Shibashi Qigong Newsletter - Issue V.4 Spring 2006

This newsletter covers several important subjects. The first article announces my upcoming Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi Instructor Training Course. The second is about Solar Energy Qigong for Healing - An Ancient Tibetan Qigong; followed by articles covering Instruction Manual, 2nd set, DVD & Practice Aid; The 6 Stages in Learning Qigong; and The 5 Intensity Levels of Qi and Qigong Healing

Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi Instructor Training Course

I always receive emails from interested students asking me whether I know of any good tai chi or qigong instructors teaching in their cities. Unfortunately, my answer is usually “no.” The demand for tai chi qigong instructors is increasing as baby boomers start to age and as more people become aware of the benefits of qigong. It has always been my dream for there to be a qigong instructor/healer in every corner of the world. Qi is free, and there is a limitless supply of it in our universe. There would be less stress on our medicare or health care programs if everyone were to practice qigong regularly. This has prompted me to offer a tai chi qigong instructor training course. For more details, please visit www.taichi18.com/workshop.htm

Solar Energy Qigong for Healing - An Ancient Tibetan Qigong

Some know that I am teaching a Tibetan qigong called Solar Energy Qigong in Toronto and asked whether I would offer a workshop on this qigong. After a few months of serious consideration, I have decided to offer it in a 3-day workshop format. This is an advanced level qigong which is used for healing. This qigong incorporates all aspects of qigong: i.e. visualization, body postures, breathing and healing sounds. During part 3 of this qigong, I will give my qi to each participant. The level of qi in this qigong is so powerful that most practitioners’ bodies will be moved by the qi.  It could even lift a person up. You can see a video clip of this at www.taichi18.com/workshop.htm


Instruction Manual, 2nd set, DVD & Practice Aid

The instruction manual for the Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi is now available at the forum for free download. It has been translated into French, Dutch and Hebrew. A big thank you goes out to all those who have helped. It is my hope that it will be translated into more languages soon.

I actually finished filming the 2nd set of the Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi last month but not very satisfied with it. Therefore, I have decided to film it again. Please be patience. Here is the good news for those who are so eager to learn the 2nd set: The instruction manual for the 2nd set is almost done. I will post it at the forum in the coming weeks.

The .iso DVD image file of the Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi (same content as the Video CD) & the Practice Aid (Two 9"x11" full colour laminated wall charts displaying all the 18 movements with movement names) are now available for order at www.taichi18.com/order.htm

The 6 Stages in Learning Qigong

Generally, there are 6 stages in learning qigong, they are tranquility, relaxation, dilation, transport, absorption and release.

Tranquility – in this stage, your focus is to relax your left brain in order to enter the “qigong mode”. Our left brain is the primary centre responsible for controlling conscious activities such as thought, reasoning and abstraction while our right brain governs unconscious activities, autonomic functions or subconscious activities. When you are at the tranquility stage, your right brain will start to heal your body by balancing your yin and yang, adjusting the level of your hormones, circulation, respiration, digestion, heartbeat … etc.

Relax – every single muscle in your body is relaxed during this stage. If you tense up your muscles, the qi would not be able to travel freely in your body.

Dilation – Once relaxation has been established in both the mind and body, the meridians would begin to dilate making it easier for qi to travel through them. It is very common to find blockages in these meridians preventing the continuous flow of qi. You would probably notice many of your existing health problems starting to disappear with the clearing of these blockages.

Transport – The clearing of all blockages is essential to this stage. During this stage, your mind directs qi to travel and spend most of its time around certain parts of the body. Directing qi to certain parts of the body is the key to healing those parts. For instance, directing qi to your lungs would help you to achieve a faster recovery from the flu.

Absorption – The clearing of all channels in the body also allows for the absorption of energy from the universe through various accupoints such as the Luo Gong, Yong Quan and Bai Hui, which are located respectively on the palms, the bottom of the feet and the top of the head. Expertise is achieved when pores found anywhere on your body can be used to absorb qi.

Release – This stage involves the release of accumulated energy through several parts of the body such as the end of the meridians, which found at the tips of your fingers and toes, the Luo Gong, Yong Quan and Bai Hui and even the eyes.

Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi focuses on the first 3 stages i.e. Tranquility, Relaxation and Dilation. For those who do not have serious illnesses, practicing Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi often heals many health problems and helps to promote good health.


The 5 Intensity Levels of Qi and Qigong Healing

It maybe a surprise to most people that it only takes a few lessons to learn how to release your qi. Many think that once they know how to release qi, they can become a qigong healer. First, let me talk about the 2 different schools of qigong healing. One school thinks of the qigong healer as a medium. They believe that the healer absorbs qi from the universe and at the same time releases qi into their patients. Since this school thinks of the qigong healer as a medium, students can start to heal people once they are able to release qi. However, there is danger that lurks beneath this belief.

The danger arises as a result of the oversimplification of what happens when qi is absorbed and released. The absorption and transmission of qi from the healer to the patient requires both the healer’s and patient’s channels to be connected. Thus, when the qi from a healer flows into a patient, the patient’s sick qi can also flow to the healer. The sick qi that the healer absorbs can lead the healer to experience whatever problems his or her patients have if the healer’s level of qi is not strong enough to ward off the sick qi. In addition, if the healer has just grasped the skill of releasing qi, his or her qi may not be strong enough to heal others. The average intensity of qi that a beginner healer can release usually only penetrates skin deep. At best, it can penetrate to the depth of the meridians.

The other school thinks of the healer as being more than a simple medium through which qi can flow through. Thus, they do not recommend that students become healers until their qi can penetrate and remain in the internal organs of others. They believe that it is important to learn how to control the flow of qi between themselves and their patients by opening and closing a certain accupoints. Also, one must learn how to cleanse themselves from the sick qi that they may absorb from their patients. (This skill is taught in the Solar Energy Qigong)

The 5 intensity levels of qi are:

1st Level – Skin and Muscle
Usually the first place qigong practitioners feel their qi is between their palms. Some may even feel their muscles beginning to jump. The jumping of muscles is an indication that qi that is running through the skin and muscles. While students may be able to release qi at this level, their qi won’t be able to penetrate into another person’s meridians.

2nd Level – Meridians
Many qigong practitioners spend their lifetime trying to clear blockages along their 12 meridians and 8 vessels so that they can store energy there. Students who have reached this level can become effective healers of common ailments.

3rd Level – Internal Organs
While there are more than a thousand qigong exercises that exist only a few allow the practitioners to reach this level. Tibetan solar energy qigong is a unique type of qigong that would allow someone to reach this stage. Since the healers’ qi can penetrate and stay in the internal organs at this level, it would be effective in treating cancer patients.

4th Level – Bone
Those who have reached this level can help patients mend broken bones. I only know a few qigong masters that can do this.

5th Level – Bone Marrow (cellular level)
This fifth and final stage is characterized by the ability to store qi in bone marrow. Since bone marrow creates blood almost all sickness can be healed at this level.

It is important that those receiving qi be at the tranquility and relaxed stage. Most of the qi released to patients will bounce back if they aren’t at this stage. Psychology plays an important role in qigong healing. Response to treatments is enhanced when there is a firm belief in the powerful healing abilities of qigong. It is recommended that patients learn a few weeks of qigong prior to their treatment. This will allow them to learn how to relax and calm down their minds so that qi would be able to enter and stay in their bodies for longer periods of time. Moreover, most of them would be able to feel their own qi after a couple of qigong lessons. This experience may in turn increase a patient’s faith that qigong can and will heal.

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