These sensations indicate that energy channels are opening up and the energy and blood are circulating freely in tissues formerly deprived of sufficient circulation. As soon as your body and energy system grow accustomed to enhanced circulation of blood and energy, these symptoms will gradually disappear. These sensations should serve you as guidelines without alarming or distracting your practice.

• Hot or cold sensations, especially in hands, feet and head indicate that energy and blood are flowing abundantly into tissues normally deprived of sufficient circulation. Cold feelings may be caused by cold weather or inadequate clothing, or by mental and emotional tension which blocks circulation.

  Beginners often experience numbness and tingling. Numbness in the legs, knees, or ankles because their muscles and tendons are unaccustomed to the exercise. Tingling in the hands and feet are also quite common due to the enhanced circulation of blood and energy in the extremities. These symptoms usually disappear after a few weeks or months of regular practice.

• Trembling is a very common sign in the beginning stages of practice. Trembling usually occurs in the limbs and abdomen and is generally caused by the sudden infusion of blood and energy into the muscles. It can also be caused by muscular tension which obstructs energy flow, in which case you must perform some loosening exercises and focus on physical relaxation during practice. Practising beyond your capacity can also result in tremors. Sometimes your entire body will begin to tremble spontaneously, even though you are practising correctly and within your capacity. This is a good sign of progress for it indicates that energy is flowing strongly throughout the energy channels. Just let it follow its course naturally, and it will gradually fade away.

• Warm Sweat Sweating is very common in qigong practice, especially in the beginning stage. It indicates that the energy is flowing to the surface of the body and opening pores. If there is any excess Fire energy inside your system it will be driven to the surface and expelled through the pores as warm sweat. Even though qigong exercises appear to be very calm and gentle from the outside, they generate and circulate high levels of energy on the inside. You must be careful to protect your skin from exposure to wind and cold during practice, and if you sweat a lot, dry yourself off immediately after practice and do not take a shower for at least twenty minutes.

• Insomnia The enhanced vitality of essence, energy and spirit which qigong generates can cause changes in sleeping patterns resulting in a period of insomnia as the entire system readjusts to higher levels of hormones, energy and awareness. When this happens, focus your mind on your breath while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. When your system has adjusted itself to enhanced energy circulation, you will find it easier than ever to fall asleep. You will sleep more soundly and you'll require less sleep each night.

• Dry throat This is caused by the increased flow of air through the throat during practice. It can be alleviated by keeping the tongue pressed to the palate which stimulates the secretion of clear "sweet dew" from the salivary glands beneath the tongue. Swallowing this saliva from time to time will keep the throat lubricated.