"There exists no miraculous methods in the world, only plain ones, and the perfection of the plain is miraculous."

— Fei Bo-Xiong, Chinese Doctor, 1863.

Fei Bo-Xiong, a renowned physician of the Qing Dynasty, spent over 60 years refining his clinical practice. Known for his innovation in herbal medicine and success in treating the “five overstrains and seven injuries”, he exemplified the principle that extraordinary outcomes arise from mastering the ordinary.

[Five Overstrains and Seven Injuries (五劳七伤), is a classical TCM term for the internal damage caused by prolonged overexertion of the body, mind, and emotions]. 

His phil...

Over the next 5 posts, I am going to be posting one of 5 Lessons - short motivational lessons I've written to help guide and uplift your Qigong practice:

• Lesson #1: "My Future Is in My Hands (Not in the Heavens)"
• Lesson #2: Perfection of the Plain
• Lesson #3: Avoid 'Silvery' Objects
• Lesson #4: You Are the Goose
• Lesson #5: You Are the Mountain
   

"The ordinary is the extraordinary" [Wang Xiang-Zhai, Qigong Master, 1885 - 1963]

These 5 words teach a powerful principle.

The principle applies to all areas of life not just the practice of Qigong, Yang Sheng / Nourishing Life (養生) or the Martial Arts. Let me expand a little: extra-ordinary levels of skill or success are achieved through consistent, deliberate practice of ordinary actions.

Fei Bo-Xiong, a Chinese Doctor writing in 1863, helps us to grasp this principle further: "There exist no miraculous methods in the world, only plain ones, and the perfection of the plain is miraculous."

The modern-day Self Development guru ...

Happy New Year!

We’re now 7 days into 2019. Actually, I’m more of a Chinese New Year kind person [February 5th - Year of the Pig]. Somehow it just feels more auspicious. I especially adore the Lantern Festival. Between now and then is that short window of time when we seek self-renewal and reset our inner compass - better health, relationships, productivity etc. All ‘resolutions’ and goals come down to a simple yet complex truth: stop doing what you know is bad for you and do more of what’s good. Change comes from within and requires us to take new action. Otherwise, we keep doing what we've been doing, with the same results. S...

“A moving hinge never rusts”

This ancient Chinese adage appears in the biography of the Daoist physician Hua Tuo c. 200. It also appears in this interpretation: “A [wooden] hinge is not eaten by woodworm” and often coupled with the phrase, "Flowing water does not stagnate [go mouldy].” 

The Daoists have a wonderful way of observing natural processes and applying them, either directly or metaphorically, to the human condition. And this quote is probably one of my favourites. 

Movement, like regular Qigong practice, lubricates the joints, moves the blood and Qi, strengthens the bones and soft tissues. Gentle physical exercise ca...