Tag Archives: Qi Gong
The Mystery of Eight Brocades Qi Gong – All Movements
Qi Gong in the West
It is rare to see people in the west practicing authentic Qi Gong like in the old days in China. Originally the Eight Brocades Qi Gong form was developed by the military. Qi Gong translates to “Breathing,” “Power,” “Exercise.” Something most people don’t want to admit is that the “magical Qi,” which translates to “Energy” or “Power,” is the same “Qi” that is also used for cars and airplanes. It describes the source of power, which for us is oxygen.
Mystification of Qi
In the West, most things that are difficult to learn are viewed as unprofitable. The wellness genre in the west is big and people are always looking for the easiest healing method. In China, the understanding of wellness is much clearer, as there is no such widespread social system as in the West, which is why people feel responsible for their own health. How can one be able to change without effort?
Learning Authentic Eight Brocades Qi Gong
Our academy is educating people internationally about true Qi Gong with traditional values. The technical aspect of Qi Gong is properly explained so that one can work effectively with Qi Gong. Master Ziji and Centina put together this extensive series about all the movements available in the Eight Brocades Qi Gong. During this series, the movements are shown, afterward explained, and individual corrections are shown. Each day one episode will be published.
When practicing Qi Gong make sure that you adjust the difficulty accordingly. Stances can be lower or more accurate as well as flexibility can be improved to achieve better positions. You can check out our flexibility training course for effective stretching methods for your Qi Gong practice.
When practicing Qi Gong make sure that you adjust the difficulty accordingly. Stances can be lower or more accurate as well as flexibility can be improved to achieve better positions. You can check out our flexibility training course for effective stretching methods for your Qi Gong practice.
Support Wudang Academy
These series are completely free for everyone to watch. We need to make people aware of traditional Qi Gong and the importance and effectiveness of traditional Wudang Qi Gong practices.
If you like this series or our Qi Gong helped you, please leave a donation or comment below. With every donation, you support our school and the archiving of traditional information for everyone. Master Ziji will continue to work on projects like this and is always educating people about the truth and reality of Internal Wudang Martial Arts.
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyThe Effective Qi Gong Routines of Wudang Sanfengpai
Qi Gong in this modern age has many shapes and forms, and if you go down the street and ask people about Qi Gong, they will reply that they already know Qi Gong and that it is not for them; they like Tai Chi better, say most…
The most common Qi Gong forms in the Sanfeng lineage are Ba Duan Jin and Wu Xing Qi Gong (Eight Brocades and Five Animals). They both have different focus points but together, they improve the body as a whole.
What is the general difference in our Qi Gong?
In the western world, Qi Gong is often perceived as relaxing and seen as a wellness method. However, traditionally Qi Gong is here to make one stronger, and as the name suggests (Breathing Power Exercise), it trains and improves the body’s physical and mental capabilities.
The Qi Gong of the Sanfeng lineage certainly teaches someone to relax, but the method itself is more likely to be described as a “change”, because without effort; the improvement will not come by itself.
In the end, the answer is quick and easy, you may practice wellness Qi Gong for 50 years without much improvement in your life quality, but you can come two times to our Qi Gong and immediately feel the difference in your body. In the end, if you cultivate yourself over the years with our Qi Gong, the effects make things possible that were impossible before.
How do I start?
Locally in Vienna you can join our Qi Gong classes available here!
If you are too far away you can watch our Qi Gong videos:
- Authentic Five Animals Qi Gong Class
- Authentic Wudang Eight Brocades Qi Gong (Ba Duan Jin)
- Traditional Five Animals Wu Xing Qi Gong
- Advanced Wudang Eight Brocades (Ba Duan Jin) Qi Gong Class
Further more you can learn the basics of Qi Gong in our online class here!
Like what Wudang Academy is doing? Support us by buying a T-shirt (free shipping):
Quickstart Your Self-Healing Abilities
The body and mind are constantly working, but there has to be a time where we rest; during this resting time, the self-healing process – also naturally called regeneration – can be triggered or positively encouraged with the simple things I am about to explain in this post:
Most people never experience a real regeneration process – if your natural regeneration is suppressed, you also age much faster!
This is a must-read for everyone on their Daoist journey:
Three categories are important:
- Circulation – is promoted through specific stretching
- Nourishment – is promoted through natural food
- Sleep – is promoted through the environment
Let’s go through it step by step:
The circulation is going through the big circulatory system – the main organs and the minor circulatory system – limbs, joints…
The circulation is vital because it directly connects with your Qi – your body is nourished over the circulatory system. While the five main organs are rather easily circulated, the minor circulatory system is often troublesome if the body cannot push through the joints and veins well enough. Parts that are not reached by your circulation become necrotic and die off in the worst case.
The main indicator of weak circulation is fascia pain, especially in the back, shoulders, and neck. Also, the joints may be very small and lack the natural movement range. You can easily fix both of these problems with our Qi Gong training specializing in fascia and joints stretching.
What Daoists eat
It is a common mistake that Daoists do not eat meat; this is only true for priests. A balanced diet is preferable, but there are crucial points you need to keep in mind when you want to eat the Daoist way:
Do not use salt, pepper, or other spices – spices are very effective in changing our perception. As Daoists, you want to taste what you really need; spices are only confusing our body. They can be very effective as medicine, but Daoists never use spice to enhance the taste. It would be best if you never used especially salt; food normally has natural salt.
Do not overcook; use a steamer instead! Because Daoists do not use spices or other extras – the natural nourishment of food is highest when it is only slightly cooked to retain most of the vitamins and elements. A steamer can be a nice change in the kitchen, as it makes a lot more things possible without overcooking and degrading the food’s nourishment value.
Do not eat raw! Overcooking has less nourishment but not cooking will use up a lot of energy to digest. We want to make it as easy on our stomach as possible; using up a lot of energy for digesting will make you tired.
Besides these simple rules – you can basically eat everything. There is no golden rule, but in China, we eat many steamed vegetables, almost no fruits, and sometimes meat. Keep this in mind when you want to change your eating habits.
If you have more questions about this topic, keep in mind that I will gladly answer your questions in the community forum!
You train and eat properly? Then it would help if you learned about sleeping:
Sleeping is the process where the actual healing – your regeneration – happens. So, of course, you want to know how you can promote your regeneration during your sleep!
First of all, you need to sleep hard! Soft mattresses will only compress your spine and hence block your circulation in your circulatory system. Your bed should’ve firm, and you should not sink when you lie on it.
In Daoism, we focus on energy saving, and there is nothing more compelling than a good rest. There are many rules on how to sleep. However, sleeping should be natural, and every individual has different physical habits. There is no fixed rule on how to sleep, but there are ways to achieve the “great” sleep.
Understanding the Basics
(This might sound a little abstract but this knowledge is ancient, and it was forbidden to cut bodies open) The Daoists believe the right side of your upper body is “air”, while the left side is filled with blood/vessels. Before sleeping “look inside your heart”. You are not going on a journey, so there is no need to let your mind wander.
Don’t sleep like a dead man.
Do not put your hands on your chest or rest in other awkward positions. Everything that makes the oxygen intake harder should be avoided. The resting position should be easy to breathe and should promote the internal blood circulation. Do not tighten your joints or your blood cannot flow. Some tight areas will close the blood vessels on the joints, and you will wake up feeling that the “cut off” part is numb.
The Three Positions of the Sage
Lie on the back if you want to promote a straight posture. This position is excellent if you have back pain from hard work, but be careful not to lie too soft. The bed should not be so hard that you feel your bones but not too soft so that you feel compression on your spine and rips. Soft beds have a compressing effect which leads to spinal curvature. Your hands should be relaxed, and look down to your feet. If you have warm hands (if not, rub them first), place them on your “Dantian” (~2 fingers below navel).
Lie on the right side when your stomach is empty. This posture will balance the “blood” and “air” parts in the body. You reduce stress on the heart and have an overall deeper sleep. People with heart problems should prefer this position. Your right hand should support your neck and ear. The left hand should rest on your hip or upper leg. Do not put your chest and stomach inside too much; let the breathing go easy and naturally.
Lie on the left side to reduce stress in the stomach. If you have eaten something or your body has some water inside, this position can help to sleep quietly for a shorter duration. Be careful not to press your heart too much inside, and do not warp your body inside. The heart should be able to work efficiently, take your time to find the right position. This position will reduce pressure on your digestive organs. The left hand should support your neck and ear to bring the upper body in the right position. The right hand should rest on the hip or upper leg.
With all this said – it is clear now:
That the Daoist way is a well rounded way of life to preserve energy and promote our natural healing abilities. Never give up, cultivate yourself and share your experiences with the world!
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Hello! I am Master Ziji and always working hard on writing blog posts and making educational videos. If you like my work, I really appreciate your donation, as this keeps me going! Thank you for your support!
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Qi Gong is What You Need to Learn – Because Now You Think You Know
There is no other art like Qi Gong, which is technically touted in marketing with many empty promises. Besides, there are apparently Qi Gong schools everywhere that promise a certificate in a few weeks or even train masters in a short amount of time. In this post, I don’t want to write about the strange tactics that Qi Gong is sold with today, but about the common misunderstanding of the term Qi Gong because most people today actually have a completely wrong impression of it.
Qi Gong in the fast lane
This is ridiculous; Qi Gong promises a feeling of well-being and good health, very efficiently and quickly. But how is that really supposed to work? With the energy? With the highly efficient exercises? With the stretching exercises? The providers usually can’t think of much more; it seems to be enough to scam innocent people.
Let’s be clear now
The hard facts are not well received by many of the interested parties or the other providers. My education was very strenuous, and I see my students’ responsibility as more important than not bringing the truth to light. Qi Gong is the most important part of any internal martial art. Qi Gong rarely comes alone but is an essential part of a martial arts school. Today I can safely say that my school, the Wudang Academy – the Qi Gong of our lineage of Sanfengpai – is one of the best Qi Gong routines in the world. I will explain to you in a moment how Qi Gong works and why ours is so good.
This is what you need to know
Qi Gong is first and foremost like anything you write on the back with the “Gong” – a lot of work. Translated, it means “fuel” for us humans, which is oxygen, and together it means breathing power exercise. Qi Gong works naturally like our body, without any supernatural effects. It is simply better gymnastics for everyone as there are more factors, but no one knows about it. Therefore, I will go deeper into the ways of using and applying Qi Gong.
Qi Gong, in Daoist teachings, focuses on stretching the fascia and optimizing the breathing rhythm. The same Qi Gong in another school like Shaolin is fundamentally different. Qi Gong is, therefore, not Qi Gong; even if the names are the same and the routine is already known, how you train is important.
Separating the wheat from the chaff
It is dangerous to exercise anything; many offer unofficial Qi Gong routines with familiar names and familiar routines; I can only advise against it if you want to stay healthy. But how can a layperson find out whether it is a real Qi Gong?
Qi Gong in the fast lane – never trust people who promise quick success with simple and effortless Qi Gong routines.
Well-being, wellness, and relaxation – three things that have nothing to do with the process of Qi Gong exercises. After every sport, you will feel better afterward, especially with the right Qi Gong exercises. You can compare that to athletes – how would you market a sport? Definitely not with a sense of wellbeing. Of course, you want athletes who can keep up with the training plan, so you would say it is your chance to get better, but you need to fight – put lots of effort into it. In sport, it suddenly becomes clear that we have to make an effort. So why not with Qi Gong?
Improving the energy balance – these are absolutely empty promises; nobody has become fitter without exertion, and what else should this energy be? Never get sick? Yes, then please stretch a lot – and do it right and train your circulatory system as well. These are the two things that will go the best in helping you avoid getting sick and avoiding stress.
It’s a fact that is similar to yoga – in the West; Qi Gong is full of pseudo-trainers and pseudo-masters in glossy plastic uniform who have all been doing this for years and are fully convinced of it.
Ok, I want to learn the real thing – but what are the benefits?
Qi Gong takes years to be really good at it. Everybody can feel the effects of our Qi Gong physically very quickly. After the first two courses, you should have no or almost no pain, if you have had any – especially in the main areas such as the back, shoulder, and neck.
The real success of Qi Gong is for healthy people, not for “damaged” people. Once the pain is gone, Qi Gong really starts with the following:
The most important point to learn about Qi Gong is the straight posture. This avoids a wrong posture in the future, and the practitioner gets a feeling for the straight posture. Only when you stand upright can your body relax and focus your strength on other things; this is very important for martial arts.
Advanced students who are good at Qi Gong will learn how to use breathing rhythm, which directly creates a feeling and control over Yin and Yang – strength and relaxation.
Most people are so far from advanced practice that having more information is just confusing. If you really want to learn Qi Gong, you start at the bottom; most students drop out because they underestimated it. So too much information is not good; focus on the exercise. Qi Gong is not for sale, and there is no supermarket where you can get what you want. You strive and reap the benefits.
Of course, this all sounds less exciting than everyone else’s marketing speech, but if you want to learn an inner art, don’t let the surface distract you.
How can I start?
You can get a taste in our online courses! But of course, personal coaching from Master Ziji is vital to be able to correct you. This is a route of your choice. Nobody can help you in your endeavors. But it is a path that leads to a great treasure – something that you cannot buy. Not only do you learn an old tradition from our line, but you are also free to decide what you want to do without pain and physical and mental abilities – to become young again.
Nei Gong Mudra & Qi Gong Exercises
How Qi (Internal Energy) Works Within the Body
The body and mind are deeply connected. We need many things to work efficiently. Some theories are mostly very fragmented and do not explain the whole universe of these principles.
If one portion of our primary needs is not satisfied, we lack energy or cannot use it efficiently. The Daoist understanding is to reflect on nature and understand what we really need. The natural principles lay the playground for the way of humans.
So how do we get the most of our energy?
First, we need to understand how the individual is built to store and use energy.
The human body has a specific capacity and sensitivity for using energy; this is depending on the physical properties of the body. Let’s think about like a vase, or a vessel of some sort, it is possible to hold energy inside depending on its shape or form. Muscles, for example, do not mean we are energetically stronger; It is essential to find the balance in the body to be able to work efficiently, excessive large muscles will make your energy consumption higher and fatigue faster.
In general, it can be said if one physical appearance is stronger, than the potential for more energy capacity is there, but it can also mean the individual is more emotional and mentally unstable or lacks focus. The opposite is true for individuals with a weaker physical appearance; they have it harder physically but developed because of this a healthy mind and sharp focus. As I said, this is only general, and everybody cannot be generalized, but it is obvious to see that imbalance can bring these results.
It is the master who intends to balance these principles to pave a straight path of harmony for the student.
The path of cultivating Qi
I will list the essential understandings for cultivating Qi in its importance:
- Physical training, students within the Sanfengpai learn to become physically stronger, durable, and elastic. This training (Jibengong) will provide the body with the right foundation to develop Qi further on. Once the body can work with these requirements, the students start to use Qi by learning it naturally and practically.
- Tai Ji training, is the control of the extremes, harmonizing our powers is vital for learning to control Qi efficiently. Once the student is physically ready, it is easier to stay calm and focused on these exercises, hypersensitivity, or unable to feel anything only results for students who skipped the first step. The physical body will harmonize the way how Qi works, and the mind can be at ease and focus.
- Wu Ji training, also understood as “returning to emptiness.” Once the student has a hold of Qi, the natural order is to find the origin of this internal cultivation. Western people often tend to skip necessary steps and think the Qi will guide by sheer will. We do Wu Ji training to understand ourselves further and preserve our energy. It is what results from the tedious training of body and mind, that our being can find harmony.
Let’s not overcomplicate things further.
There is no magic formula in cultivating Qi. But there are several other things you should keep in mind:
- Sleep plenty to let the body fix itself. After each training, the circulation can work, and resting is the only way of repairing damages within the body. Every improvement also means a change inside, and for this, the body needs to be able to activate its regeneration, which only happens during sleep.
- Focus on your breath, 90% from our Qi can be used with the right and natural breathing. Our body takes in energy from Oxygen, and this way, we can use Qi more efficiently.
- Eat healthily, another way of getting energy is to eat light and healthy food. It will give the body the fundament for improving and changing within. Variation is essential and the ability to feel what the body needs to eat now.
- Fix the circulation within the body. Cleaning the body from the inside works with our blood/Qi circulation. Our bone structure, tendons, and fascia can block or prevent this circulation. Therefore it is crucial to get back to the Jibengong training as mentioned above to fix these problems.
This information should all sound logical and natural because the way of the Daoists is a natural way. It is the media and alternative approaches that wake the interest of people who do not know this natural order. I guess that the main reason is to make money to learn special methods. As I said, there is no magical formula or a way to fool your body and mind. The path of Daoists is a way of consistency, hard work, and determination. I am sure it is not a suitable way for everyone, but from my experience, it is that most people change their way of thinking at a certain point in life and realize that their own body and mind is vital for preserving the life quality, and then they start training. In China, people lack social insurance, and self-preservation is an important topic. When people tend to make others responsible for themselves, it will only lead to ignoring our own needs.
Fix Your Body Qi Gong – Intensive Seminar
After our Qi Gong courses are so well attended. The Wudang Academy would like to offer a small intensive seminar.
28th-29th March
Relearn Qi Gong
Most have heard of Qi Gong somewhere or have been to a Qi Gong school. The knowledge of the Wudang Academy is unique in Europe and is one of the best Qi Gong schools internationally. Every year thousands fly to Wudangshan to learn Qi Gong properly.
With this offer, it is possible for the first time people to learn these Wudang arts in Vienna.
Qi Gong is effective – in the first hour. The body needs targeted exercises under the guidance of Master Ziji so that the body feeling can be learned anew and the energy for the day can be cultivated.
Content of the seminar:
Master Ziji explains as usual on his YouTube channel of the Wudang Academy the connections between Yin and Yang – the coordination with strength and relaxation and how these exercises exactly work in connection with breathing.
Since the Qigong courses are very well attended and the time for each student is limited, this Qi Gong seminar is held in a small group of a maximum of 15 people!
Qi Gong is the absolute foundation before Tai Chi and Kung Fu!
- Basic exercises from the forms: Ba Duan Jin Qi Gong and Wu Xing Qi Gong are gone through. These forms are the daily routines of the Daoists in the Wudang Mountains.
- Basic exercises for the coordination of yin and yang. Breathing plays the main role for our body – with the breath we control stress, Qi (energy) and influence our concentration.
- Individual corrections and advice on daily training.
Where is the seminar?
In our academy at Siebenbrunnenfeldgasse 12/1, 1050 Vienna – there are hotels nearby – please check accommodations for yourself.
What do I need?
Clothing in which you can move around – comfortable training shoes with a flat sole.
Details:
- 28-29th March (Weekend)
- Saturday from 13:00 to 17:00 (4 hours)
- Sunday from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00 (6 hours)
- There will be short breaks in between as well as lunch between 11:00 and 13:00 on Sunday.
Price:
Full price 350 euros and for members of the Wudang Academy: 250 euros – course participants are exempt from the discount.
Register for this seminar:
Wu Xing Qi Gong – Breathing & Stretching
Daoist Teachings: How to Properly Sleep
Sleeping is not the same as sleeping, it depends on how you sleep, where and when. In Daoist doctrines, it also matters in what mental and physical condition you sleep. While you can sleep at the same place and time; under different physical and mental conditions, the effect of sleeping varies.
What is Sleep?
Sleep for Daoists is a moment of regeneration, a time to let go, not thinking anything and go back to your inner self – your origin. Hearing your heartbeat and breath can help relax fast and helps to let go of unnecessary thoughts. Our mind and body gets tired and giving it the right amount of rest is very important – but I guess all of you know that.
When Should I Sleep?
Daoists wake up and sleep with the sun. When the sun rises on the horizon its time to wake up and when the sun goes down its time to go to sleep. This time changes naturally during the seasons when the sun rises earlier or later. We react biologically with the colors of the sky and sun; artificial light is poison for our biorhythm. Watching the sun and the sky change colors during morning and evening is a natural process and helps to regulate mind and body.
Resting midday after lunch is also considered as very important to regenerate energy for the second part of the day. The first half of the day has a different energy (we feel different, the smell is different and many other overall feelings) as the second half of the day. Biologically there are many changes inside, while the morning is best used for Qi Gong practice, the second half of the day is best for relaxing and meditative Taiji practice. This is not a general rule, but basically, all that is powerful and takes a lot of concentration is best to do in the morning rather than in the evening. Routine practice is best in the afternoon.
How to Sleep Effectively:
The Daoist idea of efficiently sleeping is to sleep when you need it. When people move less and always sit around there is not much of circular blood system activity, but still the brain gets tired, this sleep will become very unbalanced and will not have much of a regenerative effect. The body can only regenerate what is tired and only reach what is not blocked by muscle cramps, closed joints or hard fascia.
Qi Gong practice in the morning is vital to get the body and mind going on all levels of awareness. The energy and blood channels become open and easy to reach for our internal circular system. One of the best choices of Qi Gong is the traditional Daoist Wu Xing Qi Gong (Five Animal Qi Gong) which stretches your whole body very slowly under a high amount of tension while keeping the mental focus solely on the correct breathing.