Comments on: Should your left or right hand go on top in qigong and meditation?

By: David Webb

David Webb — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:01:40 +0000

A very useful question to ask yourself is “what is the best way to learn?”

I have found with many subjects the best way to learn is to try and come to a new subject with the open mind of a curious child. This means to a certain extent putting aside temporarily the things you have previously learned before and looking at what you are being taught as if it was for the first time.

As a personal example, I had learned certain types of Chi Kung before I encountered Bruce’s material. I was taught various alignments, breathing patterns, where to put my attention etc. Then I met one of Bruce’s instructors and to begin with when they said “do xyz” I was thinking “yeah yeah whatever, I know that” I also noticed that there was an almost unstoppable desire “not to be a beginner” I basically wanted other people in the class to know that Id trained before and knew a bit about Chi Kung.

Over time I began to realize that interpreting what my new instructor was saying in the light of my previous experience and training was actually acting as a block to my progress. What the new teacher was saying was actually similar but subtley different to what I had learned before. The magic was in the subtle difference! My great desire to not be a beginner was making me practice what I had learned before rather than take on the new teaching, I realized this was purely my ego and was again blocking my progress.

It was only when I viewed this material with fresh eyes, put to one side my previous learning and training, listened with an open mind to my new teacher and threw away my need to “not be a beginner” that I began to see subtleties I had completely missed before and began to make real progress.

So my advice to some of the other posters, rather than spouting what you have learned before, or trying to show your vast experience. Put all that to one side and come to new material with the fresh open mind of a curious child and you will be amazed in a good way.

This is a useful technique for learning all things not just Chi Kung. We are so often blocked by our previous preconceptions and conditioning. After all you can always go back to your previous stuff if you don’t get on with the new, but if you don’t honestly give it a chance then you will never know.

Thanks Bruce for a fantastic blog

By: Phil Robinson

Phil Robinson — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:49:31 +0000

Bruce,
As always, you have explained a subject in a clear, pratical manner and you are right on target. As a student of martial arts for 46 years and a student of t’ai chi for 35 years, I can tell you we all learn sooner or later that we have a weak side and a strong side. I prefer to call it a good side and a better side. This applies to everyone.
Simply stated, we work harder on the good side to balance it with our better side. Something else to consider about starting to the left or starting with the left hand: In ancient art, the sun was shown as rising on the left and setting on the right. So in a karate kata or in a tai chi form when you begin by facing left and end by facing right, it is a symbol of the fact that you pratice from sun up to sun set. Anyway, I really apreciate the good you do and I thank you for allowing me to comment……Phil

By: Paul Brewer

Paul Brewer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:45:58 +0000

As you quote TCM then you should know that the liver is responsible for (is the root of) several common medical syndromes (conditions), e.g. liver fire/yang rising, in which the excessive “fire” of the liver spreads upwards and negatively affects the body (Anger, red face + eyes, hi temp, headaches), As the right Mai goes thru the liver then deliberate upwards movement of Qi thru the R. Mai is contra-indicated by TCM: Similarly, the Left Mai passes thru the spleen, which supplies Qi i from food to the lungs & heart to create blood: also, spleen Qi moving downwards can be the cause of organ prolapes so induced downward movement in the L. Mai is contra- indicated wheras induced upward movement in the L. Mai is desireable.

Taking the example of “Snake Creeps Down” (any family style): usually (and IMHO correctly) done left hand going forwards (extending outwards) follows the principle of ROTATION OF INTERNAL QI IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAI which I previously outlined: Dragon (I’m guessing “needles”) @ sea bottom is not relevant to this discussion because the primary Qi movement is of the front (down), and back and central (up) Mai, rather that the L + R Mai.
Lastly, I am aware of the physical directions of the colons: however, they transport shit, wheras I’m discussing Qi: hope this clarifies.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:33:55 +0000

Hello Paul,

You have this backwards: “The “normal” flow of energy in the torso, {or if you like the left and right Mai} and in particular in relation to peristalsis and digestion (despite the convoluted and multi directional nature of the intestines), is up on the left side and down on the right side (of the practitioner).”
Ascending colon is on the right, transverse runs from right to left and the descending colon is on the left. Chan Si (Silk Reeling) jin and Peng jin can (and do) spiral in either direction.

However, the main meridians in TCM are symmetrical, except for the Ren Mai and Du Mai.

Also, it depends on the style of Taijiquan you are learning. If you learn Chen style, there are many instances where the right is up and the left is down (Snake Creeps Down, Dragon at Bottom of the Sea, etc). In addition, whenever you change direction, you sink to the opposite side first: “To go left, go right, to go right, go left”. This is from the Bubishi, which originated in S. China, but has martial principles basic to almost all Chinese arts.

By: Paul Brewer

Paul Brewer — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:54:12 +0000

I haven’t seen anyone mentioning the fact that there is an old Taiji saying ” left side up, right side down”. This is, incidentally, why most forms start with the left foot stepping whilst the right side sinks. The “normal” flow of energy in the torso, {or if you like the left and right Mai} and in particular in relation to peristalsis and digestion (despite the convoluted and multi directional nature of the intestines), is up on the left side and down on the right side (of the practitioner).
Using as an example exercises involving rotation of the Dantien in the coronal plane, rotating left side up and right side down promotes improved peristaltic function: whilst not common, it is possible that rotation the other way (right up, left down,) can cause constipation or other digestive problems by reducing peristaltic function.
Extending and following this principle outwards, then in common Taiji postural structures, e.g. crossing hands, the left hand should be on the outside (further away from the torso). Regarding left vs right form and Taiji practice in general, after around 9 years of training on both sides I stopped doing “left handed” forms. After about 15 years I had experienced enough to understand that I had been correct to do so: the organs and structures in the body are NOT symmetrical in either their form or function: neither are all of the Taiji postures. Some postures {e.g: Cloud Hands, Fair Ladies,} can safely and beneficially be executed either way round: but not all of them.
Although it is much less important, because hardly any internal (qi) movement need take place durng seated Meditation, I still follow the principle and have the left hand on the bottom (further away). I would suggest that for those who like to meditate palms up, lightly interlocking the fingers will cause the arm joints to be gently stretched open as they relax and fall away: also the lao gung points should remain uncovered. Enjoy the quiet.

By: DJ Schmidt

DJ Schmidt — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:48:34 +0000

Bruce, This is great!!! I bow to you and your work, best to you, DJ Schmidt Professional member NQA, Michigan.

By: DJ Schmidt

DJ Schmidt — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:45:56 +0000

Bruce, How the heck are you. This is great!!!!! Nice to hear so many wonderfull folks on the path even after 50 years wanting to learn more. Hope all is well with you. My QI Gong classes are going great. I have 40 students in three nights and more want to come, but I can’t handle more. Your books and tapes are super!!! My students like your style of teaching…they all bow to you and what you are doing for so many people. Very best to you and keep up the good work! DJ Schmidt, Professional Member and teacher NQA Michigan.

By: thomas

thomas — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:24:35 +0000

Thank you for the input Jeff. I will look into more zhan zhuang postures.

By: Tony Robinson

Tony Robinson — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:29:06 +0000

Thanks Sharon but I was refering to meditational posture. Do practise left and right as it is easier to teach but do make mistakes ugh!

By: Geoff Lister

Geoff Lister — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:05:25 +0000

My zen teacher taught us that although which hand went on top probably didn’t matter a great deal, it was his experience that the left side of the body was calmer and so having the left hand on top would help the body settle in meditation more easily. He also taught a mudra to use if you were feeling ill–put the right ring finger tip between the base knuckles of the third and fourth fingers of the left hand, and the right thumb tip against the inside of the palm facing the ring finger tip. Curl the left hand around the right thumb so that the tip of the right thumb lightly touches between the tips of the right third and fourth fingers. Hold very lightly. He also taught us when using the typical mudra of the left hand over the right to very lightly touch the thumb tips together–he said that if you put too much tension there that it will cause the breathing to become tight. He offered the image of holding a piece of rice paper between the thumb tips with just enough pressure to keep it from blowing away with the wind, but not so much that the fingers would leave a mark on the paper. He had us put our attention in the center of the palm of the left hand, saying that trying to put the attention directly in the belly or hara (or lower dan tien) would probably cause too much tension initially.