Qigong, Taijiwuxigong, T'ai Chi
spontaneous body movement, energy healing, chi development
Taijiwuxigong
What is Taijiwuxigong?
Taijiwuxigong is a particular type of Qigong practise.
Qigong is a practise that aims to improve physical, emotional and spiritual health through exercises that connect the integrity of the body with the breath and the mind by using stretching, relaxation, body position, mental concentration, perception and movement.
Qigong is renowned for being a ‘chi’ or ‘energy’ based practise; there is a development of 'Yuan Qi', the 'vital' or 'life' energy force.
Not unlike T'ai Chi movements Qigong is simpler, and therefore easier to learn and engage with, as a direct and powerful movement activity or therapy. The movements are relatively simple and easy to remember.
Exercises include static and dynamic standing exercises or postures and sitting and lying down exercises. You will be connecting with the mind and the breath, developing a tangible vibrational energy or healing force, working with spontaneous body movements and developing a connection with the dantian (the lower energy centre and power centre).
There is an ongoing emphasis on spinal health and alignment, the alleviation of narrowed inter-vertebral spaces, the stretching and softening of joints and ligaments and the clearing of the internal energy channels or ‘meridians’. This work can be considered as ‘posture medicine’.
It is a most direct
route into working with the energetic system. There is an emphasis on the
connection to the earth via the legs, which allows you to develop quickly and
work towards a higher level safely.
You will be guided through these exercises to suit your own ability and progression. There is no grading or competition, but a personal progression through the eight main stages of development and a continual and constant refinement. Beginners and advanced students can work alongside one another, as each student will ‘meet’ that exercise at their own ‘level’.
Development through the eight stages and three main levels of this practise allows the individual to develop, generate and support:
- health
- self-healing
- alleviation of chronic complaints
- body alignment and freedom of movement
- internal forces, energy or 'chi'
- a solid foundation for advanced practise/meditation and spiritual development
- alignment with self and universal forces
Regular practise will:
- prevent and treat illness
- reduce stress - establish balance
- integrate mind/body/spirit - bring peace
What is Spontaneous Movement?
Spontaneous movement is a natural phenomena which is tapped into through the practise of Taijiwuxigong. It has many healing benefits - not least in allowing movement to unravel the tension that is held in the body; physical or emotional.
There are spontaneous movements going on inside the body all the time, for example, peristalsis, the eyes blinking, the heart beating; all without our conscious control or effort. When we exercise in a certain way we can also allow movement to become spontaneous; instead of moving from our conscious direction we allow a different type of movement to emerge. This comes through a complete relaxation and a quietening down of the thoughts and then a following of the movement that is driven from the internal energy system.
In order to generate spontaneous movement the dantian must become active. The dantian is the key to the energy system.
Qigong and Chi Kung are words that are synonymous.