I do start off the way you suggest .. and what often happens (happened) is I end up in a semi-trance and then I automatically switch into using my energy and not the Universe's. Then it seems I am out of control .. but it is normally only after a day that I can feel the strain and then I have to sleep like I am very weak.
That's why I am hoping to go on the Dr Sha workshop, to see how I can work with his methods. I have tried some of his techniques before (learning it from a book) and they seemed very powerful. I am interested in this style of medical qigong.