Practices
What is the basic difference between Qi Gong and Tai Chi?
Qi Gong is called energy practice. Qi gong is based on cultivating the energy of life within you. There is no martial intention in Qi Gong. Qi gong focuses on letting go of thought forms, centering your mind in dantien, third eye development and spiritual awakening. Becoming whole again is really the essence of Qi Gong. Tai Chi is called the grand ultimate. Tai Chi has martial intention within every movement of the form. In Tai Chi, there are strikes, blocks, trapping, joint locking, sweeps and throws fundamentally and respectively within all Tai Chi forms. Although Tai Chi looks like a dance, it is a powerful martial art for self defense. Both practices share present moment awareness and many similar health benefits.
Tai Chi Health Benefits
Qi Gong Health Benefits
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu has many facets within its system. The primary purpose of Kung Fu is to awaken one’s own Buddha nature within themselves. “The diamond within the heart”. Shaolin Kung Fu is traditionally trained by the monks and integrates deep seated meditation, prayer, mantra, contemplative study on Buddha’s teachings to purify the heart while also focusing on powerful combative techniques. Shaolin Kung Fu has broad sweeps as a living art, embracing everything as Qi Gong; through the physical and energetic forms of practices based on the natural movements of animals and nature. It has become the most popular martial art in the world!
Shaolin Kung Fu Health Benefits
Hsing I Chuan (5 Element Qi Gong and Kung Fu)
Hsing I Chuan means mind form boxing and is formulated and organized around the 5 elements and their corresponding yin and yang meridians respectively. Around 400 years old, this art is considered to be one of the three primary pillars of the Taoist Arts. It is a way to develop powerful yang energy for profound healing or destructive self defense. Hsing I forms were created to stimulate, tonify, shake and vibrate the Qi throughout the internal organs and their corresponding meridians. The purpose is to clear and cleanse internally for deep healing or for devastating martial art techniques. Hsing I is a complete Qi Gong system of the 5 elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth) and incorporates the 12 animal system.
Hsing I Chuan Health Benefits
BaGua (8 mother palms) and the I Ching (ancient book of changes)
Bagua is the constant flow of ever changing yin and yang energies. Bagua is alive, aware and active. It is described by a famous Taoist priest, Jue Ting Zhou, “as dynamic Qi gong.” Based on the circle, one walks the circle meditatively (traditionally around a tree) in one of the 8 palms with the fluidity of spiraling energies of heaven and earth flowing through the practitioner. The 64 changes of the I Ching become a living art form within the practitioner. Bagua embodies the natural powerful forces of nature and many spiritual gifts are awakened from this powerful practice. The 8 primary palms are Earth, Heaven, Fire, Water, Metal, Wood, Lake and Mountain respectively.
Bagua Health Benefits
Seated Meditation/The Art of Sitting
Seated meditation opens the door of present moment awareness and connects one deeply to divinity. There is an art to sitting. While standing meditation/Qi Gong builds your energy to sit, the moving arts clear your meridians and allow the Qi to flow freely to prepare you to sit. Meditation combines the key principals of alignment, deep relaxation, deep breathing, energy practice and letting go of all attachments. Seated meditation focuses on accessing, concentrating and harmonizing the four forces. The four forces are breath, mind, energy body and vital energy/sexual energy. Concentrating all four has a profound experience on any prayers, mantras, and meditative techniques etc. Meditation quiets the mind, stills the heart, and opens to deep peace within the heart. In learning the art of releasing from thought formations, the mind is trained to become 100% concentrated on techniques, affirmations, mantra, contemplative studies or prayer etc. Being 100% concentrated, martial techniques become extremely powerful. Breath is a key facilitator in entering the present moment by simply observing it. Releasing all attachments, one becomes free of distracting thoughts, turbulent emotions, and pain and tension in the body.
Seated Meditation Health Benefits
Qi Gong is called energy practice. Qi gong is based on cultivating the energy of life within you. There is no martial intention in Qi Gong. Qi gong focuses on letting go of thought forms, centering your mind in dantien, third eye development and spiritual awakening. Becoming whole again is really the essence of Qi Gong. Tai Chi is called the grand ultimate. Tai Chi has martial intention within every movement of the form. In Tai Chi, there are strikes, blocks, trapping, joint locking, sweeps and throws fundamentally and respectively within all Tai Chi forms. Although Tai Chi looks like a dance, it is a powerful martial art for self defense. Both practices share present moment awareness and many similar health benefits.
Tai Chi Health Benefits
- Reduces physical stress helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Relaxes mental tension thus alleviating headaches, eye tension, TMJ and neck pain
- Oxygenates the cells of the body improving internal organ functions, especially kidneys
- Detoxifies the blood and improves overall circulation
- Strengthens the muscles, tendons and joints , increasing one’s balance and coordination
- Calms and resets the spine/central nervous system and improves nerve response
- Stimulates the left and right hemispheres of the brain increasing intellect and creativity
- Focuses the mind, boosting memory while enhancing mental clarity
- Releases emotional pain and suffering, bringing emotional balance to oneself
- Naturally heals past traumas- physical, emotional or mental through letting go
Qi Gong Health Benefits
- Awakens one’s spiritual connection
- Breathing techniques increase the flow of energy through the meridians and oxygenates the organs while nourishing them
- Cultivates and increases one’s vitality and stamina
- Teaches present moment awareness
- Realigns and resets the spine, therefore improving central nervous system function
- Revitalizes the kidneys and reduces adrenal exhaustion, while invigorating the kidney Qi
- Focuses on letting go of past habitual negative tendencies through setting spiritual intentions
- Invites cosmic consciousness into the body, heart and mind
- Eventually one learns to draw energy from the elements (sun, earth, trees, etc) for condensing and storing energy into the body
Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu has many facets within its system. The primary purpose of Kung Fu is to awaken one’s own Buddha nature within themselves. “The diamond within the heart”. Shaolin Kung Fu is traditionally trained by the monks and integrates deep seated meditation, prayer, mantra, contemplative study on Buddha’s teachings to purify the heart while also focusing on powerful combative techniques. Shaolin Kung Fu has broad sweeps as a living art, embracing everything as Qi Gong; through the physical and energetic forms of practices based on the natural movements of animals and nature. It has become the most popular martial art in the world!
Shaolin Kung Fu Health Benefits
- Increased breathing capacity
- Lengthens and strengthens the ligaments and tendons while increasing bone density
- Breaks up adhesive scar tissue in the body to increase mobility and fluidity of movement
- Cultivates astonishing flexibility throughout the body
- Balances left and right hemispheres of the brain
- Increased blood circulation in the brain for greater health to the pituitary gland, pineal gland and the brainstem
- Connects oneself deeply to nature and the elements
- Brings mental clarity and emotional balance
- One often experiences deep happiness that spontaneously arises from within
Hsing I Chuan (5 Element Qi Gong and Kung Fu)
Hsing I Chuan means mind form boxing and is formulated and organized around the 5 elements and their corresponding yin and yang meridians respectively. Around 400 years old, this art is considered to be one of the three primary pillars of the Taoist Arts. It is a way to develop powerful yang energy for profound healing or destructive self defense. Hsing I forms were created to stimulate, tonify, shake and vibrate the Qi throughout the internal organs and their corresponding meridians. The purpose is to clear and cleanse internally for deep healing or for devastating martial art techniques. Hsing I is a complete Qi Gong system of the 5 elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth) and incorporates the 12 animal system.
Hsing I Chuan Health Benefits
- Tonifies the deep yin and yang internal organs connected with the elements and the meridians
- Metal: purifies the yin lung and yang large intestine
- Water: cultivates the Qi of the deep yin kidneys and yang bladder
- Wood: invigorates the yin liver and yang gall bladder
- Fire: enlivens the yin heart and purifies the yang small intestine
- Earth: nourishes the deep yin spleen and balances the stomach
BaGua (8 mother palms) and the I Ching (ancient book of changes)
Bagua is the constant flow of ever changing yin and yang energies. Bagua is alive, aware and active. It is described by a famous Taoist priest, Jue Ting Zhou, “as dynamic Qi gong.” Based on the circle, one walks the circle meditatively (traditionally around a tree) in one of the 8 palms with the fluidity of spiraling energies of heaven and earth flowing through the practitioner. The 64 changes of the I Ching become a living art form within the practitioner. Bagua embodies the natural powerful forces of nature and many spiritual gifts are awakened from this powerful practice. The 8 primary palms are Earth, Heaven, Fire, Water, Metal, Wood, Lake and Mountain respectively.
Bagua Health Benefits
- Resets the bone structure of the spine through the deep spinal twisting while walking
- Tonifies the internal organs through the twisting of the spine
- Spirals energy into the brain center increasing mental function
- By twisting the spine continuously with deep natural breathing the whole body becomes invigorated with Qi and replenished with oxygen. Everything from the blood deep in the bone marrow to the superficial external skin.
- Builds kidney Qi, prolonging one’s vitality and vigor
- Feeling oneness with the cosmos and the interconnectedness of all things
Seated Meditation/The Art of Sitting
Seated meditation opens the door of present moment awareness and connects one deeply to divinity. There is an art to sitting. While standing meditation/Qi Gong builds your energy to sit, the moving arts clear your meridians and allow the Qi to flow freely to prepare you to sit. Meditation combines the key principals of alignment, deep relaxation, deep breathing, energy practice and letting go of all attachments. Seated meditation focuses on accessing, concentrating and harmonizing the four forces. The four forces are breath, mind, energy body and vital energy/sexual energy. Concentrating all four has a profound experience on any prayers, mantras, and meditative techniques etc. Meditation quiets the mind, stills the heart, and opens to deep peace within the heart. In learning the art of releasing from thought formations, the mind is trained to become 100% concentrated on techniques, affirmations, mantra, contemplative studies or prayer etc. Being 100% concentrated, martial techniques become extremely powerful. Breath is a key facilitator in entering the present moment by simply observing it. Releasing all attachments, one becomes free of distracting thoughts, turbulent emotions, and pain and tension in the body.
Seated Meditation Health Benefits
- Mental clarity
- Releases deep tensions in mind and body
- Emotional balance
- Cultivates peace of mind
- Opens the heart to divinity
- Slows the heart rate down and helps to reduce anxieties and worries
- Harmonization and integration of body, heart, mind and spirit
- Tranquility and serenity
- Dissolves deep feelings of anger, hatred, resentments, guilt, shame and sorrows
- Awakens kindness, self love, forgiveness, acceptance and compassion
