Tai Chi

Winter is the perfect time for understanding the healing energy of the earth and develop and practise techniques that benefit the spleen and stomach. We will study Taoist Breathing techniques for the spleen including the ‘Earth Breath’ which is expansive and is in and out through nose. There is also alternate nostril breathing to bring calm and balance. We will practice the Healing sound for the spleen (‘Fu’ or ‘Hoo’ like blowing out a candle) which is traditionally used to expel any last coldness before we move into autumn. In part 1 we will look at The 8 Energies of Tai Chi (Pung, Lu, An, Ji, Tsai, Lieh, Jao and Kao) and in part 2 we will look at the 5 Elements Warrior Set (Scoop the sea to benefit the kidneys, push the waves and tide to benefit the liver, weaving shuttles to benefit the heart, looking though the diamond to benefit the spleen, and pigeon flaps its wings to benefit the lungs). We will also be looking at tips for staying healthy in late summer including diet, exercise and lifestyle tips from Chinese medicine. Tai Chi exercises are gentle and are beneficial for both the mind and body. Here are just a few of the many benefits you might discover. Deep relaxation allows time for the body to rebalance and repair itself, deep breathing resets the endocrine system turning off the stress hormones and increasing calm and happy hormones, deep breathing and stretching increases circulation of blood and nourishes and refreshes every cell in the body. Our slow walking techniques improve balance and postural alignment allows organs to function better. The gentle squeezing and stretching techniques pump the lymph, remove toxins as well as refreshing organs, glands and muscles.

Autumn is the perfect time for some gentle stretching as the body begins to warm up and soften so in this workshop, we will be covering some traditional Taoist Yoga techniques for the heart and small intestine. We will begin with a standing Qigong set known as ‘rolling through the joints’ and continue with a seated Qigong set. The Inner Heart smile technique involves standing and walking with one hand ‘over the heart’ and is linked to loving kindness meditation. We will practise breathing techniques including upper chest breathing to massage your heart and the Taoist ‘Fire releasing breath (in through the mouth and out through the nose). We will practise the healing sound for the heart (‘Ho’/ ‘Her’) and using this to release fiery summer anger. We will also be looking at tips for staying healthy in spring including diet, exercise and lifestyle tips from Chinese medicine. Tai Chi exercises are gentle and are beneficial for both the mind and body. Here are just a few of the many benefits you might discover. Deep relaxation allows time for the body to rebalance and repair itself, deep breathing resets the endocrine system turning off the stress hormones and increasing calm and happy hormones, deep breathing and stretching increases circulation of blood and nourishes and refreshes every cell in the body. Our slow walking techniques improve balance and postural alignment allows organs to function better. The gentle squeezing and stretching techniques pump the lymph, remove toxins as well as refreshing organs, glands and muscles.