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Taoist Arts Center
342 East 9th St.
New York, NY
10003
(212) 477-7055
S. Rabinowitz, director
.
srab@taoist-arts.com

 Chi Kung

Taoist Arts Center :
Chi Kung

Chi Kung (also known as Qigong, Taoist Energy Arts, Chi Gung and Nei Gung) is the basis of Tai Chi Chuan, and Taoist Meditation.  Chi Kung like acupuncture and all Chinese medicine is based upon the idea that smoothly flowing Chi or life force is essential to health. 

Chi Kung (energy work) practices balance and increase the body's energies and develop feelings of health, strength, and well being. Chi Kung uses the natural functions of your body to release stress, develop flexibility, coordination and stamina, and to heal chronic joint and back problems. The main idea of Chi Kung is to develop and store Chi.

Chi Kung is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is commonly used for its beneficial healing effects.  (You may read more on this subject in this article about Taoism and QiGong.)

Chi Kung exercises are cumulative. As you practice through the year the effects of the practices will increase. As you practice Chi Kung your body will become relaxed and stronger, your health will improve and your spirits will lift.

Here are some Chi Kung courses we teach:
  
Freeing Your Chi
The Power of Circles
Taoist Energy Cultivation
Chi Kung for Health and Balance

Medical Chi Kung
The Ten Essential Chi Kung
The Marriage of Heaven and Earth
Changing the Ligaments - Yi Jin Jing

Swimming in Air
Finding Your Root:
Sleeping Chi Kung
Eight Pieces of Brocade

Cool Summer Chi Kung

 Tao 10 Chi Kung
Walking Chi Kung
Gods Playing in the Clouds
Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung
Bend the Bow, Shoot the Arrow
Opening Energy Gates of your Body

We offer these Chi Kung courses in varying forms to fit individual needs. We begin in the fall with simple yet effective Chi Kung exercises. Gradually throughout the year the exercises increase in complexity For a chronological list of offerings see our Calendar of Events.

Picture

Susan Rabinowitz performs
Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung in front of  the
Empire State Building in NYC

' What an amazing thing - in just 6 months at the Taoist Arts Center my overall cholesterol has dropped 50 points and my ' bad'  cholesterol has dropped 25 points. I thank Susan and Sara for their inspiration and for setting me off on what I hope to be a long journey to continued health and well-being.'   Barbara R.

More About Our Chi Kung Program:

Bend the Bow, and Shoot the Arrow
Often called Spinal Chi Kung, Bend the Bow and Shoot the Arrow gives students entry to areas of major energy blockages, and enables them to clear those blockages and realign the spine for optimal health and movement.
    
Blue Heron Chi Kung
Blue Heron Chi Kung is a medical form of chi kung that enhances the energy of the entire body for health and well being. Heron Breathing strengthens the legs and improves balance, while relaxing the breath, invigorating the internal organs and calming the mind. The gentle energizing movements of Blue Heron Chi Kung are easy to learn and can be practiced by those at all levels of health. An excellent introduction to chi kung, Blue Heron is a great set for everyone who wants to feel healthier and more alive. Open to students at all levels of experience.

Coiling Hands Chi Kung
Coiling Hands Chi Kung ( often called Yin-Yang Hands) will help students activate the bodies natural spiraling pathways, loosen the joints and tone the muscles, these coiling movements are the key to the internal power of Tai Chi and Chi Kung and will help students bring energy outward from their center to their fingertips where it may be used for health, work, or martial readiness.

Cool Summer Chi Kung
Ease into summer with this low stress approach to the Chinese way of health and harmony. These flowing movements cool, calm, and relax body and mind, while increasing strength, balance and energy. Summer Classes are modular yet connected and may be taken individually or in combination. Take all 8 classes or just drop-in when you can.

Changing the Ligaments: The Yi Jin Jing
The Yi Jin Jing (Changing the Ligaments) is a 1500 year old chi kung set that strengthens tendons and ligaments, opens the meridians, increases flexibility and empowers students to emit energy from their hands. The active yet gentle exercises help students release blocked chi, balance the internal organs and enhance the immune system. The Yi Jin Jing will be useful for all those interested in health, strength and flexibility. This classical set is is attributed to Bodidharma who taught it to the monks at the Shaolin Temple for health and self defense.

Chi Kung for Health and Balance
This combination of Better Breathing and the Daily Dozen Chi Kung promotes efficient movement of breath and chi through the body and helps students be more grounded and balanced. Widely used in China to relieve back, neck and joint problems, these ancient practices help ward off disease and create a feeling of relaxation and harmony oneself and with the universe around us  Learn more about this course by reading Better Breathing and The Daily Dozen Chi Kung
      
Chi Kung Meditation
Chi Kung Meditation brings 'motion to stillness and stillness to motion' and brings meditation into daily life. Students will learn standing, sitting and moving meditations that will help them to energize their body, relax their nervous system and calm their minds. These gentle techniques combine physical movement with use of the breath and relaxation of the mind to produce a unique whole body experience that balances the energies of the lower, middle and upper energy centers (tantiens). Chi Kung Meditation will be useful for meditators, healers, martial artists and everyone who wants to be stronger, calmer and more centered and balanced.
      
Chinese Bodywork for Health and Healing
These traditional Chinese techniques release pain and tension. The practices will help you to free your own energy and the energy of others by opening blocked energy channels and meridians. It presents techniques for self-massage and for two person practices as well as several psychic self-defense exercises designed to prevent burnout. It is helpful for all people interested in health and massage.

Circling Hands Chi Kung
Circular motion is the key to releasing stress and improving health. Circling Hands Chi Kung will help students to raise body awareness and increase energy circulation for physical, mental and spiritual vitality. Circling Hands Chi Kung helps students activate the bodies natural spiraling pathways, loosen the joints and tone the muscles. These coiling movements are the key to the internal power of tai chi and chi kung and will help students bring energy outward from the center to the fingertips where it may be used for health, work, or martial readiness. The  techniques taught  in this class will benefit dancers, athletes, martial artists and anyone who wants to be healthy, vibrant and relaxed
  
Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung
Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung is a medical form of Chi Kung that is especially helpful for those recovering from illness or injury. It is appropriate for students at all ages and levels of fitness. It is easy to learn and can be used to relieve stress, increase flexibility and enhance well-being. Those interested in this subject are encouraged to attend our Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung Classes and Weekend Workshops. You can also read about Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung in our article that was published in
Inside Kung-Fu.
      
Eight Pieces of Brocade
The Eight Pieces of Brocade is one of the oldest and most commonly practiced chi kung sets in the world for health and longevity. Athletic and energizing, it strengthens the legs, stretches the ligaments and energizes the entire body. An excellent transition from external to internal movement, the Eight Pieces of Brocade is appropriate for students at all levels of experience.
      
Energy of Healing
The Energy of Healing turns Chinese medical theory into chi kung practice for health and well being. Students will use the insights of Chinese medicine to improve the circulation of blood and chi, aid delivery of oxygen to the cells and stimulate the immune system. This workshop will show students how to achieve optimal health by practicing Chi Kung in a way that opens their acupuncture meridians, clears their internal organs and balances the 5 elements that compose the universe and flow through the body. A great introduction to chi kung for beginners and a great way for continuing students to
increase their understanding of chi kung theory and practice. Energetics of Healing is open to students at all levels of fitness and experience
     
Energy Circulation and Vitality
Energy Circulation and Vitality will help students to circulate their energy  through the Macrocosmic and Microcosmic orbits of energy that unite their bodies with the energy of the universe. This course will help students to move energy smoothly and freely throughout their entire body to enhance the circulation of blood and chi  for increased energy, vibrant health and feelings of unity with all that is.
        
Entering the Gate: Chi Kung Meditation:
Harmonize your body, energy, heart and mind through this introduction to Chi Kung and Taoist Meditation. A low stress beginning to Chi Kung (energy work), easy-to-learn movements that are the basis of  Tai Chi and Chinese medicine, combined with instruction in Taoist Meditation, a safe, relaxing and effective way to practice spirituality in daily life by refining the body, mind and emotions.

Essentials of Healing
The techniques in this course promote efficient movement of chi throughout the body and are widely used in China to relieve back, neck and joint problems. Merging and circulating the energies of the body and mind, opening the joints and balancing the meridians, these ancient practices help ward off disease and create a feeling of relaxation and harmony oneself and with the universe around us. Essentials of Healing is understandable to the beginner and invaluable to the  established practitioner.

Finding Your Root
Like a tree on a mountain the  Chi Kung practitioner stands between heaven and earth and is nurtured by both. Rooting - connecting with the energy of the earth - helps develop strength, balance, and harmony. In this course students will learn Taoist breathing and energy dissolving techniques to help them receive energy from the universe and send it downward to their roots in the earth. We will also learn standing techniques that provide a solid base for the Tai Chi form, Push Hands and overall good health.

Freeing Your Chi 
Freely flowing of chi (life energy)  increases flexibility, releases stress and improves overall health. In this course students will learn traditional medical chi kung techniques to help them release bound chi in their muscles and joints and add flexibility to their back, neck, shoulders and arms. The exercises taught in this workshop will help students reduce repetitive stress injuries, enhance range of movement and ward off disease. A great practice for martial artists, healers, and all who would like to feel healthier, more relaxed and vital.

Gathering Essence
Gathering Essence cultivates and circulates chi (life essence) throughout the body for health, strength and vitality.  This smoothly flowing one-movement exercise strengthens the muscles, stretches the ligaments, tones the internal organs and energizes and relaxes the body and mind.  A great addition to your daily routine Gathering Essence is open to all.

Get More Chi In Your Tai Chi
Get More Chi In Your Tai Chi will teach students techniques that will help them to coordinate physical movement and energy. expand and compress all their joints and learn subtle alignments that will increase their health and vitality.
         
Get More Chi Now
This combination of the Ten Taoist Exercises and the 3 Energy Gates swings will tone your organs while they strengthen and relax your body and your mind. The perfect warm-up for any exercise routine this course will be helpful for all those interested in improved balance and vibrant health

Grounding, Balance and Structure
Traditional Taoist standing, breathing and movement practices will help students release tension and become more balanced and energized. Heron Breathing helps students relax the breath, strengthen the body and create a grounded and balanced structure while invigorating the internal organs and calming the mind.

Gods Playing in the Clouds
This powerful chi kung set features flowing movement and vibrant energy. The bridge between chi kung and Taoist meditation, Gods Playing in the Clouds is famous for strengthening the bones, clearing the emotions, energizing the brain and opening the heart.
      
Gods Meditating in the Clouds
This powerful set unites Taoist Meditation techniques with the motions of Gods in the Clouds to help enhance and circulate energy throughout the body, strengthen the internal organs and open the heart, while balancing the energies of the body, mind and spirit.
       
Gods Spiraling in the Clouds
This set unites the natural spiraling pathways of people's energy body with the motions of Gods Playing in the Clouds to provide a meditative chi kung set with flowing movement and vibrant energy. These 6 fluid exercises enhance and spiral energy throughout the body to strengthen the bones, open the heart, and lift the spirits
     
Healing Your Joints
Increase flexibility in your back, neck, shoulders and arms by adding spring to your joints. Traditional Chinese medical theory believes many illness begin when we loose flexibility and become rigid, and that the joints of our body are the first place to suffer. Healing Your Joints will teach students to reduce unwanted pain and tension, enhance their range of movement and restore the free flow of chi for improved health and mobility. Open to All. For more information please see Freeing Your Chi, above.

Longevity Breathing
Breath is life. Many spiritual traditions maintain that better breathing is the key to a healthy body and a clear and calm mind. Taoist Full Body Breathing will teach students to reduce stress and tension and prevent and heal illness. An excellent skill in itself and an essential prelude to Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation this course will be useful for meditators, martial artists, and all those who wish to feel healthier, more balanced and relaxed. Beginners Welcome.
       
Marriage of Heaven and Earth 
This 4000 year old exercise is famous as a one-movement health practice. Uniting all the Taoist body practices in one smoothly flowing movement, The Marriage of Heaven and Earth helps people to breathe fully, heal the internal organs, and release energy for relaxation, strength, and calmness. It gently but fully stretches, smoothes and massages all of the muscles and joints of the body and helps individuals to access and fix areas of discomfort or injury.
        
Medical Chi Kung
Medical Chi Kung is the part of Chinese medicine that cultivates and controls the energy of chi for increased health and well being. Practiced by millions of people throughout the world it improves the circulation of blood and chi, aids the delivery of oxygen to the cells and stimulates the immune system  This course turns Chinese medical theory into chi kung practice. Students will use the insights of Chinese medicine to improve the circulation of blood and chi within their bodies, aid delivery of oxygen to their cells and stimulate their immune systems. Medical Chi Kung is a great introduction to traditional Chinese medicine and will be helpful for all those who want to feel more healthy, relaxed and vital.
       
Opening the Energy Gates of your Body
Part 1. Dissolving, Cloud Hands, Spine Stretch
Part 2. The Three Swings
The exercises in Opening the Energy Gates of your Body enable students to bridge the gap between body and mind, focus on internal processes, eliminate energy blockages and maximize energy. Energy Gates exercises consist of Standing-Outer Dissolving, Cloud Hands, the 3 Swings and the Taoist spine stretch. Dissolving is a standing meditation practice that uses the mind to release pain and tension from the body. The Cloud Hands exercise shows students how to join the arms and legs to the spine and focuses on the internal body alignments necessary for increased energy, health and vitality. The 3 Swings help students balance the energies of the lower, middle and upper internal organs. They help to improve the health of the entire body lubricate the joints and relax the mind. The unique Taoist Spine Stretch reduces stress and trauma, increases energy and lifts the spirits.

The Power of Circles
Circular motion is the key to releasing stress and improving health and the internal power of Tai Chi and Chi Kung. In this workshop Circling Hands Chi Kung helps students activate the bodies natural spiraling pathways, loosen the joints and tone the muscles.  These traditional coiling techniques help students bring energy outward from their center to the hands and fingertips where it may be used for health, work  or martial readiness. A great way to reduce pain and repetitive stress injuries, Circling Hands Chi Kung helps students raise body awareness and increase energy circulation.
     
Psychic Self Defense
Use Psychic Self Defense to dissolve your troubles away. Psychic Self Defense will teach students traditional Taoist techniques that will help them dissolve unwanted energies in their environment safely and peacefully. These gentle techniques will help students to resist manipulation and control, be less fearful and more at  ease with themselves and the world around them
      
Secrets of Tai Chi: Tai Chi From the Inside Out
This course will guide students beyond the externals to the heart of  Tai Chi. Students will learn to power their form by stretching inward, opening and closing joints, coiling muscles and directing energy. They will go beyond just the physical movements and focus on learning tai chi from the inside out and bring more chi into the tai chi form for increased power, health, and relaxation. Designed for students at all levels of experience. Secrets of Tai Chi is a must for everyone who wants the real Tai Chi

Sleeping Chi Kung
Widely practiced for health and rejuvenation, Sleeping Chi Kung is based upon the circulation of internal energy. The relaxed postures help students sleep more restfully, relieve pain and tension and re-balance chronic health conditions. A great addition to anyone's daily routine, Sleeping Chi Kung can be helpful for all who wish to feel healthier and more at ease with themselves and the world around them.
      
Spinal Chi Kung
Spinal Chi Kung increases the flexibility of the spine and strengthens the physical and energetic links between the spine and the internal organs. By freeing the energy between vertebrae students can clear blockages and realign their spines for optimal health and movement.
     
Spiraling Energy Body
Spiraling Energy Body Chi Kung reinforces the natural spiraling pathways of energy in the body. The exercises in this set focus on delivering energy at will to any part of the body, where it can be used to do work, issue power or heal illness.
      
Swimming in Air: The 8 Taoist Exercises
Swim in the energy of chi while practicing this graceful chi kung from ancient China. The sinuous and flowing movements strengthen and relax and body and mind while simultaneously extending your range of motion.  Swimming in Air strengthens the legs, flexes the spine and unites the entire body for increased heath and energy.  Excellent for beginners and advanced students alike.

The Ten Essential Chi Kung
The Ten Essential Chi Kung is relaxing, strengthening and calming. It contains many essential health techniques used by  traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to relieve back, neck and joint problems. The 10 Esseential Chi Kung helps people ward off disease and creates a feeling of comfort and harmony themselves and with the universe. A great addition to anyone's daily routine,The Ten Essential Chi Kung is open to students at all levels of health and fitness.

The Tao 10 (The Ten Taoist Exercises)
Athletic and energizing, these Ten Taoist Exercises tone the internal organs and strengthen and relax your body and your mind. A favorite with Taoist Arts students, the Tao 10  are the perfect warm-up for Tai Chi and will benefit all those interested in health and fitness
     
Taoist Energy Cultivation
Taoist Energy Cultivation is the Taoist Arts Center's Summer Seminar June 20-23, 2008. Energy (chi) is basic to all Tai Chi, chi kung and Taoist meditation. In this course Taoist breathing, awareness and movement practices teach students techniques to help them develop, store and increase their internal energy.  Taoist Energy Cultivation will be helpful for all those who wish to deepen their practice of Tai Chi and Chi Kung, and  all  who wish to feel more healthy, grounded and relaxed. For students at all levels of experience. You may visit the Summer Seminar page for complete details.
    
Taoist Stretching
These unique stretches begin where others end, relaxing and connecting all parts of the body, balancing its energy and creating deeper more comfortable movement. These gentle stretches calm the nervous system, increase relaxation, and help students to enjoy easier, more pain-free action and a greater range of motion.
        
The Foundations of Chi Kung
This trio of the Tao 10, Chi Kung Outer Dissolving and the unique Taoist spine stretch will help you to reduce stress and trauma, increase your energy and lift your spirits.
     
The Opening of Yin and Yang
Without Yin there is no Yang, without Yang there is no Yin. These universal energies circulate throughout all things and endlessly transform into one another. In this workshop students will learn techniques to circulate and balance the energies of the Yin and Yang meridians within their bodies for increased feelings of comfort and ease and a sense of oneness with the universe.
      
Walking Chi Kung
Walking Chi Kung is a medical form of chi kung that helps students release pain and tension, strengthen their immune systems and feel better fast. The gentle energizing movements are easy to learn and can be practiced by those at all levels of health and fitness. Developed by Madam  Guo Lin in 1970, Walking Chi Kung is so popular that it is used in hospitals throughout China to help their patients with recovery from life threatening diseases and to enhance their immune system. This simple system includes the energy building Chi Kung Walk, techniques for self-massage and methods of balancing the yin and yang energies of the body. An excellent introduction to medical chi kung, Walking Chi Kung is a great set for everyone who wants to feel healthier and more vibrant.

Please see our Class Schedule page for information about when our classes meet.

    
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Copyright (c) 1998-2008 Susan Rabinowitz, All rights reserved