Qigong practice leads to better health and vitality and a
tranquil state of mind. Qigong can be divided into nei gong (inner
work) and dao yin (guiding energy). Qigong is one of the most
cost-effective self-healing methods in the world. The only investment
needed is time, a half-hour to an hour each day; the dividends of
better health, increased vitality, and peaceful alertness accrue daily
and are cumulative.
Why study Qigong?
Qigong has four major areas of application:
Who can benefit?
Because Qigong includes both dynamic and gentle techniques that can be
practiced from standing, seated, or supine postures, it is suitable for
young and old. Practices can be tailored to individual needs, making it
an ideal aid to recovery from illness or injury. Qigong is a form of
complementary medicine. It works well with other forms of therapy, but
should never be used as a substitute for necessary treatment by a
physician.
Is Qigong scientific?
Both China and the U.S. have hosted conferences for academic exchange
of Qigong research. Qigong has been shown to improve posture and
respiration, induce the relaxation response, cause favorable changes in
blood chemistry, and improve self-awareness and concentration. Research
suggests that Qigong may be beneficial for asthma, arthritis, cancer,
cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, pain,
and a wide variety of common ailments. External Qi Healing is effective
for the same range of illnesses as acupuncture.
Spirituality (Taoism and Buddhism):
Taoism or Daoism. Qigong philosophy and
techniques are mentioned in the classic of Taoist philosophy, the Dao
De Jing, written in the fourth century B.C. "By concentrating the Qi
and making your body supple, can you become like a child?" Qigong was
the ideal way for Taoists to realize their goal of wuji, an empty,
alert, boundless state of consciousness, and xing ming shuang xiu,
"spirit and body cultivated in balance." Taoists and Qigong
practitioners were both looking for a harmony of yin and yang: inside
and outside, earthly and spiritual, stillness and activity. The
majority of works on Qigong are still found among the approximately
1,100 texts in the Taoist Canon.
Buddhism. The Buddhist emphasis on tranquillity, awareness, and
diligent practice is part of Qigong. Several styles of Qigong were
developed by Buddhists who needed an exercise and healing system to
complement their lengthy seated meditations.
Medicine:
Chinese medicine includes acupuncture, herbalism, massage, diet, and
Qigong. Qigong is the preventive and self-healing aspect of Chinese
medicine and was used in the past, as today, to teach patients how to
improve their own health. The major early text on Qigong is the Dao-yin
Tu "Dao-yin Illustrations" (168 B.C.). Dao-yin is an ancient word for
Qigong. This work contains illustrations of forty-four Qigong postures
prescribed by ancient Chinese doctors to cure specific ailments. The
patriarch of Chinese medicine, Hua Tuo (second century A.D.) was one of
the great early Qigong masters. His "Five Animal Frolics" imitate the
movements of the Crane, Bear, Monkey, Deer, and Tiger and are still
practiced today. Hua Tuo said that just as a door hinge will not rust
if it is used, so the body will attain health by gently moving and
exercising all of the limbs.
Qigong is practiced by more than 80 million Chinese people
and probably by tens of thousands in the United States and Europe.
Qigong has been rigorously tested in controlled scientific experiments
and clinical trials and is often used as an adjunct to conventional
allopathic medical treatment. Hypertensive patients who take medication
and practice Qigong fare better than controls who only take the
medication. Similarly, there is solid evidence that Qigong can improve
immune function and mental health, and prevent disabilities that come
with age.
There are thousands of styles of Qigong. Some are designed for general
health and well-being and may be practiced every day for a lifetime.
Others are therapeutic and targeted to cure specific problems. Qigong
techniques are suitable for men and women, young and old, athletes and
sedentary, and for the disabled. All styles are based on similar
principles: relaxed, rooted posture; straight, supple spine;
diaphragmatic respiration-- the abdomen expanding on inhalation,
retracting on exhalation; fluid movements without excess effort; and
tranquil awareness.
Styles of Qigong practiced and taught at Dingle Acupuncture Clinic;
Wild Goose Qigong,
or Dayan Gong, has been handed down for generations and comes from the
Daoist tradition in the Kun Lun mountains of western China. It has the
function of balancing the Yin and the Yang, bringing about the orderly
flow of vital energy (Qi), and the flooding and dredging of energy
channels and collaterals. The result of this is improved well-being,
better health and alleviation of diseases.
Wild Goose Qigong is so named mainly
because its postures and motions imitate those of wild geese, known as
birds of longevity in China. The practise consists of both vigorous and
gentle movements in which actions are alternated with stillness with
perfect ease. So long as you do this type of Qigong regularly and
without fail, you will find your health improved, disease alleviated
and adaption to the environment stepped up. This form of exercise is
suitable for old and young alike, in fact, the previous Grand Master in
China was a 108 year old woman. David has studied and taught Wild Goose
Qigong in China with Prof. Wu Tian Cheng.
Eight Pieces of Brocade is a series of Mind/Body exercises which help promote and maintain the sensation of Qi in the body. Originating in 12th century China, the exercises are called Ba Duan Jin in Chinese, which means Eight Pieces of Brocade and indicates that it is a system worth promoting and preserving.
The practice of Eight Pieces of Brocade is a system of Body/Mind exercises which explores the link between physical body, energetic body and the surrounding environment. It takes time to fully appreciate the intricate subtleties of these exercises. Give it time, every day is best.
Oriental philosophy states that Qi flows in the body through channels or meridians named after the organ they flow through. Channels either start or end at the extremities of the body. When the flow of Qi in one channel reaches its maximum potential it changes and becomes another channel of opposite potential. The meridians flow from one to another in a continuous loop like an energy grid. All meridians are connected to the Tantien/Centre either by their primary channels or by their secondary channels. The Centre is situated in the lower abdomen in an area surrounded by nerves from the autonomic nervous system from where it connects to the central nervous system and the brain. There is no part of the body that Qi does not flow to, it is just stronger in the channels. Usually we focus on points at or near the extremeties, because they are stronger and will have more effect, and see how they are connected to the Tantien/Centre.
The above is an extract from a much longer article on Eight Pieces of Brocade. If you are interested in the full article, which contains photos and full instructions, please e-mail davidhankey@utvinternet.com
Tai Chi Qigong. Tai Chi Chuan
consists of a series of beautiful movements which are good for the
health. Tai Chi Qigong is easier to learn and consists of 18 movements
taken from the Tai Chi form and daily life movements. The exercises are
done as individual exercises and are therefore easier to learn. It is
recommended that students first learn Tai Chi Qigong in order to see if
the exercises suit them before they commit themselves to learning the
full Tai Chi form. Each exercise stimulates a related acupuncture
channel, thereby improving health. This easy to learn and effective
system forms a natural basis to learning the more complex Tai Chi form.
Tai Chi Meditation. This stage of practice encourages deeper relaxation and mind/body awareness. Meditation is an essential and core part of Tai Chi practice. It reflects the stillness within stillness aspect of the practice, where as the Tai Chi form reflects stillness within motion. There are two main branches of meditation used in Tai Chi, mainly Daoist and Buddhist forms.
Zazen (sitting Zen, or meditation absorption), part of our Tai Chi practice, originated in China and is part of the Buddhist tradition. Zazen is not a religious practice. Zazen is a primordial practice, essentially the trinity of body, breath and mind; and true zazen will not be opened in us until our sitting posture, breathing, and mind are correctly adjusted. Daily practice, awakened determination and teachings bring about this trinity of zazen. We just sit with the back straight and breathe calmly, leaving thoughts as they are to come and go like clouds in the sky. David is a student of Hogen Daido Yamahata, a zen monk whom he has studied with since 1983.
Tai Chi; What Is Tai Chi ?
Tai Chi Chuan is a style
of Qigong. It is graceful, relaxed, slow, and fluid, like a slow-motion
dance. Unlike some Qigong methods that exercise specific systems or
parts of the body-- nervous system, endocrine system, heart,
kidneys—Tai Chi Chuan is a whole body, whole mind exercise. It treats
health systemically, restoring the body to its fundamental condition,
uncorrupted by stress, pollution, and disease.
The word Tai Chi is a philosophical concept and can mean whatever has the complete harmonious balance of Yin and Yang. In the I-Ching the term Tai Chi means the supreme ultimate, perfection, etc. Tai Chi is an art towards this state. Therefore, in the practise of Tai Chi Chuan the greatest principle is the Yin-Yang balance, and all the other principles are helping us to achieve this end.
Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient system of physical exercise that promotes total health: emotional, mental and spiritual. Unlike exercises that use exertion and force to build muscular strength, a strength which inevitably deteriorates with age, the gentle and flowing, yet rigorous movements of Tai Chi focus on relaxing and straightening the body. This enhances coordination and circulation and balances all bodily functions.
What are its benefits?
After some practice,
students will find their Qi or internal energy flowing and will begin
to feel more relaxed. On the other hand, if pain or stiffness is
experienced in certain areas the Qi is blocked, and further practise
will remove this blockage.
Who can practice Tai Chi?
Patience is needed to
start with, and perseverance to carry your practice through many stages
of development. The practice takes time, so you need to give it time.
It takes about a year to learn the full Tai Chi form, on the basis of
one class a week and practising every day for about 15 minutes. Tai Chi
can be seen as an exercise system or a self-defence system. As Tai Chi
embraces many aspects of movement and stillness, it can be practised by
any age group. Tests carried out in San Francisco have shown that
elderly students of Tai Chi have an improved sense of balance, which is
of benefit as the bones grow weaker, reducing the consequences when
elderly people fall.
Where did the Tai Chi form come from?
The Tai Chi form practised
is the Yang Style short form, as modified by Grand Master Cheng Man
Ching. This provides a suitable training ground for learning the basic
principles of natural relaxation and movement of body and mind. These
principles have been found to help relieve the effects of most stress
related illness, and also to help in the prevention of illness.
Learning the Tai Chi form takes about 30-40 weeks, provided that the
student attends class and practices regularly.
Chang Sang Feng is the popular legendary figure who appears in most early written Tai Chi works as the founder of Tai Chi. This Taoist monk is said to have created the unique martial art now known as Tai Chi. He is said to have observed a white crane swooping down to attack a snake. As the bird attacked, the snake would recoil, and as the snake then struck out the crane would simply withdraw from reach. This constant cycle of attack and withdrawal led both animals to a no-win no-lose situation. This Taoist influence of the Yin-Yang principle, which permeates all aspects of Tai Chi, also forms the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
"Patience in Tai Chi, you can’t force it. If you persevere in practising the principles, achievement will come." Cheng Man Ching.
Why is Tai Chi so popular?
Do the Chinese have a
secret for youthfulness, health, long life, peace of mind, and the
overcoming of obstacles? If they do, surely an important part of it
lies in Tai Chi, the fascinating exercise that millions of them have
been practising for centuries. Young and old, male and female, weak and
strong, they find in Tai Chi a wonderful source of relaxation and well
being. In fact, they consider the purpose of Tai Chi to be nothing less
than rejuvenation and the prolonging of life. Its name, derived from a
concept of Chinese philosophy meaning ‘supreme ultimate’, expresses the
belief that Tai Chi represents the highest development of an essential
physical and psychological principle. The practise itself takes no more
than ten minutes, twice a day. Small wonder, then, that Tai Chi has
been attracting more and more attention in the countries of the West.
Medical Benefits of Tai Chi
The Chinese believe that
Tai Chi can delay aging and extend life, while improving flexibility,
strengthening muscles and tendons, and assisting in the treatment of
heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, digestive disorders,
skin diseases, depression, cancer and many other conditions. A special
study of Tai Chi revealed that Tai Chi has positive effects on health,
fitness, and balance and falling, although the studies are limited in
scope. For more information and a thorough investigation of Tai Chi and
its health benefits go to http://www.medicinenet.com/.
David has been studying Qigong, Zazen and Aikido since 1983, and Tai Chi since 1992.
David conducts classes in Qigong and Tai Chi in Dingle, Co. Kerry and throughout the Munster region. Beginners are always welcome. For more information about classes or if you would like to host a class, workshop or seminar, phone 066 9159904.
Classes are held in St Josephs National School (beside McCarthy’s pub), Goat Street, Dingle.
Rates: €10 per class
Beginners are welcome any time.