Chi gung, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, martial arts, meditation (eastern)

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[Darktiger1986]

Reply to the OP.

Maybe I did qi gong improperly (followed a master practitioner on a videotape, don't know if I can post the source for getting the tape or not so I won't). Or maybe I stopped too soon. I had an adverse reaction to it. It triggered a deluge of uncomfortable positive energy and panic type feelings and paranoia. So maybe it was helping me process trauma. Only at the time I wasn't trying to do that so it caught me off guard.

I'm currently doing martial arts. There is no sparring but it's helping on a mental level, to know I'm learning how to take an assailant down without thinking about it. It's going past my mind to muscle memory. I also find it helpful because we have to get really close physically to practice techniques, so it helps me learn how my body responds to safe persons. I see the people I practice with regularly and know they are out for my best interests, so when they move closer it is easier to observe how I react to someone in my personal space.

(Please note my trauma is due to sudden death of an important other, not any sexual trauma as far as I know - though it could be there and just blocked. I don't know if the personal space stuff would be experienced the same for someone whose trauma is of a sexual or violating violent nature.)

Meditation is helpful for me too... when I can let go of the busyness energy to sit still for it. Most of the time I stay busy to avoid the possibility of recalling body memories or frozen emotions.

I did Tai Chi for a few months and noted it had a very very grounding effect, quite counter to the uncomfortable reaction I had with qi gong. Maybe combining Tai Chi and qi gong would provide both processing and grounding???

Sounds to me that you practice Wing Chun

I have studied some White Crane Qi Gong and it does make me feel much better. While on that path, I learned about Wing Chun and I have been studying the first form, Siu Lim Tau. I feel completely different, like it has changed me. I studied many methods of self-defense when I was younger, starting with total destruction of a human being and later learning appropriate levels of force in order to not hurt people or go to jail.

I would not necessarily recommend Wing Chun to anyone without knowing them personally. For me, it is a path towards self-improvement and knowing the self. I do not want to ever use it against anyone, and , hopefully, I will not ever need to. I just want to improve myself, surpass my limitations, and work on some simple things, like the perfect straight punch and a proper stance. The Siu Lim Tau is a moving meditation that teaches all the basic moves of Wing Chun. It has also helped me with breathing, which has helped in some moments of near panic attacks.

My plan is to study a "hard" style (Wing Chun) and a "soft" style (Qi Gong) in order to maintain balance. I also really enjoy punching things, so I have been trying to do 500 "good" straight punches per day. It is not as easy as it sounds!

Lately, my motto has been: "SLT + CBT = New Me!" (Siu Lim Tau + Cognitive Behavior Therapy = New Me!) :) Oh, and my avatar is a Wing Chun symbol, a white crane defending itself against a snake.

Sil Lim Tao is a Qigong form within Wing Chun, if practiced slowly, you'll be able to cultivate internal power