Tai Chi

Robert Tangora’s new book, The Internal Structure of Cloud Hands , has just been published. Last October, I spoke to Robert about why he chose this topic for a Tai Chi book and what he hoped to communicate to people. Based on that interview, working with him live doing his Cloud Hands training, and the meticulous way he approaches learning, teaching, and Tai Chi, I have no doubt that this book is going to the top of my recommended reading list next to Energy Gates. ...

What do we mean when we say we “put our mind inside our body” when we meditate, do qigong, or Tai Chi? Dr. Cathy Kerr helps us understand this question from the perspective of modern neuroscience. In addition to being a Tai Chi practitioner, Cathy is the Director of Translational Neuroscience at Contemplative Studies Initiative and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Brown University. ...

The eyes are the gateway to your nervous system. This is a theme that my teacher Bruce Frantzis weaves into many different Tai Chi and qigong teachings that he gives. Relaxing the nervous system is one of the central goals of Tai Chi practice. With a relaxed nervous system you are more aware of your reactions, thoughts, emotions, and really, your entire internal environment. One of the best ways to begin to tune into the state of your nervous system is by learning to feel your eyes. ...

The macrocosmic orbit qigong is one exercise in the tradition of qigong meditation. Qigong is an ancient practice using breath, movement and meditative focus to cultivate energy flow throughout the body, mind and spirit. Qigong practitioners learn about the body's meridians, or lines of energy flow, that are at the basis of Chinese medicine and many other traditions. The macrocosmic orbit qigong is an advanced exercise for using breath and concentration in strengthening your energy. There are a number of variations of this exercise and each practitioner must decide for him or herself which one is best for them. Learning this technique requires the instruction of an experienced teacher who has studied the this exercise thoroughly. ...

Taoist Master Bruce Frantzis is my main Tai Chi and qigong teacher. Bruce was one of the first Westerns to live and study intensively in China, then come back to the U.S. and popularize Wu Style Tai Chi, qigong, and Taoist meditation in a way that was accessible to a Western audience. He teaches all over the U.S. and Europe, including regular workshops at Brookline Tai Chi. His books on qigong and meditation offer clear and direct practical instruction. Opening the Energy Gates is one of my favorites. I highly recommend it if you want to learn qigong. ...

Tai Chi instructor Robert Tangora blends healing practices, martial arts, and meditation to teach a complete internal arts curriculum. I've had the pleasure of studying with Robert at his studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as through annual seminars at Brookline Tai Chi. Robert Tangora Tai Chi Cloud Hands: What I admire about Robert's teaching is the clarity and simplicity of what he tries to convey. He always put the importance of being able to feel and do in your own body over complex technical concepts. At the same time, he is able to explain these concepts elegantly. ...

The Spiraling Energy Body Qigong set is one of the toughest in the Energy Arts system, so I asked Energy Arts Instructor Isaac Kamins to tell us about his experiences with this practice. In this episode of Qigong Radio, Isaac explains how as a teenager he came to appreciate the counter-intuitive approach that the internal martial arts take to fighting and how the energetic sensitivity he has developed doing Spiraling Energy Body qigong has influenced how he interacts with other people and the world around him, far beyond the martial arts. ...

If you’ve learned many different meditation, qigong, breathing, and movement practices over the years, you may be faced with the problem of trying to decide what to practice each day. In this episode of Qigong Radio, I’ll show you a framework for thinking about your different modes of practice and show you the single most important goal of an energy arts practice, regardless of the mode or specific techniques. Specifically, we’ll look at: ...

When you relax into the turning of the waist and feel how it connects to the legs, you begin a process of rooting while moving that creates a dynamic and springy stability. Kind of a paradox, right? You feel like a giant spring, anchored to the floor even though you’re moving around, that is constantly being wound up and then released. The key to cultivating this connection is how you relax through your turning, so let’s start off by getting clear on what we mean when we say relaxation. ...

Learn the Tai Chi secrets of slow-motion movement that will re-educate your body. Our bodies close down over time, through injury, aging, and just general dis-use. When it comes to your body, the old cliche, move it or lose it is spot on. Tai Chi is one of the only exercise systems you can take on later in life and truly excel at, so there must be something going on inside the slow-motion movements that lets anyone, of any age, and any level of ability start moving better. ...