How to Relax Your Heart Rate Using Qigong

Backgroundattack from an emotional trauma.
Controlling the autonomic responses like heart rate isIn reality, if you have been training the Qigong
quite familiar to practitioners of Qigong.exercises, you have far less chance of a heart attack
The difference between Qigong meditation and otheror panic attack. Let's say you're heart is racing
types is that we utilise different kinds of "bodyanyway. You want to direct that excess energy that's
breathing" techniques through the flesh and bones,going to through your heart meridian to your governing
especially when we induce proper "Qi" flow orand conception vessels.
bioenergetic flow through the energy meridians. That is,The Training
we literally use the mind to lead the "Qi" or bioenergyFrom the HealingMindN Posture, we train the circulation
through breath control.of "Qi" through governing and conception vessels. We
At this moment, please take time to study Governinguse the mind to lead the bioenergy up the Governing
and Conception Vessels of the eight Extraordinary QiVessel (back) and down the Conception Vessel (front)
Vessels (try yinyanghouse); these are the two mostwhile the relaxed tip of the tongue gently touches the
important vessels in Qigong training because properlyroof of the mouth.
trained circulation in these vessels leads to the properYes, just like reverse peristalsis, the bioenergy
training in the other vessels.circulation can reverse, but let's think in one direction
The Governing Vessel or "sea of yang meridians" isright now, like the smooth flow of the pacific and
the channel of control. This vessel starts at the baseatlantic oceans around the continents.
of the spine and ends at the upper palate in the mouth;In fact, in this case, imagine the Gulf of Mexico has
it governs all yang meridians and serves as ourexcess heat; we want to redistribute that heat to
protection against deleterious elements, thereforeAtlantic then Pacific Oceans, which, in turn, evenly
sickness. Healthy Qi flow through this vessel isredistribute the heat to the other oceans, gulfs, rivers,
imperitive to our immune systems.and streams which finally return to the ocean again.
The Conception Vessel or "sea of yin meridians" is theThink of the tip of your tongue meeting your upper
channel of function. This vessels starts at the tip of thepalate as the "gateway" for the oceans to circulate
tongue and ends at the base of the spine; it governs allwith each other.
yin meridians and serves as our connection to theImagine the energy as bright yellow going up your
outside elements. Healthy Qi flow through this vessel isgoverning vessel and bright white going down your
imperative to our rapport with the world around us,conception vessel. There are more sensations
especially other forms of life with Conception Vesselsattached to these vessels, but I don't want to overload
bioresonant to our own.you right now. At the moment, imagine your energies
Although it helps you to understand the necessity offlowing smoothly through your two main vessels. Inhale
proper "Qi" flow, the experience of actually doing thisdeeply to lead your "Qi" through your governing vessel.
exercise is most important, so you obtain the properExhale deeply to lead your "Qi" through your
feeling and sensation for how it works.conception vessel; this is grand circulation.
Do you understand my philosophy that we learn byYou should practice this breathing meditation
doing? You can't just read about it; you have to DO it,throughout the day whenever you get a break.
so you can truly benefit from these exercises. In doingThe Method
so, the exercises become heart knowledge, not onlyIf you have been successful, then you can lead the
head knowledge. It's more important to know theseexcess "Qi" from your heart meridian to your
concepts intuitively rather than intellectually.governing and conception vessels in a matter of
I understand completely that these ancient studies ofminutes, perhaps seconds.
bioenergetic flow may be too advanced for some ofFirst, a precursor: Where does this method occur in
you. This is OK. This report is about controlling yournature? Have you ever seen nervous people
autonomic functions, namely your heart rate - and youconstantly tapping their upper lip? On "Kitchen
want to do it now - not ten years from now afterNightmares," I've seen Gordon Ramsey do this a
you've become adept.number of times. This is a subconscious reaction to
For this reason, we take advantage of yet anotherregulate the nervous system.
tool: Tapping. Some people confuse simple tapping onIf you observe nervous people, they tap
the energy meridians as an emotional freedomsubconsciously to help them sublimate that excess
technique (EFT). EFT is an energy psychology thatenergy flow; they tap their hands, tap their feet, tap
utilises the energy meridians by tapping on key pointspencils on the desk, bob their heads, yank or brush on
while tuning into negative feelings through verbalparts of their bodies, among other idiosyncrasies.
expression. EFT is excellent when suffering(That's why corporate meditation programs are
hyperventilation from panic attacks or similar emotionalbeginning to flourish.)
trauma.The particular body part that you'll be tapping is your
In fact, EFT takes advantage of ancient principles ofupper lip. This point is called "yinjiao" or yin junction
"Kiatsu" and "Patting Goose Qigong." When wewhere your stomach channel and governing vessel
stimulate key points and intersections of the energyconnects. In fact, we subconsciously know the junction
meridians in any fashion, we stimulate a normalizingpoints all over our bodies because these are places
effect in the energy flow of meridians and theirwhere we usually itch, rub, and tap for no "particular
adjoining counter parts.reason."
Whenever we feel a curious itch on the hand, theWhen your heart is racing, you need to tap in sync
face, or else where with no noticeable irritation, thiswith the beat of your heart. You know how your heart
usually means that the attached meridian to thatgoes "lub-dub, lub-dub?" You tap twice in succession
curious itch wants to be stimulated. So we scratchfor every "lub-dub." This is especially easy when you
that itch. It's an innate reaction. We stimulate ourfeel your heart pounding in your chest or into your
energy meridians all the time, mostly on athroat between your ears, so you can hear it.
subconscious level.In the HealingMindN Posture, follow your heart beat
Since we want to slow down your heart rate at thewith the tapping on "yinjiao" to lead the "Qi" flow
conscious level, we want to maximize the "Qi" flow bythrough your governing and conception vessels. You
taking a certain posture. Let's call it the HealingMindNare redistributing the flow of bioenergy. Redistributing
Posture because it uses all the facets of deeplythis excess bioenergetic flow more quickly returns you
relaxed meditation with the intention of healing. Followmentally and physically to equilibrium.
these seven simple rules:By synchronising your tapping with your heart beat,
your major vessels become entrained to the excess
1. Straighten your backenergy in your heart meridian to absorb and
2. Relax your shouldersredistribute the excess energy; it's like an exchange
3. Hold your head upright, yet loosely as if supportedfrom potential to kinetic energy on a musical instrument:
by a string from abovePluck one string while tuning the other to the same
4. Relax your gaze forward as if staring into infinitynote until they resonate. The same concept applies to
5. Relax your jaw by letting it drop slightlythe energy vessels in the body, but with many ways
6. Lightly hold the tip of your tongue against the roof ofto resonate.
your mouthThe Test
7. Breath deeply towards your diaphragm uponFor this test, I'm only asking you to do whatever
acheiving each of the above stepsstrenuous exercise that you usually do to get your
According to Chinese Qigong Theory: "..when theheart racing. Even if it's just sweeping the floor, please
tongue touches the roof of the mouth cavity, yin anddo it now, so we can perform this test.
yang vessels (yin in front, yang in back) are connectedOnce you get your heart thumping, get in your
and the (Qi circulation) circuit is complete. This tongueHealingMindN Posture, completely relaxed with one
touch is called 'Da Chiao' or building the bridge. Thebreath, the tip of your tongue gently touches the roof
tongue acts like a switch in an electrical circuit..." (Neiof your mouth, your jaw completely relaxed, then tap
Dan, Ch. 3, p. 48, Qigong Health and Martial Arts by Dr.in sync with your heart beat on your upper lip, "yinjiao."
Yang Jwing-Ming.)Remember to tap twice in succession with each beat
Of course, it helps to have the benefit of expertbecause your heart says, "lub-dub."
advice in Qigong. I'm benefitting from Dr. Yang's books,It's natural that your breathing is quite rapid as your
but remember the ancient originators of theseheart rate is accelerated. Remember your deep
exercises developed them by observing nature; theybreathing with your stomach muscles. Imagine the flow
realised that natural abilities in human society areof "Qi" as you are breathing. Remember to inhale
replaced by culture that refuses to recognize thethrough your governing vessel, exhale through your
connections between humanity and nature.conception vessel. Governing vessel is bright yellow.
Their goal was to return people to the "Tao" or theConception vessel is bright white. You feel your heart
way of nature. In this sense, I would like to put backbeat coursing along your energy vessels. As you lead
what culture has taken away from you.your heart beat with your mind along the vessels, you
After training the above relaxation exercises, youfeel in complete control of your heart beat.
should be able to achieve complete relaxation andThen you tap slightly slower, then slower, as your
focus within thirty seconds using one deep breath (i.e.heart beat follows your tapping. You feel a "warmth"
one complete inhale and one complete exhale).coursing through your entire body as you gain further
For most people, their hearts may still be racingcontrol of your heart beat - until you finally get it at the
depending on the situation. Maybe you just finished anrate you want it.
aerobic workout or you've strained yourself beyondIf you have followed all of the above instructions to the
your physical attributes and you feel chest pains orletter, this method should work.
coronary attack coming on, or you're having a panic