I’ve been trying to write a post about qi gong for a long time because I love qi gong. I discovered it by chance while doing tai chi, as one of my teachers introduced it in his classes as a separate element of training. I love the qi gong movements so much that I would like everyone to have a taste, to experience them, to love them, as I do. And the pressure of wanting to impress you makes the writing tough.

Qi gong is usually translated as “energy work”. Hardly a good translation of these concepts because in Chinese philosophy ‘qi’ and ‘gong’ mean much more than what you probably understand by ‘energy work’. ‘Qi’ is one of the basic energies which circulate through our bodies according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is sometimes referred to as vital energy or life force. ‘Gong’ is practice, training, or something that takes time to master. Qi gong requires continous practice and it consists of gentle exercises which can balance your qi levels.

Qi gong is composed of three elements: physical exercises, breathing, and attention to the movements. You need to bring your mind’s attention to your body while keeping a natural breathing pattern, and making your body move in a specific way. Generally, qi gong movements are repetitive, so they can be learnt faster than a tai chi sequence.

Qi gong is very popular in China because it can be done by people of different ages and physical conditions. It is gentle with the body, following your natural rhythm. Once you learn the precise structure and become more relaxed while doing the exercises, you will start feeling the ‘qi’ energy in your body. It will manifest as warmth, tingling, or other sensations.

Qi gong is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, both as a preventative and as a healing method, as some of the qi gong movements help unblock the energy blocks in the meridians.  Have a look at this article for more info. I could not write it better: http://www.beyondhuman.com/qigong-healingpower1.html

Enough words now! I was probably lacking words in my earlier attempts to explain qi gong because qi gong needs to be experienced. If you wish to have a taste, check the timetables for qi gong classes or look for a teacher near you.

It is a martial art but it isn’t about fighting. It is movement but it has some static postures. It is good for your health, but it isn’t a miracle cure for every disease. It looks like slow motion “kung fu”, but it can be fast. It looks graceful and gentle but it holds a lot of internal power.

In general terms, tai chi chuan is a series of bodily movements with a martial component which has been used by Chinese people to keep physically fit for centuries, if you allow me this simplistic definition. Tai chi incorporates many aspects of Chinese culture, including traditional medicine and philosophy.

It is an internal martial art. This means that the internal focus is as important as the external movement itself. Breathing is also essential.

There are 5 different styles of tai chi chuan: 1) Yang style, most likely founded by Yang Lu-Chan, 2) Wu style, founded by Wu Quan-You, 3) Sun style, founded by Sun Lu-Tang, 4) Hao style, founded by Wu Yu-Xiang, and last but not least 5) Chen style, of which the true founder is unknown.

The Chen style is the oldest of the tai chi styles and it was kept secret among the population of the Chenjiagou village in Henan province in China for centuries, and it still keeps some secrecy around it. It is one of the most traditional styles.

Each style can be divided into different forms, each of them with a different number of movements and some specific characteristics.

House of movement teaches the Chen style 11 movement short-form, created by Master Liming Yue for beginners. Liming Yue is an indoor student of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. In the video, Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei demonstrates the first part of the most traditional of the chen style forms, Lao Jia. Have a look at the video to see what chen style tai chi looks like:

Absolutely no.

Clothing: All you need are comfortable clothes: loose trousers and a T-shirt for example.

Shoes: You don’t need special Chinese shoes, but comfortable ones. Trainers are ok, and so are socks and bare feet.

Yoga mat: No needed. You won’t need anything extra like this. There are practically no exercises done on the floor.

Any other extras needed will be provided by House of Movement.

If you have a silk tai chi uniform and want to bring it over, you are more than welcome.

Alda

Welcome to the House of Movement Blog!

This is the most informal part of the website. Here you will find posts which may help you in your tai chi experience. For example, advice on how to start a daily practice. This will be explained in a very informal language, possibly tinted with some typical Spanish grammar errors. This section will also include news and social events. Most of the posts will be chosen based on your queries.

Please feel free to leave a comment on this page or send a suggestion for a new post by email.

See you in class!
Alda