%206409df%202.png)
Ball to the Mountain
Breath out shifting forward
Breath in shifting back
<
>
Visualization
and
Philosophy
As you prepare to practice Ball to the Mountain, imagine an energetic vessel in the shape of a large cylinder standing upright directly in front of you. The top is open to the heavens above and the bottom has tubular roots extending deep into the earth. Imagine that this vessel is the primary corridor for the flow of chi (life energy or life force) through your body.
When practicing Ball to the Mountain, imagine that as you rock forward and raise your arms your open hands are collecting a ball of fresh chi. Even though your elbows remain loosely near your sides keeping your arms from extending too far upward, imagine that your ball of chi reaches up to the top of your imaginary energetic vessel. This is the "top of the mountain".
Lower the ball of chi through the vessel as you rock back. As the ball slides through the vessel it replaces depleted energy with fresh energy. Any energy found that is no longer serving a beneficial purpose is gathered and returned to the earth through the long tubular roots of the energetic vessel. In this way your energetic vessel is cleaned and replenished.
Purpose/ Benefits
Practicing Ball to the Mountain while using the visualization associated with it can improve physical and mental well-being by removing blockages and imbalances in the body's vital energy flow. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles assert that when energetic flow is disrupted or blocked, it can lead to physical and emotional imbalances, potentially causing illness or discomfort.
Restrictions to energy flow can come from a variety of sources including depleted energy and "stale" energy that is no longer serving a positive purpose. Visualizing this energy being removed each time we draw the cleansing ball of energy down through the energetic vessel is a great way to relax and allow ourselves to let go of thoughts, feelings, and other energies that might be creating blockages or imbalances. Promoting free and balanced chi flow can improve physical health, enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and foster a sense of well-being.