Qigong for Heart-Brain Coherence

Stress is the primary trigger for autoimmune disease. Recent studies show that chronic stress and anger causes cancer and heart disease. When in the sympathetic nervous system, we are in stress. Managing stress has the exact same microbiome in the gut to eating junk food independently from diet. You do not digest your food when you are stressed. Higher levels of anxiety decrease brain matter and impairs ability to think. The good news is that this is totally reversible.

According to Dr. Afrouz Demehri (Director of Functional Medicine at University of California, Irvine’s Department of Medicine), the heart sends more messages to the brain than the other way around. She was not taught this in medical school. It is a new discovery. What this means is that the heart has the capacity to influence the brain and slow down the brain waves. The Vagus nerve is the heart’s natural pacemaker and it releases chemicals that calm the nerves down and activate the parasympathetic nervous system to relax.

How are parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems related to each other? The ability to respond in every moment. HRV (Heart Rate Variability) is how we measure this. The best HRV is 59 and a half beats/minute. Beat to beat variability relates to longevity. One of the many ways that we can achieve this is by practicing Zhan Zhuang or “standing like a tree.” Standing qigong is used to regulate the breath with deep abdominal breathing. The main goals are centering the body between Heaven (the crown of the head) and Earth (perineum). We root ourselves into the Earth through our feet and connect to the heavens through the crown point of the head. In the beginning it may take time to develop the stamina to stand for an extended period as it takes training. Beginners experience trembling and muscle fatigue however, as with all things, with regular practice, it is possible to build the stamina required to hold the posture. Once we have the posture we feel “Zhong Ding” or central equilibrium and begin to develop the sensitivity to identifying the subtle tensions within the body. Zhan Zhuang is also used to remove blockages of Qi (energy) flow. It is about cultivating self-awareness from within. When we align our hearts, mind, and emotional state, then we have regulated HRV. Specific White Tiger Qigong breathing techniques elicit these relaxation states of heart brain coherence. For example, when you are listening to a symphony while the musicians are warming up, then you hear dissonance and chaotic noise of every instrument. However, when the conductor comes up and starts to regulate the orchestra you hear a harmonious symphony, and it is powerful. This is what we are aiming to achieve, learning how to bring the heart and mind in alignment with specific breathing.

A mindset of gratitude, compassion, and loving service with one another is fundamental in stimulating the Vagus nerve. When stimulated, the Heart, produces its own EMF (electromagnetic frequency) that is 5000 times stronger than our brain. So, what are the keys to release stress? Let your heart guide you in whatever you do. You cannot go wrong when the heart speaks. Practicing mindfulness to self-regulate emotionally coupled with White Tiger Qigong breathing strategies and postures are your tickets to peace, freedom and longevity.