We have talked about meditation frequently on the blog, but there is a step everyone must take before we meditate that is just as important as doing the proper meditation.

We must properly relax our body.

We must let go of unnecessary tension throughout the entire body, because where there is tension, our qi circulation is inhibited.

While sitting in a chair, slowly relax your body. One-by-one, relax your face, shoulders, arms, torso, belly, hips, legs, and feet. Become aware of the up and down forces within in the body that must be maintained for proper meditation.

Experience the spine, rib cage, and head being gently pulled up, as though suspended on a string from the sky. Feel your abdomen, shoulders and face relax as the tension in your soft tissue melts away.

You can visualize ice melting off into running water from the site of these down forces, to help you experience the release and relaxation.

And remember! Do not slouch. If you collapse forward at all, even a little, you will compress your internal organs. When breathing deep, these organs need space to move so they can benefit from the internal massage. If they are under pressure to begin with, the massage won't do you any good.

Here is the .pdf version of the up and down forces chart. Feel free to print it and hang it up where you meditate, so you can remember them easily.