Heaven and Earth Five Elements Beginners Tai Chi Cane Webinar

The Program:

• The Heaven and Earth Five Elements Cane Program takes an everyday medical implement and transforms it into a tool for exercise, healing, moving mindful meditation and self-defense

• The program is suitable for adults of all ages

• Teaching will be taught in accordance with the essential principles of Tai Chi Chuan

• Elements of healing, exercise, moving mindful meditation and self-defense are incorporated into every aspect of the training

• Participants will learn how to safely practice cane warmups, cane manipulation drills, cane self-defense application, cane silk reeling and cane winding down exercises

• Participants will be taught the internal/external principal of ‘Finding the Circle in the Straight Line and the Straight Line in the Circle’ through Cane Silk Reeling exercises

Elder Chen 36 Forms Online Training Course

Traditionally, Chen Style Tai Chi was mainly practiced by the young, due to the demands of changing between fast and slow, high and low and explosive fa jing movements. It is the most outwardly martial of the five major Tai chi systems but it also more closely harmonizes with the continuously changing flow of nature! Elder Chen focuses on utilizing Tai Chi principles in every aspect of training!! A constant emphasis is placed on developing internal force and inner strength by cultivating and utilizing spiral force through Silk Reeling and Chen Spiraling Drills. Higher stances and smaller ranges of motion while learning to perform Chen movements and patterns with safe, mindful fluctuations will help you experience the power and richness of Chen style without overly stressing the body!! For those of you who always wanted to learn and practice Chen Tai Chi but feel like the time has passed, the Elder Chen is the answer. For those of you who learned a Chen form in your younger years but stopped practicing and would like to start again, the Elder Chen is the answer.

THE ELDER CHEN MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO STUDY AND PRACTICE CHEN TAI CHI AT ANY AGE!

The following link is the true story of how the Elder Chen Movement came into being

Five Animal Frolics

Created by the Physician Hua Tuo (110-207 A.D.)

The Five Animal Frolics is an exercise which combines both external physical exertions along with internal massage of the organs. The person credited with the creation of the Five Animal Frolics, Dr. Hua Tuo, reportedly prescribed practice of specific animals for specific ailments to his patients. The frolics are based on Taiji principles and are easy to learn and easy to remember. The physical turning, shifting weight, stepping, and sweeping motions vitalize the internal organs and tone the external musculature while stretching and conditioning ligaments and tendons. The results are improved energies of Jing, Qi and Shen. The benefits of practicing the Five Animal Frolics are found in each individual animal form. When combined in a practice set, the body and mind receive a complete workout and reconditioning.

Modern versions of the Five Animal Frolics frequently correlate each animal with the Five Elements Theory (Tiger- Metal, Deer - Wood, Monkey - Earth, Bear - Water, Crane - Fire). Hua Tuo’s original versions had broader applications by containing movements that work on many different body systems.

The Tiger gives us strong muscles, develops and strengthens the sinews, kidneys, and internal power.

Tiger Climbs the Mountain: This movement strengthens the kidneys, lungs, waist and back.

The Deer helps to be graceful and relaxed. It produces a cross body stretch gently squeezing our internal self while stretching ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

Deer Nods It’s Head: This movement helps the eyes, liver, Ming Men, Ren and Du Channels.

The Monkey improves our ability to be agile, quick to think with nimble alertness for precise reactions.

Monkey Gazes at the Horizon: These movements strengthen the legs, improve flexibility, and help the eyes.

The Bear brings depth to our rooting power which fortifies the bones and energizes the kidney power.

Bear Looks for Food: This movement strengthens the legs, kidneys and bones. The rotation of the body benefits the spine, neck and immune system.

The Crane shows us how to open and cool the body while providing gentle release to the spine and stretch to the ligaments.

Crane Spreads Its Wings: This movement improves balance and coordination of the arms and legs. It is beneficial for the eyes, lungs, heart and spirit. It helps open the meridians in the arms.

Daily practice of the Five Animal Frolics will improve your health, balance, and energy. Everyone should make this type of exercise a part of their daily routine. Dr. Hua Tuo gave these frolics to his patients so they may learn to heal themselves. Avery powerful gift.

Introduction to Pain Management with Tai Chi Silk Reeling Therapy

What causes mobility pain?

• a sedentary lifestyle

• poor posture repetitive movements, often work-related, that overwork a joint

• surgery

• sudden trauma from accidents or injury

Current medical approaches to this issue include painkillers, physical therapy and injections in the tightened area. And while muscle and joint issues tend to feel worse with appropriate exercise, fascia tends to feel better.

Tai Chi Silk Reeling brings drug-free healing to the fascia:

• greater elasticity and increased lubricating fluid

• release of muscle compression underneath

• tight knots called trigger points relax

• referred pain felt in other parts of the body diminishes

• no side effects from drugs

• mind-body connection through gentle exercise

• breath techniques calm the nervous system to begin the healing process

• Tai Chi’s focus on posture and gentle stretching helps heal fascia

• Silk reeling adds greater therapeutic power to managing pain

Tai Chi Silk Reeling is an excellent, low-impact way for anyone, any age, to learn to understand their body’s need for healing movement, breath work, and posture awareness. Fascia, muscles and joints all benefit from this integrative approach to health.

What is Silk Reeling?

Tai Chi Silk Reeling Exercises are therapeutic spiraling movement exercises for greater mobility and range of motion with less pain. From a healing perspective, combined with diaphragmatic breath and body alignment, the exercises loosen the joints, enabling freedom of movement and less mobility pain. The movements increase the secretion of synovial fluid which lubricates the joints, keeping them supple. They also strengthen the sinews and muscles to improve circulation. Safely practicing Tai Chi silk reeling movements in this way greatly enhances the healing, rejuvenation and resilience of your fascia connective tissue.

What is Fascia Connective Tissue?

“Although fascia looks like one sheet of tissue, it’s actually made up of multiple layers with liquid in between called hyaluronan,” says Harpreet Gujral, D.N.P., program director of integrative medicine at Sibley Memorial Hospital, part of the Johns Hopkins Medical community.

“It’s designed to stretch as you move. But there are certain things that cause fascia to thicken and become sticky. When it dries up and tightens around muscles, it can limit mobility and cause painful knots to develop.” Fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. When stressed, it tightens up, while healthy fascia is smooth, slippery and flexible.

(Read the entire article from Johns Hopkins Hospital at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ health/wellness-and-prevention/muscle-pain-it-may-actually-be-your-fascia)

The medical community has come to realize that many problems thought to be muscle, bone, tendon or joint-related are actually due to unhealthy fascia connective tissue. The two major ways to correct this problem are with body manipulation and movement therapy.

This Tai Chi Silk Reeling program utilizes slow, gentle, mindful movements. Studies show that daily movement-therapy exercises have been very effective at managing and relieving mobility pain by healing fascia connective tissue. The spiraling movements of Tai Chi Silk Reeling more effectively accomplishes this with slow, gentle, spiraling movements that access all angles of the body’s extremities while providing spiraling movements for the upper torso to keep the fascia lubricated and healthy. This heals the fascia connective tissue and helps prevent pain in the body.

Online Tai Chi Webinar Training

Online Tai Chi training offers real time teacher/student interaction!! In this busy fast pace world we live in, online learning is quickly becoming the preferred method of increasing and enhancing your knowledge, education and life skills.

Nothing can totally take the place of in person training with a qualified instructor. DVD instruction can be a good second choice when on-site workshops are not available to you. They can help you prepare for an upcoming workshop or supplement your training after a workshop. Learning tai chi or qigong from video only, gives you an overall basic one dimensional shape of the movements. You need to be able to hear instructions, see the movements demonstrated, ask real time questions and receive real time corrections to effectively learn your lessons!! “Online Private Tai Chi Webinar Training is the next best thing to being there.”

Each student is coached according to their individual needs, limitations and aptitude. This is combined with compassion, patience and enthusiasm. No one way of teaching fits all students. The program adapts and changes with you. As you grow and evolve my training grows and evolves with you. It’s all about you as an individual.

Benefits of Online Private Tai Chi Webinar Training:

1. Convenience - You’re in the privacy of your own home, no need to travel. If you live in an area that gets snow, the harsh effects of winter may have already touched you and will continue to get worse as the season continues. If you live across the country, the distance gap is eliminated.

2. Less expensive - When you add the cost of travel expenses, lodging, workshop fees, and the cost of being away from home and your family, it can add up to a tidy sum!

3. You’re in control of what you learn.

4. Safe calm atmosphere of your home helps you to focus and make learning easier.

5. Learn at your own pace.

6. Lessons are private, no peer pressure.

7. Higher quality of instruction, lessons can be taught in more detail which heightens your level of understanding and retention.

8. Lessons are video tapped. You receive a video link to each private lesson to assist you with your practice between training sessions.

9. One hour of quality private instruction can be equal to eight hours of classroom instruction!

10. All online private tai chi students will receive a 30% discount on all workshops that I personally host in Michigan.

*Group Online Webinar Workshops will be scheduled on the website’s workshops calendar.*

Tai chi Silk Reeling Therapy to Heal and Maintain Healthy Fascia Connective Tissue, Level 2 (Harmonizing the Circle, the Spiral and the Water Element)

This level two course is designed for participants who attended the level 1 training as well as beginning, intermediate, and advance Tai Chi practitioners with or without previous silk reeling training. A basic foundation in Tai Chi is all that is required to attend this training course. Tai chi practitioners of all levels will learn how to delve deeper into the aspects of silk reeling. This is made possible due to learning silk reeling from a therapeutic perspective. Silk reeling therapy connects you with the smallest details of silk reeling training, giving a safer and more in-depth understanding of its inner workings. Even if you’ve studied silk reeling patterns in the past, this training’s approach is from a more mindful and internal healing perspective to take you deeper into the silk reeling movements and patterns. This will help practitioners to learn and apply the internal, external and spiritual aspects of silk reeling that are crucial to allowing the spiral force to merge naturally with your mind, body and Tai Chi movements. Safely practicing the Tai Chi silk reeling movements in this way greatly enhances the healing, rejuvenating and resiliency of your fascia connective tissue. As we get older what is one of the main health issues we experience when we wake up in the morning and throughout the day? The answer is pains and aches throughout the body when we move. A body that’s riddled with pain causes people to become couch potatoes as a way of coping. The problem is, the more sedentary we become, the worse the pain gets. When going to the doctor, the first and sometimes only thing they look at are x-rays and tests for muscle and joint problems, strains and tears in the tissue, etc. Just recently the medical community has come to realize that many problems thought to be muscle, bone, tendon or joint related are actually due to unhealthy fascia connective tissue. The two major ways to correct this problem are with body manipulation and movement therapy. This Tai Chi Silk Reeling program utilizes slow, gentle, mindful movements. Studies show that daily movement therapy exercises have been very effective at managing and relieving mobility pain by healing fascia connective tissue. The spiraling movements of Tai Chi Silk Reeling more effectively accomplishes this with slow, gentle, spiraling movements that access all angles of the body’s extremities while providing spiraling movements for the upper torso to keep the fascia lubricated and healthy. This heals the fascia connective tissue and helps prevent pain in the body. Aging without frailty is something we all would like to achieve. Once we retire from our jobs and professions, it should be the time of our lives to be truly enjoyed! It’s time to travel and see the world, do that special project you always wanted to do, spend more quality time with your family and more. Waking up every morning with worsening joint, muscle and body pain was not part of anyone’s life plans. So no matter what age you are or whether you’re working or retired, achieving a youthful, pain-free body for a lifetime should be a primary goal for all of us!

Seven Movements of the Sky Fisherman

Seven Movements of the Sky Fisherman are seven qigong movement patterns that heal, and maintain healthy organ systems in your body (stomach & spleen, heart & small intestines, bladder & kidneys, heart protector & triple heater, gall bladder & liver, lungs & large intestines). This system of Qigong is based on Five Elements Traditional Chinese Medicine. The movement patterns fortify and move Qi through all your organ symptoms the way it’s naturally meant to flow over a 24 hour cycle.

Silk Reeling

Beginning Silk Reeling Foundation

Silk Reeling Exercises for Tai Chi are repetitive spiral movement exercises with emphasis on the ground connection, waist connection, knee alignment, kua sinking, opening and closing of joints and dantien rotation. They train the body to move as one unit lead by the dantien. From a healing perspective, the exercises loosen up the joints, enabling freedom of movement. They also benefit the sinews and muscles and improve circulation.

The circular movements strengthen the connective tissue and increase the secretion of synovial fluid which lubricates the joints, keeping them supple. From a martial perspective, the movements develop spiraling energy within the body. Chen Tai Chi Master, Chen Xin, outlines three principal benefits of silk reeling in relation to martial application; developing revolving energy that can rebound any incoming force, developing piercing energy like a spiraling bullet and developing neutralizing energy that can lead incoming force to emptiness.

Silk reeling is an essential part of Tai Chi training. It has major health benefits and it strengthens and trains whole body coordination and grounded body alignment. Participants of this workshop will learn how to put silk reeling energy into every movement of their Tai Chi forms.

Snake and Crane

“Summoning the spirit of the snake and crane to dance with the Tao". We will now learn how to go even deeper into our silk reeling practice by connecting with and bringing the energy and spirit of the snake and crane into our movements which will help you to fortify and refine your Qi and Shen. This will enhance your ability to harmonize with the all pervading spiral force of nature, the Tao.

We will go deeper into the body's figure 8 pattern by utilizing the principles of leading with the dantien, body wave/ joint isolation and the whip principle to show you how to start, complete and move continuously through your horizontal body spiral. The integration of internal, external and spiritual principles and exercises can help you to achieve the level of "three plain movement", where every Tai Chi movement is, simultaneously, done on a physical, mental and spiritual plane. This was a goal the ancient Tai Chi masters had in store for us!!! This training will help to put you on that path!!!

This will be exciting training. You will begin to see how the fruits of the silk reeling foundation, laid by previous silk reeling training, connects you to the beauty, power and mystery of this wonderful exercise that allows you to bring the power of heaven and earth into your body which will enable you to connect with and eventually become one with the Tao.

Circle Embrace (Patterns of Nature)

The principle of “Embracing the Circle” refers to Embracing the totality of the moment and leading it to peacefulness or emptiness. “We travel through the void,yin and yang, the five Elements, the 10,000 things then back to the void in an instant.” We go from form to formlessness, allowing our inner, interpretive, martial dance to reveal itself and harmonize our bodies, minds and spirits with the all pervading, Universal Circle of Nature.

Silk Reeling unlocks the door to “Embracing the Circle”. Practicing “Circle Embrace” allows us to walk through the door. When you combine all this with “Small Circle Tai Chi Pattern training” it helps us to transcend style, allowing the underlying universal principles, (that each martial movement is trying to teach us), to reveal themselves. This is a process!!! It takes dedication, perseverance,patience, childlike enthusiasm, beginner’s mind and an empty cup!!!

Traditional Pattern Silk Reeling

Tai Chi movements and patterns from Yang, Sun, Chen and Five Elements Tai Chi Systems are used as silk reeling patterns to generate, direct and utilize Spiral force.

Tai Chi Symbol Tracing Hands Silk Reeling

Tai chi symbol tracing hands is a foundation for silk reeling training to improve internal energy flow and to cultivate Qi and spiral force. It is frequently taught in the practice of Chen Style Tai Chi but it can be used to greatly enhance the practice of any tai chi system. In 1963, Professor Shen Jiazhen and Gu Liuxin published a book, Chen Style Tai Chi Quan, which revealed the silk reeling hand positions traced over the tai chi symbol.

Participants will learn several tai chi symbol tracing hands patterns on both sides. They will gain an understanding of how the symbol tracing hands patterns holds the eight gates, which are a foundation for push hands training. The eight gates are ward off, roll back, press, push, pull down, split, elbow, shoulder. Tai chi Symbol Tracing Hands Silk Reeling will provide participants with a valuable tool to take them deeper into the inner workings of tai chi.

Ba Gua Circle Walking

Bagua Circle walking applies the aspects of Standing Post Meditation to circle walking meditation. It helps the mind to achieve calmness, stillness and clarity. It generates a strong, healthy, disease-free body with relaxed nerves and great stamina. Circle walking also develops internal balance and the ability to maintain it when your inner or outer world changes. The ancient Bagua Masters believed that nature is in a constant state of motion, never standing still and always changing!! Bagua Circle Walking’s primary mission is to teach you to consciously and subconsciously harmonize and meditate with and through change in all its forms. It helps you to explore the “I-Ching” concepts of the constant change in the universe, the need to retain your balance when presented with change and the ability to flow with change and find a place of stillness and balance as change occurs

Therapeutic Programs

These therapeutic programs are designed to teach you self - managed health care. The movements and patterns in each of these programs teach training protocols to target specific chronic conditions, injuries and emotional imbalances while enhancing overall health of the body, mind and spirit.

Tai Chi for Shoulder Rehabilitation:

The Tai Chi for Shoulder Rehabilitation program was created by Master Tai Chi Instructor Dan Jones and Physical Therapist Jann Nestell, PT in Michigan in 2010. The initial program was called “Chigevity.” Nestell and Jones conducted two years of significant study, development and testing of the program. This was followed by three to four years of numerous medical professionals, patients and Tai Chi students being taught the program, with great success, throughout Michigan. Jann Nestell retired from the Physical Therapy Profession and Chigevity several years ago. Dan Jones incorporated the core of Chigevity into his Tai Chi classes and workshops and has been continually teaching it throughout the years. The success of the Chigevity program encouraged Dan, in collaboration with Tai Chi Master Instructors Maureen Miller and Betty Scanlon, ARNP, to revive and revise the original program, creating the Tai Chi for Shoulder Rehabilitation (TCSR) Program.

The TCSR program was launched, with great success, January 20-21, 2018 in conjunction with the annual Living with the Principles Tai Chi Retreat on Jekyll Island, GA.

Program Description:

The Tai Chi for Shoulder Rehabilitation program focuses on whole body shoulder rehabilitation and includes the full shoulder range of motion while performing tai chi movements. A close communication between the physician/surgeon, the patient and the physical therapy team is important and should continue throughout the whole recovery process. These movements are taught as continuous flow, small circle tai chi. In this manner, one movement is practiced in a continuous flow pattern, staying below the pain threshold, which greatly enhances the therapeutic effects in a safe, enjoyable way. This way of teaching is in harmony with "focusing on the road, not the destination”. This is not only a safer way of teaching, but also clients have a much easier time learning the movements and understanding and applying tai chi principles to each piece of a movement. This enhanced learning allows clients to relax and enjoy the movements and quickly gain a sense of accomplishment. Participants will learn principles and movements from Tai Chi (moving meditation), Qigong (energy work) and Tai Chi bang practice (gentle controlled movements to gently open the joints). These are the three major components of the TCSR program.

Therapeutic Tai Chi Foundational Health and Fall Prevention:

This Program will focus on developing strength, flexibility, and longevity health in all the joints, muscles and tendons in the lower extremities with modified Tai Chi and Qigong patterns and movements. Fall Prevention and enhanced functional agility are additional health benefits achieved from this training.

TCMMMRT:

Tai Chi Moving Mindfulness Meditation and Resilience Training:

This unique program was developed by Master Tai Chi Instructor and retired police officer Dan Jones. Dan combines twenty four years of law enforcement, eight years of executive protection and thirty eight years of Tai Chi and Qigong experience into a program specifically designed to help manage the symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. He successfully applied the training and techniques from this program during his entire law enforcement and executive protection careers. The mindful, relaxed, fluid movements of tai chi and the coordinated breathing patterns of Qigong helps to develop an active calm that is more easily transferable to the fluid demands of everyday life.

Every technique, pattern and aspect of the program incorporates mind, body and breath. The training teaches easy to learn modified Tai Chi movements and small patterns to help the mind, body and emotions remain calm during episodes of anxiety, stress and traumatic memories. It helps you to manage and control the unavoidable daily stress of life and the stress encountered during highly tense and unpredictable situations.

If the demands of everyday life are beginning to spiral out of control and your stress level is continuing to rise, this training can be a life saver. If your goal is preventative health care, the results of this training will be hard to match elsewhere.

TCMMMRT copyright Dan Jones 2019

Cane Assisted Tai Chi Therapy:

Cane Assisted Tai Chi Therapy training utilizes the cane as part of your Tai Chi form. The cane is an extension of your body. It enables you to smoothly transition through your Tai Chi form while encouraging rehabilitation in your lower extremities with whole body coordination. Rehabilitation from a whole body perspective greatly reduces the likelihood of re-injury.

Qigong

Five Elements Medical Qigong:

This training teaches you how to connect with nature to replenish and balance your mental, physical and spiritual energy. It helps you to access your healing source by establishing unity and harmony within and without. The combination of Qigong meditation, and exercises will help build a solid health foundation for achieving longevity without frailty. You will learn traditional Chinese healing practices that will help you harmonize the Yin and Yang energy in your body.

Primordial Qigong:

Primordial Qigong is one of the most powerful movement ceremonies ever experienced. It is a rare 800 year lineage Qigong with graceful movements. It resembles Tai Chi but is easier to learn. “Chi” (life force), is gathered from 5 sacred directions in three beautiful spirals. Each spiral gathers the 12 meridians of the earth “light” and the 10 celestial rays of heaven chi into the primordial womb/center of your body. This form puts no stress on the physical body and uses easy weight shifts and balanced movements to activate the energy body.

Regular practice of Primordial Qigong can restore and maintain the healthy functions of the internal organs, cultivate and restore the natural balance of energy within the body and preserve the vitality of youth. Major clinics in China use it to treat many types of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, weak kidneys and chi deficiency.

Swimming Dragon Qigong:

Swimming Dragon Qigong is an ancient Chinese exercise that comes from the Taoist tradition. It turns the air we breath and the food we eat into Qi. The simple and beautiful movements of Swimming Dragon smoothly and evenly rise like “a dragon ascending into the clouds and lowers like a coiling dragon entering the sea.” The body smoothly rises and lowers while swinging from left to right at the same time. The entire body is engaged while performing Swimming Dragon which stimulates, activates and heals internal organs and systems throughout the body.

Practicing Swimming Dragon on a regular basis increases blood flow and oxygen in the body. Increased blood flow together with increased hormonal activity causes the fat of the waist, abdomen, shoulders, neck, back, buttocks and thighs to be transformed and reduced, resulting in weight loss in a pleasant and relaxed way. Other healing effects experienced are strengthening the of kidneys, stimulating and regulating the endocrine system, improves the digestive system by stimulating the intestines, benefits the respiratory system, the spine, the nervous system and the meridians. Swimming Dragon is a wonderful Qigong exercise which will provide you with an amazing tool for longevity, health and happiness.

Guo Lin Anti-Cancer Walking Qigong:

This qigong increases the flow of energy and oxygen throughout the body. According to Chinese medicine, cancer can grow where there is stagnation, a blockage of energy (qi). By increasing the circulation and greatly increasing the amount of oxygen as well as increasing the amount of toxins released from the body, the body becomes stronger and can protect itself better.

According to Chinese medicine stagnant qi, blocked energy, can create an environment for cancer and chronic illness. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, when qi (life force energy) and blood are flowing freely, the body will be balanced and disease will disappear. By practicing qigong, qi, oxygen and blood circulation are improved, meridians are opened allowing unimpeded flow of qi and blood. An insufficient supply of oxygen can increase the growth of cancer. When the body is rich in oxygen, the cancer cells can die. In ancient Taoist text, “Blood is the mother of Qi while Qi is the commander of blood." Per research "there is an increased efficiency of cell metabolism and tissue regeneration through increased circulation of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain, organs." The more one practices qi gong, the greater the oxygen content in the body. Psychologically instead of feeling like a cancer victim people can do something to empower themselves emotionally and physically. You will learn a special walking and breathing pattern, posture and mental concentration.

Rocking Qigong:

Takes one or several Tai Chi movements and combines them with coordinated mind, body and breathing to turn any Tai Chi movement into a qigong exercise.

Five Elements Taiji

The Five Elements Taiji System was created by Master Chungliang Al Huang. He created his taiji system by combining Yang Style Taiji, Bagua and Qigong. His Taiji system is based on the five elemental forces of Fire, Water, Wood, Metal and Earth. The system has a Five Elements Form made up of all Five Elements and five additional forms called Circles. Each circle represents one of the Five Elements.

The fluidity of Yang Style Taiji, the moving meditative stepping of Bagua and the mindful visualizations and breathing of Qigong come together to create a beautiful and powerful meditative dance of nature. The Five Elements Form and the Five Circles, individually, are relatively short forms. They’re easy to learn and they contain the wisdom of nature. When practiced according to Taiji Principles they take you on an endless journey of discovery and amazement on the path of the Tao!

Five Elements Taiji for Relieving stress, Anxiety and Fear

During these times of extreme stress, anxiety and fear due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there are few things that can bring you comfort and relief from these strong emotions.

Nature seems to know just what we need during the darkest and most distressing times in our lives. It has a way of reconnecting with us on a deep and profound level. Reconnecting with nature helps us to regain our peace of mind and our connection to the world around us. Anytime we feel sad, disconnected and fearful, taking a walk in the park, along the ocean or even sitting under a big tree in our own backyard can instantly help us feel better.

The Five Elements Taiji for relieving stress, anxiety and fear takes us deeper into the Five Elements, (fire, water, wood, metal, earth), to connect with the foundational inner essence of each element. This deep connection to the elements of nature helps us reach down to the core of our extreme emotions to help restore inner balance and peace from within. Participants will first work with each element separately to physically, internally, visually and audibly experience each element. This will help encourage a deeper physical, mental and spiritual connection with each element. Participants will then put all five elements together into a modified Five Elements form geared towards making a deeper and more profound connection with the five elemental forces of Nature.

Five Elements Tai Chi and Qigong for Grief and Loss:

During times of extreme stress, sorrow, grief and sadness due to the loss of a loved one, there are few things that can bring you comfort and relief from these strong emotions. It is said that “time heals all wounds” with the exception of the day to day suffering from grief and loss. Nature seems to know just what we need during the darkest and most distressing times in our lives. It has a way of reconnecting with us on a deep and profound level. Reconnecting with nature helps us to regain our peace of mind and our connection to the world around us. Anytime we feel sad or disconnected, taking a walk in the park or the woods seems to instantly help us feel better. The Five Elements Tai Chi and Qigong for Grief and Loss Program uses the elements of nature, fire, water, wood, metal and earth, to connect with us on a deeper level. This helps us reach down to the core of our extreme emotions to help restore inner balance and peace from within. Participants will be able to physically, visually and audibly experience the slow, meditative tai chi movements of nature combined with the mindful, coordinated breathing of qigong.

Tai Chi Ruler:

The Tai Chi Ruler is a powerful method of physical and spiritual cultivation that increases the body’s supply of qi, stimulates qi flow through the meridians and bodily tissues and develops a tranquil state of awareness. The ruler is held between the palms of the hands and moved in a circular motion in front of the body.

Tai Chi Bang:

Like Tai Chi, the movements of the Tai Chi Bang is rooted in the feet, powered by the legs, controlled by the waist, expressed through the hands and observed by the eyes. The function of the Tai Chi Bang is to strengthen your muscles,condition your joints, focus your intention and gain kinematic awareness of your joints, center and spiral energy. Most of the movements have two parts: Song (loose/gathering energy) and Jin (tight/delivering energy). The Tai Chi Bang is larger than the Tai Chi Ruler. Twisting and angular movements strengthen and rehabilitate all the joints in the arms and shoulders.