What Will I Learn?

The course covers all six exercises as well as any alternatives. It also covers all the compensation exercises.

Students’ Questions

Question from Julia

Tonifying and sedating Qi in the Meridian channels
Hello,

Thank you for your lessons on the Makko Ho stretches.

As an acupuncture practitioner I will be recommending these exercises to my clients to maintain and balance the energy in their Channels between treatments.

Do these stretches both tonify and sedate the energy? It can be common to see clients with deficient spleen Qi but excessive stomach Qi, would the earth stretches balance both at the same time?

Are there instances where the compensation exercises would be particularly advised or not recommended?

For example would you use them with blocked / excess channels rather than deficient channels?

Answer from Des
Hello Julia, the Makko Ho exercises, like some Qigong, both tonify and sedate the acupuncture points and meridians. In the case of excess the Makko Ho will release and disperse the excess. In the case of deficiency they will attract, build and maintain the Qi. The beauty of them is in their simplicity and their efficiency in bringing harmony and balance throughout the meridian system.

With regard to having excess AND deficiency within the same Element (as in your example of Earth) practice of the Makko Ho will bring balance to that Element. Although I recommend that people practice all of the exercises to bring and maintain balance it is sometimes necessary to tackle any chronic imbalance first. In your example I would initially focus on Wood and Earth, using the Control cycle then advise that the full set is practiced.

The compensation exercises can actually be used in two ways.

1. They can be used after the Makko Ho stretch to deal with any muscular reaction (discomfort) caused by the stretches. This is the way in which they are normally used.
2. More importantly (as a therapeutic tool), in the case of known excess in a particular Element, they can be done prior to the stretch. This helps “loosen” stuck Qi, allowing the stretches to redress any imbalance more quickly.

I hope this helps.

Reply from Julia
Hi Des,

Thank you ? You’ve explained everything thoroughly and clearly.

I am looking forward to using and recommending these stretches in my clinic as well as for my own well being.

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Question from Gloria

Compensation Exercises
Thank you for sharing these Makko Ho stretches with us!  I do have a question about the Compensation Exercises.  Are these meant as an add-on to supplement the standard sequence, or an easier alternative for those who cannot yet perform the stretch? Can they be used instead of a Makko Ho if we are having difficulty with flexibility?

Answer from Des
The compensation exercises are an add-on to, basically, compensate for the stretching of the muscles. They cannot be used as an alternative to the primary exercises.

The Primary exercises are focused on working with the meridians through the stretching and there are alternatives included that can be used where flexibility is limited.

I hope this helps.

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Reviews from our online Qigong

• “I am so glad I chose this course. It is set at a pace I can work with and each movement clearly explained. The illustrations are helpful and the two views make errors less likely. I also appreciate being able to practise along with the instructor in the sections where the movements are repeated. Des Lawton is an impeccable instructor.”
• “Very informative and deeper than anything I have yet come across. This is what I have been looking for: a more in depth approach. I thank you!”
• “A great Teacher of Qigong, it was a privilege to take this course! I could feel the Qi moving while performing each exercise. Quick response to questions asked, much appreciated! I look forward to taking more courses in the future. Humble thanks!”
• “Excellent instructor! Beautiful material!”
• “I have been doing qigong and taichi for years, and I find the course simple and at the same time meticulous. Structured in a simple way to learn and at the time for thanks to the different sections.”
• “Great class this my third video with Des,I always learn something.”
• “Really enjoyed course. Have been meditating on the eight exceptional vessels for awhile and now having the movements to work with as well is ‘exceptional’ . Thank You.”
• “Loved the flow of these exercises and the feeling of peace as I carried them out. Found the focus points after the exercises particularly helpful. Thank you for another great course!”
• “The course is easy to follow, and the instructions are clear and detailed. I also like the instructor’s style of teaching.”
• “Excellent explanation of the subtleties of wu ji. I felt an immediate shift while practicing under the guidance in this video. Alot of these subtleties are overlooked, but here they are explained with great clarity. Thank you for creating this course!”
• “Clear instruction and demonstrations. Feel the chi when do the movements. Each movement has multiple parts. Plenty of follow along repetitions and tips to get the patterns. Thanks.”

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