tai chi chuan / qi gong ?

[fwellers]

I am kind of surprised there aren't already threads about this here.
I'm wondering if anyone has experience practicing tai chi and qi gong. I have an interest in them, and am fairly convinced that with steady practice they would be beneficial to most areas of life, including physical, mental and spiritual.

I've seen many videos, and heard first hand accounts of the invisible power of Qi and it's healing qualities and it's magical seeming power qualities. I've seen 90 year old men throwing people around without even touching them, because of a build up of Qi.

So just wondering what practical experience anyone has to share about these.

Thanks,
floyd

[PianoManGidley]

I've thought about doing Tai Chi myself, since I discovered how much I love yoga. I really want to get into Bujinkan, though.

[JSB]

I've found the level 1 exercises in Spring Forest Qigong to be very helpful for health, energy, and emotional well-being, and very easy to learn.
Spring Forest Qigong

I also enjoy Ba Duan Jin (8 Brocade).

[Jennihul]

I practiced Tai Chi for two years. It was relaxing but not without physical extertion. You could easily break a sweat and get sore muscles.

Jennifer

[Stu]

I would guess that Tai chi and Qi Gong would have similar benefits to yoga and / or meditation, does anybody know if this is the case?

[fwellers]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

I practiced Tai Chi for two years. It was relaxing but not without physical extertion. You could easily break a sweat and get sore muscles.

Jennifer

Jennifer, why did you stop doing it ? It wasn't enjoyable anymore ?

[Ralph]

I strongly recommend you Spring Forest Qigong - personal learning course from Learning Strategies.
The course is very simple, centered around healing. It does work and the results are nearly immediate.

[SunnKali]

Another fan of Spring Forest Qigong. I participate in a weekly healing meditation with Master Lin and his energy is beyond awesome. Very deep and pure. A nice thing about getting the course from Learning Strategies is that it includes several instruction CD's. I've also seen the LS SFQ course in the Tools for Wellness catalog and it's available on their website.

Here's the link for Spring Forest Qigong at Learning Strategies.

Spring Forest Qigong

.

[fwellers]

Thanks for all the recommendations. It seems the Spring Forest Qi Gong is highly recommended.
Earlier today I ordered Simplified Tai chi Chuan with Applications (YMAA)"
Shou-Yu Liang; DVD; $29.95

That guy and his dvd's are also highly recommended and very well reviewed. I'll give it a try, and will also check out Spring Forest. Qi Gong and Tai chi go hand in hand, so it could be the beginning of a long lovely thing. I can only hope.

Thanks !!

[WanderingOak]

From what i understand, Spring Forest Qi Gong is not exactly traditional by any stretch of the imagination. It may work (I've never actually tried it), but you may have better luck with the more traditional forms. I have had good luck myself with books and videos by Ken Cohen myself. He is a native English speaker, who is also fluent in Chinese, and he has been practicing and teaching Qi Gong for the past 20 years. He definitely knows what he is talking about.

[fwellers]

Yes thank you. I read most of one of his books that I have.
I have a problem with sticking through with things. But then I keep going back to them.
I am really hoping that the Tai Chi learning takes. For me that would be a better beginning I think, because Qi Gong is even more subtle and thus easier for me to get bored with until it takes.

I think that after the basic tai chi forms are learned, breath can be incorporated, and then tai chi sort of becomes Qi Gong at the same time. In a way getting the benefits of both.

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by fwellers

Jennifer, why did you stop doing it ? It wasn't enjoyable anymore ?

I moved to a new state. Lost my tai chi partner, my sister. Never found a place I liked here.

Jennifer

[fwellers]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

I moved to a new state. Lost my tai chi partner, my sister. Never found a place I liked here.

Jennifer

Thanks. I guess that indicates for me, that it hadn't added the richness to your health and life that I imagine it would, from all the hype I've read about it. Either that or maybe you miss it terribly. <wondering>

[JSB]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

From what i understand, Spring Forest Qi Gong is not exactly traditional by any stretch of the imagination. It may work (I've never actually tried it), but you may have better luck with the more traditional forms. I have had good luck myself with books and videos by Ken Cohen myself. He is a native English speaker, who is also fluent in Chinese, and he has been practicing and teaching Qi Gong for the past 20 years. He definitely knows what he is talking about.

True, in that the specific form has not been around for a long time; it was developed by Chunyi Lin after his own 20 year practice of many different kinds of qigong. Anyone who has practiced other forms of qigong will recognize similar techniques in the SFQ exercises.

The form was designed to be both effective and simple to learn and practice, and Ken Cohen has spoken highly of it.

I'm not trying to turn this into an argument in any way; just wanted to emphasize that "new" doesn't necessarily equate to "ineffective".

I think that for any health-related qigong practice, it's important for each person to find a form that works for him/her and his/her own specific needs. Your body will tell you what it likes!

[JSB]

Originally Posted by fwellers

Thanks. I guess that indicates for me, that it hadn't added the richness to your health and life that I imagine it would, from all the hype I've read about it. Either that or maybe you miss it terribly. <wondering>

I don't know anyone who has tried tai chi (with a decent instructor) who hasn't gotten something out of it. That something ranges from, "This is pleasantly relaxing" to a truly life changing practice. It's the people who are blown away that go out of their way to publicize it, so I think the "hype" is coming from them.

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by fwellers

Thanks. I guess that indicates for me, that it hadn't added the richness to your health and life that I imagine it would, from all the hype I've read about it. Either that or maybe you miss it terribly. <wondering>

Well, I certainly didn't look at it like some magic bullet. It added richness to my life but my life is also excellent without it. I do miss it but I'm not sure anything with regard to a martial art is worth 'missing terribly.' It's a technique. Nothing more. I'm not the type of person to put all my eggs in one basket, workout wise or relaxation wise.

Jennifer

[fwellers]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

Well, I certainly didn't look at it like some magic bullet. It added richness to my life but my life is also excellent without it. I do miss it but I'm not sure anything with regard to a martial art is worth 'missing terribly.' It's a technique. Nothing more. I'm not the type of person to put all my eggs in one basket, workout wise or relaxation wise.

Jennifer

Yea I guess. I'm probably counting too much on the hype, and am sort of looking ( or hoping ) it will be a magic bullet type catalyst for me. I have a less than perfect heart, a bad back, and general low energy much of the time, so I'm really hoping tai chi and qi gong can change all of that. And if it does, I can't imagine ever stopping it. But as I said in an earlier post, I'm not famous for following through with things.

Thanks for your responses.

[fwellers]

Originally Posted by JSB

I don't know anyone who has tried tai chi (with a decent instructor) who hasn't gotten something out of it. That something ranges from, "This is pleasantly relaxing" to a truly life changing practice. It's the people who are blown away that go out of their way to publicize it, so I think the "hype" is coming from them.

That sounds totally reasonable. I am hoping to be in the second category, but I'll take the first too.

[newmark]

Tai chi has benefits, but then so does any kind of exercise. Some of its special benefits include relaxation and work on balance. I think it depends what you are looking for. If you want a good workout and to maintain a reasonable weight, then tai chi is probably the wrong choice.
In my experience tai chi is an excellent supplement to another form of exercise.
It will not give you magical powers. This is fiction. A fiction which many 'internal' martial arts books encourage. In fact there is an obsession with internal martial arts at the moment.
If you choose something you enjoy you will likely stick with it and so gain benefits.

[MartialDev]

From a public health perspective, Tai Chi deserves all the hype it receives.

However, I concur that it is not a great calorie-burning exercise.

Tai Chi Articles — Martial Development

[James Hayden]

I studied through the Taoist Tai Chi Society that has a local branch which meets several times a day within walking distance from my home. The Taoist Tai Chi Society teaches a modified version of the Yang style, I believe. It has a sequence of 108 movements, divided into 3 or 4 stages. I was told they concentrate mostly on the health benefits of Tai Chi, and there is not much discussion about the internal aspect.

I have to admit, when I watched them do it, it looked really simple, but to do it in reality requires much more fine control and balance than I ever thought it would. It took me a good 3 months to be able to remember all the moves and be able to stumble through the set on my own. It's easier when you're in a group because if you forget what comes next, you can just watch someone else for a moment to remind you.

I completed an introductory level class, and began showing up to the advanced class. The introductory class focuses more on just being able to stumble through the whole routine. The advanced classes sharpen the forms. I never broke a sweat in the class for beginners, but I was worn out frequently after the advanced classes.

I stopped going around Thanksgiving because I got really busy, and I haven't gone back since then. I really should! The major improvement I noticed was in my posture. I slouch quite a bit, and also tend shift my weight back and forth between my legs rather than stand with both feet firmly planted and weight evenly distributed. Tai Chi made me infinitely more aware of where my weight was centered, and as a result, my posture and stance become more solid. They have begun to really deteriorate again after having not practiced in so long.

Anyway, the Taoist Tai Chi Society has branches all over the world. They are staffed by unpaid volunteers, and membership fee is reasonable, but not required to attend their classes or workshops if you are unable to afford it.

[alsy]

Quite some number of year ago, I practiced Tai Chi for about a year. It was several years later, before returning for a few months. I have not practiced Qi Gong though.

Jennihul, perhaps the form of Tai Chi you practiced was treated more as a martial art, because in my practice of Tai Chi, i have never broken a sweat, and never experienced sore muscles. It involved very slow movements, a focus on inner energy, and a focus on flows in the movements. It was not a mere "technique", or a martial art. There are a great number of forms of Tai Chi, and Qi Gong, so i can not say what my experience would have been if i had practiced a different form, or learnt from another teacher. My teacher was very good. I have easily felt what other people feel, so when she showed us the forms to copy, it was not difficult to go with the slow movements and flows of energy. It seems to me, that it is the "grace", and the flows which separate it from being a mere technique. Even though this is how it may appear to an outsider, or one who may not be perceiving the flows.
Although having said that, i have read of martial arts using energy in their practice of the fighting arts. The impression i get in terms of difference; the Tai Chi i pracitced was about personal flow of energy in the body, and it had nothing to do with fighting or anyone else.

It opened me to the essence within me. It expanded my perceiving the essence of people and things. Someone else could use the word "spirit", but in my personal symbology, "essence" is the closest to explanation without spilling into group belief systems which are obsolete and worthless for my personal use.

As much as i liked it and got benefits outside of the actual Tai Chi sessions, perhaps it may not be for everyone. Just as ones particular eating lifestyle may be good for many people. It may not necesarily be suitable to all people. Which is fine, because the diversity existing upon this great big wonderfull ball we all stand on, makes life more interesting.

[Swannie]

Yes!

With continued practice it will improve many aspects of your life. I have found it to be an excellent catalyst for change. Opening doors I never expected it to.

I'll be posting about it quite a lot on my blog when I get around to starting it. :P

Anyone feel free to PM me about Tai Chi though. I'm no expert in different styles or Chi, or Qi Gong, but happy to talk about my experiences.

Suffice to say Tai Chi changes my life.