Archive for the ‘Classes’ Tag
Take your body where your spirit wants to go!
Come and join us at the edge of the forest, upon a sacred mountain, for an amazing week of meditation, qigong, Taijiquan, and Kung Fu.
Taiji on Maui is offering a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the Taiji way of life with someone that loves you. Join us and reconnect to your true self, learn and practice Taoist methods to better yourself and your life. Relax at a deep level, rejuvenate your spirit. Take time for reflection, gain clarity on your life path, find meaning beyond material concerns, connect with nature, heal, contemplate, grow.
We will be at Giggle Hill (map) in Haiku from 7:30 AM until 5:30 PM for eight days, this is a beautiful park with lots of trees and wonderful grass. We take a relaxed pace with frequent breaks and enjoy ourselves. There is ample shade, tables and water available and there are great restaurants 5 minutes away in Haiku or Makawao.
Come for any or all of the camp. Anyone and everyone is welcome!
From Saturday March 29 through Saturday April 5, we will be going through my current curriculum. Many of you know some or all of these forms and especially if you do not (you need to start somewhere and beginners are welcome here!), we invite you to join us for eight days of practice and training. We know this is late notice, but change has a way of “changing” things… who knew. For whatever reason, at this time, Taiji on Maui decided to open up the inner workings of this lifestyle for all.
Born out of the many workshops and camps I have attended, sponsored, loved, and always yearn for still; I have created a lifestyle that is like a perpetual Taiji camp. The lesson I have learned here is, there is nothing like total immersion and focused practice for maximum results. Additionally, for eight days every year, I dedicate myself to practicing in this totally immersed way. The difference now is, instead of attending a camp, or doing my usual sequestered practice, I am inviting anyone that wishes to learn to join me.
And so, if you have a few days between these dates, and want to know what it’s like to live like a like Taoist monk…
Come and join us for:
Sixty four hours of practice and training,
Eight days,
Eight hours each day
Eight different standing qigong forms
Six different Taiji & Kung Fu forms
Two meditations each day
One awesome week
Zero requirement to pay.
Taiji & Kung Fu forms:
Qigong Forms:
Sitting Qigong:
- From Dong Zeng Chen and Tung Hu Ling
- Sheng Zhen “Kwan Yin”
- Wudang San Feng
Schedule:
All sessions will be at Giggle Hill (Fourth Marine Div. Park) in Haiku on Maui. I know it rains sometimes, but that will not stop me. There are shelters and there is always practice to do. The following schedule is a rough outline of the curriculum, for example, all the qigong forms will be rotated as appropriate. There is aways randomness in Tao! Where there is a specific focus to a session, I have listed such below but there will be a continuos opportunity to explore anything we wish to at any time … So it is all very Taoist.
Meditations are the first and last thing each day; the time may vary or include other activities. Practice and training sessions start at 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM with a two hour break. Each session starts with related qigong, then we progress to Taiji and Kung Fu. There will be exploration and explanation of applications and plenty of time for “push hands” practice. Saturday night, April 5th we are having a pot luck dinner at the park. We hope to see you there!
The times for all sessions are:
- 7:30 to 8:30 Meditation
- 8:30 to 11:30 Practice and Training
- 11:30 to 1:30 Break for lunch
- 1:30 to 4:30 Practice and Training
- 4:30 to 5:30 Meditation
Starting March 29
- Saturday: Wudang Long Form Taiji \\\ Wudang Tai Yi Kung Fu
- Sunday: Hao Style \\\ Dong (Yang) Style Long Form
- Monday: Yang Style Sword \\\ Dong Family (fast) Set
- Tuesday: Dong Long Form \\\ Dong Family Set
- Wednesday: Wudang Long Form \\\ Wudang Tai Yi
- Thursday: Sword \\\ Hao Style
- Friday: Qigong only \\\ Dong Long Form
- Saturday: All forms \\\ All forms \\\ Ending Dinner
Copyright Cory Williams 2014
Learn the fundamentals of Qigong
I will unlock the secrets of qigong for you; so you can see how (and why) you can move energy to any part of your body that you wish. With a full understanding of the basics of your internal energy system, you will have a solid foundation to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiji, Qigong, and Taoist meditation.
This class explains all about the art and science of Qigong. Once you know how your energy system works it all makes sense. For instance, we eat food and we breathe and we turn it into electricity that moves our muscles and our bones. This same system feeds energy to our brains, internal organs, bone marrow, skin and everything else, including our thoughts and our emotions. When the energy gets stuck or becomes stagnant, our health suffers, in Chinese medicine this is considered the cause of most health issues. In the western world, 75% of all doctors visits are for preventable illnesses. By combining scientific knowledge along with exercises and meditation, students can learn Taoist methods for ultimate health and longevity.
I will explain everything!… starting from the moment of conception…
how your qi system was formed in your body, and how you make qi, where and how you store it, and how to cultivate and conserve it.
I will show you many different Qigong techniques, for medical reasons, and spiritual practices as well as for strengthening your bodies. These exercises will bring your awareness to the sensations of actually feeling the qi move inside of you. Learning how to unlock stuck qi is an enlightening experience!
Some of the topics explored:
History
Wuji, skeletal alignment
Yiquan standing exercises
The three dantians
The eight extraordinary vessels
The twelve meridians
Tuning your breath
Five element theory
Microcosmic orbit
Embryonic breathing
Meditation methods
Nei gong internal qigong
Various breathing methods
There are many different types and styles of qigong exercises, both standing and sitting. I will explain the methods and applications, and be your coach.
I have never seen a class like this before on Maui and I thought it would be nice to pull away the veil that obscures some, if not all of the mysteries that lie “beyond the mysterious beyond.” With this knowledge students can train with anyone and know what is going on. Bring your knowledge up to the instructors level!
This class is on Thursdays at Kaunoa at 11:00 until 12:00
Call and sign up today 270-7308
At Giggle Hill
Welcome to Haiku, Thursday mornings at 8:00 until 9:30 AM. I will be cultivating my life forces at the Fourth Marine Division Park, AKA Giggle Hill. I come to this park often and really love the energy here; the sunrise over Haleakala…with the cool morning breeze awakening the trees! This is a perfect environment for Zhan Zhuang, Yiquan and Taiji.
Start Simple each day. Tune your breathing, find your center and open your mind and body to an adventure within.
I am currently teaching the Wudang Taijiquan Long Form as well as a very primordial Wudang Wuji Hun Yuan Qigong, this would be a great opportunity to learn the rare and beautiful Wudang style taiji. The qigong set will focus on the Three Dantians and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.
For my entire Schedule click; HERE
I am always happy to help get you started on the Way.
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
Current schedule, click here
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!
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, often 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.
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
Taiji on Maui 