I have just returned from a full day Qigong class given by my Tai Chi teacher. She has taught Tai Chi for 25 years and Qigong for about 15 years. The form she teaches was traditionally taught by a master to only 3 pupils who were personally chosen by himself. It was passed down in this way for nearly a thousand years. She was taught in China by the first master to be allowed to propagate the art more widely. He thought that it's benefits should be available to everyone.
It is a very pure, simple and accessible form of Qigong. It is ideally suited to modern life being supremely adaptable. There is no need to learn a complete sequence and practice the whole thing everyday. You can learn in stages and in each session, you do as much as you feel like at the time. Whatever you do adds to your 'chi bank'.
I had two objectives in attending the class. Qigong is an integral part of Tai Chi and is a great help in learning to experience and direct the flow of chi. It is easier to practice at home, with limited space, and I hope that it will help to make my Tai Chi practice more effective. I also took my wife, who has MS. Her mobility is greatly restricted and this form of Qigong is easily adapted to her needs. Another problem for her is fatigue. We are hoping that Qigong will boost her energy levels and do away with the need for drug treatment.
A very enjoyable day and a great group of people.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
New Tai Chi Beginners Class
The first night of the new beginners class was a great success. A few people turned up who weren't at last weeks open evening. It was a very full class with not a lot of room, but a very positive atmosphere and an enjoyable night.
It was strange for me personally though. On the one hand, I was looked on by the beginners as someone who knows what he is doing. On the other hand, I still feel like a beginner myself. I have learned to go through the form on auto pilot, without consciously knowing what I am doing. I have always had a problem when we stop and break things down. I start to think about it and it falls apart. We went right back to basics, learning how to stand again and step between stances. And what do you know, I think about it and I struggle to do it!
It is going to be very good for me, to have another chance to really learn the basics. I have been told by more advanced students that there is a constant process of learning one new thing and being forced to re-evaluate everything that has gone before.
That sounds fine to me. As long as I am there and doing it, everything is just as it should be.
It was strange for me personally though. On the one hand, I was looked on by the beginners as someone who knows what he is doing. On the other hand, I still feel like a beginner myself. I have learned to go through the form on auto pilot, without consciously knowing what I am doing. I have always had a problem when we stop and break things down. I start to think about it and it falls apart. We went right back to basics, learning how to stand again and step between stances. And what do you know, I think about it and I struggle to do it!
It is going to be very good for me, to have another chance to really learn the basics. I have been told by more advanced students that there is a constant process of learning one new thing and being forced to re-evaluate everything that has gone before.
That sounds fine to me. As long as I am there and doing it, everything is just as it should be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
