Qigong classes and workshops for health and wellbeing

Qi Gong West Sussex

Standing Qigong – Part 3 – The Armpits

We can create this space by either physically moving our arms or we can practise a more subtle way to open up this space.
Qi Gong West Sussex - Opening the armpits

In part 3 we create a small space under the armpits. So, imagine that you have a small egg under each armpit and then allow each arm to hang relaxed and loose by your sides. Because of the space under each armpit your hands won’t touch your sides but will be about two or three inches from your hips.

Imagining an egg helps us to hold our arms in a relaxed yet focused way. If we are too rigid then we would crush our ‘egg’ and if too loose then the ‘egg’ wouldn’t be held in place at all.

Holding our arms in this way to start with is perfectly fine, but there is also another, more subtle way than just ‘physically’ creating this space under the armpits.

Bring your attention to the area between your shoulder blades and with your intention and imagination allow this space to open and soften. Imagine the space between your shoulder blades increasing as if they were physically moving away from each other and that the gap between them widens.

The more you practice imagining this area opening up in this way you should eventually find that your arms start to naturally lift up, automatically creating this space under the armpits. This way you get the same result but you’ve used your gentle, focused attention to create the same result.