Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Qigong?
A: Qigong is the practice, or cultivation, of qi. Qi is
the Chinese term for 'vital life energy' or bio-electrical energy. The
Chinese have long held that humans are bio-electric beings (Western
science is now bearing this out). Qi flows through our bodies along
specific channels, like rivers. These channels are called meridians and
are associated with specific organs. There are also smaller channels
that are the equivalent of streams. The qi nourishes and vitalizes the
body. There are additional special vessels (sometimes called
extraordinary or exceptional vessels) used for storing qi in the body.
A blockage to the flow of qi is like a dam in a river. On one side there
is excess, on the other side there is deficit. When such imbalance
occurs, conditions are right for illness to manifest. The Chinese
expression is: Flow, no sickness. No flow, sickness.
If you go to an accupuncturist, that person will work with your
meridians to restore a balanced flow of qi throughout your body. Qigong
is like needless accupuncture, using mind to lead the qi along the
meridians to restore balance.
Qigong incorporates several modalities, including movement form, quiet
form and massage.
Movement forms include standing, and moving meditations with the goal of
storing and circulating the qi throughout the body along the organ
meridians and smaller channels.
Quiet form includes the various techniques of moving qi into the special
vessels. Higher levels of qigong quiet form are intended for spiritual
enlightenment.
Qigong massage uses external physical stimulation and massage to
specific qi cavities (nodes) along the meridians to move a blockage
through and restore normal qi flow.
Q: Why are there various spellings for Tai Chi?
A: Depending on the method used for transliterating the
Chinese language into English, different spellings are use. Tai Chi,
T'ai Ch'i, Taichi, and Taiji are all the same, just the spellings are
different.
Q: What does Taijiquan mean?
A: The most common translation is that taiji means
'supreme ultimate' or 'grand terminus'. Taken individually, the
characters may take on a somewhat different meaning.
The first character
tai is
the character for a person with line through the upper portion and a dot
in the center. So the character depicts a person with head in heaven and
body in earth. This can be interpreted as 'One centered person between
heaven and earth' or 'One person centered between heaven and earth.
The second character,
ji, is a compound character. The first part is
representative of a tree, soong, which means 'to be relaxed like a
tree', 'to be flexible like a tree', or even 'to be natural like a
tree.' The second part of this character is yin yang, or balance,
located between the lines of heaven and earth, with the characters
depicting hand and mouth on either side.
Continuing on from the above question, the Quan part is usually
translated as 'fist.' By extension, when applied to martial art, 'fist'
refers to a boxing style. However, this same character can also be
translated as 'to hold tightly to something, so as not to lose it.'
Perhaps as in something of value?
Taken together, then, these characters could be interpreted: One person,
centered between heaven and earth, who is relaxed, flexible, or natural
as a tree, and balanced in speech and action; holding tightly to these
values so as to not lose their meaning. This is the meaning that I
prefer.
Q: What is Taijiquan as it applies to Health Preservation of
Northeast Ohio?
A: Taijiquan (tai chi chuan) is a relatively new term.
Before Taiji thought or philosophy were applied to martial art, those
arts were referred to by their family of association. So, as an example,
Chen's martial art would be the methodology practiced by the Chen
family. This was true even after taiji principles were incorporated into
a family's art.
As different family styles developed along similar principles, there
were
various ways of referring to this approach to martial theory. These arts
were known by the family name, long boxing (a reference to the slow
controlled approach to training the solo set), cotton fist. Eventually,
the
name of Taijiquan was adopted for the common usage to describe a
martial style in accord with various Taoist principles.
These include the Taoist concept of effortlessness (or wu wei). Also,
movement flowing like water. Water is yielding, but also has the
potential
to become a strong and significant force when circumstances are right.
Taiji movement is also to reflect naturalness. A list of Taiji
principles is
found on the Taiji Movement page.
Although the traditional usage of Taijiquan in China is for martial
purposes, many Western Taiji instructors focus on the health benefits of
practice. Such is the case with Health Preservation of Northeast Ohio.
References may be made to the application of certain postures in the
solo set, however the main focus is to facilitate health and longevity
among the practitioners.
So, generally speaking, the common usage of Taijiquan is the application
of taiji thought to martial purpose. Taijiquan taught by Health
Preservation of Northeast Ohio is first and foremost taught as a form of
health maintenance; helping practitioners take an active role in
maintaining high levels of functionality well into their advanced years.
Q: What is the difference between Taiji Qigong and Taijiquan?
A: Taiji qigong is the use of Taijiquan movement
patterns for the express purpose of health and longevity. This means
that although Taijiquan is a movement form of qigong, the final outcome
is to use qi for martial purpose. So, the movements patterns may be
common to both; the movement of the qi is common to both; the intended
outcome is different.
Q: Do I need special clothing, or shoes to practice Taiji?
A: No special clothing is necessary. Just wear comfortable
clothing that allows for freedom of movement. Avoid anything
constricting to the waist, as we encourage abdominal breathing in all
taiji exercises. As for shoes, the same rule applies. Just wear
comfortable footwear. I have found that a flat sole, like a walking
shoe, works well. Sometimes a shoe that has a sole slanting downward
from heel to toe (your basic cross-trainers) may influence balance.
However, the best rule is whatever feels comfortable for you to move in
and maintain your balance easily.
Q: What is the Health Preservation Association?
A: The Health Preservation Association has come into
being as a result of Shifu Jianye Jiang's vision of people across the
United States and around the world deriving the health benefit of Tai
Chi movement and Qigong movement Forms.
Shifu Jiang's vast experience in both Tai Chi and Qigong has been
synthesized to allow for the development of brief forms each with a
specific healthful goal. Some forms are specific to certain illnesses,
such as arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
Some forms are aimed at stimulating smooth qi flow along specific
organ meridians, like Heart, Lungs & Intestine; Liver, Kidney & Spleen;
Stomach, Gallbladder & Bladder.
The forms are specifically designed to be accessible persons of all age
groups.
The Association consists of 72 instructors, nationwide, who have met
Shifu Jiang's criteria for teaching. Beginning in 2008 there will be
workshops held quarterly in each region assigned to the instructors.
Q: How can I enroll in an upcoming HPA seminar?
A: Simply follow this weblink:
http://www.jiangtaichi.com/home/ and go to
the Lifetime Certification menu and click on the HPA Workshop option.
Or, return frequently to
here for updates to the
calendar page
Q: What if my question hasn't been addressed
above?
A: Please contact us at
comments@healthpreservation.net to submit your question.
Please note: All information on Taiji and Qigong is drawn from my own experiments, experience and research. Naturally, there will always be more articulate ways of expressing these concepts. My comments are designed to minimally inform the curious, or to spark a desire to delve deeper into the art of Qigong, Taijiquan, or Taoist thought.