If I want to do a two hour session of the level one active exercises would it be best to do each exercise only once during the two hours or would it be ok to cycle through the whole routine three or four times or is either way just as good as the other?

So long as you have only one opening and closing, I see not really difference.

That being said my own inclination and choice would be for one long cycle. Taking more time with each exercise. Going slower and deeper into it.

The choice is yours.

You are perfection.
Iam2

I don't have my book handy but one approach written about for a two hour session was to cycle through 4 times, or four seasons of all the exercises.

I have tried going two hours just doing one set of the exercises and then another time cycling through all of them and starting again and found it much more intense than just doing one set. I have not made it through all four seasons yet, about season three I just sorta....., don't make it to season four.

Jeff

I don't recall it being in the course materials. I do remember there being some similar discussion.

If you search the forum you will find some more thoughts. gallen has written on this before, and as I recall he is off the four season thought too. There will be some good reading if you go looking for it.

You are perfection.
Iam2

Hi
I recollect similar to Jeff about the 4 seasons which I think Master Lin said lasted about 28 to 29 minutes for each session.

I seem to remember that Master Lin talks about it on one of his CDs in level 1 rather than in the written material.

I was also under the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that another approach to a longer session could include a sitting meditation as well as active meditation - and I seem to recall Master Lin saying that serious QiGong practitioners, for every active meditation session, undertake a sitting meditation session that is at least double the length of time.

Nowadays I try to listen to my body and go with what it's telling me. That could mean any number of variations of meditation (active or sitting or even just laying quietly and letting the energy give my body and mind a spontaneous workout).

I've also found that now my times for undertaking SFQ are fairly well established -in the early morning between 5am and 7am or thereabouts, between 11am and 1pm or thereabouts, in the early evening between 5 and 7pm and in the late evening when I go to bed, the energy in and around my body becomes much more active of its own accord at those times.

Keep up the great work!

Jetay, I remember everything else you mention about the CD material. I'm not sure he says "serious" practitioners, but I use the 2 to 1 ratio when I consider my own balance. Then again, I like the sitting meditations more... I go deeper during those.

You are perfection.
Iam2

The active exercises all work to clear channels, remove blockages , etc. One of them done correctly, like the moving of yin and yang, for instance, can do this. Your intentions and visualizations help this happen, as also does your singular focus within 'an' exercise. It doesn't take two hrs to clear yourself. So, one 'could' look at the purpose of the extended time in an active exercise.
Time in the emptiness is the goal. If a singular position, or exercise gets you there, this is just as valid as going through sets and sets of exercises. The amount or number of exercises don't gaurantee the success. More, how well you focus the mind, or reach no mind, or emptiness. The body heals itself in that state and you further a transformational process of self realization in this practice of mindfulness.
Two hours of active exercise in one session is alot. If I was new to qigong(1-2yrs experience), I would try a more balanced approach. Doing an hour session is a great initial goal. Doing a variety is good, both within active, and also incorporating meditation. One should spend time , initially, learning what it is, what the exercises are doing, what works for you, what engages you.
An hour of active, and an hour of meditation, positions you to experience the widest possibilies within this practice. After a time, it is possible for 'you' to make very clear decisions about your own practice. This is a self empowering process of gaining insight and wisdom too, that comes from within.
One source of wisdom would say, "avoid extremes". Two hrs might be too extreme for one person, and not another. You want to integrate qigong into your lifestyle. If you start out too strong, you might drop it, or the time requirement might not go forward well. Building a balanced gradual practice, and being consistent is a good way to go.
Regarding the seasons. Jetay is right about the time. It relates to the time it takes for qi to make a complete cycle within the body. Four cycles, of close to 30 minutes each, is a year, or four seasons. It doesn't have to happen back to back. It can...
Again, if I was fairly new to qigong, I would break up the sessions, shooting for the minimum of one cycle( @28/29/30min), and the preference of two. Some time is lost getting into an exercise, so two cycles gives you better results,,,,in general. I would do half active and half meditation, leaning a bit towards active if I was ill or had a physical blockage I was clearing. This is not true for everyone. Meditation certainly holds the means to do it all. Most people seem to have an easier time with the 'hands on' so to speak, of moving the body and visualizing, with meditation being more a new concept for them to get used to.
At a very advanced level, spending two hrs in active can be very, very good. I speak of emptiness again. If I was going to do active for two hrs, I would pick one exercise. If it moved, I would slow it down to where someone watching me wouldn't easily see it move, or not see it move. I am talking slow. Slow the breathing too. The amount of reps doesn't add anything. One rep is great if you can do it! I feel this is quite advanced, but would yield great results.
Two hrs sounds good, but will you be able to establish or maintain a balanced practice? Do you know yet what that is, relative to you? Will you be able to integrate qigong into your lifestyle for the long haul?
Would you ask us what to have for dinner tonight? If not, why. Maybe because you know what you want to eat based on experience.
love,
gallen