In the "52 Odd Health Interventions that Work Instantly" article, most readers focused on the fun gadgets like albuterol and cigarettes. No one focused on this:
Which is funny to me because it trumps pretty much everything on the list in terms of long-term benefits. I'm talking about standing still, like in the practice of Zhan Zhuang. While ZZ is a modern invention, the posture they're using is old and very effective.
Wuji means no extremities, no poles. It's the limitless emptiness in Chinese cosmology, where, through the creative act of taiji, the world starts moving and expressing potential within the limits of yinyang, the dual poles. There are many perennial observations one can make;
Ayin in Kaballah, or the alchemical progress that looks similar to the taijitu diagrams, the evolution of matter (see the axiom of Maria)
In any case, I don't want to butcher philosophy in a Twitter thread. The important thing to note is that the adage as above, so below is universal, and the Taoists sought to embody their abstract cosmology. Indeed, Wuji is the name of the stance used in many neidan and qigong
The well-known moving qigong sets like the 8 pieces of brocade are the result of the cultural revolution stripping away everything woo woo and esoteric. They can be relaxing, sure, but what's missing is the standing practice that fuels the body.
The reason it works is complicated and involves the fascia, correcting right side dominance, allowing muscles to switch off, others to take over, releasing mass downward, strengthening certain lines in the body, increases in dopamine and carbon dioxide, and in general increasing
I personally combine the Wuji stance with breathwork (in BreatheLess Practice, we begin Wuji in month 2) and I've had some of the most powerful and strange sessions. Still, there's a lot more to cover and maybe another article is in order but for now... don't actually try the
Go into Tadasana or mountain pose. Use this picture to guide you. Stay in this position for 10-20 minutes, bringing your awareness inside, and maintaining a soft and light breathing pattern. A few things will happen...
After 5 minutes, you'll get bored and agitated. Good. 10+ minutes, you'll experience heat and fatigue. Great! 15+ minutes you might experience anger and other negative emotions, as well as uncontrolled movement. Amazing!! Eventually, as your body is acclimates, you'll feel more
The key is to keep your mind calm and your breath anchored. If you overexcite your nervous system, standing still can be draining. The reason I don't recommend everyone starting with Wuji is because the stance can be complicated without exhausting effort and instructions.
But if you want to learn more about the whole ZZ system and Wuji, read Lam Kam Chuen's work or even better, find a qigong teacher to show you. I've been doing Wuji/ZZ for many years and I must say that it's a uniquely powerful practice, as long as you have the discipline to do
@BreatheLesss Would love to read the full article @BreatheLesss
@BreathingByEd The wuji article is coming soon. The 52... is already live.