Podcast 1 Intro to Healer Within
Learn more about The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques to Release Your Body’s Own Medicine by Dr. Roger Jahnke
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A POWERFUL SOLUTION TO THE HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL CRISIS — TAI CHI AND QIGONG!
TEACHERS NEEDED!
Learn More in this WEBINAR Replay by Dr. Roger Jahnke about becoming a Teacher!
The Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) is widely revered as the most credible Mind-Body Practice professional training and research institute outside of China. Trained — nearly 1000 Instructor/Teachers and Practice Leaders. Land mark research — including NIH funded projects. Founder/director — Dr Roger Jahnke, OMD, author of The Healer Within and The Healing Promise of Qi. Lead author – A Comprehensive Review of the Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi, Am J of Health Promotion (AJHP). Editor of clinical chapters – Chinese Medical Qigong. The IIQTC’s Advanced Leadership Training is unparalleled internationally in empowering the graduate professional community to reach its highest potential.
Next Level One Teacher/Instructor Training: See Workshop and Training Calendar
MAILING LIST LINK – receive informative updates: https://healthaction.infusionsoft.com/app/page/emailcaptureiiqtc
Typical American Qigong and Tai Chi Class
Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Qigong have mysterious, martial, healing, spiritual and esoteric roots. However, also, from the very practical contemporary point of view of healing illness, preventing disease (wellness) and neutralizing stress, Mind Body Practices — including Qigong and Tai Chi — are rapidly becoming the program of choice. Tai Chi and Qigong are among the most accessible and successful of what are now called non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) — more commonly known as mind-body practice or personal health enhancement methods. Venues include spas, fitness centers, schools and universities, social service agencies, hospitals, mental health agencies, addiction recovery programs, military bases, veterans administration facilities, faith institutions — even cruise ships.
The opportunity to teach Qigong and Tai Chi professionally is accelerating rapidly!
The research “evidence base” for Qigong and Tai Chi is very robust as noted in a recent Blog Post — a very impressive recent research literature:
Am Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP) – http://instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org/pdfs/AJHP-Jahnke.pdf
The journal of the Am College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (MSSE) – http://tinyurl.com/3w2ey3a
At the Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) we are honored to report that we have trained nearly 1,000 teachers, instructors and practice leaders in the US, Canada, Central and South America, UK, Europe and Asia. Many of these graduates have created a full time profession, others have been supplementing their income by teaching part time and some work as volunteers for underserved populations.
Cultural Transformation Through Tai Chi and Qigong
At the IIQTC we believe in and advocate for the fact that the human race has much more power than is being expressed and that Qigong and Tai Chi are ancient powertools for assisting modern society in recovering the power of self-reliance, self-healing and energy awareness. Imagine what the trajectory of the human race would be if we simply prevent the diseases that are widely known to be preventable. This would pay off the financial deficits of most nations in financial crisis and reallocate funds for much more creative projects than wasting money medically intervening in preventable diseases.
You can be a part of this! Many of our graduates started with no former training. Some with former training, feel that the IIQTC certification assisted in assuring that their classes would be more successful.
IIQTC GRADUATES:
• Are part of an international movement in human empowerment
• Learn and refine a wise array of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (Taiji) methods/forms
• Access focused curriculum in teaching skills
• Play a leadership role in the emerging wellness and integrative medicine revolution
• Develop an exciting new income stream
• Maximize personal wellbeing
• Feel the Qi
• And much more
LEARN MORE!
https://healthaction.infusionsoft.com/app/page/emailcaptureiiqtc
Sign on to the email list at this link and when you are offered the opportunity to note your interests check the box marked – “Become an Integral Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher”. At this point you will receive timely and informative mail on the IIQTC’s frequent teleconferences for those with the interest of becoming a teacher/instructor. There are often compelling discounts on training for those who participate in this list.
Level One Training and other professional training options are registering now.
Besides professional training programs, the IIQTC, teaches public workshops at numerous retreat centers – Esalen, Omega and Kripalu Institutes — and at numerous conferences. Please see the calendar at http://IIQTC.org
We look forward to knowing you better!
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WATCH THE MOVIE AND COME TO A FREE WEBINAR: Become a Teacher
Latest information on the opportunities to teach and credentialing for Tai Chi and Qigong in the emerging wellness, mind-body practice, integrative medicine, non-pharmaceutical intervention & empowerment trend!
The Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) has gained credibility and respect through training, research and its widening community of certified Tai Chi and Qigong teaching professionals in the fields of Mind-Body Practice, Wellness, Stress Mastery, Energy Medicine, Mindfulness in Movement, Moving Meditation, Integrative Medicine, Personal Life Balance and more . Many of these professionls generate their primary income through teaching and lecturing and have become regionally or even nationally recognized for their own thought leadership and contribution in the field.
This video (with nearly 7000 YouTube plays) is an excellent selection of impressions from a group of graduates of the IIQTC Teacher-Instructor Training Certification Program:
For more information on Training as a Teacher/Instructor or Practice Leader with the IIQTC, please see the previous Feel the Qi Blog Post – http://drjahnke.feeltheqi.com/2012/02/qigong-and-tai-chi-teachers-and-instructors-needed/
For more information about becoming a Tai Chi and Qigong Teacher:
Sign up for the Level 1 Webinar: https://healthaction.infusionsoft.com/app/page/become-teacher
NOTE:
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IIQTC Qigong and Tai Chi Information
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Tai Chi Taiji Walking is probably the most profound and easy meditation there is – even for those who have some trouble walking. If you want, or perhaps need, a bridge to meditation, it is very possible that Tai Chi Walking could be that bridge.
Why?
Tai Chi Walking in Park in China
FIRST — Very, very few people can attain a state of meditation just siting still. Sitting quiescently can be cultivated, however. Tai Chi Walking and other forms of Walking Qigong, are a powerful bridge for most of us to experience the benefits of meditation much, much more quickly.
SECOND – It is really easy.
THIRD – Even if you do it wrong, it is completely safe and effective as long as you simply pay attention and remain in your personal zone of comfort.
FORTH – this is actually the most exciting — meditation is a major tool for balancing the nervous system which is often functionally predisposed to the hyper-sympathetic state, which decreases immune function, triggers inflammatory syndromes and much more.
FIFTH – OK, this is the most important one — combining meditation with physical activity, is better than purely physical “Exercise is Medicine”, it is the emerging foundation of integrative medicine, mind body medicine, holistic health care, medical fitness, wellness, brain plasticity enhancement and disease prevention.
This little article is probably not going teach you Tai Chi (Taiji) Walking Meditation, though you may find it will do that too. It is intended to help the public — everyone everywhere in the world — to further understand the power of self-determination and self-reliance in sustaining wellbeing. Tai Chi Walking Meditation, because it is easy and it is pretty much impossible to do it harmfully (even if its not perfect), is a supreme and accessible Mind-Body Practice for soothing stress and maximizing function. There are two videos below from a gentleman at greenmountaintaichi.com, they are examples of the many versions and variations of Tai Chi Walking.
You may want to learn more about Tai Chi and Tai Chi Training: See Workshop and Training Calendar
The IIQTC Library – videos, keynotes, audio, sample chapters from Dr Jahnke’s books: http://IIQTC.org/member
When the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) published a review of the Qigong and Tai Chi literature in the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP), the finding was that Qigong and Tai Chi are safe and effective for numerous diagnostic categories. In part this is because of the physical activity. In part it is the coordination of posture, breath and mind. And in part it is because, in addition to all other mechanisms that are triggered in Qigong and Tai Chi, the relaxation response is a key one of them. If you haven’t got a copy of the article please email info@IIQTC.org – title: A Comprehensive Review of the the Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi. See also http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594090
This article which is referenced widely as “the evidence base” for Qigong and Tai Chi with implications for all meditative movement (MM) practices, demonstrates that Qigong and Tai Chi are effective in many disorders, including heart disease and neuro-psychological disorders — two of our society’s worst health challenges. Now, to actually do Tai Chi Walking, is very accessible and it is stylized and simple. To make it as powerful as it seems like it could be, let go of getting it right. Just fool around with it. The idea is to take a deep breath occasionally and to use the practice to relax — deeply.
You mare walking. but not really going anywhere. Being critical of your self or even trying to get it right are less useful than giving it a go – just do whatever comes. Better to relax and find a flow.
Many people do not easily track much written information about body movements. SO, YOU COULD JUST GO ON TO THE VIDEO CLIPS BELOW.
Give this a go though – read for fun — its good for brain plasticity. Do this practice with a slight bend in the knees — sink your body and relax your shoulders.
Tai Chi Walking – Many Versions
THERE ARE MANY VERSIONS. THE ILLUSTRATIONS HERE ARE NOT TO INTENDED TO GIVE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS. Instead the variety is here to point out that it doesn’t really matter how you do it.
WHAT MATTERS IS THE MOOD – Relax, Sink, Breath, Lengthen Your Spine – Flow.
Start with either foot forward and allow your body weight to shift onto that foot – it will proceed from carrying no weight (0%) to carrying 90% of the body weight. Then shift your weight back on to the back foot again — to 70% of weight (front 30%), lift the toes of the front foot and turn the body — torso, shoulders, leg and foot outward slightly (5-10%). Now shift weight forward again. Lower toes, shift the weight to the front leg, 100% weight, and then lift the back foot and step through. Repeat on the other side.
The illustration shows the left foot front, the repeat would have the right foot forward.
See another diagram of another version below the videos.
The intent is to repeat this for a while in a deep state of relaxation where you drift into a total focus on the present moment. It is a mindfulness practice. Mindfulness in motion. Meditation in motion. Moving Meditation.
Tai Chi Walking Meditation is the a key component of Tai Chi Easy – http://TaiChiEasy.org
REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF THE MANY VERSIONS. So, do not feel you should copy.
ONE MORE EXAMPLE – VARIATION. OK, give it a go now. The examples, the illustrations, the video are only here to give insight. The practice is to relax, do not try, breath deeply now and then — flow. Go ahead and get up right now and try it. No space is too small. If you do so, relaxed, you will be making medicine within your own body & mind for no cost. What do you think! Tell us!
Many who have learned more regimented forms of Tai Chi Walking, find this very easy and a huge relief from trying to get it right. If you’ve never done this and want the greatest benefit, you will take on a deep state of acceptance in kind of Eastern Philosophical sort of way. The point isn’t to do something in a particular way. Instead i should be comfortable, fun and very relaxing.
Just fool around! Soon you will be producing the elixir within!
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Tai Chi Walking – Many Versions
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1000s of Practice Leaders Needed NOW!!
- THE MOST PROFOUND MEDICINE IS PRODUCED IN THE HUMAN SYSTEM FOR FREE!
- MOBILIZE THE NATURALLY OCCURRING MEDICINAL RESOURCES OF THE HUMAN BODY!
- TAI CHI IS MOVING MEDICATION!
- TAI CHI IS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE!
- TAI CHI HAS AN EASY POINT OF ENTRY for all forms of Mind-Body Practice!
Sign up for Free Tai Chi Easy Webinar – https://healthaction.infusionsoft.com/app/page/taichieasy-info
Feel Free To Call 805-617-3390. Join our email list and let us know you are interested in training as a Practice Leader: https://healthaction.infusionsoft.com/app/page/emailcaptureiiqtc
NEXT TRAINING EVENT – See Workshop and Training Calendar
Click here to see Tai Chi Easy: The Movie
Click here to meet graduates of the training.
Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training
Tai Chi, often referenced as the Mind-Body Wellness Practice of Chinese Medicine, is now fully and clearly researched. The evidence base has demonstrated that Tai Chi and its partner Qigong are safe and effective for preventing or improving a wide array of diseases – stress, PTSD, heart disease, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, diabetes, fatigue, insomnia. It appears that Tai Chi, especially when it is made accessible and easy, has a healing and rehabilitating effect on numerous internal, self-healing mechanisms.
Both Qigong and Tai Chi are based in what is called the Three Treasures — body practice, breath practice and mind practice. The research base has suggested that Tai Chi, especially accessible forms of Tai Chi, can influence brain chemistry, the immune system and even enhance gene function to effect greater longevity by supporting gene expression and extending cell replication.
WOW!! That is very inspiring!
At the IIQTC, we have been carefully exploring Tai Chi for decades, distilling the essence, creating an accessible point of entry, doing research and supporting the development of national policy that encourages physical activity and Mind-Body Practice.
Through this process around 2005 we put the final developmental touches on TAI CHI EASY. Since then we have trained nearly 1000 practice leaders work in schools,universities, faith institutions, hospitals, clinics, senior facilities, the military and Veterans Administration, social service agencies, fitness centers, spas, hotels, cruises and more!
COULD THIS BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU?
TAI CHI EASY (TCE) is a unique approach to Tai Chi that is carefully crafted to honor the ancient principles, the traditional Chinese medical sciences as well as the desperate needs of the American medical system for accessible and inexpensive forms of Mind-Body Practice that can be done both in groups and by self-directed individuals.
Tai Chi Easy, England
The “evidence base” for Tai Chi continues to evolve, however, the original evidence base was published in 2010 in the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594090. The lead authors are affiliated with the IIQTC.If you would like a copy please write to:
info@instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org
Place – PLEASE SEND THE “EVIDENCE BASE ARTICLE – AJHP — in the subject line.
TCE that is an amazing and very accessible practice that is both gentle physical activity and easy to do meditation — there is actually an emerging literature on “Meditative Movement”.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19420401
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23362559
Tai Chi Easy – Santa Barabara, CA
A PARTIAL LIST OF PAST TAI EASY PRACTICE LEADER TRAININGS:
• Asian Pacific Health Consortium – Los Angeles, CA
• National Wellness Institute – U of WI
• Health Authority of Western Nebraska – NE
• Southern Arkansas Council on Aging – AR
• Veterans Administration – Northport – NY
Tai Chi Easy – New Jersey
• University of AZ and Banner Health System – Phoenix AZ
• Social Service Agencies of Beauford Co. – Eastern South Carolina
• Catholic Community Services – Cleveland, OH
• Omega Institute, NY
• Esalen Institute, CA
Tai Chi Easy, Houston TX
KEY LARGE INSTITUTIONS THAT HOST TAI CHI EASY CLASSES:
• Kaiser Permanente
• Mayo Clinic
• YMCA
• National Council on Aging
• Veteran’s Administration
There are 1000s of smaller, more local or regional organizations
Consider Joining the IIQTC Email List: We send only occasional newsletters and announcements and you can un subscribe anytime. Here is that link:
IIQTC Qigong and Tai Chi Information
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Hoping you have seen the article on Tai Chi Easy. If not take a peek here:
Tai Chi Easy: The Movie –
We are always working on video material — here are three brief and informative movies about Tai Chi Easy (TCE) and becoming a TCE Practice Leader. It is a very powerful personal experience and it sets you up to grow personally while you also, potentially, generate livelihood AND make major contributions to your community.
NEXT FREE WEBINAR – Become a Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader – Has passed. Call 805-617-3390.
NEXT TRAINING EVENT – See Workshop and Training Calendar
THIS VIDEO IS FROM A POWERFUL PRACTICE LEADER TRAINING AT THE ESALEN INSTITUTE – There are Practice Leader Trainings throughout the US on an annual basis. Contact us at the IIQTC for information.
THIS VIDEO IS FROM AN AMAZING TRAINING WE DID IN NEBRASKA – it is one of those completely false assumptions that all the important activity in health care transformation is happening on the east and west coasts.
THIS VIDEO IS FROM SOME OF THE PRACTICE LEADERS IN TRAINING — The IIQTC has trained 300 Tai Chi Easy Teachers and 600 Tai Chi Easy Practice Leaders who work in communities throughout the USA and internationally:
Consider Joining the IIQTC Email List: We send only occasional newsletters and announcements and you can un subscribe anytime. Here is that link:
IIQTC Qigong and Tai Chi Information
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Visit or even subscribe to our YouTube Channel – The Tai Chi And Qi Gong Way YouTube Channel
Join our FREE Membership Site – The Tai Chi and Qi Gong Way FREE Membership Site
SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES – Links to Tai Chi-Taiji and Qigong
THE MOST PROFOUND SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS OF NATURE’S MYSTERIES – IN ALL CULTURES, IN ALL LANDS, IN ALL ALL TIMES
In honor of the Winter Solstice of 2013, and of the 4713th year of the Chinese calendar according to the Yellow Emperor.
Tai Chi – Taiji — is it an exercise? A martial art? A moving meditation? OR — is Tai Chi something greater and more profound than exercises, martial arts and moving meditations?
Tai Chi (Taiji) is actually a cosmic phenomenon.
The easiest way to express it is this – previous to the world as we know it, the universe was unborn and in a latent state – Primordial Potential in Stillness – Wuji. Previous to the birth of the universe there was no time and no distance in an undifferentiated, supremely potentiated unity – ONEness – Non-Dual – Not Two – Origin.
At the birth of the universe, according to the observation of ancient and contemporary scientists, what we know of as the differentiation of space and time was spontaneously created – widely known as the Big Bang. Before the birth of the universe – Wuji, unity, ONEness. After the birth of the universe — Tai Chi, YinYang, duality.
The Tai Chi Symbol
The Tai Chi Symbol is not Tai Chi — it is a Map of Tai Chi – a map of the nature of things at the moment of the Big Bang and beyond. Tai Chi, the Mind-Body Energetics Practice, is named after that which the map depicts – the world that emerged from the Big Bang, the arising of Tai Chi (Taiji) from Wuji. It is a powerful story which is explored in detail in The Healing Promise of Qi.
The Yin, darker, cooler, denser aspect of the duality of night and day, dark and light, winter and summer is depicted by the black territory of the Map. The Yang, lighter, warmer, more expansive aspect of duality is depicted by the white territory of the Tai Chi Map. These components of our world, and their expression in nature, are the source, according to a recent research article from China, for the Tai Chi diagram. See the abstract below.
Tai Chi of the Seasons, Solstices and Equinoxes
The most obvious manifestation of this is the curved line that passes through the Tai Chi Map dividing the Yin and the Yang. This is a direct expression of the curve of the length of days and the rise and fall in average temperatures as the seasons pass from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice. This diagram — Tai Chi of the Seasons — shows this and implies that the curved line has its own Tai Chi (opposite) which creates an infinity symbol. Is the infinity symbol representative of one cycle — one year? Probably not, more likely it is representative of a pattern that is eternal. This of course suggests that it is not just a local pattern but an archetypal or universal pattern.
Is it posible that, at the deeper levels of Tai Chi practice there is a connection with the pattern of our solar and cosmic nature that then creates a “portal” to our infinite being? Those who practice Tai Chi in such a way as to have touched the deeper potentials that it offers often talk and act like they have made contact with something very special in themselves and in the nature of things. It appears that as we move into the 4713th year of the Chinese calendar of the Yellow Emperor, Tai Chi is a “portal” — not only to greater health and peace of mind, also to a greater understanding of the our lives and our connection to our ancient, ancient origin at the moment of the birth of the universe of duality and form and even beyond to our connection with the primordial, timeless, boundless, formless.
RECENT ARTICLE:
The relationship between the Sun, the Months and the Tai Chi Map
Two of my favorite sources have brought this amazing article to my attention. 1 – Tom Rogers, esteemed IIQTC Graduate, who is currently the President of the Qigong Institute referenced this article. 2 – my favorite city in China, Hang Zhou (near Tai Zhou) — capital of the Song (Sung) Dynasty Imperial Court and the nexus of Inner Alchemy in 1000 CE.
Construction principle of the Taiji diagram is based on the observation of 24 solar terms.
Mou ZX.
Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 2011 Jul;41(4):195-9.
Source
Meteorological Bureau of Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China.
Abstract
The Taiji diagram is a common diagram in ancient Chinese works and medical works, but it’s not known yet how it was made. Key evidence has been found in the data of astronomical observation in Han Dynasty. It was found that variation characteristics of the curve of the lengths between days and nights are in accordance with the S-curve of the Taiji diagram. The theory contained in the Taiji diagram could also be illustrated well by this curve. In conclusion: the Taiji diagram was made according to the diurnal rhythm in a year, which was obtained from observation of 24 solar terms in ancient times. As a great scientific achievement in ancient China, the Taiji diagram has profound influence and should be reevaluated on an academic level.
National Library of Medicine
Med-Line Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22169483
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I LOVE THESE DISCUSSIONS!They show up on FaceBook, LinkedIN, Twitter. This is a string from FaceBook.Its a kind debate where two honorable views converge and clash and express and inform — in the end it is inspiring!We at the The Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC – http://IIQTC.org) suggest that what is the most important about these dialogues is that there are not enough Qigong and Tai Chi Teachers and that anyone inspired to learn could easily also consider learning enough to be a Teacher. —- I wasn’ able to import everything from FB. Later I will add on of these dialogues from LinkedIN.Leave us a comment here at the Blog.Then head over to:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2204953077/permalink/10151476510113078/A Sincere Qi Rush to you all!Dr Jahnke — RogerDirector of the IIQTC
I want to learn Tai Chi but where I live there are no instructors -
Zachary Nelms Where are you? -
Roger Jahnke Become a Practice Leader – Teach what you aspire to know! -
Jôhnÿ Tæ Start searching for established teachers in the nearest big city and see if they have some kind of ‘crash course’. Then take a few days off to at least learn some introductory moves from them. -
Mike Quinlan There is no crash course or short cuts in Tai Chi Chuan. That’s how the art has been diluted. Learn it off a video and then teach it. -
Jôhnÿ Tæ No. It is videos that dilute Taichi. Nothing can beat an actual, capable teacher. By crash course I mean learn some basics and what it’s all about – to be good at it is another thing. And for heaven’s sake one must never teach Taichi unless an established school or teacher certifies you!
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David Lenkovitzki it is NOT possible to learn TJQ from a video, since TJQ is not the form, or waving arms around, or following a dance sequence
learning TJQ is about modifying your body in a very specific way so as to make ‘internal’ happen
else what you have is an ’empty form’ with ‘waving arms around’, and that we have more than enough already, tens of millions of such
teaching TJQ goes into a totally different category, another skill altogether
so, you want to learn without a teacher? that’s not possible
next? -
Zachary Nelms True David, however it does start with the form. A beginner can learn a lot from books and videos, although its not ideal, it can be developmental… to a certain point.
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Mike Quinlan i did not mean to learn from a video then teach…i meant that’s what many do…poorly worded on my part..but that is no different than going to a seminar and then teaching…the arts are lifelong endeavor and there are few real teachers who still view it this way
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Mike Quinlan David…AGREED! To memorize a move takes 500 repetitions, to make it natural 5000….to unlearn takes 10 times that.
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David Lenkovitzki No Zachary, it does not, it starts with jinbegung, basic, like any viable martial art.
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David Lenkovitzki A beginner can learn nothing from books or video, she is lucky if she can learn from a hands on teacher.
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David Lenkovitzki What you have to understand is that any somatic learning is not a process of getting some information in your head, but rather changing the living body in specific ways.
No book or video can do that for you. -
Zachary Nelms David, you’re spitting hairs. A book can be a purveyor of information, just like words can be. Obviously “somatic learning is not a process of getting some information in your head” but basic instruction starts with the head, which can lead to practice. Which, in turn leads to somatic integration. Ultimately, I believe that a person can become a master of somatic integration without any direct teacher but themselves. Teachers only point the direction (as can books and videos).
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David Lenkovitzki Do you have any supportive evidence for your ideas Zachary?
Have you by any chance reached mastery of martial arts from books and videos alone? -
David Lenkovitzki Basic instruction starts with hands on adjustment of structure and carriage, words mean nothing to a beginner.
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Fernando Bernall what type of schools are there in your area? -
Roger Jahnke I love this archetypal debate twixt Zachary and David. Excellent online push hands! Don’t stop! A public verbal Tai Chi smack down……. Just so you know, this debate has been happening for centuries. Remember, there is a whole community of alchemists that think Tai Chi is actually the manifestation of the Big Bang within oneself. Who gives hands on instruction for that? Wuji – ONEness, non-dual, to Tai Chi (Taiji) – the two, opposites, duality. Tai Chi to San Bao – Three Treasures. Gentlemen, please proceed. Daniel thanks for hosting another great round of this question!
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David Lenkovitzki here is something that I wrote a couple years ago:
by way of foundation, I have started teaching by permission from my teacher 28 years go.
I had about 700 people pass through my classes by now, some stayed longer than others.
not bragging, just laying out what I found my statements on.
my ideas as to how to teach, and what to teach, in what sequence have changed radically over the years.
I wish that me now, had a way to work with me 30 years ago, and make the pathway smoother for me; since I can’t do that, by way of compensation I tell Daniel Anderson what I have learned about learning somatic skills.
and now, I get off this thread, I need to make a living.
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Isah Adams I facing a similar predicament with Daniel .someone should help out. -
Mike Quinlan did all of these people achieve greatness without a mentor?
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David Lenkovitzkihttp://www.biography.com/people/leonardo-da-vinci-40396
Leonard Mussellerdo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. Born out of wedlock, the love child of a respected notary and a young peasant woman, he was raised by his father, Ser Pie…See More -
David Lenkovitzkihttp://www.nobelprize.org/…/laur…/1921/einstein-bio.html
Albert Einstein was born at Ulm, in Württemberg, Germany, on March 14, 1879. Six weeks later the family moved to Munich, where he later on began his schooling at the Luitp…See More -
David Lenkovitzki James Blanchard, 33+ years of Wu TJQ, and I learn new material every single time I practice, or teach.
That’s why it’s the one constant in my life, it’s always changing, always new.
I have a very open mind IMO, show me ONE person that picked up viable somatic skill from Books or Video and I’ll concede
Just one -
David Lenkovitzki CZH is a wonderful teacher, thanks Brett Alexander for a live example of what hands on teaching is.
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Brett Alexander No problem, I always learn a lot from watching his corrections on students… and this one is free! -
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Zachary Nelms David, my first introduction to taiji and qigong were through books and videos. I created my own initial practice through this. I eventually found teachers that taught me choreography of taiji, but my primary teacher has been myself. Sure I’ve gotten pointers, tips, and other information from teachers, in fact in my view everyone is a teacher on some level but my primary teacher is myself. I’m no “master” but I have developed some mastery within certain domains. Besides, who is the master? It’s all relevant right?
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Roger Jahnke Zachary Nelms it is typical in these discussions for someone to reveal that the mythology of the necessity of a Master Teacher is actually a restraint to proliferation of Tai Chi. You have accomplished that with excellent humility. The thing that is the saddest about the view that says you can’t get anything from a book, or video, is that it is a huge limitation of the volume of people who will ever have a positive experience. What we find is that a fair % people who learn without an accomplished teacher, eventually either find an accomplished teacher — or even better — they become an accomplished teacher. Love the discussion!
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Vincent F. Pierino III I am also very interested in finding a legitimate Tai Chi Chuan Master to learn from. I have read some books and they have been little help in knowing if you are doing the movements properly. The instructors I have come across have not been very reputable. Love to hear some suggestions -
Bruce Hayden The lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.
The doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient.
The tai chi student who teaches himself….. -
Mike Quinlan Well stated Bruce…
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Zachary Nelms Perhaps it is the fool that is easily persuaded by meaningless rhetoric.
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Mike Quinlan I’m sure someone as talented as you think yourself to be will do just fine with a book. But then if you have nothing to compare it to, I guess you’ll never know for sure.
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Roger Jahnke Is it possible that there are actually two parallel but separate tracks in this discussion. As a long time practitioner of Taijiquan, I am biased to the ideal of learning from teachers. However, as a participant in the emerging Integrative Health Care s that think Tai Chi is actually the manifestation of the Big Bang within oneself. Who gives hands on instruction for that? Wuji – ONEness, non-dual, to Tai Chi (Taiji) – the two, opposites, duality. Tai Chi to San Bao – Three Treasures. Gentlemen, please proceed. Daniel thanks for hosting another great round of this question!
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Zachary Nelms Don’t misunderstand me, I do believe that a teacher is valuable, but to imply that a person should give up their pursuit of Taijiquan (or whatever) because they don’t have a teacher is utter BS! A person anywhere along the path can learn something from a book, especially a complete beginner.
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Zachary Nelms Everyone will agree that learning this stuff takes time and hard work, THE STUDENT’S TIME AND HARD WORK.
I know it’s sad for some of the teachers out there, but none of you have a monopoly on wisdom. The wisdom is there for anyone willing to seek it, with or without a teacher. -
Daniel Anderson i have a chance to learn a watered down version here for $5 bucks on mondays when im in school so that doesnt work -
Edith James I am in a similar situation. My reasons are for health, mental and energy benefits. I have decided that I am going to start with whatever free sources I can come up with then once I have exhausted whatever I can glean from those sources I will delve deeper by then investing in whatever I consider to be of use. In the end I intend to reach a higher level of consciousness and health through study with a skilled master but I do not want to be hasty in choosing as many are diluted. -
Bruce Hayden So, Zachary, could you have become an acupuncturist without teachers? The knowledge set is all in books, right?
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David Lenkovitzki Sure, after all Zachary Nelms became a member of the Royal Ballet because he read a book about ballet once upon a time, and watched a real video of Nijinski
after all <The wisdom is there for anyone willing to seek it, with or without a teacher.> hurray for hollywood. -
Mike Quinlan A senior student of professor Cheng Man-ch’ing once told us there is a big difference between taiji and taiji quan
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Vincent F. Pierino III Q what is the difference ? Which should I be searching for?
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David Lenkovitzki TJQ is a martial art, tai chi is a common reference to a watered down, or enfeebled, or emasculated version of that root martial art.
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Petra Emmerich a teacher said: you call it taiji you are lazy…you take your time to say or write taiji chuan your are willing to learn and work hard.. -
David Lenkovitzki I guess it’s time to plug Peter Gilligan‘s book
http://www.amazon.com/What-is…/dp/B003U2T5GA/ref=sr_1_1… -
Zachary Nelms I see David Lenkovitzki, you are not interested in discovering wisdom or truth. This is just a game to satisfy your ego. You brush off my statements as if I’m quoting a movie. Apparently you are not paying attention. I said, TEACHERS HAVE VALUE!!!! Of course teachers are important, but you apparently overvalue your importance.
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Zachary Nelms Yes Bruce Hayden I did and do have teachers in medicine, (and as I said all people are teachers) but my path to acupuncture started with palpation and discovery of how I could change headaches by pressing spots in my body, this led to books, and eventually teachers, but more importantly I continually learn through PRACTICE.
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Zachary Nelms If you guys doubt my skill level, I suggest you come to Portland and push with me.
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Jôhnÿ Tæ I used the term Taiji to encompass the entire system- health, defense, and Taoist philosophy – which I am taught. Taiji roughly translates to ‘principles of the cosmos’. Taijichuan is only the first level of this system, ‘chuan’ being physical action or boxing. There is still ‘gong’ – the total system of practice, and the ‘Dao’, the path towards Taoist-based wisdom.
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Roger Jahnke Before we all push in Portland, I hope we will have tea. Lets invite Johny and put this all in perspective with Cosmic Principles and Dao as the foundation and physical action within a total system of practice as the expression. Then perhaps we can have one of those push sessions where we witness the principles in practice.
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Jôhnÿ Tæ I’m flattered that you think my knowledge is worth listening to, Roger. I’ll be happy to meet with anyone who might drop by Toronto. Also if anyone hears of a group/event in Toronto comprised of serious Taiji practitioners and teachers (such as this fb group), I’m keen to link up. I can’t find such groups so far.
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Paul White I learned the basic movements of Tai Chi Chuan solely from a DVD by David-Dorian Ross (Tai Chi Daily). It is completely possible to learn the movements and underlying techniques of breathing, stance, and marital application through a video recording] -
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Joe Harte Hi Daniel, have a look at this on-line course offered by Tai Chi Nation and taught by Luke Sheperd. He is a student of Patrick Kelly in the tradition of Mst Huang Sheng Shyan. There are some free session to see if it’s what you’re looking for. Hope that helps. http://www.taichination.com/learn-online.php -
Steve Roberts Yes, you can learn it, but not well. Onward! -
Roger Jahnke Reflecting back — this was a great discussion, thanks everyone!
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