Qigong for Weight Reduction

Lifting the Five Organs Training

Many people are overweight. They seem to put on weight even if they drink only water. This excess weight puts strain on their hearts as well as other organs. Even walking causes them to lose their breath. Many people ask me how to lose weight. I tell them to practice "Lifting the Five Organs Training". I have found that with consistent practice, weight loss is practically guaranteed.

Method of Practice

Stand up straight. Use your (mind) intent and imagine that you are grabbing your internal organs and lifting them out of your body with your hand. You will experience a realistic sensation. Imagine that you are lifting the organs from underneath with the left hand, as the right hand pulls the organs up from the top. Your weight should be on the right foot with the left foot touching the ground very lightly. The Nei Lao Gong (energy point near the center of the palm) of the left hand faces upward directly underneath the fingers of the right hand. This will cause the anal sphincter to contract and your Qi energy will ascend.

How do you lift?

Lift the right hand up and stretch the right buttock and right side of the leg tight. If they are too relaxed the method will not be effective. Now repeat on the left side. (See illustrations)Extra weight is most apparent in the buttocks, so we begin by stretching the buttocks tight. The area which accumulates the most fat is usually the stomach. Most people start gain fat around their stomachs first. During the exercise when you "lift" the organs with the hand, the stomach will flatten inward. Over time this will reduce the fat around the stomach.

When practicing this method you must truely imagine that you are lifting your organs. Do not merely go through the motions with your hands. Imagine you are looking at your organs in your hand and you are afraid of dropping them onto the floor. Lift them up with your hand. Do not think of anything other than this. After a short time of practice, the stomach will feel full and uncomfortable but this will pass and you will then feel good.

Why do we imagine lifting the organs out of our body?

The purpose is to take the organs out to clean them in the air. The hands must not relax, but must carefully hold the organs up. Brush the organs a few times until they are clean, your stomach will feel empty. Now relax and drop the organs to the earth as if you don't want them anymore. At this point, the hands will drop to the sides.

Closing the Practice

Imagine the left and right kidneys bumping together back and forth. The body will naturally twist from side to side. Stop when facing the front. You will feel very comfortable. This is the end of this practice. There is no limit to the number of repetitions, practice until you are sweating lightly.

Excerpted from "Simplified Methods of Curing Disease & Strengthening the Body" by martial arts master, Wang Pei-Sheng. Article translation by Tim Cartmell.
This book (only available in Chinese) is unique in that is combines items from Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, traditional Chinese literature such as "Journey to the West", and Master Wang's vast martial arts experience together to present hundreds of specific exercises for very specific ailments. Qi Journal.