Taoist Qi Gong

Taoist Qi Gong is a multi-dimensional approach to cultivating the body's innate life force, called 'Qi', for the purpose of physical, mental and spiritual health and well being. It is a system of living ('be'-ing) that gives one the keys to physical excellence, superb health, mental acuity and spiritual ascendance.
Taoist Qi Gong is thus a model for excellence, it is a series of meditations and internal energy exercises that are aligned with the principles of Taoism, that allow one to enter and live from a state of grace, moving with equipoise and freedom from moment to moment.
The Taoist approach (called 'wu wei' or effortless effort) offers a radical, yet unique, alternative top today's behavioral patterns of self-destruction that many people have adopted. The Taoist path is one of optimum health and longevity. It is a path that cultivates abundance and the wisdom of life. It is a practice that works on a state of magnificent health through the prevention of disease and by maintaining balance and harmony throughout the bodies systems, on a physiological and psychological level.
And yet this path is anything but boring or austere. By cultivating the life force and innate wisdom within, the Qi Gong practitioner is able to live life at a fully integrated level, more completely, with a robustness and zest that transcends the ordinary. This is due to the adherence of the natural way of the 'Tao', as their health, state of mind and well-being is rooted in the same universal principles that govern physics, chemistry, cosmology and indeed, all the other natural sciences and life.
 It is through the cultivation and understanding of their own 'Qi' that Qi Gong practitioners can come to understand the limitations and the fullest possibilities of both nature and themselves. They come to realize and then begin to express the amazing potential we are all born with.

The concept of the 'Tao', or the 'Way', is simply a name, an allusion to the process in which the universe (i.e. everything) functions, from the rhythmic pulsation of galaxies, the cyclical changing of the seasons to falling in love. 'Tao' encompasses all processes, all aspects of life, living and the universal laws that direct it.

Qi then, is simply the process of the Tao functioning at many different levels, simultaneously within and around us. For at a basic, fundamental level we find that everything is composed of energy. This energy is the intelligent force that moves the universe; it flows relentlessly where it can. Qi is fundamental to our existence and too the quality of our lives. It is ubiquitous and animates everything in existence. This flux of Qi is also happening within us as the human body, in the Taoist model, is viewed as a self-contained microcosm of the universe. And what moves it all is 'Qi', energy, the dynamic power of the universe.

Qi flows through the body via a complex network of 12 energy conduits called meridians, each of which is linked to a different bowel or organ. This energy manifests through different phases and the movement between states is expressed as the '5 elements', namely fire, water, wood, metal and earth. The 5 elements simply define the various stages of energy transformation. In the same way, this expression takes place in the organ/meridian systems of the body.
Each organ and bowel is linked with a particular element, or phase of energy. This element denotes the tangible activity of chi within the body. It is this dance of the 5 elements that leads to an optimal balance of chi within, which is then reflected externally as we move through the world. Thus Qi Gong seeks first a balance and harmony between the energies of the vital organs, the body and the environment, and conversely, in order for our chi to be strong, fluid and balanced, we need to live in harmony with our external environment and with our internal environment - our thoughts, feelings, emotions, expressions.
It is through Qi Gong that we come to realize that our state of energy flow in the body regulates, and is in direct control of our state of health and quality of life. This energy is influenced by both external and internal conditions. Internally, we direct our Qi flow through our systems by our breathing patterns, the direction and quality of our thoughts, our emotions (energy-in-motion/E-motion) and beliefs. What happens is that often we adopt and hold certain defensive patterns of thought and breath that become habitual without our being aware of them. It is these habitual patterns/thoughts that cause an imbalance in the bodies’ energy state. Such imbalances severely limit ones vitality, health, creativity, balance and harmony. It is this imbalance of Qi, and the unconscious holding onto of certain restrictive patterns that go on to cause serious disease and degeneration of the organism. Anytime the energy flow is thrown out of sync (either too little or too much) sickness and disease is the result!
So the Taoist key to health and longevity is simply a fluid, spontaneous flow of life force on a moment to moment basis, in harmony and balance with the prevailing external conditions, what ever they may be. Health is sustained by cultivating and nurturing our Qi!

Learning and practicing the ancient science of Taoist Qi Gong will dramatically improve your life on all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.