Qigong after a stroke

[Anonymous]

I had a stroke about 3 years ago now and I a can’t really use my left hand and arm in qigong does this matter and what can I do instead can I just use my right arm and hand?

[Anonymous]

I really would like to know before I invest time in this

[Anonymous]

Hello John,
I would say that: does it matter? sure- it affects, but it doesn’t interfere or stop using chigung… a matter of fact, as NeiGung is used for treatment of many conditions (whether disuse, development of strength and coordination, rehab of injury, even stroke, or old age); it seems that others have used/gained from.

It depends on what systems one is looking at (other “books” on this seem to emphasize that certain movements- especially of the hands through space, along with “visualizing-images” etc… so what EnergyArts~ Bruce teaches could be seen as distinct from that). A key in what I’ve seen from Bruce is that there is a balance of any opposites (and rather than trying to “push” the restricted-smaller-weaker side, the “freer-larger-stronger” side is reduced to moving at the range of the smaller… the freed-energy can find its own way then).. Of course in this there is the 70% rule (just as 70% as much, or not pushing too hard, also don’t try to do so little.. so at first linking the 2 sides may be way too much a leap, but letting other parts of the body…
using the 2 legs, or the 2 shoulders, or just breathing, or the spine moving… ie one can have a chigung system that doesn’t involve the arms directly- and going back and forth/in and out can help give more space to the energy flow and the question: what is changing, what reveals? (and may be long-term, but just on the edge- within what is comfortable, “look”-feel around letting-go of unneeded

and over time that may result in the “easy 70% can-do” being beyond what you could do before…. but naturally and without pushing or straining to get there.. .but Struggle (“eat bitter” I think a chinese expression goes): ie staying on the edge of unclarity, not pushing but not pulling away and remaining in Unclarity.
In other words, we usually want to feel I Can Do XYZ or I Can’t… or I felt a Body-Mind Sense of ABC today and I will tomorrow (and I did feel the same in the past).. but the ongoing change (the Event as it is in-itself).. the change flows (part of trauma, injury, could be related to Change itself and wanting to “nail it down”)

Being in the place of the Unknowing while doing any NeiGung, that LetGo seems to allow changes to arise as they will (I sense to the degree that practicing any Chi Gung, injured or not, any aspect if one is aware of “this is how my system works” paying attention and Certainty of how/who one is… seems to lock it down and interfere with change). But how frustrating to be like a cat waiting for a mouse.. (ugh when can we give up on it, and look away for a moment- at that time the mouse may shoot by… ) the hawk soaring high above with the “eagle’s eye” watching far below for the little flicker of movement… without tension in looking (else that can’t be sustained)..
the watching is for the “internal-content” shift more so than external or sensory movement distinctions (but begin with outward noticable, and then the subtle.. the more internal is like heavier weights- start with obvious to develop the Attention foundation, just as a weightlifter or gymnast needs to develop a foundational strength)
==========
I’m not sure of what your experience/exposure might be in NeiGung and thus where to start or how to apply it (to your situation, not just the stroke affect, as well as the residual impact of such a change from the stroke beyond any physical imbalance– but in addition all kinds of dings and blockages are released over time in all practitioners of NeiGung that I’m aware of)… that can unfurl in different ways- best of luck to you

[Anonymous]

You don’t have to use both, but you could learn to use both by just mirroring what you can do on your left hand with your right then try to build it up. It seems to remap the connections in your body after a while so it would be interesting to see if it helps.

[Anonymous]

thank you very much for your reply I shall take time this weekend to digest it fully once gain thanks

[Anonymous]

thank you for your reply I will as always digest all angles

[Anonymous]

I have started working on my energy gates I can do some of them but not all should I concentrate on what I can do?

[Anonymous]

Yeah I would. That book is probably something you’ll be coming back to for a long time so don’t worry if you can’t do everything.

Try and work your way down so that you can open sufficiently such that your chi drops to your feet or below. Once you can do this you will feel like one solid mass rather than a collection of parts.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

I encourage you to invest time in Chigung. Your investment will help your health condition.

Regards
Colin Koh

[Anonymous]

I take Tai Chi, acupuncture, and Kung Fu for my healing. I had a stroke 30 years ago, 10 years ago, and five years ago. Iv’e had heart problems my whole life. The acupuncture helped me to heal quickly in my arms and legs. I could not read or talk at all. Now I am working as a pastor, and reading and walking easily. I’ve been doing the Kung Fu for a year. I think most people should do the tai chi for the healing.. But I had done the Kung Fo when I was young and it helped me to come back from this stroke. Let me know if you want to talk to me…. Healing can happen…………May the Holy Spirit Bless You Stephen

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