This video shows you how the Qigong exercise “Opening the Gate of Life (Mingmen)” to bring more Qi to your kidneys and help relieve pain in your lower back. It was taught by myself, Dr. Janice Tucker, the founder of the Space To Relax Programme of Qigong video lessons. These classes are free and everyone is welcome. However, if you’d like to contribute as a thank you for the class click here. 50% of donations will go to the ICU staff in my local hospital in Co. Kerry. The other 50% goes towards the upkeep of this website.
I have been teaching Qigong for two decades and am a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. My passion is helping people just like you to develop skills, knowledge and tools to rebalance and maintain your health.
You can join my live classes on Zoom every Thursday at 4 pm Irish time. Click here to join us (lesson replays sent out by email in case you can’t make it).
Opening The Gate Of Life (Mingmen) – Introduction
The video shown on this page will illustrate the importance of the horizontal movement of the body around point Mingmen, the Gate Of Life. When we can fully mobilise this area then we create optimal conditions for the open and smooth flow of Qi, blood and fluid in the lower back and kidney area. This method will help you on two levels:
- Physical – improving circulation of Qi and blood around the lower back and kidney area so helping to relieve pain and stiffness in the area.
- Mental/emotional – calming and clearing mind chatter so that you are left with feelings of tranquility, inner silence and and a sense of being grounded.
Opening The Gate Of Life (Mingmen) – Method
- Standing Posture – adopt the correct standing posture. For some people this can be uncomfortable so play around with different foot positions and find the best one to suit you.
- Inner Shower with Vibration – use the analogy of yourself as a fizzy drink bottle, vibrating to “shake everything up” inside the body before opening the pores of your skin to release the pressure which is unwanted, waste Qi from the body and mind.
- Find point Mingmen in the lower back.
- Be sure that you are rotating horizontally around Mingmen as you turn your body from side to side, not leading with the hips or shoulders but rather the waist and lower back area.
- Open the Gate Of Life by increasing the amplitude of this movement with relaxed arms which will hit off the back of your body, stimulating the area around Mingmen, as you turn from side to side.
- Consolidate your practice with a few abdominal breaths.
Additional Video Resources
- Qigong for the Kidney health is shown in more detail in Winter Routine Part 1 and Winter Routine Part 2.
- Qigong for Back Pain.
- Discharge Waste Qi with Vibration Method.
- Knocking on the Gate of Life/The Three Swings.
Many other live lesson replays can be found on my blog page. Take a look at some of them to find methods that you can easily combine with this one. You can use the search box on the blog page to find any topics you are interested in.
What Can I Do Next?
To sign up and attend the live online sessions please click here. Classes are free of charge and suitable if you’re a beginner or have more Qigong experience. Once you sign up I’ll send details to your email with links to the Zoom classes. Check your junk/spam folders for notifications. Please share this information with your family and friends as everyone is more than welcome.
If you’d like to take your practice to the next level with my structured, step-by-step Space To Relax Qigong programme of 50 video lessons accompanied by audio and PDF files with support from me every step of the way then click here.
To get my free part video series of 3 Qigong lessons which will be delivered to you by email over the course of one week please click here. In these lessons you’ll learn more about abdominal breathing, Qi movement and how to rid waste Qi. This will help you to feel more relaxed and energised.
If you are new to Qigong you’ll probably find my Ultimate Guide To Health and Wellbeing With Qigong very helpful which explains the origins and benefits of Qigong along with 10 beginner Qigong exercises to get you started.
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