Adapting to Seasonal Changes
by Master Lee Feng San Shifu
Translated by Sophia Lui
Edited by Ric Meyers
Someone once asked me:”Do we get more benefits out of practicing Qi Gong exercises during the Mid-Autumn Festival season?”
The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place during the time of the full moon when the sky is clear, and the weather cool and pleasant. Therefore if we practice Qi Gong during this day, the results are indeed better than usual. In fact, as far as our mood and physical condition is concerned, we get better results from our practice not just during the Mid-Autumn Festival season but also during the middle of each month.
Autumn is the time when summer crosses over to winter, and due to weather changes, people are more prone to getting heat strokes or colds. Children and the elderly are even more susceptible. If they catch a cold, complications can arise easily and their health may deteriorate rapidly as a result. Therefore, it is important to practice diligently during this time. If we are not planning on doing any other exercise, we should at least practice Ping Shuai Gong which can easily help us to overcome the challenges during the seasonal changes.
The advantages of Ping Shuai Gong are as follows: first, it is an exercise suitable for all ages; second, it can be practiced anytime and anywhere; third, one needs not worry about interruptions during the exercise if they do happen. Therefore this exercise can be practiced anytime, anywhere and by anyone. Even by ladies in tight skirts and high heels! Moreover this exercise increases our balance so that we become more adaptable to all kinds of situations.
So there are really no restrictions on the practice of Ping Shuai. One only needs to stay relaxed and natural while doing it. During the Ping Shuai workout, some people may have problems with both arms swinging in parallel so that one arm may swing higher than the other. Therefore, at the initial stage of practice it is best to do it in front of the mirror and train ourselves slowly to develop balance. If we practice it diligently, I can guarantee at least one thing – that for the rest of our lives, we will never get frozen shoulders or partial paralysis of the body.
When it comes to the practice of Ping Shuai Gong, not only must we be diligent, but we must also, through practice, become a living symbol. A living symbol of what? A living symbol of rebirth and renewal!
“Be diligent and persistent in your practice of Ping Shuai and see yourself becoming a new person.” — Lee Feng San Shifu