"In unconditional surrender to nature we recover ourselves."
-John Muir
Health and
long life depend on our own efforts. With this understanding, ancient
Chinese physicians regularly prescribed physical exercises for their patients
that would cultivate the vital energy of the internal organs. The
same energy used in acupuncture treatment. They developed a system
of simple, fluid movements designed to unite the energy or "qi" that floods
the cosmos with that of the human mind and body. Qi is often
translated as "energy" and gong means "work." Therefore, qigong
is working with our energy or life force. The qigong exercises
they developed restore bodily grace and flexibility, increase overall circulation,
enhance focus and concentration, and are pleasurable to perform, making
their practice easy to maintain. Just a short practice every day can
yield tremendous results. It is said that the qi gong practitioner
not only reverses the effects of disease, but restores the body to that
of his youth.
It is best
to do qigong practice in a peaceful, natural environment where there can
be an exchange with nature. When we are in the fresh air, under the
sun, standing on the earth or near water and trees we are able to absorb
their pure energy into our own body and spirit. The natural environment
helps us both expel stale or negative energy and nourish and replenish vital
energy. This distinguishing aspect of qigong is responsible for its
effectiveness.
Kathleen Brezina has been teaching various forms of qigong for over
20 years. She studied with Robert Smith at his internationally known
school in Bethesda, Maryland and with Nianzu and Peggy Li from Beijing.
Her current teacher is Master Li Junfeng who has rendered Sheng Zhen Qigong
- the qigong of unconditional love.
"My love of
qigong began when I was a modern dancer and discovered that qigong improved
both my dancing and my performance." Kathleen
SCHEDULE
OF CLASSES & WORKSHOPS - descriptions below
RSVP by email to register and get directions (central Tucson location)
Sheng
Zhen Qigong Forms 9 - 10 am
Thursdays
Awakening The Soul 10 - 10:30 am, Thursdays (free
class)
Sheng
Zhen Qigong Forms 8:30 - 9:30 am,
Saturdays
Awakening The Soul 9:30 - 10 am,
Saturdays (free class)
Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong Workshop Saturday, January 21st, 9 am to Noon
(Regular Saturday class cancelled)
Awakening the Soul Intensive Sunday, January 29th, 2 to 5 pm
All classes
$12
"Qi and love are never separate"
Master Li Junfeng
Sheng
Zhen is a system of standing, seated and lying qigong forms.
The purpose of Sheng Zhen Qigong is to guide you back to your natural state
of pure happiness and total well-being, free of stress, fear, anger, and
anxiety. Sheng Zhen can improve your life by strengthening and harmonizing
the body, clearing your mind, and harmonizing the emotions. It promotes
healing unique to each person and can accelerate the healing process by
opening the heart. The state of our heart permeates our entire being.
A heavy heart consumed by worry is reflected in one's face and posture.
A joyful heart exudes strength and energy regardless of circumstances.
By practicing Sheng Zhen you develop a sense of confidence that no matter
what happens in life you remain balanced and peaceful within.
Sheng Zhen practice bestows the same physical and emotional
benefits as other forms of qigong. It's distinction is in emphasizing
the importance of an open heart. An open heart has instinctive
intelligence. It knows what to do in any situation and has no fear
or hesitation. An open heart is a compassionate heart. It is not the
romantic heart or the bleeding heart that cries when it sees others suffer. An
open heart has a fearless quality about it. It loves effortlessly,
without reservations and without expectations. An open heart stimulates
and accelerates the healing process and the state of contentment which
is man's natural state - the state of unconditional love.
Sheng
Zhen qigong has been rendered by Master Li Jun Feng. Once a celebrated
martial arts film actor, choreographer, and head coach of the world renowned
Beijing Wushu (martial arts) Team and National Wushu Team of the Peoples
Republic of China, Master Li has since dedicated his life to bringing Sheng
Zhen Qigong to the world. Master Li serves on the board of the World
Academic Society of Medical Qigong and is founder of the International Sheng
Zhen Society. He maintains an international teaching schedule and
also trains teachers who help him bring Sheng Zhen Qigong to the world.
There are many forms in the system called
Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong.
Each
form has its own flavor or quality.
They include:
In the beginning, love. In the end, love. In the middle, we have to cultivate virtues.
Gurumayi
The eight seated movements of Awakening the
Soul soften the heart and clarify the soul. The heart is softened
so that the clarity of the soul can shine through it. Then
life becomes inspired. Doubt and worry fade away. One
learns to enjoy life in a perfect sense of well-being and contentment.
Through this practice one experiences life as it was when you were
first born, fresh, simple and one with nature and the universe.
This is the promise of Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong - The experience
of the opening of the heart and a mind that has become one with
the heart. When the heart is open and when the mind has come
to rest in the space of the heart, then and only then can true healing
become possible. This seated form has 3 parts:
Healing 1 - Gathering Healing Qi From the Universe.
Healing 2 - Processing Qi In the "Human Stove". Healing 3 - The Alchemy Frees the Source Within.
The main purpose ofJesus Sitting qigong is to celebrate ones humanity
and the power of love to transform the limited self. The life of
Jesus is a symbol of how love can turn the death of one's limited
self into the greatness of an awakened consciousness. Then when
you contemplate your life with unconditional love all the events
of your life, even those that cause suffering, become blessings.
"I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through-
listen to this music"
Hafiz
The inherent beauty of the movements of Jesus Standing qigong draw
out the experience of pure love. One merges into the all encompassing
power of love by practicing this form. This qigong is for
calming the disposition. A calm disposition has no worries
and is able to nurture qi. Your heart experiences its original
purity and you are at peace, released from your past confusions
and difficulties. This qigong is both moving and non-moving.
The physical movements cultivate qi. The stillness brings
you back into your heart.
This qigong elevates ones consciousness to a transcendent realm.
The movements become increasing complex and require a deeper understanding
as one progresses into the next movement. One practices until
the meaning of each movement resonates in the heart. Thus
awareness increases leading to deeper understanding as one moves
toward perfecting their own humanity. This qigong is guided
by the spirit, the purpose of human life and ones own will.
This qigong form will give the practitioner the experience of letting
go and the utter sacredness of the human body. Physically,
this practice purifies the meridians and helps the spine becomes
strong and flexible. The movement trains the body to let go
rather than using the will to push it to its limits.
This develops healthier muscles. Then, moving with great fluidity,
a grace is developed that releases the suppleness and compassion
of the original heart.
The gift of Mohammed Sitting qigong is the experience of openness
and spontaneous joy. Because life on the edge has become the
norm many people have forgotten that the source of deepest joy is
within them. This qigong helps tap into that endless source
of joy. Doing this practice develops a spirit of openness
allowing the joy within the heart to flow. This is, in truth,
our natural state. A heart that is relaxed and at ease is
free from thoughts and worry.
This form requires only minimal effort so that the practitioner
can experience naturalness in the body. Precision is not needed
and one practices in the way that one is most comfortable.
Because the movements are done in a way that feels natural to the
person one is able to let go of inhibitions and feel light and full
of love. What is important is that your heart is happy.
This qigong reduces conflicts and quarrels between people.
One feels carefree and the experience of peace becomes natural.
You let go of the aches in your body and the pain in your heart.
This practice can help alleviate depression and many ailments.
"Man is a stream whose source is
hidden" -Emerson
This is a meditative non-moving qigong that circulates qi throughout
the body to strengthen both the body and the mind. Because
this requires no physical effort, this can be practiced by those
who are physically impaired. The qi moves freely and the practitioner
gradually experiences the state of emptiness - pure being.
"Men are born soft and
supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Therefore whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life."
Lao-tzu
Inspired by Lao-tzu this qigong is to help find a state of naturalness
in the body. The motion of the body imitates the movement
of the planets. Graceful and light your body becomes one with
the qi of the universe. The body returns to a state of
youthfulness and ones emotions become optimistic and playful.
The original taiji.
Zhongtian Yiqi is a non-moving qigong that trains the mind.
As this practice quiets the mind one is able to connect with Heaven,
Earth, and with all of humanity. Breathing lightly helps the
body relax. Forgetting everything frees the mind of all worries
and thoughts. Then one can go back to the beginning of time
and see the world with renewed understanding.
Kathleen also offers instruction
in the following non-Sheng Zhen forms.
Also called Taoist Esoteric Qigong, this set
of exercises was very recently revealed and came from the monks
of the Hua Shan Mountains. This qi gong was the secret
treasure of the imperial families who used these exercises to counteract
their decadent lifestyle. Hua Shan is a set of eight exercises
that activates the endocrine glands and is good to regulate hormone
secretions thereby affecting sexual function and all of the internal
organs. Hua Shan qigong balances the yin/yang energies and
is good for losing weight, enhancing grace and flexibility and keeping
fit. At first the movement may not feel comfortable but ease
and enjoyment come after enough repetition. As the student
develops more awareness and softness in their movements both internal
and external vigor increase.
This 2,000 year form of qigong uses
sound, movement and breathing to expel stagnant energy. Ancient
China's revered physicians saw stale energy as the root of illness
and unhappiness. This system of exercise was developed to
push out stale energy and replace it with fresh healing energy.
Just as an acupuncturist stimulates the organs with needles, the
qigong student learns to make the particular shape of the mouth
and sound that resonates with and enlivens each of the vital organs.
Clearing the organs in this way rids the body of tension that causes
illness and the negative emotions that are stored in each organ.
Breathing for the Six Healing Sounds is relaxed and centered in
the abdomen. The corresponding movement is soft and slow.
For information
or to set an appointment, email
Kathleen
