Hsing-I, the Missing Family Member
Hsing-I is the third major internal energy art, along with Tai Chi and Ba Gua, but it is often left out of a well-rounded practice. Join guest instructor Jess O'Brien for an evening introduction to this missing member of the energy arts family to find out what you can add to your current practice.
Hsing-I is said to make weak people strong and strong people very strong, says guest instructor Jess O’Brien, quoting Bruce Frantzis to emphasize the potential for power development in this third and least known of the internal martial arts for health. It is a way to strengthen both body and mind, particularly the “I”, pronounced "yee", or “intention” needed to help develop inner skills. Regular practice is particularly useful for people who have trouble actualizing their goals in life.
The San Ti workshop that Jess will lead Thursday, April 8 focuses on the standing practice that is hsing-i’s most basic training method “You’ve basically got to stand there in one posture until everything inside you softens, releases, and spontaneously opens up so chi floods your system,” he says. “It’s not something you can find your way to intellectually.”
The workshop will emphasize methods to help the body get release from the stress of standing and open up from the inside—pulsing joints, lengthening tissues from the center to the five points, and dropping the chi. Specific breathing and gazing patterns are also important; training your intention by focusing breath and gaze at the same time develops strong concentration. San Ti also opens a door to begin understanding the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.
It represents the metal element, which works with spine, lungs/breath, and mental focus. Though standing for long periods may sound formidable, “you can make it as strenuous or as easy as you want,” Jess says. “San Ti is very scalable to fit everybody.”