The Flow Paradox: Tai Chi & Qigong Beyond Abundance

Chapter One | Free One Million Minds: The Flow Paradox: Tai Chi & Qigong Beyond Abundance

12/23/2024

Duration | 4 minutes 34 seconds
Guest: Dr. Symeon Rodger

synopsis

In this chapter, Dr. Symeon Rodger shares his reflections on a challenging topic he encountered while preparing for the 2024 World Qigong Summit. He critiques the premise that practicing Tai Chi and Qigong inherently leads to abundance, emphasising the need for a broader understanding of their benefits. Dr. Rodger explores how these practices can cultivate flow and harmony on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels, while also addressing their limitations in transforming ingrained scarcity mentalities.

dialogue summary

Dr. Symeon Rodger:
Learning your everyday movements—how to incorporate these internal dynamics in such a way that they solve some of life’s natural problems, many of which arise because we’re not living in the present moment. Our mental attention is scattered in 3,000 directions.
Since I was a teenager—or even earlier—I’ve been intensely interested in life itself, spiritual life, and the big questions: Why are we here? What is this about? How are we meant to live? We aren’t born with an owner’s manual for life, right? Or are we?

We assume our parents have that manual, but by the time we’re in our teens or twenties, we often discover that if they had one, it was defective. Then we realise there are so many versions of this manual out there. If such a mythical manual for life does exist, trying to find the right version—or even just a better version—becomes a challenge for everyone.
I’ve spent my life exploring this challenge. I’ve test-driven ancient spiritual traditions for decades, studying Tai Chi and Qigong for over 40 years and teaching worldwide for about 18 years. Alongside these practices, I’ve focused on mindset and peak performance: How do we get the best out of ourselves? What’s holding us back?

I’ve approached these questions from as many perspectives as possible. But I also recognise that the sheer number of perspectives can be intimidating for people.

Chapter One : The Flow Paradox: Tai Chi & Qigong Beyond Abundance

Jamie Meyer:
Could you share more about the challenge you faced with your summit topic?

Dr. Symeon Rodger:
Oh, absolutely. The issue was the topic itself. This was for a virtual event, the 2024 World Qigong Summit. Tai Chi and Qigong practitioners are likely familiar with the idea of “flow,” but this year’s topic--abundance through living in the flow—threw me.
The assumption behind this topic seemed flawed to me. It implied that practicing Tai Chi and Qigong automatically leads to a life of abundance. As someone who enjoys questioning conventional ideas, I felt this premise didn’t hold up.

Yes, if Tai Chi and Qigong are practiced correctly—and very few people truly do—you can achieve real flow on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. However, this does not necessarily translate to overcoming a scarcity mentality, which is often inherited from parents and culture. To address that, other methods might be more effective and efficient.

Credits Roll

references

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that focuses on slow, deliberate movements and deep breathing. It’s known for its health benefits, including improved balance, flexibility, and stress reduction.
The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan: The Literary Tradition by Ben Lo and Yang Jwing-Ming
This book delves into the foundational principles and philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan, offering a deeper understanding of its movements and internal practices.

Qigong is a holistic practice that involves coordinated movements, breathing exercises, and meditation, aimed at cultivating and balancing the body’s vital energy (Qi).
The Healing Promise of Qi by Roger Jahnke
This book provides a comprehensive guide to Qigong and its applications for health and healing. It explains how to tap into the body’s energy to restore balance and improve well-being.

Flow is a psychological state of complete immersion and focus, often experienced during activities that are intrinsically rewarding. It is characterized by full involvement, a sense of control, and enjoyment, leading to peak performance.
Source: “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.