Resources

This page is still in progress. Come back soon for more links to recommended books, videos, Qigong and Taiji schools and organizations!
People often ask for books to read and videos to watch to learn about Qigong and Taijiquan, or to supplement their classes. My feeling is that in general, people are too much in their heads and since learning these arts is about being in and learning about our bodies, we should just practice, even if we're not sure if what we're doing is completely right, as long as it doesn't doesn't cause pain. Only through practice - doing it - will we be able to really understand and appreciate the principles, energetics and value of these arts. But I also must concede that sometimes a little book learning can be helpful. Remember: practice first, read to supplement the practice.

BOOKS


These books were recommended by Jen Resnick at her Chinese Medicine Theory workshop:

The Expressiveness of the Body and the Divergence of Greek and Chinese Medicine
By Shigehisa Kuriyama
 
The Propensity of Things
By François Jullien
 
Live Well Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition
By Peter Deadman

VIDEOS

Videos can be very useful, especially for remembering a movement sequence. But trying to learn a movement art like Qigong or Taiji through videos without a teacher is problematic. It can even cause injury. The movements may appear simple, but underlying principles must be embodied to acquire the benefits for which they were designed. A skilled teacher is necessary to correct postural and alignment issues needed for energy flow, pain relief and prevention. Teachers are needed to guide students through increasingly deeper layers of subtleties inherent in these arts. The following videos are not intended for instruction, but to be a sample of what is offered at Chinese Healing & Movement Arts and to help with remembering the movements. 

LIANGONG

Series One, Two and Three are demonstrated by the son of Liangong's creator Zhuang Yuan Ming in this video. Originally in Chinese, this video is dubbed in Portuguese and is the only one on YouTube showing the movements closest to the originator's. Use this video to help with remembering the movements. Do not learn the movements from this video, especially if you are experiencing pain or have other health issues. Series One with the music (and without Portuguese explanation) starts at :40, Series Two starts at 12:26, Series Three starts at 26:02.

Practice to the music just like we do in the Continuing Liangong classes, Series 1, 2, and 3, by clicking below. If you want to play just one section or start with Series 3, for example, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC21WCvVyXgAM1ugrNtlrVg/playlists, playlist Music to Practice Liangong.

OTHER QIGONG

Guanqifa - Simple movement with visualization of meridians for calming, cleansing and opening qi flow. Led by Jan Parker, a Yang style practitioner/instructor near Vancouver, B.C. (http://janparkerarts.com/index.php?main_menu_id=1).

WU STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Long form demonstrated by Wu Ying Hwa, daughter of Wu Jian Quan who created Wu style Taijiquan, My teacher, Yu Wen Mei (Chinese naming with family name first) learned Wu style from Wu Ying Hwa.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y18sTuexaTo

Interview with Wen Mei Yu and demonstration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCXy5f7R3w0

TAIJI BASICS AND PRINCIPLES

Standing Meditation and Reeling Silk exercises demonstrated by Chen Xiao Wong, current lineage holder of Chen style Taijiquan. Starting at about 32:48, he starts with Standing Meditation, then moves through the Silk Reeling exercises. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_hwB8addsc

BAGUAZHANG

2009 demonstration by Su Zifang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV4Aq68y9RE
1986 competition Cheng style, Su Zifang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cbFKKghJno

TAIJI KUNG FU FAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovcPjxtIMoV

CLASS HANDOUTS

COUNTING IN MANDARIN CHINESE

            One                yī  (ee)
            Two                èr  (are)
            Three             sān  (saan)
            Four               sì  (suh)
            Five               wŭ  (woo)
            Six                  liòu  (lee-oh, slurred together quickly)
            Seven            chī  (chee)
            Eight              bā  (baa)

WHY SPELL TAIJI "TAIJI"

I don't know this guy, but I like Anthony Korahais' humorous article on the spelling of Chinese words. He thinks it is too late for Taiji (although I insist on using the "correct" spelling for the reasons he describes) but he gives 9 reasons to spell Qigong correctly, and stop spelling it Chi Kung, Chi Gong or any of its variations. Check out the article!