DVD: Essence of Taiji Qigong

Taiji Qigong is an ancient Chinese set of exercises which develops the strength and flexibility of the body, increases your vitality, and promotes deep relaxation. The movements also prepare your body and mind for great Taiji (Tai Chi) practice by loosening your joints, warming your muscles, stimulating your Qi (energy) flow, and sharpening your concentration. Qigong is the key to developing the phenomenal martial power of Taijiquan.

In this DVD, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming teaches the purpose and methods of Taiji Qigong, and demonstrates more techniques than are shown in the book, including:

• Stretching
• Loosening, Rotating, Coiling, and Wrist Settling Warm Up Exercises
• Wai Dan Standing Still Meditation
• Stationary Taiji Qigong: Primary, Coiling, and Rocking Sets
• Walking Taiji Qigong

In addition, regular Qigong practice accelerates the health benefits of Taiji. You'll enjoy reduced stress, a stronger immune system, and a deeper awareness of breath and body coordination. This authoritative guide can be used with any style of Taijiquan, and it is a great way for anyone to energize the body, raise the spirit, and deepen your understanding of Qigong and Taiji.

"One of America's most sought after instructors of Qigong" - The Omega Institute.

This DVD complements the book The Essence of Taiji Qigong.

YMAA PRODUCTION • DR. YANG, JWING-MING • "ESSENCE OF TAIJI QIGONG" • WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING • EDITED BY DAVID SILVER AND MEDIAMANIC • PRODUCED BY DAVID SILVER • DVD AUTHORING BY MEDIAMANIC • DIRECTED BY DR.YANG, JWING-MING

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AUTHOR(S)

Yang, Jwing-Ming Ph.D., is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Born in Taiwan, he has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong and Chinese martial arts for over forty-five years. He is the author of over thirty books, and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang lives in Northern California.

REVIEWS

5 of 5 stars, "Easy (and relaxing) to use", Daruma, July 2008

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.

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
• Eliminate Qi stagnation in lower back
• Loosen kidney area, 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.

STATIONARY TAIJI QIGONG
Stand still to regulate the breathing (martial artists use reverse abdominal breathing). 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.

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 help one to link all the parts, to realize the opposites and how they work together.

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.

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!!!!!