Nourish Through Breath Part 3 Buddhist vs Taoist Breath Work Welcome to my breath work course. This part of the programme looks at the two main breathing techniques, known as the relaxation breath and the energetic breath. Discover the role of the diaphragm in each of these methods and practice breathing a full breath. Part…
Tai Chi Qigong Zoom Classes Join our weekly online classes from the UK, where you can study Chen Tai Chi and Qi Gong with me instructor Nicola at Earth Balance Tai Chi. Tai Chi and Qigong are effective ways to restore balance, build resilience and gain strength. I teach live stream classes on Zoom, video…
Awareness in Taiji Qigong The fundamental concepts when training Tai Chi and Qigong are posture, awareness and breath. Awareness is an important aspect of training to explore, as you need to be present in your movements to be able to move well. Body sensitivity and sensory awareness are expressions of mindfulness, as you maintain a…
Chronic Health Tai Chi Livestream Online Group Class UK Join our Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation online class for relaxation and health. Open to all abilities, the lessons include seated and standing movements, guiding you through gentle tension relief, physical relaxation and meditation techniques. Anyone can join in, whether living with chronic illness, chronic pain…
Michael Smith Soma Dao Qigong Dr Michael Smith is as a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Functional Medicine who has also trained in internal martial arts, Qigong and Taoism with lineage holders of the traditions. Michael’s YouTube channel has instructional Qi Gong videos and practice sessions that combine his personal and professional experience of…
Qi Gong for Women Livestream Online Group Classes via Zoom UK Join our virtual earth Qigong for women classes to explore healthy powerful movements for physical resilience and mental ease. This qigong routine is for all levels of students and is a great way to improve the efficiency of all body functions, from hormone to…
Cross Lateral Movements Connecting Left and Right Brain Hemispheres The Power of Natural Movements For fully functioning physical movements and motor control the whole brain must work in a co-ordinated way. There are 6 patterns of total body connectivity; breathing, core, spine, upper & lower body, body half and cross lateral. This article looks at…
John Blue Snake and Turtle Qigong Instructor John Blue from SnakeAndTurtle.com has a new youtube channel and Patreon page dedicated to sharing healing qigong movements and meditation teachings. He is an experienced qigong instructor with a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a lineage holder in Taiji Quan, Qigong and meditation. He lives in…
Qigong Wall Squatting The Qigong wall squat is a dynamic whole body movement. An ultimate squat that develops leg strength, power, balance and body awareness. The stretching and relaxing wave like motion in the spine gives circulation a boost, helps the body detox and massages your internal organs to aid their functioning. As a beginner…
Tai Chi Hurt My Knees There are many barriers to starting something new, whether a hobby, new job or leisure activity. We are our worst enemy sometimes and our minds will throw up all sorts of reasons why not to do something. When we start something new, our minds will also try and dissuade us…
Spring Qi for the Liver Spring is a time of re-birth and new growth. A time for outward expression, like the first signs of plant life that burst out of the earth. A time for new beginnings and waking up. Spring is governed by the wood element and the liver organ in Traditional Chinese Medicine…
Building Resilience in 2021 Do not worry, this is not a blog post with a humble brag about how I wrote a novel during the 2020 restrictions or learned how to perfect the art of the soufflé. Nope, I’m the average Joe, and have been on a roller coaster. Like many other community teachers, the…
Winter Qi for the Kidneys Winter is yin by nature, a time for consolidating, stillness and retreating within. It is a dark, cold, wet and icy time. The winter solstice is seen as absolute yin, with the tiniest spark of light within. It is easy for our vitality to become depleted in this season, as…
Autumn Qi for the Lungs Autumn is a mellowing and contracting time of year that is governed by the metal element and the lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here are my suggestions for strengthening your lungs as the weather turns cooler. The Lung Meridian This meridian runs from the centre of the body, up…
Tai Chi for Spine Health The spine is key to health. One of my teachers once said that Tai Chi and Qigong all focus on spinal health. We use the phrase ‘structural integrity’ when talking about the Tai Chi and Qigong posture. This means the posture is aligned correctly, to hold your weight appropriately, to…