Dr. Michael Stewart Sr, Awaken the Dragon; Qi Cultivation Techniques

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

Qi – Energy

Lucie Gawinowski - Green Belt assignment for Grand Master Tom Mount:

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” by Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. 1/8

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

"We must practice Qigong with the intention of not only healing ourselves, but becoming a healing influence on all those around us."- Dr. Michael Steward Sr. The author of “Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. has been involved for more than 29 years in Martial Arts. He is a PhD Philosophy/Martial Sciences and Master instructor Qigong and Taiji. Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. suffered from metastasized malignant melanoma cancer. The author thinks that cancer is an inflammation resulting from a breakdown in the immune forces of the body. By practicing the Qigong forms that he mentions in his book, he is helping his body to heal by itself. Since Qi helps harmonize the mind, the body and the spirit, it restores balance where it is needed so that the human body is in tune again with the Universe. Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. wrote this book which is a guide to help re-build the energy that is unbalanced and to “correct the disorder and put the body back in balance” for the purpose that everyone who reads his work can heal him/herself using the techniques that he describes and which reflect the traditional Chinese medicine: meditation, Qigong, acupressure... The reader becomes a “master of oneself” with the help of the vital force Qi of the universe that everyone has inside.

Per a quote by Dr. Roger Jahnke, “Qi is one of the most powerful of Chinese healing arts. Developed over millennia in China, Qigong (literally, life force + mastery, or refinement) is a set of techniques used to increase your vitality, longevity as well as achieve and maintain optimal health and inner peace”. When Qi flows well in the body that means good health. Qigong techniques developed in China are meant to strengthen and make Qi circulate. Qi is the vital energy that maintains the functions of the organs and tissues. Qigong practice must be regular in order to produce results. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to achieve the goal of healing and balance. And doing the correct technique is also very important. Qigong practice combines breathing techniques and slow movements coupled with imagery and visualization. Qi is generated when the mind is calm. Qigong practice is efficient when the mind is focused on what the practicionner is doing. In fact “Qi follows Yi (=focus)”. We can send energy by focusing on where we want it to go or be. “Our mind leads our body”.... “Whatever you can imagine, You can create”. By imaging and visualizing a human being can relieve pain, help sleep come, relax and relieve 2/8

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

his body from accumulated stress. Relaxation is the key to prepare a good Qigong imagery work. To relax regularly reduces blood pressure and enhances the immune system. Once relaxed, the mind is calm and picturing the Qigong forms becomes easy. And energy moves freely in the body. Visualization is a focused attention technique used to help create images in the mind which can create health. Focusing in the “image” we want to manifest in our life or body can make this happen. Our body reacts to the thoughts and feels (Qi flowing) whatever relief we bring throughout those visualizations. Imagery and visualization are keys to success in a healing process. They transport the Qi into where we want it to go. And are based on a lot of commitment, discipline and regularity. Qi is vehiculed through channels made of Energy. This energy is present in the matter of everything of the Universe. We can build a lot of energy by means of sleep (when we sleep the channels and meridian points are open to receive energy), eating, breathing, or exercising. But breath is the most important way to bring energy in the body. Qi not only means Energy but it also means Breath. “By training our breathing it is possible to control the healthy function of the inner organs”. Qi travels through the meridians of the body. When these points are open Qi can flow smoother and stronger.

The meridians are a network linking tissues and organs into an organic system. They connect with Zang-Fu which are various Yin and Yang organs in the body. Meridians points when stimulated by massage control or influence the flow of energy in the body. When manipulated they let Qi flow and help balance affected areas. They are essential in health. 3/8

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

“Each meridian has a starting and stopping point. No meridian is isolated from the others. They are all connected. The stagnation of one affects the rest”. - Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. The Chinese determined that Qi flows from one meridian to the other in a continuous pattern and order. They created the horary cycle of Qi which guides the user in when to stimulate the meridian and organ at a certain time of the day. Though it is present everywhere all the time, Qi is present more strongly in an organ at a certain time of the day. Below is the image at: www.astrodreamadvisor.com/Qi-Cycle.html

When a meridian is treated it has an effect on the corresponding organ. The meridians contribute to helping maintain a good health since they are vehiculing Qi and they “govern” the function of the body. Qi cultivation detoxifies and improves the functions of the body.

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“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

In Chinese the word "Qigong" has two characters, Qi (Chi) and Gong. "Qi or chi" means life energy and "Gong" means daily effort. In short, Qigong is a practice to use chi for different purposes including selfhealing. Everyone is born with chi and everyone has the potential to use chi for many purposes. It is the same way as swimming, we are born with the potential to swim but only when we acquire the skill to swim then we can enjoy different water activities such as scuba diving, water polo, free style, butterfly swimming, etc. In the same manner, the skill to use chi is trained not born. Once a person is trained how to use chi, he or she then can use chi for martial arts, dancing, weight lifting (yes, weight lifting as the Chinese trained weight lifters using qigong!) and of course, medical, self-healing. “Practiced by millions of people the world over, Qigong is actually an approach to life itself. It is a state of mind characterized by complete relaxation and complete acceptance, and deep meditation; it is open to the healing energy of the universe, and it offers healing for the whole world. Qigong practice not only aligns your own body, mind and spirit, but also aligns us with the universal body, mind and spirit. By regulating our minds through meditation, deep breathing and gentle movement we can facilitate a smoother and stronger flow of energy throughout our bodies, giving us greater health and freedom of movement throughout our lives”. - back cover “Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques”. Qigong brings the ability to increase our energy and it available to everyone who is willing to put an effort to practice it. In Qigong healing techniques, rapid movements are used to quickly remove negative energy while slow and soft movements help stimulate the internal organs (heart, liver, spleen, kidneys). Qigong works with the outside fields of the body such as the hands. When the hands are exposed to an area they are transmitting energy to this area. Qi is manifested within different forms: hot or cold sensations, trembling, warm sweat, insomnia, dry throat. Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. describes a series of forms of breathing in his book that we will name below: – Wuji breathing, also called Dantian breathing mostly the attention is focused on the lower Dantian. – Yongquan breathing, transfer energy from the Bubbling Well (bottom of the foot) to the Labor's Palace (center of the hand). – Four Gate breathing Then the author describes a series of breathing Qigong movements and for ms which correspond to the following organs: liver, heart, stomach, lungs, kidneys, triple warmer. Also Dr. Michael Stewart teaches us the 5 animal Qigong forms that were created 1500 years ago by Hua Tuo who was an healer. He created these forms by observing the movement of the animals. These practices are effective in revitalizing our energy and rejuvenating our body. 5/8

“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

They internally open the Qi meridians and externally improve bones, joints, tendons, muscles, hair and skin. Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. describes the 5 Animal Qigong as follows: – Snake tosses aside fear. Blue – Water chi, Bladder – Sparrow flies thru forest and disperses anger. Green – Wood chi, Gallbladder. – Crane flaps its wings, opening and closing its energy. Red- Fire chi, Small instestine. – Bear guards his honey and releases worry. Yellow – Earth chi, Stomach/Pancreas. – Tiger shows great strength. White – Metal chi, Large intestine.

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“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

The Microcosmic Orbit Breathing Circulation Life Force The author opens a new theme at the end of his book regarding another technique to cultivation of Qi: the Microcosmic Orbit Breathing Circulation Life Force (or Qi) which is the “beginning of the process of the integration of mind and body in Taoist esoteric practice”. The circulation of Qi in the microcosmic Orbit is the first form of circulation in the development of the Yi leading to Qi. This Microcosmic Orbit is opened by Taoist meditation practice. Taoism is called “Balanced Way”. The Qi is introduced to the 2 primary meridians Yin and Yang energy channels: Conception and Governor vessels which seeks balance in all things. Once open this channel redistributes the energy to the parts of the body that are most in need. The scheme, found on the internet, below describes this circulation.

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“Awaken the Dragon – Qi Cultivation Techniques” Assignment by Lucie Gawinowski

The opening of the Microcosmic Orbit brings an increased resistance to stress and illness. An harmonious awareness from the balancing of internal energies through the circulation in the Orbit. The very end of Dr. Michael Stewart Sr. work is made of descriptions of acupressure first aid techniques by manipulating the meridian channels.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this book for me is a guide that is needed every day. It brings to my knowledge a variety of techniques that I can use to help relieve the little or bigger health problem that I can encounter in my life. Building the Qi is essential as I have learned for a year now practicing at my Karate classes. I know Qi is the Source of life and the Energy that circulate in me needs to be stirred so that I can become stronger, healthier, and protected against the outside aggressions. This book brings me how Qi cultivation can be started and I know discipline and practice are the keys. I think that in my own experience, this is what I would need most if I want to develop a great amount of Life Force in my body. I chose the quotation below to resume my thoughts about what this book brought to me: "It does not matter how much time you have on earth; rather it is what you do with this time that matters." - Dr. Michael Steward Sr. It is up to every person to decide for him or herself what they will be willing to do to obtain the energy that they need and deserve in life. Every moment in our lives we have the opportunity to receive or loose vital Qi. Cultivating your Qi is a major factor in balancing the Yin and Yang within ourselves, and the universe that surrounds us.

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