I shared one of my personal daily prayers in a previous post; the one below was inspired by the Chinese self-restorative practice of Qi Gong (roughly meaning, “resonating, tuning and balancing one’s Qi, the energy that sustains us”):
To the universe:
“Thank you for this body; Thank you for the energy that animates and sustains it; and Thank you for consciousness, our ever-present awareness, without which we wouldn’t even realize we’re alive.”
Qi Gong is a holistic, three-fold practice or discipline incorporating movement, breath and visualization.
Your favorite Raja Yogi (no ego here!) is almost mid-way through a preliminary 100-hour Qi Gong teacher-training program, developed by one of my teacher’s teachers (and now mine!), Master Michael J. Leone.
I can’t wait to start teaching Qi Gong, which so beautifully dovetails with Raja Yoga, even if Patanjali and I do “wear diapers when we practice”! 😉
Yes, Yogis like to hug (and nudge!); just ask Amma!! [heart emojis please!!]
On the subject of giving thanks in thought, word and deed, I have a new personal concentration mantra: inhaling, “thank you God” and exhaling “for this day”. Obviously, “this day” can be replaced with whatever resonates with you.
Blessings, Allan (“Skip”) Dowds
