed at your sides. Make light fists and begin to knock on your sternum, just over your heart. Knock gently at first, and if it feels good, knock a little harder. Take a deep inhale, and as you exhale, brush down your throat and the front of your heart, making the heart sound: Haaaa. Bring your mind into your heart. Repeat 3, 6, or 12 times — whatever feels right. When you finish, pause and notice how your body feels.

Heart Opening

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Feel your connection to the earth through your feet. Lift the crown of your head toward the sky, lengthen the back of your neck, and let your chin naturally tuck in. Feel your connection to the heavens through the crown of your head. Place your hands in prayer position, touching the knuckles of your thumbs to your sternum. Pause and feel into your body.

Now open your arms out to the sides, keeping your elbows heavy. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and down your back — this opens the front of your heart. Bring your hands back to prayer position and bow your head, opening the back of your heart. Inhale as you open the front of your heart, exhale as you open the back. Bring your attention to your heart center. Repeat 3, 6, or 12 times — whatever feels right. When you finish, pause and notice how your body feels.

Garuda Flow and Holding Position

Stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart. Bring your hands to prayer position in front of your heart, knuckles touching your heart center. Sink down into a horse stance — like you're riding a horse, back straight, crown of the head lifted toward the sky, tailbone dropping toward the earth. Full horse stance brings the thighs parallel to the ground, but sink only to the edge of your comfort zone.

Now stand up tall. Bring your arms straight out to your sides, parallel with the earth, fingertips facing the sky, pulling the backs of your hands toward your body — here you're stretching through the heart meridian. With arms outstretched, sink into horse stance on an inhale. As you exhale, stand back up and bring your arms and palms toward your chest, connecting with your heart. Inhale to sink and stretch your arms, exhale to stand tall and draw your arms back to your chest. Keep your mind in your heart center.

As you practice, you can visualize the color red — the color of summer — growing brighter in your heart with each inhale, cultivating the virtues of acceptance, patience, joy, and unconditional love. Repeat 3, 6, or 12 times — whatever feels right. When you finish, pause and notice how your body feels.

Sunlight illuminating a lotus flower on calm water.

Coming Back to Yourself

All of these practices help clear heat from the heart, increase blood and Qi circulation, and cultivate the virtues of the heart: love, joy, patience, and acceptance. But these virtues must first start with ourselves. When we show ourselves love, patience, joy, and acceptance, only then can we share them with others.

While summer is the height of yang energy, remember that yin resides within yang. We may feel called to attend every gathering, say yes to every invite, even keep busy on vacation. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you're listening to what your own body needs. Each morning before you get out of bed, pause. Tune in. Ask your body what it needs today. When someone invites you to do something, take a heartbeat and check in. Does your body want more activity, or does it need rest? There's no right or wrong answer when you truly tune in.

Summertime is often so full of activity and socializing that we forget we need to rest. This season, spend extra time tuning in and listening to your body. Notice what comes up, and then — this is the hard part — show yourself unconditional love no matter what you find. Show yourself love and acceptance first. Smile at yourself. Remember: no matter where you go, there you are. You might as well love you.

If you're local to the Summerville, SC area, please join us for a Qigong class. If you're not, please be patient as I work on getting my Qigong classes online.