keep it simple

In Qigong class today, we did an exercise where you begin with your arms at your sides and you lift them slowly, extended in front of you, leading with the back of your hands as you inhale. When you reach the limit of your extension, you turn your hands forward, slowly float your arms down, leading with the heel of your hand as you exhale. That’s it. Simple.

I am sure it has a name and I am sure there are many variations and builds on the movement but that doesn’t matter because even feeling the need to track down those answers and categorize the exercise is already complicating matters far more than necessary. I want to just keep it simple, remembering what my teacher said: Simple does not mean something isn’t powerful. Oh, how true!

We quietly, happily repeated this exercise each at our own pace for a while. Even with a bum shoulder, it worked its magic as I began to feel energized and relaxed at the same time. Indeed, sometimes the simplest actions have the most profound results. From chanting a mantra to stirring a sauce, doing a simple thing repeatedly, deliberately, slowly can take you right out of your head full of to-dos, out of your heart full of concerns and slide you quietly into a calm presence of contentment.

Life is full of distractions, some real, some imagined. It’s  complicated. You can feel like you’re spinning out of control, losing your center and giving away your power when you’re pulled in so many directions at once.

When this happens, remember (to) STOP. Stop. Take a breath. Observe what’s happening both internally and externally. And, when you’ve done all that, Proceed. S. T. O. P. Stop.

And once you’ve done that, you can regain your stability by taking a few breaths, slowly. Take a few more. And, just for good measure, a couple more. That may be all you need. If you need more, do the arm exercise.

Keep it simple. Your day will go better.

Postscript: I’m well aware of the acronym KISS for “keep it simple stupid.” I don’t like calling myself stupid and I don’t think I should be calling anyone else stupid. So, I’m choosing to keep it simple and leaving it at that.

© 2026 www.megreilly360.com

9/28/2026