Chinese Medical Qigong
Experience the self-care exercises and life-nuturing arts of ancient China, a 5,000 year old Chinese healing system for health, physical fitness, and prevention of disease. These mind-body exercises integrate body, breath and mind into one state, called the Qigong State of Mind. Our qigong practices function in many ways: To purify, gather, circulate, store, and transform the Qi. Our practices follow the seasons throughout the year, adjusting the exercises according to the energies of the different seasons. And our practices lead us to deep meditation, traditionally called tranquil sitting or internal cultivation. Qigong is beneficial for all ages, all health conditions, and even those practicing the martial arts as a way of developing inner strength.
Master Wan visits Michael's Class
Medical Qigong and Daoist Meditation classes are offered at:
Sebastopol Community Center’s Garzot Building
Brook Haven Park at 7985 Valentine Ave at the intersection with Pleasant Hill Ave.
Directions: From Santa Rosa, take Hwy 12 to downtown Sebastopol. Cross Main St. onto Bodega Ave. One mile to Pleasant Hill Ave, turn right at stoplight, follow to intersection with Valentine Ave.
On-going classes are held in the Garzot bldg which is next to the playground and duck pond. $29 per month or $8 drop-in.
Daoist Meditation on Thursdays. 6-7pm
Medical Qigong on Saturdays. 10-11am
Classes in Santa Rosa through the Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks. Call 707 543-3737. The Spring classes will begin February 27, 2012. Four week sessions continue through June, 2012. Monday evenings, 6-7pm. Register directly with them.
Additional Class Information
In addition to a core group of qigong exercises, we practice external qi healing or the transmission of Qi through the mind’s intention of aligning with Nature or Universal Qi. We follow the qi healing method of Michael’s main Chinese teacher, Master Wan Sujian from Beijing. “Use Universe Qi to channel to the patient. Practice qigong to avoid depleting your own qi reserves.”
One of Michael’s favorite qigong forms is Bagua Qigong Circle Walking. Popularly practiced as a martial arts form (ba gua chang), qigong circle walking is more therapeutic and meditative than its martial cousin. We practice it often and Michael has his own DVD version of it.
The form of Daoist meditation we practice is called Zuowang meditation, or sitting in oblivion or forgetting. It has very close similarities as zen meditation. It is an internal Daoist practice consisting of the belief that we have an innate nature of Complete Perfection, and we make use of practices that help us realize directly this inner nature.
My next retreat coming up soon is the May retreat I teach at the CYO Retreat center in Occidental, CA. It is during the May retreat that we go deeper into our practices, especially the zuowang and koan practices. Contact Michael for updates about his annual retreat in May. Space is limited, registration early is required. See 2012 Retreats
