12/4/2021 0 Comments Massaging the AirIt is now more than 25 years since Catherine and I were part of a small group that met every Sunday morning to learn some basics of Qi Gong at half-moon beach, a small, beautiful patch of beach located in Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Lalou, our teacher, originally from France, was our acupuncturist and was also highly knowledgeable about Tai Chi and Qi Gong. The hour or longer session included basic Qi Gong exercises and routines, standing meditation, shaking, and what I called “massaging the air”. We used our own hand or hands and held them a few inches above the area of our body that we were brushing or “massaging.” Lalou was clear that the energy field extended beyond the body, at least a few inches and sometimes more. As an acupuncturist, he saw the body as an energy system, and he believed that the conventional human notion that the energy suddenly stops at the edge of the skin is not accurate. At first, when I followed his instructions, I thought that I was massaging the air. However, within short order, I could easily feel the temperature changes emanating from my body. Taking one hand and running it from my opposite shoulder to my fingers became an investigation of surprising temperature changes. With more practice, I could feel the electrical connection as I brushed the air. I learned to do this more slowly, more attentively, discovering what felt like “blocks” and stuck points of energy. Lalou taught us an easy technique to sensitize our hands (and minds) to feel this energy in a reliable and concrete way. By vigorously rubbing our hands together, then separating them, and then slowly bringing them toward each other, I could feel very clearly that there is a kind of “resistance”, like a push back. Sometimes, my hands needed to be very close, say two inches, but other days I could feel this resistance from further away, say 6 inches or so. According to Qi Gong, this energy (Qi) is the life force itself, a form of bio-electromagnetic energy that flows through pathways in the body, and also beyond the body. Since that memorable summer, feeling the Qi has become normal and natural for me. Dog Massage It made perfect sense that after I became comfortable and competent in conventional therapeutic massage for dogs, I would explore “massaging the air” with the dogs. One day, after giving a little dog an in-depth massage for about an hour, I massaged (brushed) the air over her back. Starting from the vertebrae near her the neck, I slowly worked my way down her spine using both hands. I could easily feel the energy pushing back. My hands tingled. As I proceeded, her back muscles began to ripple when my hands were over them. I repeated this procedure a number of times and the rippling became less and less. I had “smoothed out” the energy from above her skin. She then stretched, yawned, re-adjusted her position but stayed put. As part of my usual massage process, the dog is permitted to get up and walk around whenever she wants. Clearly, she was enjoying this. Obviously, no one had informed her that the body ends at the skin. This occurred about seven years ago and since then I have incorporated “massaging the air” with more conventional techniques. Sometimes it is very helpful to diagnose a specific problem. Other times it is the “cure.” I would like to encourage and invite you to try this with your dog (or cat or any other pet). Even if you do not feel this connection immediately, just do it slowly and peacefully and observe what happens to your pet. It will probably surprise and occasionally astound you until the realization that the body’s energy field extends beyond the skin becomes quite obvious, and that your pet has probably understood this for a long time. Happy massaging!!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
David FeldmanDog walker, Dog Mediator, Father, Husband, Categories |