Daoist Qigong Levels 1, 2 and 3

with Eva Wong

October 5th—October 13th

Date details +

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Room: Nanaimo and Victoria

The Victoria Shambhala Centre and the Canadian Tai Chi Academy, Nanaimo Branch are pleased to sponsor this teaching visit by Eva Wong. Eva will teach Daoist Qigong Levels 1 and 2 in Nanaimo on October 5–6 and Level 3 at the Victoria Shambhala Centre on October 11–13. The program in Nanaimo is open to all—no previous experience is necessary.

Cultivate strength of body and calmness of mind through the healing Taoist practice of qigong. Take this rare opportunity to receive instruction in two unique lineages, the Pre-celestial Limitless Gate School (Xiantianwujimen) and the Yiquan School, neither of which have previously been fully transmitted to students in the West.

Xiantianwujimen was founded in the Song dynasty (circa 10th to 12th centuries) by Taoist sage Chen Xiyi, who is recognized as “the father of qigong.” This lineage specializes in using qigong techniques to build the foundation for sitting meditation.

The Yiquan School was founded by Wang Xiangzhai in the early 20th century. Yiquan is most well-known for its standing qigong postures called Zhangzhuan, which are designed to still the mind while simultaneously gathering and circulating internal energy.

In Level 1, students will be in instructed in various techniques of outer and inner qigong. Outer qigong is concerned with strengthening the muscular-skeletal system—joints, muscles, tendons, bones, and spinal column. It includes techniques of tendon changing, marrow washing, self-massage, and calisthenics. Inner qigong is concerned with nourishing the internal organs and cultivating qi, or internal energy. Students will learn Chen Xiyi’s sleeping and walking qigong and Wang Xiangzhai’s standing qigong.

In Level 2, students will learn the Nine Self-Massage Technique and the Twelve Devas Tendon-changing system in their entirety. The Self-Massage Technique focuses on stimulating the meridians and acupuncture points and the Twelve Devas forms focus on recovering flexibility, strength, and softness in the tendons and muscles. In addition, students will continue to learn new forms of Wang Xiangzhai’s standing qigong that are designed to preserve, gather, and circulate internal energy.

In Level 3 students will learn:

•  Hua Tu’s Five Animals Calisthenics and tendon-changing Techniques. The five animal forms covered are tiger, bear, deer, monkey, and bird. The tiger form trains tendon strength, the bear form trains bone strength, the deer form focuses on preserving generative energy, the monkey form trains agility, and the bird form trains balance.


•  Part 1 of the Immortals’ Guide to Self Massage and Breath regulation. This system combines self-massage and breath control to facilitate the conservation and circulation of internal energy.

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Part 1 of Chen Xiyi’s Red Phoenix Calisthenics System. This system combines tendon-changing, calisthenics, self-massage, and breath regulation. Originated in the 11th century, the Red Phoenix Calisthenics is unique to Xiantianwujimen qigong. 
Both sets are used to familiarize the practitioner with different forms of breath control to open blockages in the meridians, align the spinal column for circulation of qi from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, and enhance tendon, bone, and muscular strength. Both forms have not been taught outside of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.

•  Four more standing qigong postures from Wang Xiangzhai’s Yiquan System

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for Level 1, the prerequisite for Level 2 is completion of Level 1, and taking both Levels 1 and 2 is recommended. The prerequisite for Level 3 is completion of Levels 1 and 2. Students are also expected to understand that they should not teach any form of Xiantianwujimen or Yiquan Qigong without permission from Eva Wong.

Schedule:

•  Level 1 in Nanaimo: Saturday, October 5, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

•  Level 2 in Nanaimo: Sunday, October 6, 9:00 AM –  6:00 PM

•  Level 3 in Victoria: Thursday, October 10, 7:00 – 8:00 PM (refresher); Friday, October 11, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (opening talk); Saturday, October 12, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and 7:30 – 9:30 PM (mandatory evening session—required text: Nourishing the Essence of Life: The Outer, Inner, and Secret Teachings of Taoism, by Eva Wong); and Sunday, October 13, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Required reading: Nourishing the Essence of Life: The Outer, Inner, and Secret Teachings of Taoism, by Eva Wong. Copies will be available at the programs.

Prices: $200.00 for either program; $300.00 for both programs ($150.00 for each); half price for students repeating the programs. A 50% deposit is requested to hold a place in a program.

About Eva Wong: Eva Wong is author and translator of 13 books on the Taoist arts of health, meditation and qigong. She is the 19th-generation lineage carrier of Xiantianwujimen Taoism (Pre-celestial Limitless Gate School of Taoism) and 3rd-generation student of Wang Xiangzhai, founder of Yiquan martial arts and Zhangzhuan (standing qigong). Eva is also a lineage holder of the Hsüan-k’ung (Mysterious Subtleties) school of traditional Chinese feng-shui as well as a practitioner of the San-yüan (Three Periods) and San-ho (Three Combinations) schools. She is offering these programs at Shambhala Centres at the request of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Registration:

To register for Levels 1 and 2, please send registration information and payment to: Canadian Tai Chi Academy, Nanaimo Branch, 1555 Scarlet Hill Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 1J2. Click here to learn more.

To register for Level 3, please use the “Click Here to Register” button below, or send registration information and payment to: Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre, 1-2033 Belmont Ave, Victoria, BC V8R 3Z7

Questions? Contact Charles Blackhall at charles108@telus.net.