Guidelines for the Practice of Qigong & Taiji

In the practice of all forms of Qigong, including the
various styles of Taiji, there are a few guidelines that
will give the most rapid growth and learning while helping
you to stay in the comfort zone.

These practices are all very mild, however, many
people are very at risk for injury, perhaps of the knees.
The foot work in some forms of Taiji has caused some
problems in a very small percentage of people. Always start
carefully and allow your progress to be “slow but sure”.

Some of the complex and vigorous forms of Qigong are
contraindicated in people who are weak from illness or in
the wisdom years. Be very hesitant to go to a Qigong or
Taiji class and go to the front of the room. Linger in the
back and follow these guidelines no matter what is happening
in the class and you always improve, slowly but surely. In
your personal practice time continue to progress
carefully.

Do:

• relax deeply and allow the mind to be free of
  concerns and considerations. In China this state of mind
  is sometimes called “cheerful disinterest”, “neutral” and
  “emptiness”.
  

   

• practice daily if possible. The results you seek
  are the result of perseverance. Chinese tradition says
  “perseverance furthers”. Carefully and correctly
  implemented Qigong and Taiji are safe to practice even
  several times a day. The practices are gentle and based
  on enhancing natural biological and energetic mechanisms
  of self restoration. If you are unwell enough to be off
  of work or school you have time to carefully do lots of
  Qigong or Taiji practice.
  

   

• in Qigong feel free to make up your own routine
  and change the practices to suit your needs, likes and
  limitations. One of the most powerful forms of Qigong is
  called Spontaneous Qigong and is completely
  intuitive.
  

   

• in Taiji it is generally less acceptable to modify
  the form. However, people with severe diseases should
  feel free to modify the practices to honor their comfort
  zone and potentiate self healing.
  

• always approach each practice from the richness of
  deep intention and belief in self healing. In the Health
  World libraries you will find research that clearly
  demonstrates the healing benefits of Qigong and Taiji.
  Keep it foremost in your mind that both Taiji and Qigong
  are profoundly healing practices. Rest in knowing that
  you have tapped a powerful pool of healing resources.
  

   

• allow the mind to rest in quiet indifference.
  Worry and anxiety turn off the naturally occurring, self
  healing resources. It is when the mind is free of concern
  that the profound, internal, self healing resources are
  spontaneously activated.
  

   

• notice that as you mature in these practices that
  the breath spontaneously regulates so that both the
  inhalation and exhalation are slow and somewhat full; not
  urgent, not exaggerated, just restful, intentful,
  conscious and notably calm.
  

Don’t:

• do too much. Taiji and Qigong are intended to
  assist you in self healing and to help you become more
  enduring and vital. Take it very, very easy. Ease helps
  to activate the Qi. Extra effort and trying hard go
  against the natural benefits in all varieties of Qigong.
  Going too far, too fast may cause discomfort and may
  result in you saying, “This is too much.” Then, the
  profound benefit is lost. Achieve your goal of healing by
  allowing yourself to be free from the stress and rush
  that cause the organs, tissues and glands to become
  deficient. Expand your practice slowly and personal
  improvement is guaranteed.
  

   

• be fooled by the fact that Qigong seems like
  nothing much. The vigilant application of these simple
  practices has demonstrated, over thousands of years of
  careful refinement, the ability to mobilize the naturally
  occurring healing forces within you. An ancient Chinese
  proverb says, “that which appears great on the outside is
  weak on the inside, that which appears to be
  inconsequential on the outside is great and powerful on
  the inside”. Qigong is not an ever complexifying chain of
  details and new innovations, it is an ever simplifying
  and deepening practice that is refined toward
  perfection.
  

   

• expect too much, too soon. Know that on occasion
  extraordinary results occur right away. Bring Qigong into
  your life delicately. Too much of such a good thing and
  you may say, “I don’t have time for this”. Then the
  remarkable possibility for self restoration will be lost.
  Most often dramatic results come over time with vigilant
  practice.
  

1st Warning- Learning Qigong from a book, a video or
even a great teacher is always frustrating particularly
because of your longing to perfect the practice, now.
Please, go very slowly and intentfully, follow the
directions the best you can. Give yourself permission to
invent some things too. Remember it is not so important to
do the practice just like the instructor suggests. More
important is to do the practice just like it works best for
you. The only way to be wrong about your implementation of
these practices is to NOT do them or to not follow the rule
of “go slow and easy”. Therefore, the most important rule in
Qigong is-DO IT!

2nd Warning- Qigong and Taiji are hazardous to your
health problems and they have the potential to alter the
definition of health care. They help resolve many illnesses
for no cost. They have no side effects. These practices may
limit your doctor visits. They are dangerous to the
conventional medical system and could have a radical impact
on your personal life, your community, your society and the
national debt.