Ever heard of "Tiger Meditation"

[baederp]

I was instructed on how to do a form of meditation known as "Tiger Meditation" by GM Seung Gyoo Dong.

In TM the practitioner lays on their back with their hands held above their shoulder and the finger tips are pulled back, similiar to doing a bench press.

The knees are held upright above the hips and the feet are at a ninty degree angle to the knees.

The breath should be smooth and focus one's center.

The meditation is supposed to support chi circulation.

I am curious if anyone else has experience with this type of meditation?

Thanks,

[jailess]

No. And it sounds weird. Are you sure it's not just for tigers?

[lightninrod]

I was instructed on how to do a form of meditation known as "Tiger Meditation" by GM Seung Gyoo Dong.

In TM the practitioner lays on their back with their hands held above their shoulder and the finger tips are pulled back, similiar to doing a bench press.

The knees are held upright above the hips and the feet are at a ninty degree angle to the knees.

The breath should be smooth and focus one's center.

The meditation is supposed to support chi circulation.

I am curious if anyone else has experience with this type of meditation?

Thanks,

This reminds me of the "cockroach position" from Navy boot camp. It was supposed to be some kind of punishment. In the first few days, before you've had a physical evaluation, they can't make you do any really rigorous PT. When they want to punish you, they make you lie on your back in a similar position, but the arms and legs are fully extended. Everyone always moaned and groaned about how much it began to hurt after a few minutes. Funny thing was, it wasn't difficult at all if you would just relax into it.
In chi kung, there are numerous positions for standing practice and even moving practice, and they all seem to have the point of learning to relax into the position or the movement.
The main thing I notice about this, from my own experience, is that, physically, one learns to let go of all the unneccessary tension normally employed in one's personal "stance". Balance seems to also improve, especially when the excercises are done with the eyes closed. Mentally, one seems to develop a very relaxed focus which lends itself to very quick, explosive reactions from a position of, pretty much, just standing there. (It improves my chi circulation too, but I don't have a bajillion dollars to do any studies on myself and prove it, so you'll have to figure that one out for yourself. All I can say is "If it works, it works. Damn the placebo effect! Full speed ahead!!!")
Anyways....
Maybe your "Grandmaster" percieves some sort of personal benefit from what he is recommending. Ask him. Ask him where he learned it from. Look into his eyes and let your BS meter do the talking. If he sounds like he made it up, then he probably did. If he read about it somewhere, then you, too, can read. And learn. Lastly, you could always just see for yourself. Just do it where no one can see you! People will think you're delusional just because you meditate! You don't want them to see you lying there like a dead bug and meditating, too!!! Do you?!?!

[lightninrod]

Beware!!! The Woo-Woo Man Cometh!!!

[Dennis Monk]

The meditation is supposed to support chi circulation.

Come on, be serious. I don't mean to offend, but it sounds like you have been fed a heaping spoonfull of something that most people would spit out. Try it out. If it works for you then great.

[Live the DO]

Patrick,
I have been a student of Grandmaster Dong for 23 years. Tiger meditation strengthens your body core, causes you to increase your endurance to sustain the pose, puts you into a meditative state because your mind has to take you beyond your own body to sustain the pose, and helps you go to sleep more quickly and sleep deeper. Try Tiger meditation before you go to sleep at night.

If you've any additional questions about Tiger meditation, ask GrandMaster Dong. He will be your best source for understanding.

Linda Odum

[Jeff C.]

It's grrrrrrrrr-reat! Sorry, couldn't resist!

Is the tension somewhat similar to a taichi posture? I honestly don't see any harm in doing this; I think the negative comments are unwarrented.

Jeff Cook

[rgoad]

Sounds like a variation of the '100' done in Pilates. Workd the body 'core', strengthens the abs, etc.

[Dennis Monk]

I'm sure its wonderful for posture and tone, but "chi circulation".
Please....

[aplonis]

I did not read in your post what it is you are supposed to be accomplishing mentally while holding this pose. I own whole shelves of books on meditation and all of them are concerned primarily with how to compose one's mindset and hold one's attention lightly in that attitude for an extended duration of time. I have also commited myself to a teacher who gives his verbal instructions in a very similar light.

In these techniques there may be all kinds of visual and sometimes vocal calisthenics to help achieve the first part, with resting composedly being the method once that's achieved. A physical accomplishment is not the usual goal of meditative contemplation. There are rare exceptions, such as the yoga of psychic heat which has been studied by scientists. That is where one gains control over the body's temperature. That it works is quite well documented by any number of admittedly puzzled Western skeptics.

But in contrast, your description reads to me more in the line of hatha yoga than anything overtly meditative. Or did you merely neglect to comment upon that aspect?

Gan Uesli Starling
Coord LTKC

[Cliff Hargrave]

It's grrrrrrrrr-reat! Sorry, couldn't resist!

[Brian Dugger]

Come on, be serious. I don't mean to offend, but it sounds like you have been fed a heaping spoonfull of something that most people would spit out. Try it out. If it works for you then great.

It's grrrrrrrrr-reat! Sorry, couldn't resist!

Is the tension somewhat similar to a taichi posture? I honestly don't see any harm in doing this; I think the negative comments are unwarrented.

Jeff Cook

Agreed on both counts.

Honestly, I'd rather being doing crunches/reverse cruches/obliques, etc. combined with weight resistance for core strength. Actively focusing/doing something to have some tangible results is a little more acceptable, imho. Makuso or Inoryu <sp?>is something all together different, which I really believe shouldn't be considered a active exercise. One judo maxim is: "Where the head goes, the body follows" to wit I add 'and move your feet'. This concept is applicable to the mental plane as well.

[Yang Wei Xin]

Holding postures for long periods of time is quite common in Chinese martial arts. And altho I've never thought of it as meditation necessarily, the times I have been able to hold it the longest are the times that I have stayed relaxed and tried to let my mind wander. We typically refer to this as Nei Gong, or Internal Movement, which as you stated is a way of circulating your energy (qi, chi, ki) without movement.

I understand that some people think this is bs, but there is an electrical charge running through all of us, and different postures will cause different paths of electricity through the body, if for no other reason than you are using your brain to communicate with your body, and an electric impulse is required for that.

Btw, just as a personal opinion, this is the "healing arts" forum, which classically involves some discussion and belief in the concept of chi, so those that don't want to believe such a thing exists, thats fine, but please don't try to crap all over the thread every time someone brings it up.

[Dennis Monk]

Btw, just as a personal opinion, this is the "healing arts" forum, which classically involves some discussion and belief in the concept of chi, so those that don't want to believe such a thing exists, thats fine, but please don't try to crap all over the thread every time someone brings it up.

So in others words, if you don't believe in the far too commonly miscontrued concept of "Chi", you are not welcome in the Healing Arts section. OK.
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=18205
Deep bruises discussion, no Chi talk
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=17183
Leg cramp discussion, no Chi talk
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=18096
Knee pain discussion, no Chi talk
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=17691
Muscle spasm discussion, no Chi talk
http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=17006
Diagnosis and treatment discussion, no Chi talk

No one is crapping on your "chi". If you believe that "chi" is anything more than an overused, outdated word for focus, proper breathing techniques and concentration; so be it. We are not offended when some of you state that chi is some mystical electrical energy, or some internal force that can be conjured up. Don't get all twisted when we say that it isn't.

[Yang Wei Xin]

Oh, nevermind...

[Musubi Dojo]

I personally see a big difference between the practice of internal styles, chinese medicine and then nutbars who say they can KO people form 30 feet away.

Chi/Ki is a big hot button here but it is part of MA culture and I don't see a reason to trash it on sight.

Cheers
c

[Jeff C.]

Btw, just as a personal opinion, this is the "healing arts" forum, which classically involves some discussion and belief in the concept of chi, so those that don't want to believe such a thing exists, thats fine, but please don't try to crap all over the thread every time someone brings it up.

Josh, if your chi was flowing in the right direction, these things wouldn't bother you at all! And Dennis, admit it man - you have chi-envy! You need to ask Cliff to start teaching you some of his secret kata.

Thought I would step in and stir up the crap- er, chi, uh......something.

Jeff Cook

[Dennis Monk]

Yes, I am envious of the chi.
Soon I will be walking circles and mumbling to myself.

[Yang Wei Xin]

Yes, I am envious of the chi.
Soon I will be walking circles and mumbling to myself.

I didn't know you were thinking about taking up Bagua.

[Dennis Monk]

I didn't know you were thinking about taking up Bagua.

Actually I was thinking of Iron Gut. 30 Hooters wings in 3 Mile sauce and a 6 pack of Bud, watch out! My chi will be strong.