QI GONG
Qi (pronounced Chee) is our vital force, the force that animates us. This force is more than just mere energy, it is the force that has always been there, from the origin of time. It is the Qi of the source of life, of the stars, of the planets, of the universe...Understood as such, Qi is a reservoir of information, of ancient wisdom, and when we practice Qi Gong what we do is to activate this wisdom consciously and use it for our benefit, giving it direction.
Gong is effort and discipline. Your Gong will be the skill-art-power that you aquire according to the time and effort you put in your practice, depending on the method of your choosing.
Thus, Qi Gong (also known as Chi Kung- pronounced Chee Gong or Chee Kung) is a practice to activate our Qi and accumulate it as Gong, though a series of very simple movements and postures that integrate mind, body and spirit in their performance, which coordinate breathing, awareness and intention.
Practicing Qi Gong at the Five Immortals Temple
Everything that exists is made of Qi, and Qi is in constant movement and transformation. Qi is naturally flowing within the body, but not only on the inside, also from the inside-outside and from outside-inside. With the practice of Qi Gong what we do is to promote the free flow of Qi, which means draining or clearing our meridians (energy channels, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine- TCM). When we are in pain, or experience an illness or disorder, generally it is because Qi is not flowing properly. The drainage and balancing of the meridians takes place thanks to the circulation of Qi, which not only occurs physically but also emotionally, as each meridian has associated emotions. When we practice we balance our Yin and Yang and our energy field, and we accumulate Qi, increasing our energy levels.
"Where there is pain, there is no flow; where there is flow, there is no pain"
- Chinese Medicine Proverb.
The fundamental requirement to practice Qi Gong from the Five Immortals Temple is to calm the mind, this is, to be in a meditative state during the practice. To achieve a meditative state we must not pay attention to our thoughts- let them go. There are different methods to achieve this. It is recommended to practice the Daoist meditative method (sitting meditation to cultivate stillness), to harness the process of entering and holding a meditative state during the practice of Qi Gong, however, any method that allows you to bring your mind into stillness in silence is perfect.
Besides increasing our energy, activating our body, regulating our emotions, training our mind, and so on, the ultimate goal of Qi Gong is to find the silence from which we reconnect with our Spirit, to discover who we really are, so that we can manifest our power, will and clarity. There is where true healing and strenght are. Qi Gong is about recovering this consciousness, manifesting it in our way of being and our daily lives.
Qi Gong is originally from China and can be traced back 5000 years. It is considered one of the four pillars of TCM. There are different Qi Gong styles, some of them share a similar foundation but the methods and the movements vary. Not every Qi Gong style has the same background nor effects, that is why practicing a Qi Gong with history, lineage and proven results is so important, like the Five Immortals Qi Gong for example.
Renunciant Daoist monks/nuns practice Qi Gong, meditation and Tai Ji as complementary practices in the Wudang temples. At the Five Immortals Temple students practice Qi Gong as the first activity of the day, regardless of the course the student is taking part of. That is how fundamental Qi Gong is.
To read more about the practical aspects of these disciplines click here, and about their relation with Daoism, click here
To learn more about Qi Gong visit the Five Immortals Temple's web site: Qi Gong
What is the use of Five Immortals Qi Gong on a daily basis?
USEFUL FOR EVERYTHING! Ideal for:
Calming the mind, reducing stress and anxiety, cultivating inner peace
Training the mind, improving focus, cognition and intuition abilitiesLearning how to breathe, increase breathing capacityIncreasing your energy levelsPreventing and catalyzing healing of physical, mental and emotional illnesses/disordersDetoxifying, improving blood and Qi flowStrengthening your body and improving your posture
Improving sleepFeeling empowerment
Profundly connecting with yourself
Improving sleepFeeling empowerment
Profundly connecting with yourself
Learning Five Immortals Qi Gong
I share foundations and several Qi Gong movement series (longevity and medicinal Qi Gong) that I learned at the Five Immortals Temple.
I do my best to teach in a simple, clear and dynamic manner, so that the student can practice on its own in a short period of time. The learning options are: weekly group or private classes, workshops, intensive courses and retreats. Of course, you can also learn at the source in China, check the Temple's website
I do my best to teach in a simple, clear and dynamic manner, so that the student can practice on its own in a short period of time.
WEEKLY GROUP
-OR INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED- CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
We learn the exercises that comprise different Qi Gong series, the method to practice them properly, and basic meditation guidelines. The class is a time-space where you offer yourself the time to practice with a teacher that guides and corrects your posture, movements, breathing, rythm, etc. The learning curve is more gradual. Studying theory during classes is more limited. To develop your potential, it is recommended to complement the weekly classes with the intensive courses or tailored individual classes.
INTENSIVE COURSES
In the intensive courses we learn the exercises and their implementation method, theory behind the practice and directions are more detailed, more context is offered, such as introduction to Daoism, Yin-Yang theory, TCM foundation and basic notions of internal alchemy. During the courses we learn the pillars of meditation and the Daoist meditation method to cultivate stillness, which is a practice on its own that complements and strengthens the practice of Qi Gong.
RETREATS
Retreats include the same content as the intensive courses but the practice is more profound and follow-up and instruction is more personal. There is more opportunity to teach more movements. During the retreats the rythm is more disciplined, offering more structure, physical and mental order, as well as the necessary space for instrospection and reconnection with oneself.