Search - Essence of Taiji Qigong (Tai Chi Chi Kung) YMAA on DVD

THE TITLE SAYS IT ALL

Patrick H. Dickson | Cupertino, CA | 11/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD has the following sections that cover the different aspects of Taiji Qigong:

The purposes of Taiji Qigong
Training Procedures
Important Points
Stretching
Warming up
Wai Dan Standing Still Meditation
Moving Taijiquan

PURPOSES OF TAIJI QIGONG

This course follows the same general approach as Dr. Yang's book "Taijiquan Theory", which teaches that a student should regulate in the following order:

Regulate the body
Regulate the breath
Regulate the mind
Regulate the chi
Regulate the spirit

Explanations are given as the material is presented. The stated goal of Taiji Qigong is to lead the student into the domain of emptiness, represented by the concept Wuji. At this point Body Qi and Mind Qi become one and all desires disappear. Fortunately, for the many of us that might not reach this accomplished a level, the journey trying to get there is still wonderful and filled with many body, mind and spirit health benefits.

TRAINING PROCEDURE

This section talks about regulating the body by being relaxed, centered, balanced and rooted. When we line up our bodies properly with the earth/ground, it becomes much easier to begin to relax our bodies and mind since we are no longer fighting the effects of being out of balance. This causes our Qi to circulate and avoid stagnation.
Once we learn to regulate the breath, then the mind can lead the Qi effortlessly, as explained by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming. Each of the five regulations are covered using explanations and demonstrations by Dr. Yang.
WARMING UP

This is a very thorough presentation of well thought out exercises that assist a student/practitioner in loosening their body, muscles and joints. The exercises in this section teach how to connect the parts and move as one unit. Some of the exercises massage and move the internal organs in a beneficial way.

The goals of the abdominal exercises on the DVD are:

Regain control of the muscles in the abdomen
Loosen the lower dan tian so Qi can flow
Improve and smooth the Qi circulation in the small and large intestines
Improve and smooth the Qi circulation in the kidneys
loosen the kidney area
Eliminate Qi stagnation in lower back
Loosen muscles, stomach, gallbladder, liver & spleen
Improve Qi circulation in these areas
Use the mind to lead the Qi from the lower dantien to the solar plexus area

Dr. Yang then teaches chest exercises, arm exercises, loosening up the torso and the internal organs, loosening the wrists, coiling forward and backward, settling the wrists, rotating the ball, and pushing to the sides. For each of these sections, an explanation is given of what the goals should be for each exercise. Dr. Yang is shown split screen with different views of him demonstrating the exercises.

A sign of quality material is when the "warm up" or "basic" exercises are so well designed that they truly have all the secrets of the art, and alone would still be worth the cost of the video. If someone practiced only these warm up exercises, they would still be of great value. As a beginning student, I recall wanting to skip the warm up exercises and go straight to the Taijiquan form.

My teacher taught many Taiji exercises using a Taiji staff that measured from the ground to the armpit. This staff work, I realized many years later, to be of great value and well worth the extra effort of making them a part of the daily Taijiquan practice, along with the form, push hands, etc... The wise student will enjoy spending time learning these exercises. So don't skip these exercises when you watch this video. Spend a lot of time in this section to truly develop a strong foundation in this Taiji Qigong ability.

IMPORTANT POINTS

This section delves into the theory and concepts of Taiji Qigong, with the goal being to return your spirit to its origin, nature. Advice is given on diet, life style and the best time of day to practice.

STRETCHING

This section teaches three or four different types of stretches, while encouraging one to stretch slowly, gently, no tensing of the muscles, no holding your breath, but rather to breath naturally. Dr. Yang recommends ten repetitions of each of the demonstrated stretching techniques.

WAI DAN STANDING STILL MEDITATION

Dr. Yang demonstrates this Wai Dan version, but for the Nei Dan version of standing still meditation, the practitioner is referred to the book "The essence of Taiji Qigong", the companion book for this video. Tips are given for the correct practice while showing Dr. Yang demonstrating the form. This form uses the following postures:

Embracing the moon on the chest (arcing the arms)
Holding up the Heavens

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG

Stand still to regulate the breathing (martial artists use reverse abdominal breathing)
Big python softens its body
The Qi is sunk to the dan tian
Expand the chest to clean the body
Pour the Qi into the Baihui (top of the head)
Left and right to push the mountains
Settle the wrists to push the palms
Large bear swimming in the water
Left and right to open the mountain
Eagle attacks its prey
Lion rotates the ball
White Crane spreads its wings

At this point Dr. Yang demonstrates the complete set in continuous movements, repeating each of the forms six times, which would be less than normal.

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG COILING SET

This sets purpose is to lead Qi to the surface of the skin and the bone marrow through the use of coiling motions, as taught on this DVD. Reverse breathing is recommended for this set due to its benefits of strengthening the guardian Qi and the skin listening Qi. These two types of Qi are used in the martial arts. The postures are:

Stand calmly to regulate the spirit and breathing
White Crane relaxes its wings
Drill forward and pull back
Left and right Yin and Yang
Water and Fire mutually interact
Large Bear encircles the moon
Living Buddha holds up the heavens
Turn Heaven and Earth in front of your body
Golden Rooster twists its wings
Turn your head to look at the moon
Big Python turns its body
Up and Down coilings

At this point Dr. Yang demonstrates the complete set in continuous movements, repeating each of the forms six times, which would be less than normal.

All of these movements come from the Taijiquan form and should be familiar to anyone who practices Taijiquan. They are excellent for the practitioner when performed with the concentration and focus as demonstrated by Dr. Yang.

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG ROCKING SET

These exercises helps one to link all the parts, to realize the opposites and how they work together.
Embracing arms
Ward off
Roll back and press
Push
Rotating the ball

WALKING TAIJI QIGONG

This involves practicing one movement while stepping continuously, as when you do Cloud Hands and do ten to twenty repetitions without changing to other postures. The set is as follows:

Wave hands in clouds
Diagonal flying
Twist body and circle fists
Stepping leg
Brush knee and step forward
Repulse monkey
Snake steps down

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw some of the exercises on this DVD, as I had developed some of the same exercises, like the walking Taiji Qigong series, as a great way to learn and become comfortable with movements in the form. I frequently have advised students to take a movement and turn it into a mini set. I would usually pick whatever posture was giving me a hard time, and I would create a left and right, continuous way of doing the posture, which would enable me to begin to understand and learn the movements.

These exercises are very beneficial for being able to do the movements both on the left and the right, as well as learning how to make the movement circular, in that it can return to its beginning and begin anew.
Well, the title sure sounds simple enough. But in reality this is one loaded DVD, with enough material to keep a student busy for a long time. It's nice to be able to have your Qigong set come out of the Taijiquan movements, as they then become more of a complete, whole system.
Enjoy!!!!!
"

Kan and Lii

Golden Lion | North Ogden, Ut United States | 11/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"[...]
Dr Yang returns to the essence of Qiqong and teachings the basic thoughts: breathing, Yi mental focus and movement of the Chi, the chi reserviors and channels, and the importance of relaxation. Dr Yang tells the practitioner too think about why the motiff works, how motiff interacts with Yin and Yang principles, and encourages the practition, too ponder the writings of the masters. Without understanding why Qigong works, Qigong becomes a meanless sequence of movements without any power. These ancient Taoist and Buddhist techniques have been used by millions, practiced daily too help restore health.

Dr Yang instructs in Kan and Lii. Kan is water and Lii represents Fire. Kan is water, which is able to cool the body down making the body more Yin. While Lii is fire which warms the body making it more Yang. When Kan and Lii are adjusted or regulated correctly, Yin and Yang will be balanced an act harmoneously. Chi Kung practitioners believe the body is always too Yang, degenerating and burning out. If you use water to cool down the body, it will slow down the degeneration process and lengthen life. So regulation is required. Wu chi is the balancing of the Yin and Yang forces. In this state nature is peaceful and calm. Wu chi state combines the individuals chi with the chi of nature. This is the goal of Tai Chi.

Exercise 1: 1. Standing Still 2. Big python Softens its Body 3. Chi sunk to Dan Tien 4. Expand the Chest to clean the body 5. Pour the chi into Baihui 6. Left and Right to push mountain 7. Settle wrist and push the palms 8. Large Bear Swimming in Water 9. Left and Right to open mountain 10. Eagle attacks its prey 11. Lion Rotates the Ball 12. White Crane Spreads it wings

Coiling Set: 1. Stand Calmly 2. White Crane relaxes its wings 3. Drill Forward and Pull back 4. Left and Right Yin and Yang 5. Water and Fire Mutually Interact 6. Large Bear encircles the Moon 7. Living Buddha Holds up Heavan 8. Turn Heavan and Earth in Front of your Body 9. Golden Rooster Twists its wings 10. Turn your head to look at the moon 11. Big python turns its body 12. Up and Down coiling

Rocking Set: 1. Embracing Arms 2. Wardoff 3. Rollback and Press 4 Push 5. Rotating the Ball

Walking Chi Kung: 1. Wave Hands in Clouds 2. Diagonal Flying 3. Twist Body and Circle Fist 4. Stepping Leg 5. Brush Knee and step forward 6. Repulse monkey 7. Snake Creeps down
"

Easy (and relaxing) to use...

Panzon | Planet Earth | 07/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Qigong, or "energy work" is an ancient method of longevity exercises designed to maximize the generation and flow of inner energy ("chi" or "qi") in ones body.

There are literally hundreds of systems, schools and methods of qigong, but Tai Chi Chuan (Supreme Ultimate Boxing) is probably the most easily recognized (if not fully understood) of these.

This DVD from Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming incorporates many movements from Tai Chi Chuan, as well as various "stand-alone" qigong exercises, linking them into several exercise programs. Each program is designed with a different result in mind (relaxation, stengthening organs, martial power, etc).

Broken up into short, easily understandable sections, the session flows smoothly from a brief overview, to warm-ups, stretching, then proceeds to specific energy exercises by body part and/or chi channel.

The quality of instruction is superb, as each section opens with a stated goal, then leads the viewer through the sequences (with both a front and side view, shown simultaneously).

"Essence of Taiji Qigong" is one of those truly rare videos that enables a dedicated person to actually learn physical movement by watching and practicing along with the instructor.

This is an excellent example of what a "workout" video can (and should) be.
"

Taiji Qigong student

L. Einbinder | east coast | 03/31/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you previously read my reviews regarding Taiji or Qigong, you know that I am a fan of Dr. Yang. Once again Dr. Yang provides us with a very interesting and informative DVD regarding these martial arts. This complements his book of the same title and demonstrates the movements in an easy to follow manner. More than that, he explains the purpose, the training and the importance of proper technique and forms.

Dr. Yang does indeed explain the "Essence" of these art forms which helps the student understand the fundementals and reasons behind the movements and lifestyle. He explains how these movements help regulate the body both internally and externally. Breathing techniques, regulation of body and mind and the history of the art form are fully and interestingly expounded upon.

While the title may be interpreted as being for beginners, advanced and intermediate students will also learn a great deal from this DVD. It is an excellent discourse of the basics of Taiji Qigong and anyone with a interest will be rewarded and receive a better education regarding this beautiful style of martial art. Personally, I fully enjoyed learning the reasons why I train, meditate and try to live according to the principles which Dr. Yang explains in his usual interesting style.

This DVD is another "must" for the serious student."