Looking for guidance

[cherrydao]

Hey I beginner with some basic knowledge. I'm feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with all of the information available. I'm looking for an online qigong platform to follow, comprehensive qigong that leaves me feeling vitalised.

 

I just purchased Spring Forest and I am slightly disappointed as the set is very 'light' and very very basic. I want to know more about the mechanics behind the movements i.e what channels/organs the movement targets. But Spring Forest seems very modified for the Western palette. 

 

I also want to learn the internal arts, neigong, so recommendations for this are also massive appreciated. I have been advertised Damo Mitchell but I'm hearing a lot of bad reviews on him. 

 

But right now I want to learn the qigong. Qigong is very special to me as I have felt the amazing benefits before and I wish to deepen my study and practice. Unfortunately there are no good classes in my city so I am looking for online resources. A teacher or subscription service. Anything really where I'm learning in depth qigong. 

[Earl Grey]

https://forum.alchemical.garden/branch/zenbear/

 

Flying Phoenix. Condensed thread and new home of Flying Phoenix after its 10+ year history here on TDB, which has gotten long and intimidating for newcomers.

 

I recommend reading the AG Forum thread first, and revisiting the TDB thread later on for historical purposes if you want to see the evolution of the thread. No need for registration to view on AG.

[cherrydao]

36 minutes ago, Earl Grey said:

https://forum.alchemical.garden/branch/zenbear/

 

Flying Phoenix. Condensed thread and new home of Flying Phoenix after its 10+ year history here on TDB, which has gotten long and intimidating for newcomers.

 

I recommend reading the AG Forum thread first, and revisiting the TDB thread later on for historical purposes if you want to see the evolution of the thread. No need for registration to view on AG.

This system seems okay. Still unsure this is what I'm looking for PLUS I don't want to invest my good money. 

 

Why choose flying phoenix above others? It still appears to be very compressed. 

[cherrydao]

I think I'd like a clear cut programme from start to end... But I find myself changing due to inadequacy. Please guide me to the all in one I need. 

[Arkhion]

As advice from my search and my experimentation there is no better starting point than to start with Flying Phoenix. (I base myself on my own experience and on the enormous amount of recommendations by other users in this forum).
I leave you the web pages that have been recommended and have caught my attention during my personal study in this forum (ordered by importance according to me):

 

Sifu Terrence Dunn - Flying Phoenix
http://taichimania.com/

 

Rudi
https://authenticneigong.com/

 

John Dolic
http://www.qigongchinesehealth.com/chi-qigong

 

Nathan Brine
https://online.nathanbrine.com/

 

Tom Bisio
https://www.internalartsinternational.com/programs/daoist-meditation/

 

Damo mitchell
https://damomitchell.com/damomitchellneigong/

 

Master Lomax
https://stillnessmovement.com/

 

Da Xuan's
https://sergeaugier.com/courses/

 

Quareia
https://www.quareia.com/apprentice-module-1

I am currently focusing on the first two items on this list and the last three I have not fully validated or researched. All the other points I know have some validation and/or feedback that you can investigate for yourself using the forum's search function.

 

Good trip on this road

[Barnaby]

59 minutes ago, Arkhion said:

As advice from my search and my experimentation there is no better starting point than to start with Flying Phoenix. (I base myself on my own experience and on the enormous amount of recommendations by other users in this forum).
I leave you the web pages that have been recommended and have caught my attention during my personal study in this forum (ordered by importance according to me):

 

Sifu Terrence Dunn - Flying Phoenix
http://taichimania.com/

 

Rudi
https://authenticneigong.com/

 

John Dolic
http://www.qigongchinesehealth.com/chi-qigong

 

Nathan Brine
https://online.nathanbrine.com/

 

Tom Bisio
https://www.internalartsinternational.com/programs/daoist-meditation/

 

Damo mitchell
https://damomitchell.com/damomitchellneigong/

 

Master Lomax
https://stillnessmovement.com/

 

Da Xuan's
https://sergeaugier.com/courses/

 

Quareia
https://www.quareia.com/apprentice-module-1

I am currently focusing on the first two items on this list and the last three I have not fully validated or researched. All the other points I know have some validation and/or feedback that you can investigate for yourself using the forum's search function.

 

Good trip on this road

Buyer beware.

 

The cost/benefits don’t add up for at least one on that list.

 

I speak from experience.

[cherrydao]

41 minutes ago, Barnaby said:

Buyer beware.

 

The cost/benefits don’t add up for at least one on that list.

 

I speak from experience.

Which one do you mean? 

[Earl Grey]

I can recommend Rudi, John Dolic, and Flying Phoenix.

 

I reserve my criticisms for a few on that list and simply say that I like who I like and leave others to decide what they like.

[Barnaby]

10 minutes ago, cherrydao said:

Which one do you mean? 

 

I'm not here to diss people.

 

And I can only speak from my own experience.

 

Just be aware that there are people whose business is separating the gullible from their money, just as there are sharks in the ocean.

 

If you're comfortably off with a big disposable income, check it all out and see what works for you.

 

If you're not, and you have people who depend on you, I'd recommend thinking long and hard about who most deserves to see the fruit of your labour.

 

[cherrydao]

26 minutes ago, Barnaby said:

 

I'm not here to diss people.

 

And I can only speak from my own experience.

 

Just be aware that there are people whose business is separating the gullible from their money, just as there are sharks in the ocean.

 

If you're comfortably off with a big disposable income, check it all out and see what works for you.

 

If you're not, and you have people who depend on you, I'd recommend thinking long and hard about who most deserves to see the fruit of your labour.

 

I don't have a big disposable income which is making this very difficult. 

 

I'm not looking for people's person experience but rather on what a beginner practitioner would best suit from those who have already tried. 

 

But I'm none the less wiser so if anyone has any more suggestions please feel free to help a girl out

[Nintendao]

There's also Steve Gray 🐉

https://taohermitage.com/

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by Nintendao

[Earl Grey]

4 hours ago, cherrydao said:

I don't want to invest my good money. 

 

3 minutes ago, cherrydao said:

I don't have a big disposable income which is making this very difficult. 

 

@Shadow_self had his own list for people without much disposable income.

 

There is also this old one.

 

 

I don't believe that lack of disposable income is a barrier, but unwillingness to recognize the value of a practice is.

 

There is of course a lot of caution advised as some offerings may not actually be helpful at all, and potentially harmful.

 

I won't identify them here as it appears money is your more pressing concern rather than a good practice.

[Mithras]

All these people measure hatred right in front of you, they even ask for wealth. The food they need to eat is not a burden to an empty stomach

Edited November 29, 2022 by Mithras

[cherrydao]

Well fundamentally a good practice is my main concern. And a good practice I can afford.

 

I'm not sure why it is so hard to find simple good practice... I'm beginning to give up on my hope :/

[cherrydao]

3 minutes ago, Mithras said:

All these people measure hatred right in front of you, they even ask for wealth. The food they need to eat is not a burden to an empty stomach

That's cryptic. English please

[ChiDragon]

1 hour ago, cherrydao said:

Well fundamentally a good practice is my main concern. And a good practice I can afford.

 

I'm not sure why it is so hard to find simple good practice... I'm beginning to give up on my hope :/

Please don't feel discouraged. Qigong is not that difficult to practice. The difficult part is how much do you understand it. Then, you will know what to look for. What intrigue you to learn this method?  May I ask do you know what Qigong is all about? You should know what practice falls into the Qigong category. All the Qigong methods are aiming for good health before anything else. Is that what you are after? Do you have any health issue?

Let's hear from you, first, before I misguide you.

[freeform]

7 hours ago, cherrydao said:

But right now I want to learn the qigong.

I recommend Damo - though his stuff goes a little deeper than Qigong.

 

Maybe start with one of his books and see if it resonates. He also has free videos on youtube.

Edited November 29, 2022 by freeform

[Mithras]

1 hour ago, cherrydao said:

That's cryptic. English please

I guess what I’m saying is that it isn’t hurtful by just seeing them right in front of you. You don’t even have to take their courses, just take the information freely and if it’s wrong you’ll find something correct and shame them as well, a cultivator wouldn’t find Illness with this response. The only evidence is that you didn’t observe it, not that you didn’t do something wrong. They really need more ways to think about heaven anyways.

 

In truth it’s a bit Ill to offer money to someone you could teach to. The issue isn’t the money, but they have no other way to eat. At least for more daoists that is, it’s like they commit the sins first just so they can say they’re wrong haha.

 

This is a bit amusing but I’ve been thinking of this:

 

Cultivators of old used to see everyone in front of them all the time! Even if it was a dog they did not dare stop looking, when did a dog not stare at me when I looked?! It was a disgrace not to see them there, a lack of respect for them to leave or communicate without your opinion! And if they actually talk to you, it’d be better to ignore them and borrow their eyes. They don’t even offer when they look, I did not expect them to be parasites who take from the world so freely.

Edited November 29, 2022 by Mithras

[-ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ-]

I also recommend Flying Phoenix as a qigong system, and Authentic Neigong by Rudi for your neigong. 

[cherrydao]

6 hours ago, ChiDragon said:

Please don't feel discouraged. Qigong is not that difficult to practice. The difficult part is how much do you understand it. Then, you will know what to look for. What intrigue you to learn this method?  May I ask do you know what Qigong is all about? You should know what practice falls into the Qigong category. All the Qigong methods are aiming for good health before anything else. Is that what you are after? Do you have any health issue?

Let's hear from you, first, before I misguide you.

Heya thanks for the encouragement. I really enjoy the warmth in your words. 

 

Yes I am realising I am looking for qigong for health. Mostly my health issues fall under anxiety. I am wanting to feel more grounded, more alive and with a sincere sense of joy which is how I have felt from good qigong practice in the past. 

 

I also want qigong to feel more creative and connected to life around me, I know it to be possible as I have achieved this through minor practice in the past, I am just looking for something a bit more 'deeper' and gives me some knowledge so I'm not following a class always and I can praxtice on my own. 

 

I guess I am looking for practice based around the organs and main meridians. I'm just looking for what is effective. With qigong in the past I have felt connected and a part of the world around me which felt like good optimum health. With this feeling my health conditions became none. As I became closer to the natural rhythm I also begin to have more contact with the spirit world and many benevolent helpers. 

 

I am just looking for what is effective, what can help me feel this radiant internal vitality and something which will also give me a depth of knowledge in what I am doing. 

 

I do hope this makes sense. It is hard to put the exact feeligns into words. But feeling within the natural rhythm and flow of the world, our natural state, is where I feel qigong takes us. When we flow we are health. 

[Gerard]

14 hours ago, cherrydao said:

 Anything really where I'm learning in depth qigong. 

 

Qi: life force

Gong: work

 

It's an umbrella term that encompasses many methods.

 

I'd strongly suggest you should look into the Internal Martial Arts camp.

 

You can find teachers here:

 

https://rumsoakedfist.org/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=73e30e39fdeef1c2baf6eff263ae3449

 

Real life though. Online is a waste of time, money and effort.

 

Good luck! 

[Barnaby]

9 hours ago, Gerard said:

Qi: life force

 

I believe that qi also translates into English as "breath" or "air".

 

If anxiety is one of your concerns, I wouldn't underestimate the positive benefits of basic breathing exercises.

 

I'd also recommend starting out with a real-life teacher.

 

Good luck!

[-ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ-]

16 hours ago, Gerard said:

Real life though. Online is a waste of time, money and effort.

A good online teacher is better than a bad real life teacher. Online is a good starting point but only if you have direct communication with your teacher for corrections, and eventually meet in person.

[ChiDragon]

21 hours ago, cherrydao said:

Yes I am realising I am looking for qigong for health. Mostly my health issues fall under anxiety. I am wanting to feel more grounded, more alive and with a sincere sense of joy which is how I have felt from good qigong practice in the past. 

 

I also want qigong to feel more creative and connected to life around me, I know it to be possible as I have achieved this through minor practice in the past, I am just looking for something a bit more 'deeper' and gives me some knowledge so I'm not following a class always and I can praxtice on my own. 

 

11 hours ago, Barnaby said:

I believe that qi also translates into English as "breath" or "air".

 

If anxiety is one of your concerns, I wouldn't underestimate the positive benefits of basic breathing exercises.

Hi cherrydao, nice nickname BTW, I am glad that we have a member started you off on the right track. Barnaby is in the same situation as you are but he is wise to realize that breathing exercises is the key to success in Qigong practice.

In Qigong, breathing exercises is not so basic. It take some effort to accomplish that. It is something that might fulfill your request as the latter part highlighted in your quote. If you want it simple, then, you just do meditation by follow the ultimate breathing excise. I think had posted the Ultimate Breathing Method(UBM) on this site some time ago. Let me see if I can find it again or someone else can help me.

I had been doing Taiji for many years by following the UBM. As you said: "to feel more creative and connected to life around me." Taiji is a bit complicated for you, perhaps. You may do a simple form to begin with. If it is not for you, then, just try meditation with some basic breathing excises until you reach the UBM.  I am pretty sure this will give you better health. After all, health is wealth for a better life.

If you are eager for a change in your health, then, please let me know. I would like to help you with the some basic qigong breathing exercise to begin with. Thanks!
 

Edited November 30, 2022 by ChiDragon

[Cobie]

 

56 minutes ago, ChiDragon said:

…. I think had posted the Ultimate Breathing Method(UBM) on this site some time ago. Let me see if I can find it again or someone else can help me. …

 

Might be this? 

On 02/04/2014 at 12:00 AM, ChiDragon said:

A testimony from someone who practiced Chi Kung(UMB, the Ultimate Method of Breathing).

　小時候我是三天就一病的小孩，幾乎在當時什麼病都生過，體質之虛弱，稍有天候變化就感冒。長期的病弱使我變得很自卑內向、沉默寡言。直到十八歲那年，踏入師範學校，有規律生活後，身體才好轉。

I was sick every three days when I was a kid. I almost went through all kinds of illnesses. I catch a cold now and then when the weather changes due to me weak heath. The long time with the sickness and weakness had led me to have inferiority complex and introvert.

　師範學校有一位吳老師，教導我做內丹功，從此我每天早上就到空曠土地上做此運動，配合自己的體操，三十年如一日，從未中斷，其方法:

There was a college professor, Mr Wu had taught me the Neidan Gong(內丹功). From then on, everyday in the last three decades, I have been doing the exercise in a vast open field. This is the method:

1﹒雙腳打開與肩同寬，將兩手空中做半拋伸展，由上往下緩緩下降。
2﹒而且緩緩大量吸入空氣，不能中斷，長長地吸，吸得越飽越好，直到飽和為止。
3﹒此飽和之氣，壓入小腹丹田之中，不能漏出，把此氣緊鎖在體內，讓血液帶著氧氣走進身體的每個細胞內。
4﹒小腹內之氧氣禁不起忍耐時，才張口緩緩放出來，放出氣體不能中斷，要放得乾乾淨淨、讓肺部完全沒有氣體為止。

This is the method:
1. Separate the feet and even with the shoulders, extent both hands outward and lower them slowly from top to bottom.
2. Then slowly breathe in a large amount of air with no break in between, long deep inhalation, the more air the better, stop until saturation has been reached.
3. Let the saturated air sink into the dan tian with no leaks and locked inside the body to let the blood carry the oxygen to every cell.
4. When the oxygen inside the abdomen is no long bearable, then open the mouth to let the gas out with no hesitation. Let it all out until you felt like that the lung is all emptied out.

　如此深深長長地吸，又緩緩長長地呼，一吐一納就是最深度的呼吸法。剛做全臉會通紅昏昏，多練就不會有此現象了。我每天早上約做一小時，其中間再配上早操，來活絡筋骨，才不致單調。

Such deep and long inhalation and slow and long exhalation, Tu Na is the profound method of breathing. At the beginning, one might have the face turned red; but eventually, the problem will go away after a continuous practice. I have done this for one hour every morning including some other exercise to activate my joints and bones. So, it won't be so monotonous.

　三十年來有氧吐納運動後，發現幾項效果:
(一)可以用新鮮空氣洗淨器官一地板髒了用水洗淨，內臟污穢了用新鮮空氣來洗滌。每天將新鮮空氣，灌飽到體內，可以活化細胞，增進器官功能。
(二)可以提神清腦一每天做深呼吸，精神很振作，頭腦很清晰，思維靈敏。
(三)可以防止器官老化一充足細胞的氧分，器官自然健康。
(四)可以增進食慾一有恆做運動，食慾會正常，不會有厭食偏食現象。
(五)強化心肺的功能一心肺中時常有新鮮氧氣在更替，心肺的功能就活躍有力了。
(六)比較容易安眠一睡眠對健康影響很大，做吐納後，睡眠會好些。

　身體要健康，運動是不可少的，體內容納大量的新鮮氧氣，才是最好方法，也是活化細胞根本做法。

After the thirty years of aerobic Tu Na practice, I have discovered the following effects:
1. Using the fresh air as a cleansing agent to clean the internal organs. It is like cleaning a dirty floor with clean water. Breathing fresh air into the body, daily, will vitalize the body cells and enhance the function of the internal organs.
2. It can inspire to mind to a clear state for clearer thinking.
3. It can prevent the internal organs from deterioration and slow down the aging process. The internal organs will stay healthy if the body cells are provide with ample oxygen.
4. It will provide a good and normal appetite and will not be picky on the foods.
5. It invigorate the lung and the heart and enhance their normal functions.
6. It made one sleep better.

For a healthier body, it cannot be the lack of exercises. However, to allow a large capacity of fresh oxygen in the body is the best method. It is also the most fundamental method to vitalize the body cells.

Note:
Doesn't this sound familiar like Qhan Qhuang(站樁) and Chi Kung(氣功)....???

Ref: Aerobic Tu Na(吐吶)
 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Cobie