“The elusive mental state known as ‘Flow’ is a state of effortless concentration & optimal performance….A state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter."
Meditation has many benefits and it is clear that it is very useful (watch the video in the link above!) But what about the less know – Post Standing (Zhan Zhuang)???
Post standing is similar to meditation in many ways, but, there are also many differences. The main difference is that in meditation the emphasis is on the clearing of the mind and it is usually done in a seated position.
When doing post standing one needs to implement meditation principles (such as not getting engaged in thought activity and putting all attention to the body).
Why do we put our attention to the body, as a whole, when we do post standing?
Because one needs to stand in the correct position (which stimulates Qi movements), one needs to maintain a certain alignment, one needs to learn how to gradually relax the body – first from the surface and then as one becomes more and more experienced, the relaxation deepens more and more and this is where the magic begins to happen!
Post standing is like meditation in that the psychological benefits are incorporated, but additionally using the body’s power (Qi) to create some very interesting changes in how the body is structured and how it functions. Some of these changes are:
- Realignment of the channels/meridians to more optimal positions - Correction of Qi flow through channels - Optimal changes in body structure - Strengthening of the body - Increased energy levels (gathering of Qi) - Body becomes more and more interconnected across different functional layers (eg. Channels, organs, tissues – the development of a single unity of body and mind) - Self- development: Extra energy gives more enjoyment for life, increased health and support for achieving goals - Essential exercise for Martial Arts practice
There are many more aspects to post standing but these are the main ones. If you are an experienced meditator or a beginner and would like to take up the challenge of learning post standing and enjoy the benefits contact us! We provide detailed supervision and instruction to learn this powerful Art so that one can accelerate their progress. Personal Instruction for Post Standing is a must if one wishes to learn it properly and get results!
This is why Post standing is the central exercise of Dao De Qigong's Qigong system.