Let’s talk energy! In my eZine last week I wrote about maximizing your daily effectiveness.  There are many factors that come into play as you cultivate your best self.  So where do you start?  At the source or core is your internal energy – a renewable and powerful resource that is available to you at all times, 24/7.  You just need to know how to tap into it and use it to help you achieve your greatest potential.

It’s helpful if I share a little technical background, so bear with me while I lay some groundwork that you may or may not be familiar with.  First, let’s take away the mystery around some of the Chinese terms you may have run across.  Chinese words are typically expressed in one of two different systems of Chinese to English (Pinyin – currently used in China and Wade-Giles – formerly used in China), so I’ve included them both as reference.  When I speak of your energy, I’m referring to what is known in Eastern martial arts and philosophy as your Qi (chee), Chi or internal energy.  In my Taijiquan (tie-jee-chuen), Tai Chi Chuan or ”Grand Ultimate Fist” - the slow-moving martial art that resembles moving meditation - and Qigong (chee-kung) , Chi Kung  or energy practice, I generate energy, move it within my body, and direct it externally, as well.  You might have experienced this yourself, or this may be a new concept for you, but everyone has Qi and you can learn how to revitalize yourself by increasing and focusing your Qi.

Your energy center is in your core – your Dan Tien (don tee-en) - which is located one to one-and-a-half inches below your navel and one to two inches deep, depending on the individual (Yang, 1997).  This is also your body’s center of gravity – all in all, a very important place to pay attention to and work with.

While this may sound a little esoteric or woo-woo, it’s actually based on physics, and has been studied in the business community.   In 2007 The Harvard Business Review published an article by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy of The Energy Project called “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” http://hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time/ar/1.   It recounts energy work done with employees of Wachovia.

The premise of the article is that time is a limited resource, but personal energy is renewable.  Schwartz and McCarthy have been working with corporate America on how to increase productivity in the workforce.  They work on four dimensions of energy:  physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, and suggest specific rituals to increase each of them.

A pilot energy management program conducted with Wachovia revealed some compelling findings:  After 3 months, participants in the energy renewal program produced 13% higher loan revenues than the control group and 20% higher revenues from deposits, which was considered an extremely successful program by Wachovia’s standards.

The findings of this experiment are also important for business owners and other professionals because we all want to be able to do more with less, keep our energy consistently high and be as productive as we can each day. So let’s talk about how you can tap into your energy.  It’s actually part of a larger dynamic that I summarize as:

Core Energy + Core Strength + Core Values = Core Power

It’s your Core Power that drives you forward in a fundamental way.   If  your core power is fully engaged, you’ll be full of energy, your focus will be laser-sharp, you’ll feel strong yet relaxed, you’ll walk taller and look more confident, your balance will be better, you will move more gracefully (yes, guys, this is important for you, too), and you will maintain greater health and vitality.

To experience your own Qi or core energy, try this three-minute exercise:

1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, legs straight with knees unlocked, your arms dangling at your sides and your eyes closed.
2. Raise your hands till your palms face each other 4 to 6 inches apart and in front of your belly, just below your waist.
3. Start breathing slowly from your belly right below your navel, allowing your belly to expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale in a relaxed manner.  Breathe through your nose on the inhale and exhale.
4. With each breath, allow your palms to gently pulse apart on the inhale and together on the exhale.
5. Continuing with your eyes closed, visualize the sun’s energy radiating from your Dan Tien – your energy center below your navel – with each inhale, causing your palms to pulse apart.
6. Continue this breathing in a slow, relaxed manner for a minute and notice how your palms feel.  Play with it for another minute, slightly changing the angle of the palms as they face each other, allowing the distance between them to expand if you feel resistance between them (like a ball of energy) and continuing to envision the sun’s energy emanating from your core.
7. Complete the exercise by bringing your palms together, one in front of the other, to gather the energy into your center, flat against your belly.
8. Gently relax your arms to dangle at your sides and slowly open your eyes.

What did you notice during the exercise?  How did your core and palms feel?  How did your palms look afterwards?  How did you feel overall after the exercise?  I invite you to share your experience with others  (and me) on this blog.  There is much more we can do with energy, but that gives you a taste.

Next week we’ll move to the second part of the equation – core strength…it may not be as obvious as you think….

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