Qigong and Taijiquan for Health
Please send an email to [email protected] if you want to join Zoom classes and I'll send you the Zoom ID#.
Monday Dec. 2nd., 10:30am Zoom Qigong
Tuesday Dec. 3rd., 10:30am Qigong
11:30am Taijiquan (mixed level)
both in person classes are at Little Falls Recreation Center, 160 Paterson Ave., Little Falls
7pm, Zoom, Medical Qigong
Wednesday Dec. 4th., 10:30am, Zoom- Yang Long Form
Thursday Dec. 5th. Beginner Tai Chi, 10am-11am, in person classes are at the
Little Falls Recreation Center, 160 Paterson Ave., Little Falls
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Heaven and Hell: A Zen Parable
A tough, brawny samurai once approached a Zen master who was deep in meditation. Impatient and discourteous, the samurai demanded in his husky voice so accustomed to forceful yelling, “Tell me the nature of heaven and hell.” The Zen master opened his eyes, looked the samurai in the face, and replied with a certain scorn, “Why should I answer to a shabby, disgusting, despondent slob like you? A worm like you, do you think I should tell you anything? I can’t stand you. Get out of my sight. I have no time for silly questions.” The samurai could not bear these insults. Consumed by rage, he drew his sword and raised it to sever the master’s head at once. Looking straight into the samurai’s eyes, the Zen master tenderly declared, “That’s hell.” The samurai froze. He immediately understood that anger had him in its grip. His mind had just created his own hell—one filled with resentment, hatred, self-defense, and fury. He realized that he was so deep in his torment that he was ready to kill somebody. The samurai’s eyes filled with tears. Setting his sword aside, he put his palms together and obsequiously bowed in gratitude for this insight. The Zen master gently acknowledged with a delicate smile, “And that’s heaven.”
FAQs
Tai Chi Chuan or Taijquan? Chi Kung or Qigong? Chi or Qi? Hsing-I Chuan or Xingyiquan?
These are the same words but are spelled differently because the Wades-Giles system of romanization was used before the Pinyin system. Today you may see a combination which may vary from author to author. Hence, the confusion.
Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan, is a martial art which has elements of internal power development, Taoist philosophy, meditation and body/mind/spirit integration fused within it. The "forms" are a series of linked steps which look like a slow motion kungfu routine. It takes some time and patience to learn but millions around the world know the journey is worthwhile. Many practice daily as a ritual of peace, well being and self discovery. I teach the Yang 24 short form and the Yang 85 long form. The major emphasis is on self- healing, relaxation, proper alignment, flow, rootedness and meditative awareness.
More on Taijiquan: "Taiji" refers to the duality of the universe depicted by the famous symbol of yin and yang. That symbol is called the Taiji symbol. It's half black with a white dot and half white with a black dot. It symbolizes a dynamic state of interdependence, transformation, and balance. Taiji refers to the primal condition of the universe after it split into two from the primordial Oneness. It is often translated as the "grand ultimate or grand terminus". "Quan" refers to fist or force and martial arts. One story is that the originator of Yang style Taijiquan, Yang Lu Chan, was an unbeaten pugilist who employed the principles of yin and yang. His embodiment of Taiji philosophy in his art gave rise to the name, Taijiquan.
The vast majority of people who practice Taijiquan today do not use it as a martial art. Most practice it as a flowing set of mindful movements which reduce stress, increase well-being and balance. It has a long list of scientifically verified benefits including, increasing grey matter in the brain, helping with diabetes, improving bone density, reducing blood pressure and more.
To study the martial aspects of Taijiquan is becoming a little more popular in America than it once was. To actually use it effectively in real martial arts contests is rare and would require very intensive mental, physical and energy training for years. Taijiquan is a masterpiece. Woven within it is Qigong, the physics of effortless movement, a through and gentle exercise system, Meditation, Inner Alchemy and the study of Yin and Yang within oneself as well as with others.
It is deeply influenced by Taoist philosophy, i.e. the philosophy of being natural and harmonizing with Nature.
Taijiquan has different branches named after families or locations: Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun, Wu/Hao, Wudang etc. Each Taijiquan style has an external form or choreography which takes some time to learn properly. Along with form study, Taijiquan's internal training involves learning "Sung", listening and sensing skills or "Ting jin", Fajin or explosive power, push hands etc. Weapons are used for training in later stages of development.
What is Qigong or Chi Kung? Qi or "chi" basically means energy or life force** and "gong" refers to any skill which is highly developed through dedicated practice. Qigong is a method of building, balancing, and refining your energy and awareness. There are hundreds of forms of Qigong which may focus on health, martial power, inner alchemy, spirituality and ethical development or can be a synthesis of these. Qigong often includes still meditation and self-massage/acupressure as well.
Qigong movements are done mindfully with different focuses depending on the goal. Generally, there is regulation of breathing, mind, movement and posture with deeper alignments of energetic structures (danteins, sinew channels, meridians, energy gates) all done in an integrated fashion.
Most Qigong sets are separate movements which are easy to learn. Externally, they may look simple but internally, they are more complex. There are some Qigong forms, like Wild Goose Qigong, which have a long series of linked movements.
Yiquan is based on Standing meditation postures which quickly build your core energy and can open the door to Zen like Awareness. It is a comprehensive health building, spiritual development and martial art system.
** Qi meaning life force is very simplistic and limited. To begin a deeper understanding of "Qi", please read this: http://jaybulloch.com/articles/what-is-qi/ and start practicing Qigong or Taijiquan.
Understanding the philosophy of Yin and Yang
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJNEvjwipO0
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SEMINARS Acupressure and Chinese Medicine Friday, Nov. 22nd 9am-1pm, 4 CEU's 7 Spielman Road, Fairfield, NJ 07004 973-808-1666 CEUs – Approved by Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Dental Boards More ways to improve total Well-Being in addition to Qigong and Taijiquan Stress reduction and Meditation for children toolboxproject.com/ An interview with the founder of "The Havening Technique" www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqHN4B4AGEU&t=174s Acupressure points to relieve neck tension www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrqSd-4cTNc How to Turn off the Fear Response: Create a Sense of Safety Turn off Fight Flight Freeze Response www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_8Eix4iVmo Emma McAdam, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has many excellent videos Postural re-alignment genius Pete Egoscue egoscue.com/ Clean nutrition- What an eye opener his videos are! www.youtube.com/user/flavcity www.earthinginstitute.net (information) Community Resilence dovetaillearning.org/ Tired of hearing bad news? Check out some of these sites. Amazing innovation is happening everyday! https://www.popsci.com/ https://www.snexplores.org/ https://www.sciencenews.org/ https://www.sci.news/ https://www.sciencealert.com/ The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohlleben The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us if We Let Them by Peter Wohlleben , Jane Billinghurst Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America by Peter Wohlleben , Jane Billinghurst https://www.ecosia.org -this search engine plants trees when you use it 
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