Gentle Exercises for Optimal Health

Simple Taiji is Advanced Movement

Many times I have heard from people who tried to learn Taiji (Tai Chi) that the moves were too complex and the form was too long to remember. Instead of using their class and practice time to learn healthy principles movement, they would mostly be overwhelmed. The Simple Taiji Form solves that problem. This form consists of just two postures repeated six times, plus some transitions. By investing a shorter time in learning the moves, you are able to explore many principles of Taiji Qigong. You aren’t spending all your efforts in remembering (and forgetting).

Accessible Taiji

The Simple Taiji Form is a fun and accessible introduction to the world of Taiji. One repetition of this Qi-building form can be done in only 3 or 4 minutes. This short sequence trains balance, builds strength, improves memory, promotes health, and increases physical stability. Once you learn it, the form has many levels of practice within the same moves: It is a trove of riches of innumerable lessons and blessings. Daily practice of this little form will make your life better, healthier and probably longer.

Simple Taiji is a Qigong Practice

The Simple Taiji form will strengthen your whole body, lower your blood pressure (if needed), improve the health of your spine, replenish your energy resources, improve your breathing, aid your digestion and elimination, and release tension.

I learned this sequence from Minke de Vos in 1997 and 1998. She learned it from her teacher Mantak Chia.

A Meditation and Medical Qigong Method for staying sane and clear in an insane world.

Sun-like power in your center

Feet sunk deep into the ground

Full, flowing river in your orbit

Strong purple aura all around

The Four-Part Protection Process is a quick and effective way to protect yourself from chaos and excess energies around you. People who are sensitive, intuitive, introspective, quietly artistic, and tired out by the wild ways of the world need to do these kind of practices to stay energetically and emotionally safe and whole. I first put this set together for a nutritionist who sometimes had to attend a booth at multi-day health fairs (which are fairly unhealthy.) She was able to stay clear and energized for all three days.

Practice First

Practice the process as a meditation to build your ability with the skill. Then turn it on when you are in places of intensities and chaos. You have to practice in order to keep all four energies activated when you need them to be.

1. Sun-like power in your center

The Lower Dantian is the center of personal solar system. It is the geographical center of your body. Keep the sunlight (in yellow, orange or red) alive, pulsing, full and beaming to all parts of your internal self.

2. Feet sunk deep into the ground

Root into the earth to ground the excess Qi that might get stuck in your body. Let your weight sink and your Qi grow deep roots beneath your feet. You will be more physically and psychically stable. Stay rooted as you walk.

3. Full, flowing river in your orbit

The Microcosmic Orbit (MCO) is the flow of Qi that comes from connecting your Governor and Conception Vessels. It is a thin, central stream of energy that rises up the spine, travels over the head and down the front of the body. It is important to come up the spine and down the front. (Do no reverse this direction of flow unless you are ready and really know what you are doing.) Tip of the tongue is on the root of the mouth and the perineum is slightly, gently, closed.

Streaming this internal orbit at a speed of at least one cycle per second will help keep your internal energies circulating while protecting you from the entrance of unwanted outside forces.

4. Strong purple aura all around

Purple is a powerful, protective color. Intend your energetic egg, your Wei Qi field around your body, to be of thick purple Qi. An inch or more in thickness helps keep the tendrils and spit wads of inimical energies from entering and engulfing your body.