Coming Closer to the Universe
By Katrin Blumenberg
The universe, the totality of space, time, matter and energy, is beyond our imagination. Despi- te this, it is mentioned in instructions for Qigong practice. Katrin Blumenberg, inspired by her experiences with children’s Qigong both with children themselves and when training adults as instructors, has considered the Universe more closely and shares her insights on issues such as the simultaneity of past, present and future. Some things that can be felt in happy moments when practising Qigong find their counterpart in the insights of modern physics. In this way she aims to inspire imagination and creativity and to expand consciousness.
A person with a strong hara is unshakeable as a mountain
By Dominic Schafflinger
In Taijiquan, the lower dantian is considered the centre and origin of every movement; however, this only develops through constant practice. Dominic Schafflinger describes what makes a strong centre and how this becomes possible through proper alignment of the whole body, releasing tension and concentrating on the dantian. Here he also includes some comments by Chen Xiaowang.
Laozi and the Wolf
Do away with it or find a way with it?
By Karin Zhang
In Taijiquan, we practise better perceiving, understanding and improving the interaction between the different parts of our organism. We seek a good balance within ourselves and also in our interactions with others. Karin Zhang draws a parallel with wolves, which have recently become part of our natural environment again and help to maintain a diversity-rich balance in this larger system. Following the Daoist model, she advocates focussing on the totality of natural phenomena instead of intervening violently in a short-sighted manner that will further destroy the natural balance.
Lifting the Needle from the Sea Bottom
The sexual practice of Bigu
By Yürgen Oster
The Chinese traditions of ›life care‹ and self-cultivation provide instructions through which a consciously lived sexuality can not only help maintain health, but also increase and refine life energies. One key topic for men is preventing the loss of sperm by closing the pelvic floor. Yürgen Oster explains what this involves and how the approaches in the Yangsheng and Yangxing traditions differ. In the Neijingtu we see, among other things, how sexual energy can be transformed within the body.
Standing Like a Tree – or how I learned to love stillness
By Angela Cooper
Zhanzhuang is an essential form of training in both Qigong and various martial arts, although the approaches and practice guidelines often differ. Angela Cooper gives advice on how we can navigate our way through still standing and provides a Qigong-based guide. In order to present various Taijiquan-based approaches as well, she asked Birte Timmsen, Claudia Sonnefeld and Jan Silberstorff about the significance of Zhanzhuang in their respective Taiji styles.