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United in Breath: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day
Each year on the final Saturday of April, practitioners of Tai Chi and Qigong worldwide mark the day with special events to share their peaceful practice and disperse positive energy.
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Deeply Rooted: The 12 Routines of Yi Jin Jing
Yi Jin Jing is rooted in the essential principles of TCM and Qigong. From the gentle opening moves through the more intense routines, in its entirety, Yi Jin Jing provides a complete and progressive stretching and strengthening workout.
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Cultivating the Three Treasures: Shen, Qi and Jing
In Traditional Chinese medical theory there are three things that are essential to sustaining health and life: Shen, Qi and Jing. They are known as The Three Treasures, and each one contributes to the health and well-being of the body, mind and spirit.
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Thoughts on Wuji
We start and end our Shibashi in Wuji, which can be translated as “utter formlessness.” It is likened to the moment before the Big Bang. In that moment nothing existed, there was just emptiness, but that emptiness was filled to the brim with potentiality.
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The Yin and Yang of Intent
The many benefits of Qigong practice are enhanced when the mind is part of the process because Qigong is an exercise for mind and body together. When explaining the role of the mind, teachers talk about the power of intent. Intent means to intentionally orientate the mind in a direction.
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San Jiao/Triple Burner in Theory and Practice
San Jiao (Triple Warmer, Triple Heater, Triple Burner) is extraordinary in that it does not correspond to a specific organ. Rather it helps to regulate all the organs and energy in the body by opening passageways and facilitating free and proper flow.
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Playing with Clouds
Seeing a clear, blue sky invariably makes us feel at ease and expansive. We tend to feel lighter and brighter. In meditation, the blue sky is sometimes used as a metaphor for the true mind; the mind that is calm, clear and expansive.
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Standing in Awareness
When practising our Shibashi, we are seeking to get to a place where we are present in awareness. Awareness is beyond space, time and duality. It is a place of no thought where we simply observe.
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Fragrant Qigong – Unlock The Power to Heal Your Body
15 minutes, 15 exercises that can and will change your life. These exercises bring enormous therapeutic effects and have helped people all over the world recover from illnesses and diseases, cope better with stress, and overcome anxiety and depression.
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Unravelling the Silk Brocades
An ancient and traditional form of Qigong, Ba Duan Jin exhibits multiple existence and variation. Ba Duan Jin translates into English as eight sections or movements and is commonly known as The 8 Brocades.
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Spring – A Time for Growth
On the Spring Equinox the liver comes into its power and energy then primarily moves from the liver up the front of the body and down the back. This has a much more opening and expansive feel a bit like opening your arms to embrace a warm, sunny morning.
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Getting to Know Your Kua
Kua refers to the functional space that inhabits the area from the inguinal ligament through the inside of the pelvis to the round of the hip bones and through the torso to just below the ribs. It encompasses some of the strongest muscles in the human body; those connecting the legs to the spine.
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Winter a Time for Stillness
The Winter Solstice marks the true beginning of the cold, winter months when many animals hibernate, many plants draw their energy back into the earth and activity in nature tends to move underground. Under the surface life continues as many of the plants prepare for germination and sprouting in the spring.
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The Point of Precision – Tracing Meridians and Optimising Qi Flow
When we understand the relationship between Qigong movements and the corresponding TCM acupoints, we can optimise Qi production and elevate flow. We can use our Yi to stimulate and/or calm particular points that would affect health issues.
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Autumn – A Time for Gathering and Refining
In TCM Five Element Theory, autumn corresponds to the Metal element, characterised by energy drawing inwards; refining our resources. Autumn is a time of both letting go and drawing in. It is a time of withering and decay, but also a time of gathering the final fruits and stocking up for the winter ahead.
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The Healing Effects of Body Tapping
TCM believes that energy blockages can cause pain, disease, depression, inability to focus and a general feeling of tiredness and discomfort. Body tapping helps to release these blockages. The great thing about body tapping is that you can’t do it wrong.
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Mountain Top Qigong
Mountain Top is a short Qigong routine that opens the Qi channels and promotes deep relaxation. It allows the practitioner to focus on gratitude and receive good energy into their life circle. The original version was devised by Tai Chi Master Angus Clark.
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A Longer Warm Up
This is a longer warm up with a bit of Qigong mixed in, starting at the head and working down the body. You can follow it, adapt it, reverse it, or add to it as suits you and your practice on any given day.