When there is a subject that I love, I pursue greater knowledge and understanding all the time. In the case of Qigong, I study nights, practice and travel to learn more. It being summer there are more workshop opportunities.

This past weekend I was at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY at a Qi Summit. Each person presenting had to start by defining what Qi or Qigong actually is. I thought that the differences were few but I enjoyed listening to the subtleties of differences. With each person presentation or exercises I felt myself filling up every part of myself. And I found each person’s understanding to be true and an inspiration.

The Qigong Master Ken Cohen defined Qigong as the art and science of using posture, movement, breath, visualization and contemplation to refine, gather, and circulate life energy. He also shared that the accepted definition in China is by Zhong Yi and says: Qigong is a mental and physical skill and practice that regulates the body, breath, mind, bringing them into unity.

Master Roger Janke presented about the 3 treasures of man, which are usually defined as heaven, earth and man. But he spoke of it in terms of cultivation of Qigong accessing the eternal, immortal nature to heal, learn, create, evolve and thrive. And that Qi cultivation allows for the consciousness of the qi present within and without as an invisible resource.

Master Robert Peng spoke of the 3 treasures which balances through the virtues of harmony, wisdom, love and vitality. In all the work he offered I felt that qigong had to be exactly this. It’s not the recognition of some invisible forces that we happen to focus on but the realization of the flow of energy from all that is that offers so much for each of us. That is what I understood when Robert Peng spoke. And I felt a gratitude that I have a practice that allows for conscious development.

And Master Mingtong Gu spoke of his Master Dr Peng, who described Qigong in this way: the training of the mind, through movement, sound and meditation to direct qi to uplift and perfect the human system as holistic unity of the Jing, Qi and Shen, thereby to shift from automated conditions to wisdom. When he spoke of this I felt a root become an anchor from somewhere deep within me. And I wondered at the possibility that these practices are so available to all of us.

Once you have the form it is ‘just’ a matter of practicing to improve your health and to open to more parts of yourself.

In the end these words from all the speakers created a deep space inside from which to approach the work. I feel and understand that there are things within each of us that get in patterns that prevent us from moving forward to the creative, healthy, joyful, and rewarding. Qigong is a tool and means to be able to locate and release all these patterns. I am inspired by each of these Masters to keep working toward an end that is as yet unknown to me but is surely mine.

Please remember to look at the Summer Schedule to see when you might be able to come to a class.  It is definitely worth it for everyone. And stayed to more about these workshop and my trip to China 6 months ago.