Introduction to Qigong
Whisper
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It's been an exciting & historic weekend here in Boulder, Colorado, for qigong enthusiasts, for it marks the first time ever that a major delegation of practitioners from China's Wudang Monastery has visited this country. The Wudang monks & priests performed four Taoist ceremonies, demonstra 
ted a wide variety of tai qi, qigong and martial arts forms, and treated us to sublime performances of Taoist sacred music. The program also included talks on Inner Alchemy and Chinese/Taoist philosophy, I Ching readings and Talisman drawings. This Taoist Summit, which was sponsored by the Association for Chinese American Enrichment and held at Boulder's Millenium Hotel, drew to a close today. The delegation now proceeds to Austin, Texas, where ~ from July 10-17, they will be offering a similar program. The weekend, for me, was profoundly enriching ~ intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually ~ and if you're able to attend the Austin program, I would highly recommend it! (For information about the Austin program, including a beautiful short video, please go to http://www.healingtaoinstitute.com)
In the wake of this program, I felt that an introduction to the ancient art-form/spiritual practice of Qigong (the basis of all martial arts forms, including taiqi) might be of interest, particularly to those who are hearing about it for the first time. "Qigong," most generally, refers to practices whose aim is the cultivation ("Gong") of life-force ("Qi). There are literally thousands of different forms, though they are often divided into two major groups: (1) External forms, which utilize physical movement as a way of accessing, cultivating and moving qi; and (2) Internal forms, which are performed with the physical body in a relatively motionless position, and which utilize the breath, imagination & intention of the practitioner to access, cultivate and move qi. In these practices, it is the human body and its life-force that is the "altar" upon which spiritual practice unfolds.
I. Benefits of Qigong practice
In the wake of this program, I felt that an introduction to the ancient art-form/spiritual practice of Qigong (the basis of all martial arts forms, including taiqi) might be of interest, particularly to those who are hearing about it for the first time. "Qigong," most generally, refers to practices whose aim is the cultivation ("Gong") of life-force ("Qi). There are literally thousands of different forms, though they are often divided into two major groups: (1) External forms, which utilize physical movement as a way of accessing, cultivating and moving qi; and (2) Internal forms, which are performed with the physical body in a relatively motionless position, and which utilize the breath, imagination & intention of the practitioner to access, cultivate and move qi. In these practices, it is the human body and its life-force that is the "altar" upon which spiritual practice unfolds.
I. Benefits of Qigong practice