Standing meditation involves holding a specific pose while clearing the mind and breathing deeply. It is used by Taoists to improve the flow of chi through the body and by martial artists to improve balance and muscle tone. The pose should be held with a straight spine and relaxed muscles, and can be practiced for 30 minutes or several hours. It is believed to remove blockages along meridian lines and strengthen the body without extra effort.
Standing meditation is the practice of holding the body in a specific standing pose while clearing the mind and breathing deeply. This pose can be held for as long as the individual is capable of, and longer periods of meditation can be achieved over time. It is practiced by Taoists as a way to improve the flow of chi through the body and by martial artists to improve balance and muscle tone.
In Taoism, standing meditation is an exercise used to improve the flow of chi through the body. Ch’i, in Eastern religion, is the life force that pervades every living being. Placing the body in an open, upright position while practicing controlled breathing techniques is believed to allow this life force to circulate freely to every area of the body.
The spinal cord should be straight and high while performing the standing meditation. The head should typically be oriented directly over the spine, and the face and neck muscles should be as relaxed as possible. The pelvis can be lowered forward slightly, so that most of the body weight is centered on the feet. Your spine, hips and shoulders should not be in awkward positions. The arms are held slightly forward and out from the body, while the fingertips are slightly spread apart as if connected by a network of invisible energy filaments in the air.
The standing meditation pose can be held for 30 minutes or for several hours, depending on the skill level of the individual practicing it. Those who are new to this technique may prefer to start meditating for 10 minutes at a time, until they have built up strength in body and mind to meditate longer. While the pose is held, the individual can focus on the ch’i moving through his body as it is fueled by his breath. Blockages along the meridian lines, which are the lines through which energy flows in the body, according to Taoist tradition, are removed as the ch’i gains strength.
The practice of standing meditation is also a training tool used in some forms of martial arts. The posture is the same as practiced in Taoism. This type of training was popularized in the late 1930s by a martial artist who challenged other masters to a competition with his students who trained in a stationary standing position. The master believed that this technique allows the body to heal itself and strengthen the muscles of the upper arms, back, torso and legs without adding extra effort.
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