Qigong
Begasics
Instructor:
Andy Lee
About
Andy Lee:
As
a licensed Qigong teacher, Qi Healer and coach, Andy Lee places a strong
emphasis on the health benefits of exercise. To further her understanding of the
Tai Chi classics and Qigong terms, she studied Chinese for seven years at
Rutgers University and earned a B.A. in Chinese Studies. Since 1995, TAICHIUSA
is an authorized branch of the Chinese Healing Arts Centers under the auspices
of Dr. T. K. Shih and his family.
Dates:
Wed.
September 10, 2008 @ 7:15-8:45 pm
These classes meet every other week
Sat.
September 13, 2008 TBA @ 12:00-1:30 pm
Sun.
September 14, 2008 @ 11:00-12:30 pm
The weekend classes meet twice a month
Class length: 90 minutes
Price:
$200 for 8 classes
·
Our classes are
small—no more than 9 people per class.
·
This 8-session
course decides our meeting schedule on start date.
·
Please call, or
email to tell us what time is good for you and we will try to schedule a
class accordingly.
·
$200 for 8 -90
minute classes and materials
(we
are forming new Qigong classes. If you are interested in a different class
time please feel free to suggest a time that is better for you, we will try
to accommodate. Our class are small, no more than 9 practitioners per class:
consequently, they are filling up quickly. please let us know if we should
save you a spot. )
--if you are interested in the weekend class please
let us know.
Course
Curriculum:
- A
Basic introduction to the theory and applications of Classical Chinese
Medicine as it pertains to Qigong and Qi Healing:
- Theories
of Qi and Blood
- What
is Qigong?
- What
is Chi/Qi and how does it work?
- The
supportive relationship of Yin and Yang (two powers)
- Basic
Meridian Lines and Points for Meditation for Microcosmic Orbit
- Jing,
Qi, Shen (Essence, Energy, and Spirit)
- Five
Elements (Wood, Metal, Earth, Water, and Fire (see
Xingyi page for for information on the 5 Elements)
- Zang-Fu
Organs (solid and hollow organs of the human body)
- Introduction
to Regulating the Mind—Excessive emotions
- Introduction
to Regulating
the Body –The four principles and 24 requirements.
- Introduction
to Regulating the Breath.
- Opening
and practicing the Microcosmic Orbit--the small universe within.
- Seated
and Standing Microcosmic Orbit.
- How
to do one move: Zhan Zhuang
- Stress
Reduction: the physiological effects and why it works wonders.
- Auras
What is Qigong?
Qigong pronounced “Chee Gunn”.
(The alphabetical
spelling of modern Chinese has been attempted many times in the twentieth
century. These Chinese phonetic alphabets are Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Guoyeu
Romatzyh, Yale Romanization and Zhuyin Fuhao. It should be explained that the
Mandarin pronunciation does not change. Our transcription of these sounds into a
more familiar written representation has changed, most recently to Pinyin. The
committee for the reform of the Chinese written language approved the Hanyu
Pinyin Orthography; consequently, you can find the transcription of the Chinese
characters for Taijiquan as taiji Quan or T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung as Qigong
or Chee Kung. Chinese transcription to Romanization has many variations.
However, in 1956 the People's republic of China adopted the Pinyin form of
transcription or Romanization.)
About "qigong/chi
kung". In the Chinese language every syllable is a word: a prefix, a root
or a suffix. Every word has many possible meaning and may be used differently in
different context. Qigong is made up of the two syllables "Qi/Chi" and
"Gong/Kung". For our purpose we can translate "QI" to be
"life force". I believe this to be the most accurate interpretation in
relationship to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Most of the time the word
used is --energy. Sometimes it may be interpreted as "breath" or
"breathing". It is correct, but I believe not complete for our
purpose. "Gong/Kung is translated as work, exercise, skill, and practice.
The most often translation is energy exercises, energy work, even breathing
exercises. These are right, even breathing exercises is acceptable because
regulations of the breath is one of the three main requirements of qigong.
However, this is a partial understanding which can send your practice in the
wrong direction.
Consequently,
"gong" means "effort put into something over a period of time in
order to achieve a result."-- Implied in the word is the concept of time. Originally
the word was applied to the "work" through practice over a period of
time. The word practice implies an investing of effort over a period of
time. I believe this is closer to the truth. Because when I did something wrong
with my qigong work, Dr. Shih's correction would be that I was not doing
"Qigong" but doing an exercise. Qigong is done with full attention,
full awareness and that awareness deepens with time and practice. It is never
done by rote. Exercise is something you can learn quickly and then little or no further
"thought" is needed.
I just want to add one
thing: although Qigong may be applied martially, it is not a martial art. Qigong
may be applied medically but it is not medicine. Qigong may be applied for spiritual
development, but it is not a religion. It may be applied to improve the quality
of life.
Qigong is the internal art of circulating body energies
to promote health and eliminate blockages. Proper body alignment, release
of tension, regulation of breathing and quieting of the mind are integral
components of qigong practice.
Key Benefits
