Tai Chi Chi Kung

The Tai Chi form involves slow and fluid movements while the posture balance the body between yin and yang or the soft and hard qualities within your body. These movements gently bring one's body and mind into balance promoting harmony within. Tai Chi is also an excellent exercise for enhancing balance and flexibility. It gives a complete cardiovascular workout, builds the immune system while activating the lymph, respiratory, digestive, nervous, urinary, and muscular systems.

Tai Chi Chi Kung is a very early form of Tai Chi. Tai Chi Chi Kung emphasizes the use of mind and heart to move Chi (Life Force) energy. This Chi energy moves the physical body. While moving in Tai Chi Chi Kung, Chi energy improves the circulation and enlivens the bone structure as it revitalizes the whole person. Tai Chi Chi Kung can ease stress, tension, and strengthen the heart. It also improves and balances the lungs and breathing, digestion, concentration and circulation as it helps to beautify the skin and increase flexibility.

The Instructors Background & History. Throughout 8,000 years of Chinese Taoist history various forms of internal energy training were developed. The aim of these methods are to heal and strengthen the physical body, to enhance spiritual development, and to balance the emotions. The knowledge of how to use these energies has been a closely guarded secret passed down through the ages from Master, to select students. Now, Walter L. Beckley will share these powerful teachings and techniques learned through years of experience and studying directly with Taoist Master Mantak Chia. Master Mantak Chia has traveled throughout southeast Asia for the past thirty years studying under twenty-five Taoist and Buddhist Masters. Master Mantak Chia's principal teacher, Taoist Master Yi Eng, a communist Chinese refugee authorized him to teach and heal. However, it was Master P.Y. Tom who taught him Tai Chi Chi Kung, a very early form of the yang style emphasizing the use of the mind and heart to move Chi (Life Force) energy. It is through this same lineage that Walter L. Beckley will share with you these same formulas and teachings.

Tai Chi Chi Kung consists of thirteen movements which are performed in all the four directions, clockwise and counterclockwise. Tai Chi Chi Kung is comprised of four parts:

1. Mind:
   1. How to use one's own mass together with the force of gravity;
   2. How to use the bone structure to move the whole body with very little muscular effort;
   3. How to learn and master the thirteen movements so that the mind can concentrate on directing the Chi energy.
2. Mind and Chi: How to use the mind to direct the Chi flow.
3. Mind, Chi, and Earth force: How to integrate the three forces into one unit moving unimpeded through the bone structure.
4. Learn applications of Tai Chi for self-defense.

In the practice of Tai Chi Chi Kung, the increased energy flow developed through the Microcosmic Orbit, Fusion work, Iron Shirt, Tao Yin and Tan Tien Chi Kung practices are integrated into one unified movement, so that the body learns more efficient ways of utilizing energy in motion. Improper body movements restrict energy flow causing energy blockages, poor posture, and, in some cases, serious illness. Quite often, back problems are the result of improper posture, accumulated tension, weakened bone structure, and psychological stress. One result of increased body awareness through movement is an increased awareness of one's environment and the potentials it contains. Since Tai Chi is a gentle way of exercising and keeping the body fit, it can be practiced well into advanced age because the movements do not strain one's physical capacity as some aerobic exercises do.

Before beginning to study the Tai Chi Chi Kung I form, the student must complete: (1) Opening of the Microcosmic Orbit, (2) Iron Shirt Chi Kung I, and (3) Seminal and Ovarian Kung Fu.