The slow sequence of postures is called the form, or taolu in Chinese. There can be up to 108 postures in the form. It can take quite a while to learn the whole taolu, especially the detailed transitions from one posture to the next. Even seemingly small things, like the direction of the gaze in … Read more
Song is ‘active release’. It is more than just relaxation: it means letting go in ways that take some practice. Active relaxation and release – song – causes qi to move inside the body. The first thing we notice when we song properly is that our weight reaches the soles of our feet. It may … Read more
A qigong, or energy exercise, does not have to be complicated to be effective. One of the most popular and effective qigongs is also the simplest. Zhan Zhuang is a qigong in which we simply stand still for a period of time. Here is a Zhan Zhuang posture which is called “embrace the tree”. Try … Read more