Summer is the time of expansion and joy. During summer the heart energy is dominant and the fire element peaks. This makes it the optimal time to express joy and cultivate self-love. The essential Qigong practice to do this is the Inner Smile! In this version I add self-massage as a way to open a loving connection with the organs and nourish the body for a fully rejuvenating self-love experience!

ABOUT THE PRACTICE

The Inner Smile is the active ingredient in a Qigong practice. What is unique about the Inner Smile is that you not only smile with your mouth, but you will also smile with your organs!

Why the organs? Your vital organs are the foundation of your life and vitality. In school we are taught that the organs carry out specific functions and jobs and we can’t live without them. But what we are not taught is that there is a profound connection between our organs and emotions, our consciousness and our spirit. The organs not only serve the body's vital functions; they are reservoirs of intelligence and life force energy. Learning how to regulate your organs and communicate with them is a skill that will enhance your Qigong practice and transform your health.

Smiling is very powerful. The physical act of smiling sends a message to the brain to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins into the blood stream. When these chemicals are released, the nervous system calms down and stimulates the relaxation response in the body. In the relaxed state, the organs function at their optimal state, the heartbeat begins to slow down, blood pressure decreases, the mind becomes calm, and we feel safe. On the emotional level the inner smile activates unconditional love in our heart. Through love you open the door to communicate with your organs and find out what is there.

Once you meet your organs, they are your friends for life and have many messages to share with you. The secret is that this process of transformation is not achieved through force. The beauty of the Inner Smile Meditation is that it uses the attitude of non-resistance to create change. It's about becoming aware of what is there, accepting what is there, and then expanding the space to open beyond it.

I learned the Inner Smile from Grandmaster Mantak Chia of the Universal Healing Tao School. But in this version of the Inner Smile, I am going to share with you the way I do it -which adds self-massage. I found that combining the smiling energy with loving touch and energy circulation is a powerful way to clear stagnation makes it much easier to open a deep connection with your organs. The key to this practice is that you really connect your mind awareness with the organs. the more you do it, the stronger the connection becomes.

The meditation can be done seated in a chair, sitting on the floor or laying down if you are not feeling well. The beauty of this practice is that anyone can do it- any age, or health condition. If you are healthy is can prevent illness. If you are sick, it will support healing.

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