Tai Chi and Chi Gong

Tai Chi is an ancient chinese system of movements/exercises that typically flow into each other making it appear like a beautiful slow dance. It is commonly practiced outdoors, in nature but can equally be done indoors. The movements are designed to strengthen, invigorate and loosen up the body and at the same time calm and focus the mind. More specifically they work on what is called the Meridians best known from Acupuncture and Acupressure, which inturn have a beneficial effect on the vital organs. 

Qi-Gong is very similar to Tai-Chi and one of the most obvious differences is that the various movements are repeated more often and the practitioner stays relatively more centered on one spot than in Tai Chi. These movements are also generally much easier to learn.

When i treat with Shiatsu and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine i will often teach you one or a few movements of Qi Gong as well. There are several reasons for this. I believe that the more we are engaged in our healing process the more effective the treatment will be. So this gives you some additonal tools to do something directly for yourself and i think this is very empowering. Secondly these movements will help you to understand the pattern of your dis-ease in an experiential way and thus the treatment will make sense to you, in the true sense of the word. It will be easier to see how your various symptoms relate to each other and possibly to the way you feel and behave in your daily live. 

Taichi Qigong Shibashi

For those who want to learn a complete set of movements i teach a form called Taichi Qigong Shibashi.

Taichi Qigong Shibashi is an elegant and relaxed, yet strong practice which takes 15 minutes to perform and can easily be learnt in one term.

The aim of this form is to increase your internal vitality, which can be used to heal illness and injury and improve your general health and enjoy moving in a meditative way that brings tranquility and peace to your mind.

As its name makes clear, it is derived from tai chi but performed as 18 distinct qigong movements, designed - in Chinese Medicine terms - to open all the channels of the body. This could alternatively be understood as gently stretching and twisting all the muscles, or fascial planes, of the body.

Taichi qigong embodies all the key principles of qigong: sinking and rooting to the ground; ascending and opening to the sky; moving from the energetic centre of the body (the dantian in the lower abdomen); integrating the whole body into every movement; co-ordinating movement with the breath; integrating body/posture with breath and mental attention to cultivate the 'qigong state'.

Taichi qigong can be practised at any age and you do not have to be especially fit to learn and benefit from the practice. Practised regularly, it will strengthen the body (especially the legs), improve balance, develop core stability, calm the mind, improve breathing capacity, and - like tai chi itself - offer a range of possible health benefits.