Meet Lisette | Understanding Qi Gong

Qi Gong: an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing, and movement exercises

• Qi: the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine.
• *Sheng Zhen: a method of self-healing, often referred to as “practices of Unconditional Love” involving a series of moving and non-moving forms designed to remove negative energy or “qi” and gather positive healing energy.

• As a senior in college, I had been practicing yoga for 7 or 8 years, understood (but, perhaps didn’t take advantage of) meditation, and tried to be consciously aware of my present self.

• But if I’m being completely honest, I was in a fragile state.
• I had myself convinced that I was the only senior in college who didn’t have a plan, who didn’t feel prepared, and who wasn’t being offered health benefits (English majors, anyone?)
• I was giving power to negative voices in my head,
• losing sight of my purpose,
• and letting the fear of the future determine my current self-worth.

It was with that anxious, unsettled mindset that I entered my first Qi Gong class. Unbeknownst to me, I would meet a woman who taught me grace, patience, and the art of connecting to my true nature.  

Lisette Templin, my Qi Gong teacher, was like anyone of us.

She lived in mainstream America where the draw of fast food beat the idea of home cooking, sickness is treated with reactivity instead of prevention, and the addiction to technology can isolate us beyond repair. *See “Walking Heads” below.

But she found a way to slow down. She stepped out of the rat-race, and found a pace focused on unconditional love and returning to wholeness. Those two foundations built the base of Lisette’s practice. After many years, she was able to let the deeply nourishing movements of Qi Gong release tension and stagnation (in both mind and body) and replace it with ease and flow.

• My short time with her had sparked an inspiration.
• I was craving a quiet mind.
• I was craving a fluid body.
• I wanted, needed, to know how she found stillness, balance, and ease in our fast-paced world.

And now I’m sharing some of her wisdom with you. All questions were designed to affect you in the same way she inspired me. *Lisette practices a form of Qi Gong known as Sheng Zhen.

How do you define Qi Gong?

Qi gong is a way of moving one’s own creative life energy through an awareness of your life force energy, called Qi. The way of Qi helps one to shift stressful energy to creative potential energy.  Qi comes from love, when one moves in the way of Qi, one moves in the way of love.  Humans need love and compassion more than ever. Living and expressing with an awareness of Qi bring one’s life closer to love. I have always depended on my mind to take me through very difficult times and though I was successful at the transition, I was less than helpful to others. Solving problems using the same mechanism from which the problems were created, is very ineffective and far from effortless. Qigong, specifically Sheng Zhen, leads one to connect to the intuitive center, the heart center and the creative center. From there problems of the mind become potential of the Spirit.

When did you allow the practice of Qi Gong to guide your way of life?  

I found Qi when I could no longer process human’s egoic manner of living in the day to day life. The ego itself is the main cause of stress and the way of Sheng Zhen allowed me to slow down in order to recognize the profound truth in life that lies behind the veil of the ego. That truth is, everything is life force energy from love. From love comes compassion, from compassion comes the power to nurture life. I have learned to co-create, rather than live day-to-day survival.

What are “walking heads?”  

I see “walking heads” everywhere and daily. It’s people who drive their lives using only their heads and have no sense of the needs and the magic that is in their bodies. The body just drags along and can barely keep up with the speed of their thoughts.

How do you find a state of contentedness?

My Sheng Zhen Practice allows me to connect deeply with the flow of life force. I surround myself with people who want to help others, who are on an inner journey themselves, and have an entrepreneurial spirit. We co-create and that makes me happy at a very deep level.

How do you encounter the “lows” of life?  

By choosing to see the beauty in every moment, in every person, and in every situation.

Who inspires you?

My mother and father who gave me an incredible foundation of love. My husband who can fix anything mechanically broken. My kids who are kind people. All my teachers who led me on the way. Master Ching Hai who showed me the way of the third eye and the inner sound of the universe. Master Li who showed me the way of unconditional love. My Juice Plus team who are dedicated to moving people towards “plant love” living. My Sheng Zhen community who celebrates going through personal reinvention daily.

What are three things people could use more of in their life?

Compassion, belief, and surrender.

What advice can you offer to stressed out people?

Breathe deeply, ground your feet to earth, spread out your arms, and expect the best and plan for the best.

Lisette challenged me to find the space between two thoughts. She explained it was in that brief moment of stillness that allowed your Qi to flow in.

• To interact with your Qi, or life force energy, you must make space to let it in.

• Welcome it, make a home for it, and allow it to transform your way of living.
• If you’re interested in the practice of Qi Gong and how simple, physical movements can help you achieve a calmer state, stay tuned for a blog breaking down a few specific Qi Gong moves.