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 !  QIGONG PROGRAM

What is Qigong ? (also spelled as Chi Gong)


Qigong (pronounced as Chee Gung) is also known as Chinese Yoga, or as Neigong (Internal Exercises), which is more like a Chinese version of Pilates.

A definition of Qigong is: an internal meditation method using moving and standing exercises practiced to promote the movement of vital energy throughout the body. Qigong increases internal cleansing and healing and has been known to help cure many ailments and improve one's health tremendously.

Qigong is a practice that often uses slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote the circulation of energy within the human body, and enhance a practitioner's overall health. Qigong's gentle movements, meditation, and breathing techniques cleanse and strengthen the immune system and Life Energy (Qi). The ideas and movements originated thousands of years ago in China. There are also many forms of Qigong that are done with little or no movement at all, in standing, sitting and supine positions; likewise, not all forms of Qigong use breath control techniques. There are more than 10,000 styles of qigong and 200 million people practicing these methods. Another name for Qigong is also Neigong, which means Internal Exercises.

Click here for more information on Qigong and Neigong

Why practice Qigong?

There are three main reasons why people practice Qigong:
1) To gain strength, improve health, or reverse a disease;
2) To gain skill working with qi, so as to become a healer;
3) To become more connected with the "Tao, God, True Source, Great Spirit", for a more meaningful connection with nature and the universe.

Benefits of Qigong:

  • Boost your health & vitality - improves nervous system function;
  • Gain peace of mind - clears negative emotions and reduces anxiety;
  • Promote longevity & total wellness;
  • Relieve stress - drops stress hormone (salivary cortisol) levels;
  • Promote deeper relaxation and better sleep;
  • Achieve greater aerobic capacity;
  • Weight loss and stay fit - regulates digestion and metabolism;
  • Heal internal injuries;
  • Prevent osteoporosis;
  • A stronger and more limber body - increases flexibility and mobility;
  • Become more confident and clear minded
  • Aerobic exercise recommended for coronary artery disease;
  • Lower your blood pressure;
  • Increase your strength and stamina;
  • Gain confidence and self control;
  • Become better able to focus;
  • Improve your daily performance;
  • Release negative emotions & gain positive feelings;
  • Become more sensitive to energy changes in the environment;
  • Improve your sports skills (golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, MMA, etc.);
  • Protecting yourself and your loved ones.

 !   News

Dr. Oz endorses Qigong!

“If you want to be healthy
and live to 100, do Qigong .”
- Dr. Mehmet Oz

Dr . Oz , Oprah's favorite MD, was asked out of all the health practices that one could do, what was the one practice that he would choose and recommend people practice to stay healthy. His response: If you want to be healthy and live to 100, do Qigong. He added that Qigong reverses the aging process.

On another Oprah show, Dr . Oz interviewed a couple who had been very overweight with many illnesses. Previously, he started them onto a program of better nutrition and a Qigong practice. They lost much of their excess weight, improved their energy, decreased most medication, and slowed their aging process. These improvements are attributed to Qigong and eating better.

Sustainable Health Care - The Problem:

"US health care costs stem from an overdependence on high-tech allopathic medicine and pharmaceuticals that treat symptoms; the bureaucracy and paper work of dealing with numerous insurance companies; the threat of malpractice lawsuits; and greed. The current US health care system is set up to make profits for investors rather than to heal… [we] must accept responsibility for our health by making health-promoting choices daily and seeking true preventative care that assists the body's innate healing ability. Therapies other than drugs and surgery need to be available through Medicare and insurance plans… The current system in the US depends upon sickness and high-tech solutions in order to make a profit. Our very economy is dependent upon the health care industry as it now stands. A November 2006 article in BusinessWeekOnline says that '…health care has become the main American job program for the 21st century, replacing, at least for the moment, all the other industries that are vanishing from the landscape.' " Robert J. Zieve, MD in The Townsend Letter (www.townsendletter.com) - February/March 2007.

More Qigong news & info >>

 

Qigong Program material:


Advanced concepts are explained in everyday language, augmented with practice exercises, and demonstrated through practical applications that can apply to both Qigong health enhancement but also to self defense. This is the ONLY Qigong program available that teaches also the hidden protection aspects of Qigong movements and postures.

Important material is taught from the original root styles that the internal martial arts were developed from and lays the proper foundation for a deeper understanding of the internal styles of Tai Ji Quan, Xinyi Quan / Xing Yi Quan, and Ba Gua Zhang. The material is very efficient and effective for learning practical self-defense and furthering one's current knowledge and training in the various internal martial arts. Without this true learning of the most ancient methods and body mechanics, one can attempt to practice internal martial arts for many decades but will never be able to generate any internal energy for healing and self defense.

Most importantly, instruction will be given in HOW to feel the movements by using the deeper muscles, correct body mechanics, correct body alignment, and correct rooting. Information is also given on WHY movements are done so. Over 30 years of research and experience has been done to develop the course materials for this program!

Introduction - basics

Foundational sitting, standing, stretching, conditioning, and strengthening movements that prepare one for the later lessons.

Level One - Opening the Mind-Body Awareness

The focus is on opening both your body and mind. On the physical side, works on flexibility, range of motion, and easy movements to open and lengthen all parts of your body. Movements also stimulate all the major energy systems in your body. To open your mind, we'll teach you an effective stress-relief and relaxation technique, plus a simple Qi energy awareness practice.

A. Active Qigong - To open the body, we use primarily movements in the limbs to open up the spine, hips and legs, and arms and shoulders.

1. Ba Duan Jin 八段錦 (8 Section Brocade):

As an introduction to Qigong, some simple and easy to learn standing and moving movements are taught in a series of eight postures. Aids in aligning, stretching, conditioning, balancing, and strengthening the body. This exercise is very ancient and is both Taoist and Buddhist influenced.

  1. Hold the Sky with Both Palms
  2. Draw Bow to Shoot a Hawk
  3. Touch Heaven and Earth
  4. Looking Backward
  5. Wag Head and Tail
  6. Opening the Spine
  7. Punch with Tiger Eyes
  8. Raise Heels.

B. Passive Qigong - seated or standing activates hands and feet points.

Various Qigong methods are taught, some simple and easy to learn standing and moving movements. Aids in connecting the mind with the body. These exercises are very ancient and are both Taoist and Buddhist influenced.

1. Falling Water Qigong – To open the mind, focuses on draining stagnant Qi from the hands and feet.

C. Qi Emission - focuses on generating and feeling Qi in the palms.

1. Following Qigong – sensitivity & awareness training. Single arm and double arm methods.

2. Interactive Qigong – generate greater Qi feeling & awareness:

  1. Stand in Wuji
  2. Holding Balloon
  3. Horizontal Dantian Rotation
  4. Vertical Dantian Rotation
  5. Horizontal Qi Pull
  6. Vertical Qi Pull
  7. Exchanging Qi
  8. Return to Wuji.

Level Two - Coordinate Body, Mind & Breath

The focus is on physical coordination that will teach you how to use your body in an integrated fashion and on coordinating movement, breathing, and mental concentration to increase the benefits you get from Qigong.

Active & Passive Qigong

1. Constant Bear Qigong – This exercise works the waist, hips, and legs using a combination of turning and weight shifting.

2. Reverse Bear Qigong – This exercise adds in ‘silk reeling' (staying connected as weight transfers from one side to other).

3. Embrace the Pearl Qigong – Standing exercise done without movement in order to focus concentration with breathing. Accumulates and restores energy in body.

4. Lifting Water Qigong - tool for learning relaxed arm movement using deeper muscles without tension.

5. Spiraling Qigong - increases mobility, flexibility, and coordination of arms and torso, while relieving muscular tension.

Level 3: Rooting and Energetics

Rooting is the single most basic concept in all of neigong and internal martial arts. Rooting involves keeping both a physical and an energetic connection to the ground for stability, balance, and centering. Also, focus on ‘Tai Ji Energetics', giving you the experiences of working with Qi both inside and outside of the body.

1. Isolated Spine Stretch - develops awareness of the upper body structures, primarily the spine.

2. Waterpump Qigong - develops awareness of the lower body structures, the hips and legs.

3. Three Circle Qigong – standing neigong for rooting and and actively circulating Qi throughout the body.

4. Universal Post Qigong – neigong for physically and energetically developing rooting in legs and feet, while being single weighted in Cat Stance.

5. Circling Hands Qigong – various advanced exercises for rooting the lower body while in Bow Stance and spiraling the upper body circulating Qi (Cloud Hands, Wave Hands Like Clouds, Flower Hidden in Mirror, etc.).

Level 4: Four Energies Neigong and Centering Elements Qigong - integrates the whole mind-body with flowing standing and walking movements. Centering Qigong connects to the energy fields of the Five Elements and energizes and harmonizes these areas for physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Level Five - Preparation Exercises:

1. Shaolin Preparation Qigong -

•  Rub hands – stimulate ‘laogong' (human gate) energy points in palm centers.
•  Energize temples – press warm palms to temples.
•  Washing the face - warm hands and rub palms from top to bottom and back (24x)
•  Tap the head – tap fingers gently over skull and temple areas.
•  Tap the central body – tap fists from breastbone to abdomen.
•  Tap legs and arms – taps fists over lower back and over front and back of legs and arms.
•  Develop Qi attentiveness – slowly raise & lower each arm with attention to laogong points.
•  Stand on Tightrope – develop balance & concentration, arms out, arms in, and arms crossed.

2. Shaolin Qigong - set of breathing exercises with moving arms

  • Tu Na or Tugu Naxin qigong
  • Opening qigong
  • Marriage of Heaven & Earth qigong
  • Letting Go qigong
  • Closing qigong.

3. Important Internal Exercises -

•  Opening/closing the kua – Taiji Swings 1-3
•  Rooting exercises (follow ground path)
•  Peng Jin exercises (rubber ball power)
•  Whole Body exercises – ‘Bend Bow Shoot Arrow' exercise
•  Spiral movement exercises (silk reeling energy)

To build a strong foundation, three Shaolin Qigong moving methods are taught that are part of the Shaolin Rou Gong system:

Level Six - Shaolin Rou Gong 少林 柔功 (Soft or Supple Exercises) System

1. Shaolin Liu He Gong 少林 六合功 (6 Harmony Exercises)

Composed of 6 sets of special walking qigong movements that unite breathing methods, acupuncture points and meridians, body mechanics, and self defense movements. The 6 Harmony movements are considered the primary foundation to all long fist applications, and the main starting point for the internal version of Shaolin martial arts. Each of the 6 exercises covers different vessels and meridians of the body (such as the Lungs, Spleen, Liver, Triple Burners, Heart, and Kidneys). The main function of the 6 Harmony is to:
- relieve anxiety, stress, and depression;
- aid in mental health;
- balance the emotions;
- cleanse stagnation in the body;
- increase respiratory capacity;
- strengthen the joints and ligaments of the body;
- and begin to correctly use Shaolin body mechanics that bridge to Tai Ji Quan (swing, sink, and point).

  1. Single Hand Pushes Mountain -- Dan Shou Tui Shan (lungs)
  2. Wind Swings Willow -- Feng Bai Yang-Liu (spleen)
  3. Chest center hugs Moon -- Huai Zhong Bao Yue (liver)
  4. Hide Tiger posture (single palm presses down) -- Fu Hu Shi (triple burner)
  5. Lift Palm to Sky -- Tuo Tien Zhang (heart)
  6. Subdue Dragon & Tiger Palm -- Jiang Long Zhang (kidneys).

2. Shaolin Chan Yuan Gong 少林 禪圓功 (Zen Circular Exercises)

Composed of a series of 8-10 demanding internal movements and postures.  These movements are made to:
- teach one to connect the upper and lower body into one functioning unit;
- stimulate and balance the body's meridian channels;
- strengthen the waist / hip (kua in Chinese) inguinal fold area;
- improve posture and back/spine structural problems;
- increase internal strength and stamina;
- generate energy;
- and bridge between Shaolin and Tai Ji Quan (such as Brush Knee Twist Step and other movements);
- self defense version of the exercise set exists as well.

1. Avoid (evade) Sun, Hide (conceal) Clouds -- Bi Ri Zhe Yun (6x)
2. (Greet) In the Wind, Wipe Dirt -- Ying-Feng Hui Chen (6x)
3. Forcibly Split Hua Mountain -- Li Pi Hua Shan (6x)
4. Move against Water-row (current) Boat -- Ni Shui Xing Zhou (8x)
5. Autumn Wind Sweeps Leaves (Twist Waist move around Hips) -- Qiu Feng Sao Ye (Niu Yao Zhou Kua) (8x)
6. Shake Body Sway Shoulders -- Yao Shen Huang Bang (8x)
7. Forcibly Pull Nine Bulls -- Li La Jiu Niu (8x).

 

3. Shaolin Luohan 13 Gong 少林 罗汉十三功 (Arhat 13 Exercises)

Composed of a series of 13 complex movements and postures. The movements:
- emphasize the correct way to use the internal concepts of Yielding, Sinking, Absorbing, Transferring, and Pointing energy for both health and self defense.
- combine the powers of meditation and movement into one smooth practice
- are vigorous and feature special stepping patterns that are a bridge to Tai Ji Quan and Xing Yi stepping methods.
- are made to enhance emotional health, vitality, muscle tone, internal strength, and internal cleansing of the bowels.
- are a link to ancient Taoist methods also known as the Tai Ji 13 Gung, and Buddhist yogic movements originally from India.
- also a powerful self defense set containing all these movements and some additional transitional movements that feature the full 18 Luohans.

  1. Old Monk Chops Wood
  2. Lazy Drapes on Coat
  3. Sleepy Monk Lies on Pillow
  4. Double Hands Push Mountain
  5. Wind Shakes the Lotus Leaves
  6. Luohan Bears the Flag
  7. Seven Star Striking Fist
  8. Hug Tiger's Head
  9. Roll Hands, Push Palm
  10. Luohan Sifts Flour
  11. Snake Flashes Tongue
  12. Insert Incense
  13. Old Monk Carries Basket on Arm.

After learning and MASTERING all 3 Rou Gong sets, the student will be able to have the CORRECT body mechanics and internal energy development and movement necessary to truly understand and perform the most ancient and traditional methods of the Shaolin system and support a strong foundation for mastering the other internal arts of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi, and Ba Gua Zhang.

Level Seven - Shaolin Yi Jin Jing 少林 易筋經 (Muscle & Tendon Changing Classic) :

Special Shaolin neigong set that is similar to elements of Indian Yoga and Taoist Daoyin exercises.

Level Eight - Dragon & Tiger Qigong

Special set for medicinal healing.

Level Nine - To be announced.


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