In these turbulent times, it is easy for us to feel unmoored, like our lives are spinning out of control. This is especially true when things that are literally out of our control, like a pandemic, are in play.
A grounding activity I find particularly helpful is the standing meditation called Zhan Zhuang. It is the Ancient Art of Standing like a Tree and a form of Qigong.
Although there are thousands of forms of Qigong, most of them use a derivative of Zhan Zhuang as a foundational practice.
Zhan Zhuang means “standing like a tree,” “pile standing,” or “post standing.”
As the name implies, Zhan Zhuang is a standing practice where one stands still, in an upright posture, as if standing like a tree.
The tree metaphor is apt, as your legs and torso form the trunk of the tree. Your head and limbs form the branches.
And your feet, sinking and extending down beneath the ground, establish the roots.
While doing Zhan Zhuang, breathe comfortably, slowly and quietly through your nose. Feel your body relax as you exhale. Be gentle with yourself and breathe easily as you sink all your muscle tension into your feet and into the ground below them.
This exercise is very useful in grounding you, and can help you handle anxiety and feelings of lack of stability in your life, no matter the cause. If you need further instruction, or if you still feel unsettled after this exercise, please feel free to reach out to me and schedule a session.
Together we can work through whatever may be holding you back in a more in-depth, personalized way.
