Liver Qigong - Part 1 of 2 By Grandmaster Shou-Yu Liang and Master Wen-Ching Wu

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is not only responsible for storing blood and regulating the distribution of blood, it also controls the function of the tendons. The bluish discoloration of one's complexion is usually caused by the stagnation and obstruction of blood and qi, indicating the presence of coldness, pain, blood stasis, convulsion or illness of the liver. "The eyes are the specific opening of the liver." Normal eyesight relies on the proper functioning of the liver. "The liver stores one's soul." Patients with liver diseases tend to have dreadful dreams, restlessness, and irritability.

Premature whitening of the hair is also allegedly to be due to insufficient blood stored in the liver and the decreased function of the kidneys. Since blood is made up of food essence and nutrients produced in the spleen and stomach, combined with the innate-jing stored in the kidneys, this links the liver and kidneys together. Therefore, the deficiency of either one can affect the other. Part 1. Easing the Liver Movements and Intention: Step 1. Stand (or sit) with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, and your hands at your sides. Eyes gently closed, focus your mind, and regulate your breathing. Then overlap your palms on top of you dantian. Inhale from your nose and exhale from your mouth, while letting out the xu (Shuuuu) sound as your mind concentrates on your dantian(Figure 1-21).

Step 2. Use Drawing 1-11 as a reference. Hold your hands as if you were holding a ball in front of your abdomen (Figure 1- 22). Raise your palms up until they are over your baihui and imagine that pure energy is entering your body from your baihui (Figure 1-23). Lower your palms in front of your body, passing your eyes, passing your quepen point on the Stomach Channel, until your qimen point on the Liver Channel (Figure 1-24).

Step 3. Next with your palms on top of your qimen points, massage 6 circles in each direction. Press your palms on top of your qimen points and bend your body from left to right, 4 times on each side (Figure 1-25). Step 4. Slide your palms down to your zhangmen point and massage 6 circles in each direction(Figure 1-26). Overlap both palms on top of your dantian. Then bend your body forward and back, 4 times (Figures 1-27 and 1-28).

Step 5. Then separate your palms and begin moving down along the inside of your legs, on the Liver Channel. Exhale as you bend your body and lower your palms. Your palms should pass your ququan, your taichong, and your xingjian points, and end with your middle finger pointing at your dadun point without touching (Figures 1-29 and 1-30). Stay there for a few seconds, then bend your knees slightly, stand up. Key Points: • During training, imagine that your qi is flowing smoothly up and down, your liver is very relaxed, and all discomfort is disappearing. • Stay away from frightening or infuriating situations, keep away from alcohol, drink a lot of water, and balance work with rest.

Liver Qigong - Part 2 of 2 By Grandmaster Shou-Yu Liang and Master Wen-Ching Wu

Part 2. Xu sound to Calm the Liver Movement and Intention Step 1. Stand naturally, overlap your hands on top of your abdomen. Men place your left laogong point on top of your dantian, women with right hand on top of your dantian. Step 2. Use Drawing 1-11 as a reference. Inhale, use your mind to lead qi from the dadun point, on your Liver Channel, along the inside of your thighs, past the reproductive organs, and up to zhangmen, then to qimen. Step 3. Exhale, open your eyes wide, but mentally look into your liver, and let out the Xu (Shuuuu) sound as you lean forward slightly (Figure 1-31). At the same time, hold up your huiyin area and draw your abdomen in to squeeze out the impurities form your liver. Repeat 6 inhalations and exhalations.