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Qigong, Immunity, and Influenza

With debate raging over the efficacy and side effects of the H1N1 flu vaccine, which contains mercury (as thimerosal) and may contain other adjuvants, perhaps it is appropriate to consider carefully some natural alternatives to increase one’s immune response.

It is well known to practitioners of T’ai Chi and Tantric Qigong that these arts demonstrably improve one’s overall health and vitality in a gentle, non-stressful manner. The relevant question here is, does the practice of these ancient Qi generating exercises convey additional immunity to protect oneself specifically from influenza infections?

In one study, conducted by Dr. Yang, et al and published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine (35(4):597-607), researchers found that Qigong and T’ai Chi can definitely enhance immune response. A group of 50 adults was divided into two groups. One practiced qigong, meditation, and T’ai Chi forms, while the control group did no exercise. The Qigong – T’ai Chi group attended three one-hour Qigong and meditation classes each week.

All of the participants in the study got vaccinated for the flu at the beginning of the study and had blood titres performed periodically during the succeeding months. Results showed that the group practicing Qigong and T’ai Chi had significantly higher antibody responses to the influenza virus than the control group. In the Qigong – T’ai Chi group, results showed a 173%, 130% and 109% increase in antibodies to the flu at 3, 6, and 20 weeks while the control group showed only a 10% -  58% increase in influenza immunity.

From the Abstract of the American Journal of Chinese Medicine:
“… This study was intended to examine whether 5 months of moderate Taiji and Qigong (TQ) practice could improve the immune response to influenza vaccine in older adults… Baseline pre-vaccine blood samples were collected. All subjects then received the 2003–2004 influenza vaccine during the first week of the intervention. Post-vaccine blood samples were collected 3, 6 and 20 weeks post-intervention for analysis of anti-influenza hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers. We found a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the magnitude and duration of the antibody response to influenza vaccine in TQ participants when compared to CON. The vaccination resulted in a 173, 130, and 109% increase in HI titer at 3, 6, and 20 weeks post-vaccine, respectively, in the TQ group compared to 58, 54, and 10% in CON. There was a significant between group difference at 3 and 20 weeks post-vaccine and at 20 weeks the TQ group had significantly higher titers compared to the pre-vaccine time point, whereas the CON group did not. A higher percentage of TQ subjects also responded to the influenza A strains with a protective (> 40HI) antibody response (37% TQ vs. 20% CON for the H1N1 strain and 56% TQ vs. 45% CON for the H3N2 strain…”¹

What does this mean?

After 20 weeks, the practitioners of Qigong had an average of over 10 times the immune response to the flu than the control group (who were vaccinated, but did not practice Qigong). Additional immunity specific to Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu was detected in the Qigong group.

More ways to reduce the risk of contracting the flu:

–Wash your hands frequently

–Eliminate or reduce white sugar in your diet. Excessive sugar consumption can have a debilitating effect on the immune system.  See some other dietary guidelines for increasing immune function.

–Take a high quality source of omega 3 fats which help strengthen cell membranes, improving resistance to infection.

–Optimize your vitamin D levels. An optimal level of vitamin D can help you fight infections of all kinds.

–Get plenty of sleep.

–Manage your stress. When you are stressed your body does not have the reserve of Chi necessary to fight off viral infections.  See more about programs for stress management here © 2009 Keith E. Hall and www.inner-tranquility.com. All rights reserved.

Presencing ™: The Art of Being Present

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Winterize Yourself

Qigong and Immunity

Tantric Qi Gong ™

Learn to Meditate:

Introduction to Tantric Qigong

Learn how to improve your health and well being in as little as 10 minutes a day!

Boost your immune system, get grounded and empowered, accelerate Self Mastery and spiritual evolution!

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Find out why millions of people have practiced this exercise for thousands of years. Easier and more gentle than T’ai Chi, Qi Gong (Chi Kung) consists of conscious breathing and very gentle meditative movements that generate and circulate life force and consciousness.

The 8 Treasures system of Tantric Qigong can be learned by almost anyone, regardless of his or her physical condition. Practicing these simple exercises results in increased vitality, flexibility, mental focus, and alertness.  Tantric Qigong will noticeably reduce stress levels, and is a gentle non-impact aerobics routine for cardiac and respiratory health.

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The Learning stages of Tantric Qi Gong include:
1. Relaxing & aligning the body
2. Controlling the breath
3. Focusing the mind-Transmuting the emotions
4. Moving the Chi
5. Development of the Spirit

This introductory workshop is available in a 1 - 2 hour format and is appropriate for anyone who can breathe and move his or her arms!

Learn more about Tantric Qigong here.

Rev. Keith Hall has taught T’ai Chi, Qigong, Tantra, and meditation for 30 years.  He is a senior student of Master Yung-ko Chou, with permission to teach. Rev. Hall has studied at various Mystery Schools and with Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, S. Saraswati, and others. He has also taught Bioenergetics, Tumo, Vipassana, Zen, Spiritual Bodywork, various Yogas, and other Eastern and Western psychospiritual disciplines. Rev. Hall has published articles on East - West disciplines in numerous journals.

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The Presencing Process for Enlightenment & Freedom ™

Instruction & Coaching

How does Tantric Qigong™ work?

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Learn Inner Tranquility:

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Learn about Tantra:

Spiritual Discipline

Discipline is necessary for personal growth, I think most can agree with this. This is why most Taoist, Tantric, and Yogic systems of spiritual practice activate the third chakra early in their training. It creates spiritual will power. Also, for those of us who at times feel anger, judgment, a tendency to be a control freak (sometimes to the point of being obsessive - compulsive), anxiety, resistance or stubbornness; activating this chakra gives us something more spiritually constructive to do with this energy.

Many people feel they just don’t have enough time in their lives to put something else on their “to do” list. Of course, it is not that there isn’t enough time. We have all the time that we have. It is lack of direction, motivation, commitment and discipline where we fail. We have plenty of time for careers, family diversions, reading, TV, shopping, vacationing, talking / texting on our cell phones, emails and the internet, not to mention Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll! These are just a few of the seemingly infinite number of distractions available. Let’s be honest, most of us just haven’t made personal growth and consistent spiritual practice a priority.

In a way, our material culture diverts us from our spiritual nature and our commitment to spiritual growth. We invest a lot of our time and vitality in acquiring possessions, social status, and power. Thus, we feel we need to invest a lot of time and energy in careers, or at least good paying jobs. We become more jaded and desensitized to our external gratifications and affluence, yet we still inwardly yearn for that elusive “something else”. We need more and more time and money to collect more possessions or to collect more experiences in a desperate attempt to feel alive and thus satiate our yearning. This yearning, which is of the Spirit, can never be satiated solely through materialism and the lust for new experience.

We are so good at insisting on focusing outward at the expense of our knowledge of Self and Spirit that we can perversely develop a sort of spiritual materialism and spiritual dilettantism. This can manifest itself as an expectation of instant spiritual gratification / enlightenment, salvation from outside of ourselves, attachment to dogma or a certain philosophy, the obsessive reading of thousands of books, attending lectures, continually “collecting” self improvement courses, etc.

We will never attain self-realization through reading books or surfing the Internet. Lectures, no matter how renown the lecturer, will not take you there either. Neither will hopping about from class to class, discipline to discipline, always window shopping, never committing. This is one effect of the information explosion. We are swamped with data and noise, while access to, and the experience of Wisdom appears to be shrinking! It is interesting that the search engine Bing’s new TV commercial alludes to this overload in a lightly comical fashion. However, Bing does not address the Wisdom aspect.

My approach to the dichotomy of spiritual evolution vs. an insanely narcissistic and material culture is to demystify and present powerful and efficient technique. I am interested in tools that take only a few minutes to perform, have more than one benefit, and if practiced assiduously can be the agents of profound healing, revitalization, and evolutionary change.  If you use and embody them.

Part of this methodology is to activate spiritual will power and vitality through the practice of Tantric Qigong™ and other Taoist disciplines, certain asanas and Bioenergetic positions, and deep, conscious breathing. We activate higher consciousness and life force, compassion, and spiritual vision through practices that include pranayama, certain movements, and internal energy control combined with visualization / spiritual intent.

I will leave you with this to contemplate: do you choose to set aside a few minutes each day for personal growth and spiritual evolution? Do you wish to embody a practice that will relieve stress and anxiety, empower and rejuvenate yourself, improve your sexual / emotional life, creativity and productivity, and empower your Divine Nature? Do you feel that motivated in this incarnation? Well, do ya? © 2006, 2009 Keith E. Hall and www.Inner-Tranquility.com . All rights reserved.

10 Minutes to a Healthier You!™

Tantric Qigong™

The 3rd Chakra and the Spiritual Purpose of Power

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Qigong & Fibromyalgia: From the Arthritis Care and Research study

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatologic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain that leaves those afflicted with fatigue, painful ‘tender points,’ morning stiffness, and difficulties with sleep and the performance of routine activities of daily life. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can be difficult to relieve medically.

A study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine concluded that a mind-body approach, which included the practice of Qigong and meditation, showed a significant reduction in pain, fatigue, and sleeplessness; and improved function, mood state, and general health following an 8-week intervention. Furthermore, as reported in Arthritis Care Res. 2000 Aug;13(4):198-204, Improvement was sustained for 4 months after the end of the 8 weekly sessions.

In other words, Qigong produced relief from symptoms that continued for 16 weeks after the patients discontinued the practice. This would be akin to having a pain medication that lasted for 4 months after one took it!

Another study at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and reported in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, reported that a mind-body approach resulted in less pain, fatigue, and morning stiffness than a course of drug treatment alone, and that “optimal treatment of FMS should include (these) non-pharmacological interventions”

Internal forms of Qigong can alleviate this type of soft tissue condition as they gently stretch the muscles without irritation or exhaustion, and allow the vital energy to move unimpeded in a balanced manner throughout the body.

Qigong Instruction

Fibromyalgia, T’ai Chi and Qigong

Plantar Fasciitis, Fibromyalgia, Tai Chi & Qigong

How does Tantric Qigong™ work?

It can be said that Qigong works by uniting heavenly and earthly energies. While Western science does not yet have a full explanation of how Qigong does this, it most likely that it works by amplifying your personal Chi (Qi, life force, vitality, Ki) by drawing in earthly and atmospheric / solar ionic energy to supplement your existing vitality. This is attained through gentle movement, breath control, mental focus, Intention, and the most efficient grounding technology yet known.

Although it may appear that many systems of meditation and yoga aspire to similar effects, in practice and effect they are quite different.

Hatha Yoga has a general objective that is comparable to that of Qigong and achieves its ends through breathing, concentration, and stretching.  Yoga tends to lower somatic resistance, which allows energy to be freed up and diffused in a general way throughout the physical and emotional bodies.

Meditation attempts to unify these polar energies through mental control and creating inner peace. Most forms of meditation reduce mental disorder; thus indirectly allowing the body to relax its resistance to a certain degree. The effects are felt most strongly in the mental and emotional bodies. Both meditation and Hatha Yoga can create some of the same effects as Qigong, but may take longer to achieve it.

Forms of Kundalini Yoga, Kriya, and pranayama quickly push energy into the body and chakras through aggressive breathing techniques and movement. The relative bioenergetic charge thus created can vary quite a bit depending on that tradition and teacher. These systems generally lack a comprehensive and efficient grounding component, which can make their practice somewhat tricky for those persons wishing to remain in the world. Forms of Kundalini practice can create dramatic physical, emotional, and mental side effects and should not be undertaken without a teacher. Preferably in an ashram, under supervision 24/7.

I have met many students and teachers of these arts that have applied them in an extremely yang fashion and none of them have seemed grounded and balanced to me. Although they do experience a lot of energy, the energy meets the resistance of their body, mind, and karmic history. This creates a lot of unnecessary drama and significant side effects. This seems to be a result of too much energy meeting too much resistance and with too little grounding. Gurus who achieve spiritual power in this manner are very much a mixed blessing.

With Qigong, both the practice and the effects are quite different. Unlike the yogic paradigm, which asserts that the first chakra is the perineal / coccygeal area, Qigong knows that the first chakra is located in the bottoms of the feet. This is the way that nature intended earthly life force (kundalini, chi) to be conducted into the body. There are built in safeguards and processes of energetic transformation that makes this raw power easier to deal with and to apply to the body, mind, and emotions in a purely positive way.

The movements of Qigong are very gentle (virtually no energy is consumed by strenuous work) and coordinated with deep breathing, supreme mental focus, and proper bioenergetic alignment of the body. The effect is to amplify one’s vitality while simultaneously reducing internal somatic, emotional, and mental resistance, all in a grounded and balanced fashion. This Taoist approach generates a lot of Chi safely and quickly, often within a few seconds. Mastery may take somewhat longer.

It has been said that Qigong supercharges the body with a balance of earthly and atmospheric ionic energy. This energy suffuses the body, mind, and spirit. The Chi that is birthed in this fashion can be used to invigorate tissues, blood, lymph, bone, and the central nervous system; purifying, soothing, and healing along the way.

Tantric Qigong™ is to regular Qigong as a Lexus on the Autobahn is to an oxcart in a muddy field. They will both get you to your destination, but differ quite a bit in speed, efficacy, and comfort. While Qigong is supreme at creating the benefits mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the traditional Taoist process of creating personal freedom and spiritual liberation through burning karma is less well defined. The Taoist approach to chakra activation and transmuting negative emotional patterns is convoluted and obscure at best. In contrast, with Tantric Qigong™ we avail ourselves of esoteric Taoist, Tantric Kriya, Kundalini Yoga, and Tibetan techniques not yet generally known in the west to simplify and enhance our process of self mastery and liberation.

There are five basic levels of Tantric Qigong™ training that begin with elementary Qigong and culminate in powerful and efficacious practices rarely taught publicly. We employ principles of Bioenergetics, Chakra, Kriya, and Kundalini yoga, Emotional Freedom, Karma burning, Tibetan Tantra, and Tumo in a safe, balanced structure that requires only a few minutes each day to perform. © 2009 Keith E. Hall Inner-tranquility.com. All rights reserved.

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My Teacher: Yung-ko Chou

In an age where anyone who takes a couple of weekend workshops can call him or herself a “Master”, Professor Chou was the real deal. He never referred to himself, nor encouraged his students to refer to him, as “master”.  Over the years, my personal experience has led me to believe that a teacher who deeply desires to be called “Master” probably isn’t one. Chou was a master by virtue of his actions, lack of hubris, and the scope of his embodiment of Taoist art forms.

Professor Chou came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970’s. In his 60’s at the time, Professor Chou, with his nimble intellect, was able to learn to speak and write American English, and deal with the not insignificant culture shock of his adopted country. Professor Chou was in his sixties and seventies when I studied with him, but due to his abundant Chi his physical appearance was more like someone in his forties. He had dark hair, an attentive mind, and was remarkably flexible, equanimous, and quick witted. He walked every where he needed to go since he did not have or need a U.S. driver’s license. Professor Chou was a exceedingly quiet and unassuming man with an almost dry sort of wit and a sense of cosmic humor. If you were drawn into this inner circle, he would often gently and subtly tease you while also promoting your commitment and discipline to the art form.

For the first semester or so of my study with him, he spoke little English, and what he did speak was heavily accented at that. His students were forced by this predicament to rely on copying and imitating his movements, posture, and breathing patterns.  His didactic, limited to simple directions, was not understandable to my ear (due to his thick accent), thus we were forced by circumstance to be present, centered, and attentive in a somatic and spiritual mode. The verbal explanation modality was not really accessible to us in any practical way. I think this was an excellent way to learn: shut off the speech centers and their concomitant cerebricity and just be attentive, focused, and present.  If you couldn’t do that, then you probably weren’t going to be able to learn the forms.

Professor Chou taught the T’ai Chi Chuan Yang style long form, Push Hands, applications for self defense, the Song of the Free Hands Fighting, the Eight Treasures Qigong (known in those days as “The Ancient Exercises of China”) and Ba Gua (Pa Kua). Very few of his students elected to pony up the discipline to learn and embody the gift of all of these arts.

His approach to cultivating student motivation and discipline was simple and threefold:

– Set an invariable schedule of forms to teach weekly: three forms each class
– Encourage students to practice twice a day: he repeated this in every class
– Allow students to take as many classes as they wanted to each week

So he had a set schedule for teaching the forms and encouraged self-responsibility in his students by reminding them to practice morning and evening, and offered the opportunity to attend multiple classes at no additional charge.  I believe that Professor Chou realized that only the most committed students would take advantage of and follow this structure.

He had a remarkable gift for teaching his students, who were at many disparate levels of awareness and spiritual awakening, in an individual and personal manner. He could tell what your level of awareness was, and seemed to slightly adjust his teaching to support one’s unconscious level of spiritual desire. He was able to teach a roomful of students who had very different desires, intentions, and skill sets simultaneously. Some students were there to learn “Chinese exercise”. Some were focused solely on the martial art aspect. Some were merely curious, with no firm intention or commitment to learn the form. A few were gifted with the opportunity to learn all of these aspects and Self-Mastery too. He subtly supported his students’ desires on multiple levels at the same time, with humor and boundless patience.

Professor Chou’s style of teaching was a combination of holding the static positions so students could copy his biomechanical model, and continuous movement to foster an experience of flow. Periodically he would do corrections, which can be quite important, but he did not torture new students with excessive fussiness over the details. His “middle path” approach gave students both a feeling of the precision of T’ai Chi Chuan, while also facilitating the experience of being in flow.

I felt privileged to study with this Master at a time when the height of learning technology was the electric typewriter and the Xerox machine. There were no videos, widgets, YouTube, phone apps, or other near useless electronic diversions to distract one from the opportunity to be physically in the presence of one who had deeply mastered the art, and who cared deeply about transmitting it to whomever could receive it.  Electronic technology will never be able to duplicate being in the presence of a Master. Not a day goes by that I do not feel gratitude for the great good fortune to have had the time and opportunity to study with this remarkable Sifu.  © 2009 Keith E. Hall and inner-tranquility.com.

Rev. Keith Hall’s Bio

Instruction & Coaching

The unemployment rate has reached its highest levels in recent memory. Major U.S. and international companies are restructuring, laying off employees, or just going bankrupt. Food prices are up, oil prices continue their slow rise after Obama’s election, and the economy is giving itself a chunky swirlie.

More importantly, my favorite el-cheapo movie theatre has permanently closed it doors. Oh, and that global warming, starvation, and pestilence thing continues unabated.

Something is happening here. But you don’t know what it is. Do you, Mister Jones? If you have been addicted to ever increasing levels of external, material gratification as part of your self-definition, ya surely gotta be jonesing by now. Or freaking out. Probably both.

Last year, about 2.5 million Americans lost their jobs. We could have another 2 to 3 million jobs evanesce in 2009.  For many people, losing their job results not only in a loss of income but also self-respect, even their raison d’etre. Despondency, despair, a feeling of victimization, shame, melancholia, terror and anger may quickly follow. Thirty percent of those who have not lost their jobs report “burn out” syndrome due to corporate downsizing. Not that the CEO’s salary has been downsized, I mean the number of employees has.

Trying to do more with less, these companies lay off employees and pile the extra work on their remaining serfs. A study published by the Institute of Behavioral Science with a grant from the National Institutes of Health* shows that these retained employees are prone to greater job demands that may contribute to alcohol and drug abuse, depression, and work related injuries. In addition, the study found that layoff survivors often experience worsening physical health: They tend to eat poorly, smoke more, suffer from neck and back pain, and increase their use of sick days.

“None of the effects are good,” says psychologist Frank Landy, author of Work in the 21st Century. “Layoffs clearly have emotional and practical consequences for companies and workers.” Those psychological consequences can be long-term, lasting six years, according to the study published by the Institute of Behavioral Science. In addition, the effects of surviving multiple layoffs tend to be cumulative. They add up over time.

“It only takes one action of distrust to lose basic confidence in the employer…Once the trust has been undermined, it’s very, very difficult to recover,” says Landy. “There’s no data that suggests workers become more resilient. ‘I’m a survivor, hear me shout’? It doesn’t happen.” Whip a dog long enough and it stays hangdog whipped.  © 2009 Keith E. Hall & www.inner-tranquility.com. All rights reserved. Contact us for reprint information.

Part 2: Zen and the Art of Crisis Management

Our classes and meditation / stress management audio programs help you create a core of empowered Being!

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*Moore, Grunberg, et al. Physical and Mental Health Effects of Surviving Layoffs: A Longitudinal Examination Institute of Behavioral Science, November, 2003

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What is Qigong?

Qigong (Chi Kung) is a system of Taoist exercise and meditation developed at least 4000 years ago in China. Some attribute the Yellow Emperor and / or his teacher, Qi Bo, with the discovery of the principles underlying qigong practice. The word “qigong” perhaps can be best translated as “energy mastery.” It is a method of balancing mind, body, emotions, and spirit through a series of external and internal movements with mental concentration. These movements, along with certain stances and biomechanical body alignment, are coordinated with the breathing and the mind.

There are many forms of qigong and associated practices such as jing dong, dong gong, zuo gong, wushu gong, nei kung, etc. T’ai Chi, often translated as “supreme ultimate” or “supreme ultimate energy,” can be regarded as a particularly evolved form of moving qigong. For our purposes here, we will consider any of these various forms of Taoist energy exercises and meditations as a form of qigong.

One can consider qigong to be a kind of Taoist form of moving yoga, though qigong postures tend to be less strenuous than many yoga asanas. With some adaptation, qigong can be performed by virtually anyone, regardless of physical condition, as long as the practitioner is able to concentrate mentally.

Sometimes qigong is divided into subcategories depending on its application. So there are medical qigongs, martial qigongs, health qigongs, and spiritual qigongs. Qigong can also be classified by the direction and intention of the energy generated. External qigong generates life force internally and broadcasts this energy externally. So, martial qigong could be considered a form of external qigong, as could medical qigong. In medical qigong, the qigong master generates the chi and directs it toward a patient who needs healing. This is akin to a sort of “laying on of hands” in the western traditions of spiritual healing.

Qigong on the Mountain

Internal qigong generates energy and circulates it within the practitioner. One application of this form is internal self-healing, where one circulates energy to remove physical blockages or imbalances. This form, along with medical qigong, is somewhat related to the disciplines of Oriental Medicine such as acupuncture and herbology, which seek to balance a patient’s life force. Another application of internal qigong is for spiritual development. Here, spiritual power is generated and circulated internally through energy channels and the chakras for the purpose of clearing karmic effect, attaining self-knowledge, expanding or dissolving ego boundaries, and direct spiritual experience.

In terms of karmic intention, martial qigong could be considered to be the lowest form of qigong, as its intention is to control or harm others. Medical and health related qigong would have a higher intention, as they work to relieve suffering and generate health. Spiritual qigong has the highest intention, as it concerns itself with self-realization, expanded or mystical awareness, and enlightenment, which this planet needs so desperately at this time.

Qigong can be characterized as a gentle form of non-impact aerobic exercise and stretching suitable for warming up for more strenuous exercise. An example of this would be Tiger Woods, who reputedly has practiced qigong. Qigong can be used as a stand-alone form of gentle physical maintenance as well. It is also a highly effective form of stress management when used to calm the emotions and center oneself. Qigong as a spiritual discipline is a moving meditation particularly well adapted for restless western minds and active, stressed, and time-challenged lifestyles. © 2006 Keith E. Hall and Inner-tranquility.com. All rights reserved.

Rev. Hall has taught Tai Chi, Qigong, Tantra, & body / mind modalities for 30 years & is a senior student of Prof. Yung-ko Chou, with permission to teach. He has studied at East West Schools across the world & with Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, S. Saraswati & others. He practices Bioenergetics, Bagua, Tumo, Vipassana, Zen, Spiritual Bodywork, various Yogas, & other East West disciplines. He has published articles on Tantra & Taoist arts in numerous journals & is the Founder of Jade Garden Tantra and www.inner-tranquility.com

Instruction & Coaching

Tai Chi Yang Style Short or Long Form?

Q: Glory Asks: I have started taking a Yang short form Tai Chi class because that was what the recommended teacher in town was teaching and I wanted to start learning Tai Chi. I have only gone twice so far. I like it. The same teacher is starting a Yang long form class in the near future. He thought it would be really confusing to take both at once. I think this is probably true. Could you please tell me which would be better to do, the short form or the long form ~ and maybe why if you have the time.

Last but not least, I wanted to tell you something else about Journey to the Primal Sea. I really liked it how you started out “Relax your xxx – that track – I thought it was very effective how you had just your words first and then after a bit the music started, rather than starting with music. The music was this little treat that kind of snuck in after you started relaxing. I enjoyed that effect.

A: Thank you for your kind words. As to your question, I would have to say that there is quite a bit of controversy among Taiji “experts” as to whether the short form or the long form is better.

Yang Style Short Form

Chen Man Ch'ing

The short form is an abbreviated form taking about 10 minutes to perform that has become quite popular in our attention deficit oriented culture. It is said to contain 37 unique postures or forms, though this depends on how you count them. The form is a relatively recent (1946) version of the Yang style invented by Cheng Man-ch’ing AKA Zheng Manqing who was born in Zhejiang Province. Cheng was often referred to as the “Master of Five Excellences” because of his skills in Chinese medicine, tai chi chuan, calligraphy, painting and poetry. In 1964, Cheng moved to the U.S., where he taught at the New York T’ai Chi Association.

I studied briefly one summer in the 70’s at the New York School and enjoyed the form, but their teaching method did not resonate with me. They seemed very fussy with new students, making you stand for extended periods of time in static positions while they did “corrections.” These corrections were often things like moving your hand a half an inch. While one could readily access the anality of this method, flow was virtually absent from this practice. And if there ain’t much flow, ya got clogged Tao! I would feel fatigued and vaguely annoyed after an evening at this school.

One of the teachings I did appreciate from Cheng Man-Ch’ing was his famous statement to his students that one should “Invest in Loss.” There are layers of potential meaning to this assertion. The general Taoist principle is that Yin overcomes Yang, that there is power through yielding, and strength through softness. In both Taijiquan and the philosophy of the I Ching (Yi Jing), this simple statement has a multitude of subtleties. In its martial aspect, this is often taken to refer to the ability of the practitioner to become yin. To be receptive and to withdraw. This is the Taoist (Daoist) philosophy of ‘Wu Wei’, non action overcoming action.” The literal meaning of Wu Wei is “without action” or “non-doing.”

Tao of Pooh

The Sage is occupied with the unspoken

and acts without effort.

Teaching without verbosity,

producing without possessing,

creating without regard to result,

claiming nothing,

the Sage has nothing to lose.

– Lao Tzu (Laosi, Lao Tse, Laotze, Lao Zi, Laocius) Tao Te Ching, Chapter 2

Wu Wei (woo way) is a state of perfect equilibrium and alignment with the Tao and results in an irresistible “soft and invisible” power. In a more humorous vein, Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh implies “Wei” means monkey/claw, therefore “Wu Wei” means “No Monkeying

Wu Wei or No Way!

Around”. Wu Wei is also the central principle of the Church of the Subgenius and is referred to as “Slack” (See chapter 5 of the Book of the Subgenius.)

Chen Man-Ching’s statement about loss also often reminds me that there are no mistakes - only learning opportunities. We may “fail” many times while learning to succeed.

Dancemaster Chungliang Al Huang
At the other end of the T’ai Chi spectrum from the New York School, is Al Huang. When I studied with Master Huang, there was very little emphasis on the details of the form. Chungliang seemed to be interested in giving his new students an experience of the flow of Tai Ji, so he didn’t do corrections, which can obviously interrupt the flow. Some martial artists say that Huang is more of a dancer and artist than a T’ai Chi/Qigong

teacher, but he does have a gift in giving rank beginners an authentic experience of this Taoist art.

Huang's flow of Tao

“I use my body as a link to the sky.

I funnel the sky chi into my body.

I then dig down and connect to the earth chi

like the grass and the trees.

Even though we are small and finite,

we can tune in and connect to this eternal expansive chi.”

–Chungliang Al Huang

Yang Style Long Form

The form that I teach is the Yang School Long Form, one of the most recognizable forms worldwide, which I studied with Yung-ko Chou in the mid 70’s. This is the “Full Monty,” no shortcuts, all of the postures and principles. There are 84 forms or postures organized into three main sections. There are thirty-some independent forms (depending on how you count them) so there is repetition of forms to bring the number up to 84. I think the repetition is important so that one has more than one “crack” at the performance of the postures during each “Playing the T’ai Chi” practice session. It tends to open the body and “burn in” the benefit of each posture a bit more.

Keith Hall-Play arm like fan

Professor Chou’s style of teaching was a combination of holding the static positions so students could copy his model, and continuous movement for an experience of flow. Later he would do corrections, which are important, but he did not “beat up” new students with excessive fussiness over the details. This “middle path” approach gives students both a feeling of the precision of T’ai Chi Chuan, while also preserving the experience of being in flow. My personal style of teaching, though slightly different, mimics Professor Chou’s in this regard. I believe that students should have an experience of the flowing nature of this Daoist practice while also learning the details so they can have a standardized, repeatable form to practice with on their own. © 2009 Keith Hall. All right reserved.

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Tantric Qi Gong: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Tantric Qigong?
A. Tantric Qigong (or Chi Kung, Chi Gong) draws on traditional techniques of Taoist, Tantra, and Yogic practices. These practices, which have remained secret for millennia, have been revised to make them more accessible and efficacious for today’s world.

Q. Do I need any special equipment?
A. Not really. Loose clothing such a sweat suit or yoga pants are desirable, as is a floor mat or blanket.

Q. I feel that I am so busy that I don’t have the time to incorporate anything new in my life.
A. Once learned, the 8 Treasures Tantric Qi Gong exercises can be performed in as little as 10 minutes.

Q. How long are the classes?
A. Beginner classes can meet for 60 to 90 minutes for 7 to 8 sessions. Intensive workshops can be presented in a 1/2 or 1 day format.

Q. When is the best time to practice?
A. Traditional times are in the morning and in the evening. For today’s harried professionals, a few minutes at lunchtime can make a big difference in one’s workday.

Q. Do I need a special place to perform the exercises?
A. No. Almost any place indoors or out will do. On average, a 3 foot by 6 foot space will be sufficient.

Q. Are the exercises aerobic?
A. Tantric Qi Gong can be characterized as “non-impact” aerobic exercise. There are strong cardiovascular benefits with little risk of injury. The 8 Treasures use the mind to effect positive physical and emotional changes, in this system there is no need to stress the body to achieve these benefits.

Q. I play a competitive sport, is it worth my while to incorporate these exercises in my training?
A. Yes! Tantric Qi Gong is a good warm up and cool down for more strenuous exercise. The exercises increase circulation, respiratory capacity, and oxygenation of the muscular and nervous systems, yet are not fatiguing at all. In addition, Tantric Qigong presents a forum for mental discipline similar to Zen (Zen tennis, Zen Golf, Zen archery, Zen basketball, etc.) increasing mental acuity, focus, and overall awareness. It has been said that Tiger Woods practices qigong.

Q. I am under quite a bit of stress, can Tantric Qi Gong help?
A. Stress, whether at work or at home, is a complex “parfait” of emotions under pressure. Regardless of their origins, Tantric Qi Gong helps the mind and body let go of these destructive reactions and creates a more calm, centered, alert, and efficient mind set.

Q. The advent of terrorism, rise in urban violence, and economic recession have made me much more anxious than in the past, what can this system do to help me feel more secure?
A. The sense of personal security is a balance of external and internal factors. Tantric Qigong begins by creating an awareness of internal balance in our bodies, minds, and emotions. We then extend this awareness through our senses to the external world. This sphere of heightened discernment and personal empowerment produces greater physical and emotional security. The reality is that we are much more likely to be harmed by a degenerative disease associated with chronic stress than any other external factor. Powerfully increasing our internal poise and self control reduces both the false perception of a threat, and the concomitant anxiety / stress reaction.

Q. I work in an office, and my work does not require physical exertion, yet after a few hours I feel fatigued and lethargic. Just having a cup of coffee no longer seems to work as well as it used to. How can this be counteracted?

A. It is well known that the combination of sedentary (desk bound) work habits, fluorescent lighting, stress, and computer radiation has a deleterious effect. In Qigong, we say that you are suffering from a depletion of energy or Chi (Qi). A few minutes of Eight Treasures Tantric Qigong will restore your energy without the aftereffects of caffeine. You can also use our 1 Minute Stress Manager and Relax! At the Beach: Manage Stress at Work and Home programs on CD or for download.

Q. I have a medical condition, is it wise to take this class?
A. Of course, one should always check with their physician before starting any exercise program. The exercises themselves are very gentle, yet invigorating.

Q. I have allergies, will this program help relieve them?
A. Allergies are often exacerbated by stress, so it is likely that these easy exercises could ameliorate such conditions, check with your physician.

Q. I am in therapy and I am wondering if Tantric Qi Gong could be a good adjunct to my treatment plan?
A. Tantric Qigong uses the body and breath to effect a calm mental and emotional state, so yes; it would seem to be helpful. Check with your therapist or counselor.

Q. Is this just another system of New Age psychobabble?
A. No. Qi Gong is an ancient, traditional Chinese discipline. At the height of China’s world influence, it was customarily taught to the military and medical professions, among others.

Q. I have a friend who would like to learn Qigong, but is confined to a wheel chair.
A. The exercises can be modified so that they can be performed while sitting.

Q. A relative of mine is elderly and mentally a little sluggish, can they learn Tantric Qi Gong and would it be of benefit?
A. Yes! Often the elderly have immediate noticeable benefits. A caregiver (staff member if institutionalized) can be trained to lead the exercises daily. Routine daily performance of the exercises leads to long term benefits.

Q. Is this type of exercise suitable for children?
A. Anyone who is able and willing to follow directions can perform these gentle exercises.

Q. I wish to improve my sex life and I have heard that this may help.
A. First, have your physician rule out any organic etiology. If there are no detrimental effects due to disease, accident, or drug side effects, then Qi Gong can be highly effective. It increases vital energy while teaching one how to concentrate and control it. In addition, Tantric Qigong may also help one open to greater intimacy with one’s partner.

Q. I do physical therapy and massage therapy, are there advantages for myself or my clients?
A. For the caregiver and massage therapist, Tantric Qi Gong creates and distributes more vital life force. Body alignment allows your energy to flow unimpeded through your body. You will experience less fatigue, biomechanical or mental stress, and your clients will notice a superior quality to your treatments.

Q. I wonder if learning this discipline would conflict with my strict religious beliefs?
A. Though many people feel Tantric Qigong has a spiritual component, it is not a religion any more than jogging or swimming is. Copyright 2002-2009 Keith E. Hall. All rights reserved.

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