Qigong and Embodied Movement
By Dr. Franziska Wotzinger
›Embodiment‹ is the term for a scientific hypothesis that human consciousness requires a physical body, and that this consciousness is in constant interaction with the body. This leads to a much greater consideration and appreciation of our body and our ability to perceive and regulate it than was previously the case in our culture. This insight has encouraged research in various fields on the interactions between mind, emotions and body. Franziska Wotzinger provides an introduction to this theme and shows how, in this context, the natural upright stance cultivated in Qigong provides a good basis for learning to sense and regulate oneself, for developing resilience and for dealing with the world in a ›well-grounded‹ manner.
Calming inner terrors
Thoughts and experiences on the path to a trauma-sensitive form of Taijiquan
By Dr. Henrik Jaeger
The wide range of studies on mental trauma conducted in recent decades have shown how widespread this issue is for the population as a whole. Hence it also makes sense for practitioners, and above all teachers, of Taijiquan to address this problem. In this way one might come to a deeper understanding of one’s own story and one’s own behaviour and also become able to interact with traumatised people in a more empathetic way. Henrik Jaeger provides an introduction to the theme and shows to what extent Taijiquan can be helpful for self-regulation and for dissolving the ›imprints of terror‹ and the associated blockages. To facilitate this, an accepting group environment and a trauma-sensitive form of language are important in the teaching situation.
Shaking in Jinjinggong – Qigong of the tendons and meridians according to Dr Heiner Frühauf
and Prof. Wang Qingyu
By Ulla Blum
Shaking the body is a common element in many types of Qigong. In Jinjinggong shaking plays a key role and has been developed, in both theory and concrete practice, into a basic exercise that changes the entire body. Ulla Blum describes the essentials of this practice which makes particular use of the tendon-muscle meridians and explains how it dissolves and adjusts tensions and imbalances throughout the body. She provides an introduction to the four basic exercises of Jinjinggong, giving the reader the opportunity to try these out for oneself.
Is Taijiquan an internal martial art?
By Christian Unverzagt – Part 2
Taijiquan is frequently referred to as an ›internal martial art‹, but it’s not really clear what this means. In the first part of his article, Christian Unverzagt investigated the historical sources for an ›internal school‹ and asked how these sources might be viewed in the light of historical circumstances. In the second part of his article he describes the developments in the 20th century whereby the ›internal school‹ was increasingly equated with Taijiquan, with the strongest focus placed on self-cultivation and strengthening health. In addition, the specific type of strength/force known as jin came to be seen as a distinguishing factor in contrast to ›external martial arts‹. Nonetheless, this basic differentiation between internal and external martial arts remains questionable.
The Doctrine of the Mean – development of personality as a path to harmony Examining the writings of Kongzi for practitioners of Taijiquan and Qigong
By Dietlind Zimmermann
In the first part of her article on the teachings of Kongzi (Confucius), Dietlind Zimmermann clearly showed that education is a key issue in the work of this frequently misunderstood master and how this should be understood in the sense of personal development. In this second part she will show in more detail how this development involves achieving an awareness of oneself and, linked to this, of all other beings with all their diverse mutual connections. In this context, a stable centre enables one to find the right degree and the appropriate rhythm in the daily roller-coaster of emotions.