Author: Singing Dragon

The 12 Chinese Animals: Singing Dragon author Master Zhongxian Wu on the complexity of Chinese astrology

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Since 1988, Master Zhongxian Wu has instructed thousands of students, both Eastern and Western. He synthesizes wisdom and experience for beginning and advancing practitioners, as well as for patients seeking healing, in his unique and professionally-designed courses and workshops.

Master Wu is the author of several Singing Dragon books, including his latest title, The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony in your Daily Life through Ancient Chinese Wisdom. Here, he answers a few questions about the book.

How did this book come about?

I grew up in a traditional fishing village in southeast China, and for my entire upbringing, I saw that people commonly used astrology to help make decisions about important events (finding a spouse, setting a wedding date, building a house, opening a business, health issues, etc). Because our village had no electricity, pipe water, or roads larger than a foot path, we all lived very closely with the rhythms of nature.

Chinese astrology is the art of living in harmony with the hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly cycles of life. When I was young, my mother always consulted the people living in the local temple when she needed help. I was astonished by the accuracy of their advice and their ability to predict outcomes. I became interested in learning more about astrology and its connection to Chinese medicine and the Yijing prediction system. My main focus is teaching Qigong, Taiji and the Yijing to help others to create harmony in their life. Through over 20 years of teaching these ancient Chinese wisdom practices, I realised that Chinese astrology is a great tool to help guide people through their life and their inner cultivation.

Chinese astrology is far more complex than most people realise. What accounts for this misconception, and how does your book contribute to a deeper understanding?

In the West, most people think Chinese astrology is only about their yearly animal sign. The knowledge of Chinese astrology system is extremely complicated, and I think perhaps difficult for most people to understand. In China, we call astrology BaZi (8 characters) or MingLi (principle of your karma), but only a small amount of people actually understand how to put together and interpret a chart. Most Chinese have to find an expert to help them, and finding someone really qualified and skillful can be challenging. Of course, you may easily find a fortuneteller on the street, but they are usually not very accurate.

I think the misconception in the West is mostly for convenience sake, to make it more simplified, more available for the general public and more for entertainment value. The yearly animal sign is a small percentage of what influences your entire chart. In my book, I also discuss the monthly and daily animal sign, which will help people develop a fuller understanding of their chart. It is important to realise that the 12 animals is just one aspect of Chinese astrology – creating and understanding a whole chart for the sake of prediction is a much more complicated process.

Most people do not realise that the 12 animals also relate to the 12 tidal hexagrams of the Yijing. The Yijing, of course, is a method of understanding the rhythms of nature and of life. When I wrote this book, I wanted people to get a little taste for the complexity behind the Chinese astrological system.

What does it mean to have an energetic month, day or year?

The energetic day, month and year are based on the rhythm of the sun and moon, which is different from the Gregorian calendar. For example, the energetic year is not from January 1 (the Gregorian new year) or the first new moon of the first lunar month (the Chinese new year), but rather, it the begins at the time where the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315 degrees, which usually occurs on Feb 4th or 5th in the Gregorian calendar.

How does understanding one’s Chinese animal symbols help them make better choices?

The use of Chinese animal symbols is a key to understanding the principles of your life and of your karma. They can help you understand your strengths and your weaknesses. Becoming conscious of your own patterns will give you information about how to cultivate your gifts and refine your challenges, which will help make your life flow more easily, with less struggle, and bring you success in your pursuits.

In the final chapter of the book, you discuss the Daoist concept that ‘life is not controlled by fate or karma alone’. What does this mean in the context of astrology?

If you want to change your karma, you have to know what your karma is.

A good understanding of Chinese astrology doesn’t only help you understand your karma and predict the future. The purpose of the reading is to guide you to make changes in your life, from daily lifestyle habits to larger life decisions that will allow you to change your karma, to help you remain centered when something unexpected happens, to steer clear of trauma, and put you on on the path of health, prosperity, and longevity.

How do you integrate your Chinese animal symbols into your own daily life?

I use the practices to guide my inner cultivation in order to balance and strengthen my astrological chart (which varies depending on the hour, day, month, season, year, or external life event), so that I feel more harmonious with my self, my family, and with nature. For example, I will check the Chinese calendar to pick out dates for travel or signing a contract. Based on the animal symbols, I also chose special colours for home and office in order to create the right fengshui for those environments. My wife and I make meals according the the principles of the Chinese animal clock to create a healthy daily rhythm for our family.

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2010.

Singing Dragon attends the 7th World Congress of Chinese Medicine in The Hague

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This past weekend, Singing Dragon attended the 7th World Congress of Chinese Medicine in The Hague, Netherlands.

The theme of this unique and important congress was “The Clinical Practice and Scientific Research of Chinese Medicine”, with a focus on the topics of andrology, the treatment of infertility, anti-aging, and research and development in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Over 600 acupuncturists, TCM practitioners, physicians, health professionals, students, researchers and educators were in attendance from all over the world, making The World Forum, located in The Hague’s international zone, an ideal venue.

Thanks to all the delegates who stopped by our stand! We were so pleased to have the opportunity to spread the word about our fantastic books and authors.

Titles in the series edited by Zhu Bing and Wang Hongcai were of particular interest, as well as those from The Chinese Health Qigong Association. Master Zhongxian Wu’s books and DVDs, and titles concerning the use of Qigong to manage health conditions, were also very popular. See below for details.

For more info on new and forthcoming titles from Singing Dragon, check out the new Complete Catalogue, Autumn/Winter 2010-2011.

We’d also like to thank the congress organizers, the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS), for making the event such a fantastic experience – one we very much hope to repeat in 2011.

www.singing-dragon.com

Singing Dragon author Gordon Faulkner on Managing Stress with Qigong

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Gordon Faulkner, demonstrating a standing stress prevention Qigong exercise from Managing Stress with Qigong.

In this interview, Gordon Faulkner – Principal Instructor at the Chanquanshu School of Daoist Arts in Scotland – answers some questions about his new book, Managing Stress with Qigong.

How did this book come about?

The first input to lead to the book was at International Daoyin Qigong Symposium in Portugal in 2005 when European teachers were encouraged to start working to develop daoyin for the health needs for their own countries. Further impetus arrived shortly afterwards when I was invited to teach qigong at the 37th International Traditional Chinese Medicine Kongress in Germany the following year. The theme of the congress was to be ‘Stress’ so I did a lot research and then created the routines presented in the book.

Not long after the congress I was contacted by the Head of the Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Inverness and asked if I would be interested in running qigong classes there. This seemed a very good opportunity to verify the effectiveness of the stress routines so I agreed. The results of these routines and especially of the stress prevention routine went far beyond even my own expectations.

Memory can be a major problem for people undergoing cancer treatments so it seemed only logical to start writing a book for them and the general public.

Do you need to have a high level of proficiency in Qigong before you can experience its effects for stress relief?

The Stress Management Qigong is designed for people of all levels of proficiency – for people who have been practising for years to people who have never heard of qigong.

You talk about the ‘non-specific’ nature of stress. What do you mean by this? How does this make Qigong uniquely suited for coping with stress?

One of the biggest problems with stress is that the stress response can vary dramatically; what impedes one person can boost another person, and because of that there is not one thing that can be described as a specific stress reaction to a specific stress input, the stressor.

Qigong also affects different people in different ways, one person’s reaction to qigong can be quite different to another’s, which makes qigong also non-specific – qigong and stress were made for each other because an individual’s stress reaction is often matched by their qigong responses to bring the person back into mind/body harmony.

Can people use certain Qigong movements or exercises in the book to relieve particular symptoms of stress?

On the larger scale, the stress relief routine is designed to deal with the physical stress reaction while the stress prevention routine is geared more toward dealing with the mental stress reaction. The book does mention some other possible combinations of exercises.

Which Qigong exercises do you practice yourself for stress relief?

As I teach these routines continuously I am always practising everything.

I was once at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam trying to catch an alternate flight after two of my fights had been cancelled and the third was late when the assistant at the transfer desk remarked that I was remarkably calm considering my circumstances. I responded that I was now late for the seminar I was due to give on stress management and so I could do no other than be calm.

Gordon Faulkner is a Certified International Judge of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong and President of the Scotland and Wales Daoyin Yangsheng Gong Association. Gordon is a closed-door student of Professor Zhang Guangde, founder of the modern Daoyin Yangsheng system taught at the Beijing Sports University.

For more information about Gordon Faulkner, visit www.quanshu.co.uk.

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2010.

Workshop: ‘Healing, Yijing, and Cultivation’ with Master Wu

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This weekend, Singing Dragon author Master Zhongxian Wu will be holding a workshop on ‘Healing, Yijing, and Cultivation’ in Stockholm, Sweden, 11-12 September.

Learn more about this workshop.

Master Wu has devoted himself to the study of Qigong, martial arts, Chinese medicine, Yijing science, Chinese calligraphy, and ancient chinese music for over 30 years. He was Director of the Shaanxi Province Association for Somatic Science and the Shaanxi Association for the Research of Daoist Nourishing Life Practices, and has written five books and numerous articles on the philosophical and historical foundations of China’s ancient life sciences. Visit www.masterwu.net for more info about Master Wu.

Singing Dragon, an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers, is an independent publisher of authoritative books on complementary and alternative health, bodywork, Tai Chi, Qigong and ancient wisdom traditions for personal and professional development.

www.singing-dragon.com

An Interview with Singing Dragon authors Steve Haines and Ged Sumner on ‘Cranial Intelligence’

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Steve Haines has been working in healthcare for over 20 years, and as a bodyworker since 1998. He studied Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with Franklyn Sills, Michael Kern and Katherine Ukleja. He is a UK registered chiropractor and also trained as a shiatsu practitioner. Steve lives and works between London and Geneva, and teaches cranial work internationally, including in Switzerland, North America and Malaysia.

Ged Sumner is a practicing craniosacral therapist, craniosacral therapy trainer and chi kung teacher. He has also studied shiatsu, healing and attachment based psycho-analytical psychotherapy, and has a degree in Chemistry. He is the director of Body Intelligence Training, which offers biodynamic craniosacral therapy practitioner courses in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Here, Steve and Ged answer a few questions about their new textbook, Cranial Intelligence: A Practical Guide to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy.

How does your book support hands-on learning of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST)?

We were quite shocked to learn that there are videos out trying to teach cranial work as a distance learning course. In the first instance, watching cranial work being performed is like watching paint dry and secondly, students really need constant hands on feedback to support their developing perceptual skills. In the history of cranial work there is a strong oral tradition and preference for teaching by transmission. One of the senior biodynamic cranial osteopaths (Jealous) refuses to write and reluctantly, it seems, has recorded some CD’s of him talking. We do not go as far as that, we think there is a value in articulating theory and writing down exercises that people can practice for themselves. Our book is full of meditations and protocols that we have learnt from our teaching experience can work really well to help people more clearly feel their own bodies, other peoples bodies and our common relationship to the natural world. The book is aimed to compliment study on a two year training course.

The book talks a lot about ‘potency’. What do you mean by ‘potency’, and what is its significance for BCST practice?

Potency can be thought of as the cranial word for energy. Energy means lots of things to different people and is often a very fuzzy concept that is used as a catch all to explain interactions that are not well understood. My favourite definition of energy is that it is information moving through a field – a ‘field’ here meaning a zone of influence. Potency is a term used by Sutherland, the founder of cranial work. In a slightly more precise way than the common usage of energy, it allows us to describe the felt experience of BCST practitioners of an inherent potential in nature and in the body that organises, animates, and communicates. Sutherland used the image of potency as ‘liquid light‘ and the phrase ‘the fluid within the fluid’ to describe his experience of potency. He was very clear that expressions of potency are mediated through the fluids of the body. Other words commonly used alongside potency are tingling, shimmering, light, vibration, electricity, something moving and wind-like. Like the wind in a sail or the heat of the suns rays or the falling to earth of an object, we can perceive the effects of potency but its actual nature is illusive.

The book includes a practice development chapter that covers questions such as ‘Why do you want to become a Craniosacral Therapist?’ and ‘How do I earn a living as a Craniosacral Therapist?’ Why was it so important to include those questions?

Our observation, from running a teaching clinic for CSTs in London, of noticing and talking to other CSTs, of supervising students and practitioners, and being involved in teaching at four different biodynamic schools is that many people struggle to set up a practice once they qualify as a practitioner. They have life changing skills that can dramatically enhance the lives of their potential clients by helping them be in less pain, less emotional distress and have more vitality. However being a skillful therapist does not mean you will be a busy therapist. There are big issues to explore, and additional skills to learn, about being a self-employed, small business person in a competitive private health care market. Adult learners engage with training courses for many reasons, often at transition points in their lives. The questions above are an attempt to get people to think through some of these issues at an early stage in their training. The two year training is very demanding and requires a degree of maturity, self reflection and personal growth. Our experience is that this work can help a wide range of human suffering; people in chronic pain, people who have experienced trauma, people living with serious physical illness and people in profound emotional distress. It is good to realise the likely territory of their future professional life and to understand the commitment it involves if they want to become a practitioner of excellence.

For more info, watch this video with co-author Steve Haines.

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2010.

VIDEO: Steve Haines on Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and his new book, Cranial Intelligence

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In this video, Singing Dragon author Steve Haines talks about his new book Cranial Intelligence: A Practical Guide to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, which he co-authored with Ged Sumner.

At the deepest level of our physiology, all living tissues and fluids expand and contract with the ‘breath of life’. Through gentle touch, the skilled practitioner can interact with these subtle rhythms to address physical aches and pains, acute or chronic disease, emotional or psychological disturbances, or simply to promote enduring health and vitality.

This new and important textbook demystifies the biodynamic approach to craniosacral therapy and shows how and why it can be so effective at bringing about a natural realignment towards optimal health.

Steve Haines has been working in healthcare for over 20 years, and as a bodyworker since 1998. He studied Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with Franklyn Sills, Michael Kern and Katherine Ukleja. He is a UK registered chiropractor and also trained as a shiatsu practitioner. Steve lives and works between London and Geneva, and teaches cranial work internationally, including in Switzerland, North America and Malaysia.

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2010.

Qigong for Multiple Sclerosis: An Interview with Singing Dragon author Nigel Mills

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Nigel Mills, is an accredited Clinical Psychologist, Craniosacral Therapist and EMDR therapist. He is also an experienced teacher of Qigong. Nigel currently works as an independent therapist in Abergavenny, South Wales, UK.

Here, Nigel answers some questions about his new book Qigong for Multiple Sclerosis: Finding Your Feet Again.

Your book is the result of a research study funded by the NHS. What motivated you to launch this study of Qigong and MS, and to write the book?

In the late 1990’s I was employed as a clinical psychologist in the NHS, and part of my role was to see people with MS to try and help with their feelings of anxiety and depression. It became apparent that a lot of people’s psychological problems stemmed from a sense of vulnerability and helplessness, which in turn stemmed from a sense that the body was out of control and somehow alien. It seemed to me that rather than ‘just talking’ it may be more useful to explore some practical ways to re-connect with the body and to improve confidence in being able to balance and move. My own practice of Qigong led me to think that Qigong might be very useful for the sort of difficulties faced by people with MS.

How does Qigong benefit people who suffer from MS both mentally and physically? What difference can it make to their lives?

One of the most important specific benefits is an improvement in balance and a greater sense of ‘ownership of the body. Qigong encourages a way of moving which is very stable and integrated, and the mind ‘enters’ the body in a fuller way. The subsequent improvement in balance goes on to help people regain their confidence in movement and thus improves confidence generally. Secondly people report a greater calmness and an enhanced ability to cope with stress. This can make an enormous difference to the quality of life for someone with MS

Can Qigong benefit people at any stage of MS?

Yes, different people gain different things from the programme depending on their stage of MS. But the programme has something to offer everyone. People with mild symptoms report benefit from the greater calmness and sense of being grounded and the feeling that they are doing something to maximise their functioning for as long as possible. People who may be wheel chair users, like the fact that many of the exercises can be adapted for a sitting position and still benefit from the sense of being able to inhabit their body in a fuller and more compassionate manner.

Research has shown that certain exercises can be harmful for people with MS. How is Qigong different from other forms of exercise?

The essence of Qigong is softness and flowing. Not forcing anything, but allowing movement to come forth. The mind doesn’t coerce the body, as in some forms of exercise, rather the mind follows the body and follows the breath.

What is a ‘Qigong attitude’, and why is it particularly important for people with MS to develop this outlook?

‘Being with’, rather than ‘doing to’. Using the attention to follow rather than lead. Softening and flowing rather than forcing. Compassion rather than blame. These are elements of a ‘Qigong attitude. It is important for people with MS not to ‘enter into battle’ with their body. This will only increase their sense of stress. The task is to befriend the body and then everything can calm down and slow down.

Copyright © Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2010.

An Interview with Dr. Kevin Chen on translating the official textbook of Medical Qigong in China

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Kevin W. Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, in the USA. Educated at top universities in both China and the USA, and with a PhD in research psychology and statistics, Dr. Chen has many years’ experience and training in blending Eastern and Western perspectives.
Dr. Chen is one of the few scientists to have a hands-on knowledge of Qigong practice and be actively involved in scientific Qigong research. Dr. Chen is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other foundations to conduct clinical studies into the feasibility and efficacy of applying Qigong and meditative therapy in the treatment of arthritis, addiction, and anxiety disorders.

Here, Dr. Chen answers some questions about the new English translation of the textbook Chinese Medical Qigong, for which he is the Associate Editor in Chief. Professor Tianjun Liu, OMD, is Editor in Chief of both the English translation and the original Chinese editions.

Dr. Chen, how did this project come together?

The first time I met with Professor Liu was in 2002 at an international conference in Tokyo. We both presented some research and reviews of external Qigong, and found a lot of common interests in research and in our personal Qigong cultivation. We are among the few in academia who consider Qigong research as a career, and soon we became good friends.

Later Professor Liu invited me to assist him in translating his book – the only official textbook of medical Qigong in China – into English. In the beginning, I was really hesitant to take the challenge, (though I felt the endeavor was important for the field of Qigong study) since I haven’t really studied medical Qigong in a systematic way, and was afraid that I might mislead readers if I could not reflect the true meaning and values of the original book. After some lengthy discussions on other alternatives for this project, Professor Liu convinced me that the few people who might have both the language capabilities and the necessary experience in medical Qigong would never have the time to do such a big project in the near future – a project for which we did not yet have any financial support, a publisher or an assistant for editing.

After reading the book carefully, I realized how important the subject is for the field of mind-body medicine, and for the entire academic study of complementary and alternative medicine, and I felt an obligation to help the project become a reality. I also realized that I might need help with my ancient Chinese to understand the ancient literature of Qigong, and my English might not be good enough to reach the level of academic publication. We figured that those who had good knowledge in ancient Chinese might not have good English, while those who had both language skills might not have the necessary experience and knowledge of Chinese medicine and Qigong. Medical Qigong is really a special field that requires expertise across four fields – ancient Chinese, modern academic English, Chinese medicine and Qigong cultivation. Therefore, we decided that the most practical way to get the original Chinese text translated and published in English was to form a collaborative team with experts in all four areas.

It took more than five years to accomplish such a large project. First a group of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) professionals in China translated the modern and ancient Chinese into English, focusing on respecting the original Chinese meanings. Then a group of bilingual American Chinese with TCM training double-checked and edited the accuracy of the English translations against the Chinese texts and smoothed out the English as best they could. Finally, a group of native English-speaking Qigong scholars and professionals edited and finalized the text for English language readers.

It is a great honor and privilege for me to have worked with so many professionals and to have participated in organizing such a rewarding project.

What differentiates medical Qigong from health Qigong?

Although there might be more similarities than differences among health Qigong and medical Qigong, the main differences may be found in three aspects:

  1. The difference in purpose of practice. Health Qigong is for preventive care or general well-being, and can be practiced by anyone in any condition; while medical Qigong is mostly designed for specific medical or healing purposes, and used for clinical applications of treating disease or disorders. Of course, it could be used for preventive care as well.
  2. The difference in delivery channels. Health Qigong can be taught by any Qigong instructor without much restriction or other requirement in health or medicine, while medical Qigong is created and practiced by medical practitioners, and delivered with specific prescription by them. This may require special clinical license or knowledge of other clinical and medical training so that the patients or practitioners can benefit from the holistic perspective of TCM.
  3. The difference in the practice method or limitation. Medical Qigong, especially those prescribed by medical professionals, may have certain restrictions on timing and quantity of practice, and sometimes, the practitioner is required to stop practicing once the specific symptoms disappear, just like other prescriptions in medicine, while health qigong does not have these restrictions.

Qigong hasn’t yet been fully adopted as a clinical healing modality in western healthcare systems. Why is there skepticism about the utility of Qigong to diagnose, treat and prevent illness? How does your textbook help to resolve such doubts?

It is true that there are not many qualified medical Qigong practitioners in the healthcare field, mainly due to the fact there has been no systematic training available to the healthcare professionals in our medical system, and partially due to the fact that not everyone who goes through medical Qigong training could actually become a qualified medical Qigong healer.

In general, most people who go through medical school training will get their medical license and become a doctor, but this may not be true in medical Qigong. Appropriate training with qualified instructors (who are lacking to start with) alone may not be enough to make the trainee a medical Qigong doctor. They must also commit long-term to quality Qigong practice, as well as to the Wù or Wù Xing (悟 or 悟性) for mind-body integration – the illuminative understanding or the instinct of comprehending the ineffable; in other words, an indirect way to comprehend things in energy healing. In Qigong practice, Wù may also imply the ability to integrate the comprehended knowledge, or the ineffable, into one’s Qigong practice so as to eventually be united with the Dao. Those who complete their full medical Qigong training without such a nature would never become a qualified medical Qigong healer. That is why there are so many stories from Qigong history in which the capable medical Qigong teacher seeks out the student who possesses such a Wù Xing, instead of just students searching for good teachers.

As to people’s general skepticism of Qigong, it is understandable. The concepts of Qi and Qigong healing are still new and unproven to western medicine and the general public, people tend to believe only in those things they can see or touch. There are indeed quite a few fake Qigong masters or Qigong tricksters out there disturbing the development of medical Qigong. However, as more and more research in medical Qigong becomes public knowledge, and more and more people practice Qigong or mind-body exercises themselves, I am sure there will be more acceptance of medical Qigong since the potential healing capability of medical Qigong without any side effects will really make a difference to our health and to healing.

What do you think is the significance of this book to the field of mind-body medicine in general, and specifically to Qigong practice?

Chinese Medical Qigong provides a solid foundation for bringing Qigong into the formal clinical setting as a healing tool, and establishes medical Qigong as an important academic discipline in research and teaching. It demonstrates that Qigong is not just another mind-body exercise, or mere preventive-health practice, but an important healing modality in traditional Chinese medicine that precedes herbal, acupuncture and other modalities. The book contains systematic theories, developmental history, documented knowledge and practical techniques. It has the potential to integrate different mind-body exercises, perspectives and traditions into a commonly acceptable foundation for more practical regulations, instructions, and clinical applications.

What would healthcare look like if Qigong was adopted more widely?

Because Qigong introduces the concept of self-healing and mind-body integration into health care and daily life, it has the potential to change people’s general lifestyles and philosophies of health and healing. The term “Qigong” sounds very Chinese, but the practice of mind-body-breathing exercises that have been called Qigong in China can be found in many different cultures. As you will see in the book, meditation, yoga, Reiki, Taiji quan, deep breathing and guided imagery are all described thoroughly in ancient Qigong literature, and all mind-body or energy practitioners can work under the same theory and principles to promote a similar healing philosophy: self-healing, cultivating the mind or spirit, and achieving mind-body-spirit harmony or balance through practice.

If these mind-body-spirit integration practices were adopted into our healthcare, and practiced by most people, their lifestyles and attitudes towards life would improve. As we have seen, Qigong practitioners live a less stressed, happier life in general:

“Remain detached with empty mind, the genuine Qi will follow easily; keep essence-spirit within, no illness will arise.”

– from The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic, regarded as the most important book in the early history of TCM.

Qigong may be the most powerful stress management tool we know today. At the same time, stress is the number one reason why people get sick and go to the doctor, accounting for 80% of primary doctor visits! Following this example, if Qigong were more widely implemented, healthcare costs would be reduced significantly and most people would feel healthier and happier.

Although we do not have hard evidence of the benefits of Qigong in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials yet, I cannot help but mention the study cited in my book introduction. A survey study in China of 500 Qigong practitioners, conducted by the Xiang-Tan City Bureau of Senior Cadres and Health Department, indicated that healthcare spending between 1992 and 1995 for those 500 government officials, mostly retirees between 50 and 70 years old, was decreased by 83% on average, in sharp contrast to the increased spending typically seen in this same age group, and 232 of them (46%) reported no medical spending at all during the same period of time. Given this stunning example, can you imagine what kind of change medical Qigong might make to our lives, and to our healthcare system?

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2010.

What is ‘Tai Chi’?: An Interview with Singing Dragon author Peter Gilligan

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Peter Gilligan has over thirty years’ experience of Tai Chi, Qigong and the Nei Jia (internal arts), and is a registered instructor with the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts. Peter is also the founder and director of the DAH School of Chinese Internal Arts, the only full-time school of its kind in Belfast.

Here, Peter answers some questions about his recent book, What is ‘Tai Chi’? and shares a sample chapter (scroll to the end).

What first attracted you to the study and practise of Tai Chi?

I was initially attracted to the study of Taiji philosophy through the Yi Jing which I pursued for ten years before taking up the practice of the Quan form. During this time I worked as an Outdoor pursuits instructor but began to desire a form of exercise that did not require special equipment or travel to either the mountains or the sea; my specialisms were Rock Climbing, Sea Canoeing and Archery. Conveniently during one winter lay off a friend told me of a class in Plymouth, where I was living, with John Pollex one of Gerda Geddes’ students. My Yi Jing studies were being frustrated by my failure to understand the fundamental concepts of Taiji, namely Yin and Yang. So the opportunity to study Taijiquan based as it is on the direct expression and experience of Yin and Yang together – with its complete lack of the necessity of special equipment or location – couldn’t fail to pique my interest. I had also bought Feng Gia-Fu’s book, Tai Chi – A Way of Centering and I Ching, as part of my attempts to better grasp the Yin and Yang concepts. Whilst a pretty coffee table book, it did little other than inform that the art of Taijiquan existed. However it did provide the initial impetus to attend the class.

What effect has Tai Chi had on your life?

I would have to describe the impact of Taiji, both the philosophy and the physical practice of the Quan art, as moderately profound. The study of the Quan form certainly kick-started my stalled comprehension of Taiji and Yin and Yang. And I certainly had no expectation at the beginning that Taijiquan would become both my avocation and obsession so that I now find myself a professional Taijiquan teacher. Both the equanimity that the philosophy fosters and the active heath promotion and life extension that the Quan form cultivates proved exceptionally valuable in 1993 when I was diagnosed with a progressive terminal disease. I am literal and still living proof that Taijiquan ‘does what it say on the tin’ when practiced correctly. Treatments began to be developed in the late 90s such that my condition is no longer considered to be as terminal as once it was. Needless to say these pharmacological experiments have not been without their own not insignificant costs. Despite nearly loosing the use of my legs – a tragedy for a serious Taijiquan player because to key to excellence lies in the use of the yao and legs – I have been able to overcome even this. My ongoing regular practice, despite the major neuro-muscular damage, means that unless I choose to mention my problems most people I meet remain completely unaware of any difficulties. And I still enjoy both practicing and refining my expression of the higher levels of inter-personal physical application.

In your new book What is ‘Tai Chi’? you state that the Chinese emphasise the need for a teacher. Why is this?

The Chinese would say that the only way to learn is through direct transmission from a teacher and I agree. It is impossible to truly appreciate the possibilites inherent in our bodies without having direct experience of the accomplishments of a skilled teacher. Words alone can never transmit the experiential reality of Taijiquan any more than words can tell you the taste of chocolate or tomato if you have eaten neither. The Way of Taijiquan requires three phases summarised in the Chinese tag ‘Find, Train, Use’. Teachers are necessary to enable students to ‘Find’ that which is ‘hiding in plain sight’. Then, with advice and exercises, to assist the student in cultivating or ‘Train-ing’ so that dead ends and inefficient directions of practice can be avoided. Finally students need to experience the accomplishments of teachers in order to appreciate what it means to be able to ‘Use’ Taijiquan efficiently and effectively.

What can the practise of Tai Chi hope to teach us about ourselves?

By making us capable of being ‘at home’ with ourselves physiologically, mentally and emotionally the practice of Taijiquan can be of great benefit in discovering both the boundary between Self and Other, building an accurate self image, security and confidence, and the unity of ourselves with the context and ground of our being nutritionally, socially and environmentally. Becoming grounded in our own particular knot of existence – our personal Qi – enables us to respond appropriately to the fluctuating experiences and demands that life and living provide. Particularly in my work with recovering addicts I see the positive effect of ‘coming home’ to the safe place of the ground of our being, own bodies, having major benefits alleviating years of distress and torment from the negative consequences of an positively poisonous background and environment. While theirs is an especially extreme case, it is unfortunately true that far too many of us fail to learn to be either comfortable, or Natural, for much or any of the time. I can hardly put it any better than Yang Chen-fu: “If one realises that there are infinite variations in Taijiquan, with dancing hands and stepping feet then the interest increases daily. With practice over the years, this continuous and unforgettable joy greatly strengthens the body.”

On April 24th, thousands celebrated World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. What would you say are the most pressing issues for this global community in 2010?

My personal view is that the most necessary current task for this wonderful and ongoing project is the improvement in the understanding of the great richness and depth to be found in these arts. A major improvement in the knowledge and information of teachers is to be most dearly wished. My worry is that currently enthusiasm has greatly out stripped practical competence. This worry was a contributing factor in the writing of my book What is ‘Tai Chi’?

Read a sample chapter from What is ‘Tai Chi’?:

Click ‘Expand’ to read the full-screen version.

Copyright © Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2010.

Curves, Twists and Bends: Pilates for Scoliosis – An Interview with author Annette Wellings

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Annette Wellings is a Pilates instructor who suffers from major scoliosis. She began exploring different ways of keeping her body flexible and healthy whilst working as a linguist and artist in Australia and subsequently, she retrained in rehabilitation Pilates.

She is the co-author of Curves, Twists and Bends: A Practical Guide to Pilates for Scoliosis with Alan Herdman, the leading practitioner of Pilates in the UK since introducing it there in 1970.

How did you first find out about Pilates?

While working as a linguist and an artist in Australia and Fiji, I became increasingly aware of my body becoming more hunched and painful with scoliosis. By the time I was about 35, my spine was rigid and my torso was becoming increasingly twisted. I realised that I needed to do something and explore options, instead of passively sitting by and lamenting the degeneration of the spine. I began exploring different ways of keeping my body flexible and healthy, and I discovered Pilates.

How easy is Pilates to learn for the complete beginner?

The beauty of Pilates is its simplicity and versatility. Essentially it is a gentle form of exercise that is constantly adjusted and moulded to suit the particular needs of the individual. For the complete beginner, it is important to go to a good qualified teacher who understands your condition. Pilates is a subtle process and, like many effective exercise programs, it requires time and focus in developing a mind-body awareness. Rather than instant gratification or a quick-fix, it bears gradual profound benefits over time.

How can Pilates complement traditional rehabilitation medicine?

Whether individuals have opted for surgery or not, it is vital that people with scoliosis (particularly severe curvatures) keep the spine and body as healthy, supple and lengthened as possible. Pilates provides gentle exercises that can help improve flexibility, posture and alignment, and lengthening.

Pilates can be particularly useful for scoliosis, by teaching how to move and engage separate muscle groups. This can help tease out asymmetrical patterns of muscle use, encouraging the strengthening of weak underdeveloped muscles, and breaking down the dominant bossy muscles which develop on one side of the torso.

While surgery focuses on straightening out the spinal curvature, it is important to highlight that Pilates exercises are not designed to restructure the spine. Their purpose is to encourage flexibility and length, and enable the body and spine to be as healthy and supple as possible. As such, Pilates is suited to all people with scoliosis. The basic exercise movements can then be modified and developed more precisely to suit the particular shape of an individual curvature.

Your co-author, Alan Herdman, suggests that the message of Pilates is ‘Quality not Quantity’. How often would a typical scoliosis sufferer need to practice Pilates to feel the benefit?

Alan is right. Pilates requires you to be mindful and put time and effort into any program, particularly if you’ve got scoliosis. To get full effect and benefits, two to three times a week is a great start. Including it as part of your everyday lifestyle is ideal. There is no quick fix for scoliosis, and it’s good to put in consistent time and focus over the long term, learning and listening to your body.

In the book you look at different strategies for living with scoliosis. As a sufferer yourself, what is the best advice you can give to other people living with this condition?

First, accept your scoliosis and recognize that it makes you unique. It is a symbol of your individuality. Get information about your curvature, so that you understand and are aware of what your scoliosis involves (e.g. location, size and type of curve). You should explore options available for treating your scoliosis and keeping your body strong, lengthened and flexible. It’s important to make yourself a health care plan for life, including adequate rest, a healthy diet, and a gentle regular exercise routine to keep the body as supple and healthy as possible. Think length. It’s wise to avoid movements and circumstances which jolt or compress the spine.

In short, let go and listen to your body. Accept, observe and explore your condition with curiosity.

Copyright © Singing Dragon 2009