Archive for the ‘Classes’ Tag
Master Zhou and Julie are coming back to Maui soon! Here is the flyer with the schedule. I will post again soon with more details, but this is a quick outline of events;
Sunday Morning we are going whale watching! I will let everyone know what boat/harbor and how many spaces we will have available as well as the price. This should be lots of fun hanging out being social and checking out whales.
Sunday Night join us for a pot luck luau on the beach, location to be announced soon. This was a fantastic night last year!
Monday’s Class will focus on Qigong and will be semi private for my students at a small venue perhaps a private home in Kihei, the cost is $35.00
Tuesday Master Zhou will be at Kaunoa for a “just for seniors” qigong group lesson, the last I checked (Jan. 31) there was room for 6 more students. The cost and payment is at Kaunoa $17.00 call 270-7308 to book.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be our exclusive Taiji Workshop. There will be two 2 & 1/2 hour classes each day focusing on Wudang Taiji principles and form. Any Taiji student will gain a lot of personal time and instruction from Master Zhou regardless of what forms you know already or are learning or your level of experience. Wudang methods will help you take your Taiji to the next level. There will be plenty of time for questions and a lunch break between the two sessions each day. The Cost will be $35.00 per class or $70.00 per day and will also be at a private venue in Kihei.
For information about getting a private lesson from Master Zhou, contact him directly at his web site: Here or email him @ Info@DaoistGate.com
Please help us by supporting this fantastic “Second Annual” workshop with a living treasure from China. Those of you that have never met master Zhou are in for a real treat! Those of you that came last year already know Xuan Yun and Julie are more than emissaries from Wudang Mountain…they are personal friends.
The best way to reach me is to go here and leave a comment.
Copyright: Cory Williams 2012
Dr. Lam with some of his students
Update January 2012:
I have just received my newest certification to teach the entire Tai Chi for Arthritis program fully sanctioned by the Arthritis Foundation of America
Millions of people have benefited from Taiji training and yet many have not been able or have not felt able to participate. Now almost anyone can participate in a Taiji program. For years, I have done classes at retirement homes like Roselani Place and Kalama Heights and I had found a way to bring Taiji to those that have a limited range of movement by simplifying the form. Many of my students cannot stand or walk and yet it has been possible for me to share these life-changing arts with them in this way.
Recently Dr. Paul Lam has designed a system specifically for students in this situation and I have received training from one his trainers. I feel this is an excellent program as it allows everyone to learn some Taiji and is fully accredited by the Arthritis Foundation and backed up with medical evidence as to its efficacy. Having this accreditation is important for application to people with “special needs”.
I am pleased to announce that I will be offering this program at Kaunoa in Sprecklesville starting immediately every Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. For many new students this will be a boon, finally giving them an opportunity to benefit from Taiji. If you have been holding back because you have felt unable to join before, now is the time to check it out. In addition, for existing students, please tell your friends about this new program it is so simple they can even participate while sitting down.
This program uses a very simplified set of Qigong movements and Taiji form. Derived from the “Sun” (pronounced “soon”) Style it roughly follows the same structure as the Yang style and a beginner could easily learn this style and then segue into Yang Style later. Frankly, I enjoy doing this form as it is performed very slowly and with a minimal amount of stepping which gives it a feeling almost similar to zhan zhuang training. Proponents of zhan zhuang like Fong Ha and those of you that attended my workshop with him will understand what I am saying.
This program is not intended to replace any of my other training options. I feel Yang Style is still the best for most people and I would not recommend you give up on that practice. Still, my heart goes out to those that up until now have not been able to do my regular classes, and so, at last I have a sanctioned option for those people to discover the wonders of Taiji.
For more information about this program click: Tai Chi for Arthritis
2013 Public Tai Chi Class Schedule
Schedule notes for January 2013
- Two New Qigong practice sessions each week!
- January 17th & 18th I will be doing a Tai chi for Arthritis Workshop at Kaunoa, call 270-7308 to sign up!
Monday at the West Maui Senior Center on Lahainaluna street in Lahaina.
- Intermediate Level I Taiji 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Beginner Levels I & II Taiji 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Sitting Qigong/Meditation 11:30 PM to 1:00 PM
Monday at Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia’u Park in Kihei … more info
- Qigong Practice Session 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday at the Hui Aloha area (down near the beach road) inside Keopuolani Park in Kahului.
- Advanced Level I Taiji 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
- Beginner Level II Taiji 9:00 AM to 10::00 AM
Tuesday at the Kaunoa Senior Center (seniors only) in Sprecklesville Maui.
- Intermediate Level I Taiji 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Beginner Level I Taiji 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Wednesday In Kihei-Wailea area; Semi-private: Space available, contact me for more information.
- Qigong & Taiji, All levels 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Wednesday at the Kaunoa Senior Center (seniors only) in Sprecklesville Maui.
Thursday at Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia’u Park in Kihei … more info
- Qigong Practice Session 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Friday at the Kihei Community Center’s Aquatics Center classroom next to pool.
- Beginners & Intermediate Level I Taiji 7:45 AM to 9:00AM
- Intermediate Level II Taiji 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Saturday at Waipuilani Park in North Kihei
- Wudang Qigong & Taiji Styles 8:00 AM to 9:30AM
Private and Semi-Private Classes available, contact me here and leave a comment.
Zhou, Xuan Yun will be here April 17th
Zhou, Xuan Yun will teach a four-day workshop at the Filipino Community Center on Onehee Street in Kahului, April 17, 18,19th and 20th
He is also going to be at Kaunoa on April the 21st from 9-11AM for a class just for seniors. Xuan Yun will cover Taoist thought, philosophy, health, and teach some basic qigong; the cost for this one class will be $17.00
In addition he will appear at the Wo Hing Temple in Lahaina on the evening of April 21st this will open to the public, donations accepted.
Zhou, Xuan Yun grew up on Wudang Mountain in China. The Taoists from Wudang are world renowned for their martial arts and for the spiritual path that they follow. The monks at Wudang spend many years training Kung Fu, Taiji, Qigong and Taoist arts for most of everyday. Many people train at Wudang and yet only a few are ever allowed to teach these arts. He has a fun, energetic style and his translator wife will accompany him.
For more information, read more here on my blog at taijionmaui.com
and click on the link about Xuan Yun’s bio or go to his site: http://daoistgate.com /
While at the Workshop on Maui, Master Zhou will spend the first day covering basic concepts about the Taoist arts and have a question and answer session. Later he will teach some Taoist Qigong to the group.
The next three days he will teach the first section of the Wudang Taiji long form, including the forms and the martial applications. The Wudang form has elements of Yang style and Chen style Taiji embedded in it and takes the Taiji player into the traditional realm of the origins of Taiji.
Students of Yang style will find this form closely matches what they have been learning with a unique feel and applications. Xuan Yun will give his unique perspective that only someone with his background can give.
The price will be $35.00 per class ($70/day) or $270 for all four days if you pay during February.
The price will be $45.00 per class ($90/day) or $350 for all four days if you pay after February.
Pay online with Pay Pal at: http://daoistgate.com/ or:
Pay with cashiers check or money order to:
Julianne Baecker
324 Ashmont St. Boston, MA 02124
For more information on Maui, contact Cory @ 344-2532 or corygw57@yahoo.com
Wudang Taiji On Maui Workshop 2011
Zhou, Xuan Yun will come to Maui in April!
Remember the movie “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” and how amazed the world was with the Wudang arts? Now you have a chance to work with a genuine disciple of Wudang. I have been in communication with Zhou, Xuan Yun and he has agreed to come here to Maui for a workshop in April.
Xuan Yun was raised on Wudang Mountain, the spiritual center for all Taoists. The monks from Wudang spend their lives training in the Taoist arts including meditation, qigong, taijiquan and gong fu. The wealth of knowledge embodied within these arts and carried forward by people like Xuan Yun is beyond the imagination.
Xuan Yun and I have put together a workshop for the week of April 17th. The schedule is for four days in April; 17, 18, 19 & 20th.
We will be at the Filipino Community Center, a large and beautiful hall located in Kahului. We will start out with some basics and by the fourth day we will be going over the details and martial art aspects of Taijiquan. This workshop will be great for any level of Taiji player.
For more info on Xuan Yun, and to book your space at the Wudang Taiji on Maui Workshop, go to: http://daoistgate.com/
If you are interested or want more details, just e-mail me at corygw57@yahoo.com with “Wudang On Maui” in the subject line. You can see the whole schedule and prices at http://www.daoistgate.com you can even book and pay there too!
Xuan Yun’s Bio: http://daoistgate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=29
This is an incredible opportunity to learn directly from the source of Taoist thought. There are only a handful of people in the entire world that can even get close to doing something like this, and you may be so blessed.
Zhou, Xuan Yun will teach a four-day workshop at the Filipino Community Center on Onehee Street in Kahului, April 17, 18,19th and 20th
Maui Lani Clinic October 14th 21st and 28th 11-12 noon
I’ll be sharing some things I’ve learned from Dong Zeng Chen
Learning to do seated qigong is part exercise and part meditation and unlike almost anything you have ever done before. Tuning up your internal energies such as, breath, circulatory, nervous, chemical, hormonal, mental, emotional and spiritual systems is a key reason we take up Taiji.
Doing seated qigong effects a person differently from Taiji, focusing the mind more inwardly connecting with a different set of channels that flow qi in your body, mind and spirit. As Taiji (for a beginner) is about moving the body around, sitting qigong is more about moving energy around within the body.
Movement and stillness……Alternating between movement and stillness, learning to sublimate your energy, changing matter into energy directly, using the mind to focus the qi……Calming your mind and healing past emotional traumas, getting clear internally, feeling the growing spirit within you. All these things bring you a new level of self-awareness.
Wuji, Qigong and Taiji: all these methods work in concert to improve your life. We need to balance movement with stillness, standing with sitting, internal and external, yin and yang into yin/yang. Doing sitting qigong fills a void in my life in a way that standing and Taiji cannot.
Learning the basics of seated qigong may be the most valuable experience of your life.
Follow the link below to sign up:
https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/kpweb/classes/detailpage.do?bodyContainer=/htmlapp/feature/030classes/HAW/MauiLaniC/HAW-MauiLani-Exercise-ChairQigong.html
Zhong Xue Chao, (Bing), is a Taoist monk and grew up training on Wudang Mountain. He is the purveyor of wudangdao.com, and he exemplifies the essence of Tao
Devotion to training is its own reward. Making love to the energy that sustains you nurtures your soul. Embracing the feeling that moves us is simple. Why would anyone not keep training; I am not sure I could relate to that?
Master Dong was just here, and I spent 18 hours with him over a weekend, that week I also had 11 classes and spent an additional few hours training on my own….the result of over 30 hours of Taiji and Qigong training in one week? I want more!
I just added two new weekly classes (soon to be announced) and I am doing a series of Qigong seminars with Kaiser October 14th, 21st and 28th. I also have renewed energy for my personal training showing up one hour early to all my regular classes to train on some new and some old forms. Therefore, I will be stepping up my training to about thirty hours every week. My point is this, the more you feel your Qi the more it will provide for you that which you know in your heart is the best thing for you.
Once you learn the secret of the energy, that being the fact that YOU are made of energy, know that, cultivate that, and fully embrace that concept, your life will completely change. What you thought “life” was will be redefined. Life is Energy! It lives in you, you control this energy, and it will heal you from within if you let it.
Have you ever noticed how much energy you have when you feel inspired, like if you fall in love…? You can clean house, go to work, and never get tired? Energy comes to you from a mysterious place, we have all have had these feelings…..Would you be “depressed” if you won the lottery? Would you be “bored” if you had a million dollars in your pocket?
The winning lottery ticket is as simple as devotion to Qigong training.
"Tiger" from Dragon & Tiger Yiquan
“I don’t have time for Taiji!”
So many times, I have heard this, usually from “non believers”, but occasionally I myself am guilty of such thoughts.
Well now…… If you have been training with me, you have been exposed to a variety of Qigong and Taiji sets. It is important to keep in mind that eventually, as you assimilate the principles into your life, everything will be Taiji. Yet in the beginning, we all need some ‘forms’ to direct us in the Way.
This page is just a list of some of the forms that I have shown to my classes and some for advanced students. With so many options, it is easy to just pick one or more depending on your goals or time frame. All of my beginner students have been doing the first four or five on this list, and I consider these a “core group” of practices. Over time, I will show everyone all of these sets.
Now, I wouldn’t want anyone to get bored, so add the others in occasionally as you want to. There is always time to get in a quick “Soaring Crane” or some Zhan Zhuang practice anywhere any time.
Some of the Qigong and Taiji sets for beginner and advanced students
1.) “Wuji” a standing qigong for overall health, perform for one minute to as long as you wish!
2.) Dong Family “Warm up Qigong” strengthens the posture and opens the joints. Takes about 7 to 8 minutes to perform.
3.) Wudang Daoist Abdominal Breathing Qigong, five simple exercises that form the foundational skills for all qigong, taiji and meditation practice.
4.) Dong Family “Basic Qigong Set” builds and distributes qi through the whole body. Takes about 7 to 8 minutes to perform.
5.) Taiji Walking
6.) “Dong (Yang) Style Taijiquan” The first section of the long form of Taiji (Tai Chi). A total body and mind Qigong and martial art form. Takes about 6 minutes to perform.
7.) The Dong Family “Hard Qigong” A zhan zhuang practice that builds structural integrity in your physique. These ten postures can be done in as little as 5 to 10 minutes or as long as you wish.
8.) “Dong (Yang) Style Taijiquan” The second section of the long form of Taiji. Takes about 12 minutes to perform.
9.) “Soaring Crane 1” is a medical qigong set to strengthen your overall health. Takes about 5 minutes to perform. See video here: Soaring Crane with Master Dong
10.) “Tiger Mountain” AKA “Taiji Gong” an assemblage of some postures from Yang style Taiji set. Takes 5 to 10 minutes to perform. See video here: Tiger Mountain
11.) “Zhan Zhuang” or “Standing like a post qigong” Strengthens your stances and internal energy; I suggest just picking any of the postures from the Taiji form and stand still as long as you can comfortably. Take at least 2 to 10 minutes or as long as you wits to perform. See photos of Yang’s Taiji postures here: Yang Cheng Fu
12.) Yiquan Zhan Zhuang. Eight basic standing postures and a few other simple postures designed to open the hips and strengthen the legs and back and build structural integration into your physique Takes from 5 to 40 minutes to perform.
13.) “Dong Sitting Qigong, Long Form” From Master Dong Zeng Chen. A total mind and body Qigong for meditation, thrusting vessel, small circle qi and upper body strengthening. Takes about 30 to 40+ minutes.
14.) “Dong Sitting Qigong” From Master Dong Hu Ling. A simple sitting routine for the upper body qi, the mind and the eyes.
15.) Five Elements Qigong, Wu Xing Qigong is a nine form set that is a medical qigong toning the internal organs and meridians. See video here: Ziranmen Five Elements Qigong.
16.) Muscle and Tendon Changing Classics, Yi Jin Jing is one of the oldest known set of gigong, originally authored by the famous Da Mo.
17.) The Eight Brocades, Ba Duan Jin is another old classic set.
18.) Zi Fa Gong, spontaneous Qigong comes when you have figured out some of these basic sets then you let your qi body lead you to move or not to move.
19.) Wudang Daoist (Hun Yuan) Primordial Qigong, a new set I have been showing and will be writing out soon…
20.) Wudang Five Animal Forms, another new set I will be showing in 2012
Over time I will expose everyone to parts or all of these forms, just keep coming to class and reading online and most importantly: PRACTICE
Do some Qigong everyday! Keep it simple but……Do it!
Aloha, Everyone!
Sharing the Aloha is what it is all about, I know most people can’t spend the time that I have been blessed with to study these arts. Also I don’t think you need to… I dedicated myself to sorting it all out so I can share them with you.
The Taoist arts saved my life, after all the suffering, I found my Way and now I can introduce you to this ancient wisdom in the hope it may do the same for you.
I’ve read so many books, from self help, to martial arts, hundreds:
Spent years training, sometimes over 8 hours a day …
Traveled thousands of miles attending camps and seminars…
Dedicated my life to making these skills available…
Distilling everything down, to see the “big picture”…
Now it all flows out effortlessly…
Everything here is written to be entertaining and enlightening.
This blog is new, it will take some time for me to get out all I can. Herein you will find lessons, stories, philosophy, a reading list, internet links, a journal of my journey through the universe and all open to inspection and comment.
So look here, and you can subscribe and receive automatic blogs.
Finding the ultimate treasure is far from boring! Follow along here and I will keep you posted of all the exciting discoveries I have found along the Way.
Thank you all for your support and interest in what I believe are the most important set of skills that anyone can ever know.
Cory
