TAIJI QIGONG
THE ESSENCE OF TAIJI QIGONG - DVD

This DVD has the following sections that cover the different aspects of Taiji Qigong:

1. The purposes of Taiji Qigong

2. Training Procedures

3. Important Points

4. Stretching

5. Warming up

6. Wai Dan Standing Still Meditation

7. Moving Taijiquan

PURPOSES OF TAIJI QIGONG

This course follows the same general approach as Dr. Yang's book "Taijiquan Theory", which teaches that a student should regulate in the following order:

1. Regulate the body

2. Regulate the breath

3. Regulate the mind

4. Regulate the chi

5. Regulate the spirit

Explanations are given as the material is presented.   The stated goal of Taiji Qigong is to lead the student into the domain of emptiness, represented by the concept Wuji.    At this point Body Qi and Mind Qi become one and all desires disappear.   Fortunately, for the many of us that might not reach this accomplished a level, the journey trying to get there is still wonderful and filled with many body, mind and spirit health benefits.

TRAINING PROCEDURE

This section talks about regulating the body by being relaxed, centered, balanced and rooted.   When we line up our bodies properly with the earth/ground, it becomes much easier to begin to relax our bodies and mind since we are no longer fighting the effects of being out of balance.    This causes our Qi to circulate and avoid stagnation.

Once we learn to regulate the breath, then the mind can lead the Qi effortlessly, as explained by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming.  Each of the five regulations are covered using explanations and demonstrations by Dr. Yang.

WARMING UP

This is a very thorough presentation of well thought out exercises that assist a student/practitioner in loosening their body, muscles and joints.    The exercises in this section teach how to connect the parts and move as one unit.    Some of the exercises massage and move the internal organs in a beneficial way.

The goals of the abdominal exercises on the DVD are:

• Regain control of the muscles in the abdomen

• Loosen the lower dan tian so Qi can flow

• Improve and smooth the Qi circulation in the small and large intestines

• Improve and smooth the Qi circulation in the kidneys

• loosen the kidney area

• Eliminate Qi stagnation in lower back

• Loosen muscles, stomach, gallbladder, liver & spleen

• Improve Qi circulation in these areas

• Use the mind to lead the Qi from the lower dantien to the solar plexus area

Dr. Yang then teaches chest exercises, arm exercises, loosening up the torso and the internal organs, loosening the wrists, coiling forward and backward, settling the wrists, rotating the ball, and pushing to the sides.    For each of these sections, an explanation is given of what the goals should be for each exercise.   Dr. Yang is shown split screen with different views of him demonstrating the exercises.

A sign of quality material is when the "warm up" or "basic" exercises are so well designed that they truly have all the secrets of the art, and alone would still be worth the cost of the video.    If someone practiced only these warm up exercises, they would still be of great value.    As a beginning student, I recall wanting to skip the warm up exercises and go straight to the Taijiquan form.  

My teacher taught many Taiji exercises using a Taiji staff that measured from the ground to the armpit.   This staff work, I realized many years later, to be of great value and well worth the extra effort of making them a part of the daily Taijiquan practice, along with the form, push hands, etc... The wise student will enjoy spending time learning these exercises.   So don't skip these exercises when you watch this video.   Spend a lot of time in this section to truly develop a strong foundation in this Taiji Qigong ability.

IMPORTANT POINTS

This section delves into the theory and concepts of Taiji Qigong, with the goal being to return your spirit to its origin, nature.   Advice is given on diet, life style and the best time of day to practice.

STRETCHING

This section teaches three or four different types of stretches, while encouraging one to stretch slowly, gently, no tensing of the muscles, no holding your breath, but rather to breath naturally.     Dr. Yang recommends ten repetitions of each of the demonstrated stretching techniques.

WAI DAN STANDING STILL MEDITATION

Dr. Yang demonstrates this Wai Dan version, but for the Nei Dan version of standing still meditation, the practitioner is referred to the book "The essence of Taiji Qigong", the companion book for this video.   Tips are given for the correct practice while showing Dr. Yang demonstrating the form.    This form uses the following postures:

• Embracing the moon on the chest (arcing the arms)

• Holding up the Heavens

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG

1. Stand still to regulate the breathing (martial artists use reverse abdominal breathing)

2. Big python softens its body

3. The Qi is sunk to the dan tian

4. Expand the chest to clean the body

5. Pour the Qi into the Baihui (top of the head)

6. Left and right to push the mountains

7. Settle the wrists to push the palms

8. Large bear swimming in the water

9. Left and right to open the mountain

10. Eagle attacks its prey

11. Lion rotates the ball

12. White Crane spreads its wings

At this point Dr. Yang demonstrates the complete set in continuous movements, repeating each of the forms six times, which would be less than normal.

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG COILING SET

This sets purpose is to lead Qi to the surface of the skin and the bone marrow through the use of coiling motions, as taught on this DVD.    Reverse breathing is recommended for this set due to its benefits of strengthening the guardian Qi and the skin listening Qi.   These two types of Qi are used in the martial arts.   The postures are:

1. Stand calmly to regulate the spirit and breathing

2. White Crane relaxes its wings

3. Drill forward and pull back

4. Left and right Yin and Yang

5. Water and Fire mutually interact

6. Large Bear encircles the moon

7. Living Buddha holds up the heavens

8. Turn Heaven and Earth in front of your body

9. Golden Rooster twists its wings

10. Turn your head to look at the moon

11. Big Python turns its body

12. Up and Down coilings

At this point Dr. Yang demonstrates the complete set in continuous movements, repeating each of the forms six times, which would be less than normal.

All of these movements come from the Taijiquan form and should be familiar to anyone who practices Taijiquan.   They are excellent for the practitioner when performed with the concentration and focus as demonstrated by Dr. Yang.

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG ROCKING SET 

These exercises helps one to link all the parts, to realize the opposites and how they work together.  

1. Embracing arms

2. Ward off

3. Roll back and press

4. Push

5. Rotating the ball

WALKING TAIJI QIGONG

This involves practicing one movement while stepping continuously, as when you do Cloud Hands and do ten to twenty repetitions without changing to other postures.    The set is as follows:

1. Wave hands in clouds

2. Diagonal flying

3. Twist body and circle fists

4. Stepping leg

5. Brush knee and step forward

6. Repulse monkey

7. Snake steps down

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw some of the exercises on this DVD, as I had developed some of the same exercises,  like the walking Taiji Qigong series, as a great way to learn and become comfortable with movements in the form.  I frequently have advised students to take a movement and turn it into a mini set.    I would usually pick whatever posture was giving me a hard time, and I would create a left and right, continuous way of doing the posture, which would enable me to begin to understand and learn the movements.  These exercises are very beneficial for being able to do the movements both on the left and the right, as well as learning how to make the movement circular, in that it can return to its beginning and begin anew.

Well, the title sure sounds simple enough.    But in reality this is one loaded DVD, with enough material to keep a student busy for a long time.     It's nice to be able to have your Qigong set come out of the Taijiquan movements, as they then become more of a complete, whole system.   

Enjoy!!!!!

Copyright 2007 Patrick H. Dickson • All Rights Reserved