The most important obstacle for modern practitioners of Embodied Spiritual Cultivation is called Audience Consciousness. Here is part 1 of 4 parts. Enjoy! Feel free to connect if you have any questions. Course link: https://somadaoqigong.com/nei-gong-year-one-opening-your.../ #spirituality #innerpeace #meditation #qigong #neigong

The most important obstacle for modern practitioners of Embodied Spiritual Cultivation is called Audience Consciousness. Here is part 1 of 4 parts. Enjoy! Feel free to connect if you have any questions. Course link: https://somadaoqigong.com/nei-gong-year-one-opening-your.../ #spirituality #innerpeace #meditation #qigong #neigong

It seems like a good idea to begin this conversation by asking, did human beings ever have inner peace? Every spiritual tradition and culture that I've ever had a chance to encounter deeply, all have an origin story. If it’s the garden of Eden - or at the beach near the ocean during the last ice age, or coming from some primordial world beneath this world. https://somadaoqigong.com/nei-gong-year-one-opening-your-meridians-and-dan-tian/ What is it that is lost with this descriptive imagination of our loss of innocence? A recurring context in many ancient and mostly indigenous traditions, is a distinction between cultivating resources or power or medicine for your people, including yourself, your family, your extended family, and those who are in need, And/or cultivating resources power or medicine in a way that is over or against others. Imagine a life of collaboration, reciprocity, service, belonging, recognition, respect and opportunities to both learn and eventually lead. There is an innocence there because all that is asked is to show up, be present. Be generous, be generative. Be relational. Or, to simply commit your existence, and everything you are for your people. Accepting others in every way you would wish to be accepted as yourself.

The Shaolin Muscle Tendon change, or Yi Jin Jing 易筋經 is one of the most well known and sought after systems of Qi Gong in the world. If you have not heard of the Muscle Tendon Change, and its sister practice Bone Marrow Washing, they are elements of one of the most profound and effective approaches to embodied awareness, physical fitness, Spiritual cultivation, and meditation traditions on Earth. They are famous for improving health, vitality, Martial Arts capacity, enhancing Qi sensitivity and awareness, boosting Neuroplasticity, and increasing both longevity and quality of life in your elder years. For Qi Gong practitioners and teachers, this system is one of the last remaining intact traditions that still combines early Indigenous Daoist Animistic practices and the Shaolin Monastery’s development and precision over the last 1500 years. #shaolinkungfu, #shaolin #qigong #longevity    https://somadaoqigong.com/shaolin-strength-and-longevity-qi-gong-yi-jin-jing/  

The Shaolin Muscle Tendon change, or Yi Jin Jing 易筋經 is one of the most well known and sought after systems of Qi Gong in the world. If you have not heard of the Muscle Tendon Change, and its sister practice Bone Marrow Washing, they are elements of one of the most profound and effective approaches to embodied awareness, physical fitness, Spiritual cultivation, and meditation traditions on Earth. They are famous for improving health, vitality, Martial Arts capacity, enhancing Qi sensitivity and awareness, boosting Neuroplasticity, and increasing both longevity and quality of life in your elder years. For Qi Gong practitioners and teachers, this system is one of the last remaining intact traditions that still combines early Indigenous Daoist Animistic practices and the Shaolin Monastery’s development and precision over the last 1500 years. #shaolinkungfu, #shaolin #qigong #longevity    https://somadaoqigong.com/shaolin-strength-and-longevity-qi-gong-yi-jin-jing/  

Bi Gu - Metabolic and Spiritual Fasting - Part Two   Bi Gu - Metabolic and Spiritual Fasting - Part One    

Bi Gu - Metabolic and Spiritual Fasting - Part One   Bi Gu - Metabolic and Spiritual Fasting - Part Two

This one gets personal!!!   Today Ravi shares some of his personal experiences and challenges as a human being, while Michael frames the conversation in the context of TCM Psychology (Qing Zhi Bing).   If you are interested in this training (anyone can learn this), here is the link to the course outline: Embodied Psychotherapy, Spiritual Recapitulation, and Traditional Chinese Medicine    

In this episode, Ravi and Michael talk about Qing Zhi Bing, or the Psychology and Psychiatry of TCM.   Here is the link:   https://somadaoqigong.com/embodied-psychotherapy-spiritual-recapitulation-and-traditional-chinese-medicine/

In this episode, Ravi and Michael talk about Medical Qi Gong, Consciousness, and different approaches to Hands-on-Healing.   This course is for those with a few years of Qi gong experience.   Here is the course link:   https://somadaoqigong.com/enhancing-your-qi-gong-healing-abilities/   Here is a link for the 2 year 500 hour full program   https://somadaoqigong.com/500-hour-medical-qi-gong-therapist/   Healing is Innate – A First Healer Story  The State Between Appreciation and Recognition (the origin of language) Qi Interaction Skills – Ting Jin, Yi Nian, De Qi, Fa Qi, and Nei Yang Gong Practice Bu Que – Restoring Wounds (Yours then theirs) Exercise – restoring clothing An Empowered Qi Ball – Open and Close Lao Gong and Wai Gong The 5 Phases (Elements) and Yin/Yang Balance Restoring Qi and Jing Jin (collagen) Exercise Two – restoring clothing A Fractal Manifold Cosmology and Ontology Ling, Hun, Shen – coherence and configuration (What is moving through?)  Science Story – building muscle and imagination/intention Yi Zhi – and the trickery of moving qi Modern Dopamine/cortisol and serotonin/acetylcholine imbalance There are Two Kinds of Healers (Hand Tremblers and Singers)    The Hun of the First Healer  The Four Recapitulation Doorways Exercise Three – (Ting, Dong – Li, Xing, Tong, Fa) Embodiment, Distress, and Affective Disorientation (Qing Zhi Bing) Stories and states. Grounded in the Soil (As a Healer) Qing Jing is a necessary state for Healing        

In this episode, Ravi and Michael talk about Medical Qi Gong, Consciousness, and different approaches to Hands-on-Healing.   This Course is for those with a few years of Qi gong experience.   Here is the course link:   https://somadaoqigong.com/enhancing-your-qi-gong-healing-abilities/   Here is a link for the 2 year 500 hour full program   https://somadaoqigong.com/500-hour-medical-qi-gong-therapist/   Healing is Innate – A First Healer Story  The State Between Appreciation and Recognition (the origin of language) Qi Interaction Skills – Ting Jin, Yi Nian, De Qi, Fa Qi, and Nei Yang Gong Practice Bu Que – Restoring Wounds (Yours then theirs) Exercise – restoring clothing An Empowered Qi Ball – Open and Close Lao Gong and Wai Gong The 5 Phases (Elements) and Yin/Yang Balance Restoring Qi and Jing Jin (collagen) Exercise Two – restoring clothing A Fractal Manifold Cosmology and Ontology Ling, Hun, Shen – coherence and configuration (What is moving through?)  Science Story – building muscle and imagination/intention Yi Zhi – and the trickery of moving qi Modern Dopamine/cortisol and serotonin/acetylcholine imbalance There are Two Kinds of Healers (Hand Tremblers and Singers)    The Hun of the First Healer  The Four Recapitulation Doorways Exercise Three – (Ting, Dong – Li, Xing, Tong, Fa) Embodiment, Distress, and Affective Disorientation (Qing Zhi Bing) Stories and states. Grounded in the Soil (As a Healer) Qing Jing is a necessary state for Healing        

This week, Ravi and Michael talk about applying Qi Gong (Dao Yin) principles and practices therapeutically.    There is a 10 Month course called Therapeutic Qi Gong beginning June 4th - at 6:00 pm - PST   There is a free LIVE webinar, on Saturday, June 1st at 9:00 am. A recording will be linked here soon.   Here is the course link: https://somadaoqigong.com/therapeutic-qi-gong-a-ten-month-journey/    

In today's episode, Michael and Ravi have an in-depth conversation about the Qi Gong practice called the Yi Jin Jing.   TAP HERE for part One.   Here is the link to the course - beginning April 17, 2024   TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page

In today's episode, Michael and Ravi have an in-depth conversation about the Qi Gong practice called the Yi Jin Jing.   TAP HERE for part Two.   Here is the link to the course - beginning April 17, 2024     TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page    

In this 'lucky number' episode, Ravi and Michael have a personal conversation about The Unexpected Intimacy of Inner Cultivation. TAP HERE for Part One   Upcoming Courses for 2024 with Dr. Michael Smith

In this 'lucky number' episode, Ravi and Michael have a personal conversation about The Unexpected Intimacy of Inner Cultivation.   TAP HERE for Part Two   Upcoming Courses for 2024 with Dr. Michael Smith    

This week, we are discussing the importance of a committed period of time to our practice.   This can include anything from seated meditation, to Qi Gong, Yoga, Martial Arts, Breathwork, or even studying the classics.   TAP HERE to Learn more about the upcoming course.   TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page

In this episode, Ravi and Michael go on a DEEP DIVE into several approaches to meditation, liberation from a conditioned separate self, and your birthright remembering or realization of existence as itself.   TAP HERE for Part One TAP HERE to Learn more about the Nei Gong course. TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page

In this episode, Ravi and Michael go on a DEEP DIVE into several approaches to meditation, liberation from a conditioned separate self, and your birthright remembering or realization of existence as itself.   TAP HERE for Part Two TAP HERE to Learn more about the upcoming course. TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page

In this episode, we discuss the meaning and practice of Nei Gong. Daoist Cultivation (Xiū Dào 修道) involves several practices that focus on Embodied Meditation. The two oldest, most comprehensive, and most common forms of meditation still practiced today are Chan/Zen (禪) and Nèi Gōng 内功. In the Yi Dao Huan Yuan tradition of Daoist Cultivation that I have learned and now teach, any committed meditation journey begins with the study of both, but with an initial dedication to the somatic, instinctual, visceral, and existential renewal of Nèi Gōng 内功. A contemporary Nèi Gōng practice begins with learning about and embodying your meridians, exploring subtle aspects of Qi circulation, Qi wounds, and Self Healing (Nei Yang Gong), as well as connecting with your Energy Centers (Dān Tián 丹田), all while opening your Microcosmic Orbit and Energy Gates/Portals/Apertures (Qiào 竅), and becoming very skillful in several forms of Shaolin and Daoist Breathwork. What is Nei Gong? Nèi Gōng 内功 can be translated as ‘Inner Practice or Cultivation’, subtle skills, or what happens beneath what can be seen. The Term Nèi 内 also implies the boundary between Separation and Non-Separation – an essential aspect of Daoist Cultivation. The term Nèi Gōng can be used in a martial arts, a Qì Gōng 氣功, a meditation, or in any other spiritual practice context. For the purpose of easy communication, I will refer to Nèi Gōng as if it is a distinct branch of practice that focuses on Cultivating Inner Awareness. With regular Nèi Gōng practice, you are beginning the journey of re-discovering your Innate Experiential/Existential Nature (Xìng 性) and your Aliveness Potential (Mìng 命). This practice also brings your subtle Energy Systems, Internal Organs, Meridians, Energy Centers (Dan Tian), and your Six Innate Minds (Yuán Xīn 元心), as well as your Energy Gates into balance – (including specific Acupuncture points, trees, rocks, waterfalls, or other places in Nature that feel just right). TAP HERE for Part One TAP HERE for Part Two   TAP HERE to Learn more about the upcoming course.   TAP HERE to Learn more about the Qi Gong Teacher Training Course   TAP HERE to see Michaels's Patreon Page