The 4 Introductionary Exercises

Energy Experience

Introduction

This exercise is to enable the practitioner to gain the feeling of the body's internal energy. It is important for the novice to master this exercise before going on to other exercises.

The Exercise

Stand with feet shoulder width apart, hands held in front of you, fingers pointing away from the body and palms facing each other. Hands are held naturally relaxed and slightly curved. Tips of fingers and heels of palms are roughly 1 cm apart, fingers are relaxed and separated.
Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose into the Dan Tien and then exhale through the nose. 

Very slowly and gently move the hands 1 cm apart then back in again. The breathing does not have to be in time with the movement of the hands, keep moving the hands in and out. 

Elbows should be kept away from the body. Continue this exercise until a feeling of holding a ball of energy between the hands is experienced. It can also be likened to having two magnets in the hands. You should practice this exercise until you can feel the energy, when the hands are held half a meter or more apart. 

This exercise should be mastered before going on to the next set as it will enhance the exercises to come and will enable you to more fully experience, enjoy and get more benefit out of them, by allowing you to experience what you should be feeling in some of the exercises to come.

Do not worry too much if it does not happen straight away, just persevere and sooner or later it will happen. Do not close off the armpits.