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Earth Qigong for WomenJuly 17 to
July 22, 2012 Earth Qi Gong for Women
- Awaken Your Inner Healing Power - by Tina Zhang
This special medical Qi Gong for women was originally developed and perfected over the course of 1700 years by Daoists, Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) doctors and Qi Gong experts in China. It integrates the principles of TCM with the classical internal arts to feed the needs of a woman's unique anatomy.
This Qi Gong set works as a natural medicine that relies on the body's own power to heal. Its focus is on moving the blood and generating female energy through a series of very gentle, conscious, graceful and easy-to-do Qi Gong movements. This Qi Gong set works by discovering and connecting the positive energy in all of a woman's internal organs and systems to improve or maintain their functions.
It creates pelvic health which in turn helps women to balance their emotions as well as hormones to ease or arrest uncomfortable symptoms of menstruation, menopause and in all stages of their lives. This Qi Gong set has been recommended by medical doctors as promotes long range anti-aging and a natural mind and body approach to women's general health.
There are ten sections of this set of medical Qi Gong:
1. Concentrated Mind - A classical posture for cultivating energy
2.The Big Dipper - Opening seven major joints in the body
3. Deer Walk - Improves the functions of female organs
4. The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars - Aids the digestive system
5. Crane Dance - A kidney booster
6. The Earth Energy - Female (Earth) energy cultivation
7. Dragon and Phoenix - Creating pelvic heath
8. The Spirit of Vitality - Bringing out our true female spirits
9. The Eight Energies Circle Walking - The energy connection between the human being and nature
10. Eye Qi - 5motions & 8 acupressure points to improve eyesight
Medical Qi Gong
Medical Qigong is a branch of ancient Chinese energetic and healing system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Tui Na, medical massage. The goal of medical Qigong is to correct these bio-energetic imbalance and blockages which believed as the cause of all illnesses.
We practice these particular form, formless, and Daoist meditation to strengthen and regulate the internal organs, the nervous system and the immune system. The medical Qigong practice enables human body and the mind waking up and gaining the power to relieve pains in physical and deep-seated emotions; the medical Qigong treatment serves as preventional health care as well as complementary and alternative medicine.
This medical Qi Gong is dedicated to those who love extraordinary health!
Since ancient Dr. Hou Tuo – father of Traditional Chinese Medicine invented five animal frolics to use certain movements as energy medicine to keep good health and to heal, there are many Chinese Traditional Medicine doctors and martial arts masters devoted their life time to further the development and refinement to this wonderful healing art through generations.
The medical Qi Gong is one of kinds of Qi Gong exercise that based on and guided by the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It serves as self-energy cultivation according the meridians of human body and working with body's energy points and channels.
The Medical Qi Gong breaks through with its touches and emphasizes on 14 meridian channels Qi flow, nurturing and cultivating the energy in three Dan Tian’s of the human body.
Taking in the Chinese concept of the harmony of the Three Treasures of the Heaven, the Earth, and Man, manifesting with 3 postures/movements for each group and total 9 sections of the set.
Each of them focus on one or more meridian channels with a well designed Qi Gong posture/movement, as well as explained medically. It is simple enough for people who are interested in understanding the relationship of TCM and Daoist way of health in Qi Gong.
It's also clear enough for people who are simply interested in practicing Qi Gong to keep a great health, to balance the unbalanced physical or emotional conditions, gain power to against diseases and live well!
No previous experience necessary to learn this Medical Qi Gong.
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Tina has hunted all over China to find the greatest msaters of Tai Chi and Qigong, and especially experts on cultivating female energy. She specializes in weight control, flexibility, women’s health, and energy therapy. See her photo and full bio - click link at bottom of page.
Open to Everyone, without prerequisites, regardless of background or age. Students who wish to eventually teach may apply for certification under the Healing Tao University Instructor Certification program. To view other retreats and get more information on registration and housing, click on the 'healing tao retreats" logo at the top center of this page.
Qigong can be viewed as a short form of Tai Chi, but simpler and easier to learn than long martial tai chi forms. This special Earth Energy Qigong is a form of medical Tai Chi Qi Gong that was originally developed and perfected over the course of 1700 years by Taoists, Traditional Chinese Medical doctors and Qi Gong experts in China.
Its purpose: to feed the needs of a woman’s unique anatomy.
What are the specific benefits that every women will receive who attends the retreat?
Five Great Reasons to Take this Qi Gong Retreat. The qigong set will:
1. Help women cultivate more Earth energy (female energy) that they naturally have in their bodies.
2. Move the blood flow within women, which can stagnate due to yin nature of women.
3. Generate female energy through a series of very gentle, conscious, easy-to-learn, and graceful Qi Gong movements.
4. Harmonize a women's emotions. This set works by discovering and connecting the positive emotional energy in woman’s internal organs and energetic system to improve or maintain their happy, free-flowing functions.
5. It creates pelvic health which in turn helps women to balance their emotions and hormones to ease or arrest uncomfortable symptoms of menstruation or menopause, in all stages of their lives. This Qi Gong set also promotes long range anti-aging and a healthy weight control without drugs.
The course is accessible for women of varying ages, any physical abilities and equally valuable to both practitioners and professionals.
Don't miss this special opportunity to learn a method developed over thousands of year, and only now being introduced into the West by Tina Zhang. There is no comparable form being taught in the West today.
For more information, please visit www.qigongforwomen.com
Tina Zhang is a well-qualified professional Internal Martial Arts instructor, who is bilingual in Chinese and English. Her classes are guaranteed to energize your soul and improve your internal energy. Whether you have Tai Chi or Qi Gong experience or not, you will be amazed at how easy this unique form can be learned through Tina's teaching methods. This art will stay with you for your whole life!
Tina Chunna Zhang: A Short Bio
Tina C. Zhang is a native Chinese and moved to America in the 80'. She experienced martial arts and Chinese folk dance throughout her childhood and youth. Later on, she is the 5th generation Northern Wu Taijiquan lineage master, and the 6th Generation Cheng Style Baguazhang lineage master. And, She is professionally teaching the arts.
She is a disciple of northern Wu style taijiquan (Tai Chi) Master Li Bing Ci, the president of Beijing Wu Style Taijiquan Research Center. She also a disciple of Master Liu Jing Ru of classical Cheng Style Baguazhang. She is a high nationally ranked medalist in both taijiquan and baguazhang forms, weapons, push hands, and twice champions in women’s sparring.
She Studied at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Diagnostics, mentored privately by one of the most famous TCM doctor Kong Si Bo, Beijing. Tina successfully runs a clinic in New York City, as well as an accomplished author of Internal Martial Arts books., co-authored with Master Frank Allen the books of “Classical Northern Wu Style Taijiquan”, and “The Whirling Circles of Baguazhang”, and the program founder and author of “Earth Qi Gong for Women”.
Tina teaches classes in New York City, and workshops, retreats in the States, Canada, and Europe. Especially her Earth Qi Gong for Women’s health program has been taught to countless women around the world. The book “Earth Qi Gong for Women”, recently available in Spanish language. With her unique teaching style, all levels of practitioners are greatly benefited in understanding the beautiful Chinese health arts.
The Three Treasures is a practical Medical Qi Gong set that Tina recently introduces to the world. It came from all years of her study, research, practice and teaching. It leads to deeper understanding of the internal health arts. The practice is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of cultivating the energy flowing along the fourteen meridian channels to enhance the functions of the internal organs, to restore the positive energy that enable the practitioners to balance their unbalanced health problems, and enjoy a happier life.
Welcome to visit her web site at www.TinaZhang.com
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An Interview by Tai Ji Quan & Qi Gong Journal
Germany - Nov. Issue, 2007
Interviewed by Barbara Nowak & Christine Will
Tina, by the end of this year your book “Earth Energy Qigong for Women” will be published. It is about the Qigong system, which has been developed especially for women. Could you tell us anything about the roots, which mean the historical aspect of this system? (Women as a target group for Qigong exercises, how did women practice in the past and how do they practice in China today?
Any type of Qi work was rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is a system including the acupuncture, herbal treatment, massage, and TuiNa (medical bodywork).
Women in ancient China have never been as a target group for any type of Qi Gong, or martial arts practice except some of the individuals. Some of them are the immortals; some of them were born into rich families and taken care by Chinese herbal Doctors who suggested women to do some exercise to maintain the health, and some of them were legendary female heroes.
Treatments from the book “Yellow Emperor’s Medicine Classic” were practiced in the royal families by a quiet few generations. Even in the “Father of Chinese Medicine” – Dr. Hua Tou’s animal Qi Gong set, some parts are for women’s health, but this was a limited practice in certain areas. In the old days, Chinese women commonly were not supported, and even not supposed to get educated on any subject as men in the society were until after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and even then it was still a considerably poor county economically and lacked medicine.
Since then, Traditional Chinese Medicine practices have been established more than ever and the natural exercises of Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong got really popular in hospitals, where they are used as supplemental treatment for patient during their recovery period. The number of common folks increased who were really into the practice of Qi Gong and Tai Ji in the parks to promote their health. Today, there are always many people practicing Qi Gong and Tai Ji in the parks everywhere in China with high percentage of women among them. Moreover, retired women getting together practice is now a common scene.
Could you explain in which way do these exercises for women differ from other Qigong exercises? How do these exercises support the health of the female body?
Some of the sections are focused on the belly rotation and figure eight motion that is specifically designed for women’s pelvic health. The entire routine is soft, and the movements that women will feel comfortable doing . The softness of the movements in this Qi Gong set is an important ideology for women who do not want to move like a man. One of my students gave the best answer to this question when stating that she absolutely did not want to learn how to move her body and generate her energy the way that giant “King Kong” does! So she loves to study Earth Energy Qi Gong for Women.
What kind of effect do these exercises have on the cycles and transitions in a female life, like menstruation, pregnancy and menopause?
It is the effortless exercises with deep inner massage to strengthen the organs and enhance their functions to help ease the transitions in a female life. It is also a positive emotional support system for women to rest and be relaxed during these special stages of their life.
Could these exercises help to prevent, cure or ease gynaecological disorders?
Positive! Women’s health should be taken care by ourselves emotionally and physically. Prevention is a central core of Chinese medicine; Medical Qi Gong is part of TCM system. It works to promote women’s overall health by focusing on abdominal health to prevent, cure or ease gynaecological disorders. I truly believed that an over all healthy body and mind are naturally equipped balanced hormones and to provide for women’s gynaecological needs, and can change unbalance into balance.
This is a great natural choice to help women deal with gynaecological disorders. The purpose of this Earth Energy Qi Gong exercise set and what it is designed for, is to cultivate Qi, in the female body to maintain general overall health, enhance performance of the internal organs, such as kidney, liver, spleen, and heart, and to reduce or arrest uncomfortable symptoms during menstruation, per-menopause and menopause.
Actually, most of those symptoms are just indicators of underlying hormonal imbalances or metabolic damage from poor nutrition, stress and other factors. All you need to do is to regain the natural hormone balance of your body by taking care of your general health. Importantly, you must realize that with proper support, your body is perfectly capable of achieving a proper hormonal balance, which means you can be free from the unpleasant symptoms of PMS, per-menopause or menopause without taking the chemical risk of medicine. Again, this is a choice!
Women naturally also have an interest to be fit, appear younger and therefore more attractive. Would you say that these Qigong exercises help us to keep our bodies in a good shape, to lose weight or to achieve stamina and more flexibility?
I would say “Yes” again. This set of Qi Gong exercise was designed for both women who have never done any exercise in their life, and women who pay attention to their inner health and appearance. Generally, it is impossible to look younger, healthier, and in better fitness shape without a healthy mind and body. Qigong exercise is not simply a workout through a long time of sweating and muscular contraction to gain a muscular body, stamina, and flexibility which some western exercises are focused on.
Instead, Qi Gong is a type of exercise for general health. Opposite to these fancy ideas and new workout mechines, this Qi Gong for women is a program ideally focused on keeping the natural body that women were born with, and women’s real needs, which are an "internal beauty", triggered by an effective Qi Gong exercise system. Its aspect of physical fitness is using lower abdominal breathing to gain physical endurance, repetitive motions and medically structured postures to lose weight (loosing weight has a lot to do with people’s emotion, stage of health, and life style), and its compression and expansion of the skeletal joints in almost every section of the exercise to gain real flexibility in the joints and tendons as well as the muscles.
In addition, Qi Gong trains a concentrated mind – a type of mental exercise which takes place during the practice. I think that it is a special achievement for our mental health, which does not exist in other physical exercise.
Women should realize the important thing that makes you look younger is a healthy body with a healthy weight distribution. With illness and a depressed mood one is not going to look younger, instead looking terrible, regardless how fit they are. However, inner health can defiantly reflect on your appearance: you will have beautiful looking skin, not just a make-up; you will have beautiful teeth and nails, not just a polished one; you will have healthier hair that does not need dyeing very often or start to dye at a young age.
How would you explain the name Earth Energy Qigong, where do you see the aspect of the Earth? (Explain us the aspects of Yin energy)
Femaleness is the creator of Yin energy that makes us naturally softer and more sensitive than men in general character and opposite from Yang, or Heaven energy that men naturally have. A woman’s physical body naturally has a deeper, stronger connection to the Earth’s energy than men have. This energy is a drawing-in kind energy, which takes or gathers the natural energy of the Earth into our energy center, which is located one and a half to three inches below the navel.
In Chinese, this is called the “Dan Tian” area (abdominal area). The pelvic area is the important area where the reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, vagina, and cervix) and the bladder and appendix are located. Like the Earth giving the birth of life to everything, this area is both literally and figuratively creative space, out of which women can produce babies, relationships, careers, etc. When our energy is not flowing enough or has some blockage in this area of the body, gynaecological and emotional problems could happen.
The lower Dan Tian is akin to the Earth itself. Focusing on Qi cultivation in the Dan Tian and pelvic areas build a healthy foundation for a female’s unique anatomy. Exercising properly and naturally using Chinese Traditional Medicine theory to open and increase the flow of Earth energy through the meridian channels is needed to support a female’s bodily needs with her own unique anatomy and needed focus on the different periods in a woman’s life.
Obviously your training sequence is structured that certain topics are touched in a very logical way. In the beginning, there are exercises, which help you to relax mentally, after that the joints are released. The following exercises refer to the five element theory: there are exercises referring to the element of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Could you tell us something about it from the point of view of Chinese Medicine?
The Five Element theory is based on the observation of the natural cycles and interrelationships in both our environment and within ourselves. The foundation of the theory rests in the correspondences of each element to a variety of phenomena. The theories of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements were created and developed by the ancient Chinese through their long and faithful tradition of observing nature's cycles and changes. They held that wood, fire, earth, metal, and water were the basic substances constituting the material world. The interchange of these five basic substances were considered an indispensable part of daily life. They also noted that the material world is in a constant state of flux due to the dynamic movement and mutual antagonism of yin and yang factors.
The ancient Chinese applied yin and yang, and five elements theories to the medical field to explain the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and to serve as a guide to clinical treatment based on syndrome differentiation. For instance, symptoms are explained as imbalanced yin and yang; the main organs of the body correlate with the five elements as the heart – fire; the liver – wood; the kidney – water; the spleen – earth; the lung – metal. Medical doctors use the creation and destruction cycles of the five elements to explain the network of the internal Qi channels and to apply diagnosis and treatment.
According the traditional point view, the organic entity of the human body and its health are based on the balance of the five major organs. Additionally, elements of the theory are useful for assisting patients with nutritional balancing and/or working through emotional issues as each of the elements and corresponding organs generate and relieve certain emotional issues. The metal element and working with the lungs relieves sorrow and grief and generates instinct. The water element and working with the kidneys relieves fear and generates will to live and libido - a pretty good package deal.
Working with the liver and the wood element relieves anger and generates vision and inspiration, while working with the heart and the fire element relives blockages to joy and generates love. Working with the spleen and the earth element relieves blockages to compassion and generates intellect. Qi exercises, which stimulate these organs and arouse these elemental energies, also can help one to balance their emotions. When these elements are working in a balanced way, good health is achieved.
We are living in a time where especially women are strained by their jobs and families. Therefore, very often they suffer from stress symptoms like exhaustion, migraine and depression. Has Earth Energy Qigong an effect on the emotional balance?
Emotional balance is as important as physical health. Unbalanced emotions could cause illness just as an unhealthy body could make people depressed, sometimes even could develop to a serious psychological disease. A women’s brain may not be different from men’s brains biologically. But the thoughts in response to various matters is quit different, sometimes they are extremely different from men’s way of thinking. Women, by their nature, spending more time and energy to take care of others more than taking care of ourselves is a very common syndrome.
Eventually, everyone finds life is more like an ocean wave than a calming lake. Many emotional problems are caused by one reason: that we did not put the matters of our lives in correct order. In other words, the priorities of life are in disorder and off the balance. Therefore, many things have occupied our time and we struggling every minuet to try to get things done right.
But we forgot that we need time to balance work and rest. Earth Energy Qi Gong is a system that tells us to do good things just for each of us, to give us a TIME to rebalance the emotions and to release the stress no matter how the stress may have been caused. The symptoms of exhaustion, migraine and depression are the appearance of one’s unbalanced inner self and show some blockages in our brain and body leading to negative emotions.
Looseness is a reflection of relaxation; tenseness is a reaction from nervousness. Learning how to relax the mind helps to loosen the muscles and the joints, which in turn help to relax the mind. Qi Gong practice will help our energy flow positively and overcome negative feelings through a series gentle, relaxed motions, it also helps to develop a positive attitude to look at our life, which also comes from relaxation.
Could you explain one exercise from your Earth Energy book? (To answer this question you could refer to either the Spirit of Vitality or Crane Dance for example.
I would like to excerpt from the book to give an example to explain one of the exercises (photos are not included):
3. Deer walk – An exercise for the improvement of female major organs
- This section correlates with the Element of Water
This deer walking movement was in the first Chinese medical Qi Gong set, which was founded by a famous Chinese medical Dr., Hua Tou, 1700 years ago. The famous Female Deer Walk Exercise will help women to increase and improve their female energy in general. It moves Qi in the abdominal area as well as in the lower back. These areas were considered the essence or basic support of a humans’ life by the ancient Chinese.
However, this section is very focused on moving Qi and the blood in the kidney area, abdominal area, and vaginal area. Using the physical motions of contraction and releasing to increase the circulation in these areas, which will effectively increase sexual desire and ability. As a goal of reducing or arresting the uncomfortable symptoms of menstruation and menopause, this deer walk traditionally did a great job for women.
Practicing this section for a smooth menstruation seven days before one’s period is strongly suggested to avoid heaver bleeding and the suffering of pain during menstruation. In addition, the deer walk is much involved and related to strengthening the kidneys that helps to improve sexual health and bladder control. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, kidney health is almost everything and is considered the essence of a humans’ life.
If your kidneys are not well, you could have problems during pregnancy, hair loss, dry skin, vision problems, vaginal dryness, and low energy. These symptoms can be reduced by constantly practicing this exercise. An important eye exercise is included in part one of this section.
Part One: Starting with the left foot step forward keeping the body weight on the right foot. The back of the left hand touches the acupuncture point of Ming Men and the right hand starting position is in front of the lower Dan Tian (figure 4-29). The right hand travels upward and the eyes follow the hand, gently lean backward, and inhale, with a gradually tightening of the anal and vaginal sphincter muscles, thereby drawing up the pelvic wall and stimulating the energy around the perineum area.
Meanwhile, roll the belly upward in a slightly angled leaning back position; follow the gentle extension of the spine upward. The energy in the central channel is going upward and the Qi goes up along the Governor Vessel meridian. When the right hand gets above the forehead and your eyes are in line with your right wrist , move the eye balls to look to the left, and to look to the right for three times without moving the head and body position (figure 4-30).
Then, gently straighten the spine first, and the right hand is curved in the shape of deer hoof in a very relaxed manner and travels downward in front of the body. The energy is moving downward in the central channel and the Qi comes downward through the Conception Vessel meridian, (which also can be understood the Qi is circling in the loop of the Microcosmic Orbit). Simultaneously, exhaling and releasing the muscles that you have pulled and tightened in the pervious motion, and the belly rolling downward while lowering the center gravity. Thereby, creating a pumping action in the female internal organ area inside of the belly as well as exercising externally the muscles around inner side of the thighs and vaginal area.
This motion efficiently builds up one’s sexual energy and over all energy. Another benefit from this deer walk is that bending backward to massage the kidneys also strengthens the lower back to release the lower back pain.
Moreover, the deer walks help the Qi flow through on the back, the Du meridian. When the right hand comes down in front of the lower Dan Tian area (figure 4-31 and32), the left foot pivots and the body weight shifts onto it, then, the back foot (here it is the right foot) steps forward, change hand positions alternately, repeat the same motion you have done on the other side (figure 4- 33 to 36). The total walk takes at least eight forwarded steps, but is not limited to this amount.
You are a Tai Ji Chuan (Tai Chi) and Ba Qua Zhang teacher and you won competitions of many kinds in China and the USA. Are there any martial art elements in your Earth Energy Qigong?
Yes, for example, the last section of the Earth Qigong contains eight energy circle walking which has the elements of health improvement, meditation, and martial arts aspects within its practice. The health aspect of the internal martial arts of Tai Ji Quan and Ba Gua Zhang arts that in a way are a higher level of Qi Gong. Internal martial arts, like Tai Ji Quan and Ba Gua Zhang are in flowing patterns of movement, while medical Qi Gong uses simple motion, or section by section emphasizes strengthening different part of the body or internal organs.
To cultivate Qi (energy) inside of your body is one commonly shared element of internal martial arts and healing Qi Gong and, both Qi Gong and internal martial arts practice are the parts of Chinese medicine which promote Qi flow through meridian channels as its core concept of promoting health and as practice of preventive medicine. On the other hand, if you practice internal martial arts without training in Qi Gong, Nei Gong, and concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine, either your practice is an empty form, or your power is not going to develop through a true internal method.
In other words, your energy, will power, and vital of martial arts has been lost in the path of seeking the Dao with this kind of practice; you will never be a high level of internal martial artist because you did not practice Qi cultivation and healing ability for yourself and to help others.
Is there anything you would like to advise our female readers?
We should share the experience of practicing Qi Gong or internal martial arts constantly as a healthy life style. A healthy life is neither going to come to you automatically, nor is it guaranteed that you will be healthy forever because you take a women’s Qi Gong class tonight.
It is a continuous work that will takes years and years, maybe a whole life for the wisdom to be stimulated into your mind and body which becomes the power that you need for good life. Along with this practice, if you have chance, try to learn Tai Ji Quan or/and Ba Gua Zhang. They are both beautiful internal arts and their martial aspects can be great fun and everyone likes to play. Enjoy what you have in your life and be happy about who you are.
*Testimonials for Tina Zhang
I am very happy to be one of your instructors. Your Qigong-set is a wonderful tool for teaching and practicing. I love my Earth Qigong classes. They are a real enrichment; they give strength, pleasure and they are fun.I remember first learning it from you in May 2006 in Darmstadt. I loved it right from the beginning and I knew I wanted to teach it.
Barbara Nowak Feb.7, 2008
Dear Tina,
I am the lucky student of Barbara Nowak in Heidelberg Germany! From her I have learned the forms of your Qi Gong for women and have received so many positive transformations in my own life and shiatsu practice
because of it. Many of my clients are soldiers returning from duty in Iraq and Afganistan and have a special kind of energy about them that is quite challenging to work with as a shiatsu practioner. However since I practice daily Earth Qi Gong I have found a stability and strength, and a peacefullness in my heart I did not know I had and my shiatsu clients receive the best quality Qi from me. I have recomended some of my clients to do the Concentrated Mind before we begin shiatsu treatment and they tell me there is a greater depth to their ability to relax and become aware of their body mind relationship just from that first movement! What better resonance and peace could I wish for them.
So Thank you for developing this Qi Gong form.
Marianne Steele GSD, AOBTA®-CP Jan.25, 2008
I have taken many workshops by diffirent QiGong, Tai Chi Masters for 9 years. Tina Zhang's workshop were the REAL one that made me feel my energy at the best. Her explanation was crystal clear, her movements were full of Qi, and her friendly and caring manners were making the powerful transmission of her internal work to me and all of the workshop attendents!
Her teaching is not about some of the variations of Tai Chi, or, revalution of internal martial arts and Qi Gong, her teaching is the true classical Chinese healing and internal martial arts that have never been modified or changed!
Jeremy Brooks, New York
I am not a teacher of health classes or something like that; I am managing a big administration. But I am very encouraged now. Since I had the workshop with you in Darmstadt, I practice almost every day the Qi Gong you taught us. If I did not have enough time, I practiced only some segments of the Qi Gong set. I feel that I have much more energy than before and I LOVE the exercises.
Besides I still practice Yoga in a group, but one of the advantage from the Qi-gong is, that you don’t need much space, so you can do it in a Hotel or anywhere when you away from home, even if the ground is dirty or something like that. I am sure that I will continue practicing and hope that you will come to Darmstadt again! I want to thank you for your nice, friendly and clear lessons. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you a lot!!!
Wilma, Darmstadt, Germany
The Tai Chi Fan course was a very wonderful experience. I very much appreciated your amazing teaching ability, patience and willingness to share with so much enthusiasm your knowledge of Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
Thank you! Michael P. Milburn, PhD, DAc, Sydney, Canada
“I love the great energy that “Earth Energy Qi Gong” practice is giving to me! I feel much more in touch with my own body than ever before and I now truly feel a deep connection to our “Mother Earth”. I practiced everyday and lost 22 pounds within 3 months! Thank you!”
Wendy Li, Accountant, Anaheim Hill, CA
“You are kicking so much butt girl. Keep up the great work and awesome attitude. You are truly an inspiration and have such a nice way about you when you teach and interact with the students. I can see how they open up to you”.
Kristen Lang, Taoist Water Method Qi Gong Instructor, Seattle,
“Congratulations on your National Championship! And all the second placings aren’t too shabby either. I have been teaching your Earth Energy Qigong to my regular Monday "Tai Chi" class. They love it! I have slipped parts of it into my yoga classes as well with great response. Every one loves it. I think you have a winner”. Thanks again for the great workshop!”
Dolores - Tai Chi, Yoga Instructor, Bristol, VA
My daily life has been in a 9-5 working rat-race followed by Yoga mat-race, the same routine of 5-days a week.. Once I was introduced to Tina's Qi Gong and Tai Chi practice and learned diffrences between a muscle-based workout and an energy-based practice, I switched. It's taken my body, mind, and spirit to a completely new level.
Thank you, Tina, Your "best student", - Mary, New York
*“Thank you so much, Tina!
*You saved me from the worst time of depression in my life! Your fantastic Tai Chi Qigong form lifted my spirits and energized me and it will be with me forever!”
*Susan Roberts
*“Suddenly one day I realized that not only was I gaining weight like a sumo wrestler in training, losing interest in sex and oscillating between fits of giddy optimism and deep depressions, but that I also was dead tired from not having a good nights sleep in longer than I could remember when. If I didn’t wake up broiling and radiating heat like a steak on a stick, I awakened in a shivering chill with rivulets of sweat covering my body or I simply jolted awake in a sudden full blown anxiety attack which could range in subject anywhere from the family bills to the impermanence of life.
I had to admit that I’d reached that point in a woman’s life where things start to change and I wasn’t changing gracefully. *I considered hormone therapy, but was terrified by the health risks which were associated with that path. I was at a complete loss as to what I should do and then by chance I met Shifu Tina Zhang at my local health club, where she taught a Tai Chi class.
When I heard about Tina’s Qi Gong System of a Chinese Natural Approach to the Change Period in a Woman’s Life, I was immediately intrigued. At first I took the lessons from Sifu Tina mostly out of curiosity and a wonderment at how she looked and acted as youthful as she did at that time in a woman’s life, but as the classes went on and I began to practice at home every day I began to notice changes in my life.
My weight and my moods seemed to have stabilized; I was regaining that special attraction for my husband and best of all I was sleeping through most nights with almost no symptoms of the infamous hot flashes. These improvements in my health have continued to this day as has my practice of Sifu Zhang’s program.
I would highly recommend Sifu Tina Zhang’s Menopause Qi Gong Program for all women who have reached that special time of change in their lives which marks their entrance in to maturity and the wisdom of experience.”
*Martha Goldstein , *Secretary, *Manhattan, NY
*“As I began to enter that time in a woman’s life when the drives of the body give way to the experience and understanding of age I was troubled by the physical symptoms which accompanied this spiritual transition. As a long time instructor of meditation and yoga and an eater of only raw foods, I would never consider hormone therapy. I was privileged to find the answer to my quandary by meeting Tina Zhang who introduced me to her Earth Energy Qi Gong for a Natural Change in a Woman’s Life. This program has relieved all of my physical symptoms allowing me to feel younger, prettier, and ready to enter the most spiritual phase of my existence”
*Heather Llewellyn
*Yoga & Meditation Instructor
*MA. Philosophy
*BA. Asian Studies
*Greenwich Village, NYC
*“you are kicking so much butt girl. keep up the great work and awesome attitude. you are truly an inspiration and have such a nice way about you when you teach and interact with the students. I can see how they open up to you. you're doing great”.
*Kristen Lang
*Certified Energy Arts Inc. Instructor
*Seattle, WA
*“Tina, I did a demo the other night and preformed your beautiful fan form!!! It was at a college, the institute of art at Ringling in Sarasota. It was about 30 people and I found great music to go with the form. It went great and the people loved it. They clapped and clapped and I had to answer many questions. They are sad to see me move up to Tampa which is 100 miles away because they want to learn the fan.
*I will have to show it in Tampa I guess....!!!
*Again, thank you so much for making my “Tai Chi Fan” dream become true.
*Billie Brown
*Clinical Psychologist
*Tampa, Fl.
Even the men love Tina as a Teacher:
*“Tina Zhang is the best Tai Chi and Qi Gong teacher I have ever met. Her efficient teaching techniques made my Tai Chi improve a lot while I was taking private lessons with her. I was also impressed with her using of simple explanations of the principles to guide students to a deeper level of their internal arts practice.”
*Joshua Greenstein
*A life long Tai Chi practitioner
*For more information, please visit her Web Site at www.qigongforwomen.com
and www.wutangpca.com
*Call Tina Zhang at (212) 677-1984
*Email Tina Zhang at tineez@aol.com
*Write to Tina Zhang at
*Tina Zhang
*9 Second Ave #6
*New York NY 10003
Taught by: Tina Zhang
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Testimonials for Michael Winn's Chi Kung Fundamentals Products
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I would like to tell the whole world to get this video
“I'm writing to call your attention to my whole-hearted rave about Chi Kung Fundamentals #1 home study course, which I just now posted on our Forum "Tao Speaks!" You might enjoy seeing it, and thanking Michael Winn on my behalf. As my fellow forum members know, I was expected to die at any moment from the severity of my asthma.
I am 68, and also have emphysema, and this video, more than any other source has improved my health, mental and physical, remarkably. I am able to do my own shopping, for the first time in ages, can walk half a mile without creating an emergency for myself, can get around the house and yard without the ski pole I'd relied on. I wish I was a faster learner, but this has been so amazing. Thank you so much!” In Tao -- Sister (Kate Hawthorne)
Sister Kate's review of Michael Winn’s Five Animals Do Six Healing Sounds, from Tao Speaks! Forum:
“Each animal play has a particular emotional problem it is expected to dispel. In his system, Tiger (white, lungs, cloud) dispels grief; Bear (blue, kidneys, ocean) dispels fear; Deer (green, liver, vegetation) dispels anger; Crane (red, heart, fire) dispels self-judgment; and Monkey (yellow, spleen, sun) dispels worry. Interesting to me, because from the emotional perspective, this lists problems I have had, in order of severity, AND it lists the exercises, for me, in order of difficulty.
I had no problem with Tiger and Bear. Deer is very awkward for me. Crane! you have to stand briefly on one leg and then the other for this, and I have always had a problem with balance, which has worsened radically in recent months.
Well, first I was able MIRACULOUSLY to improve my balance very much, THEN I was able to release self-judgment, and THEN I was able to do the Crane reasonably well, at least for a brief period. As to Monkey, tonight was the first time I was able to do it at all, and suddenly it made sense and was easy and fun. Leaving me still with Deer, in the middle, residual anger to shed.
I am so happy about all of this, and I would like to tell the whole world to get this video and do these exercises. I have NEVER had any medicine so therapeutic in my life. I have been bursting with this, and that's why I just had to post it. Happy, happy, hopeful of attaining true Qi in one lifetime.”
Sister (Kate Hawthorne) — I just forgot about my asthma, and it started to disappear like magic! I had asthma problems. I tried doctors, yoga, etc. nothing helped. I took Chi Kung Fundamentals from Michael Winn. The guy got me laughing and moving and breathing like I never had before. He was great. I just forgot about my asthma, and it started to disappear like magic! Later, I taught my mother the Six Healing Sounds. She is pushing 75. This boosted her like a rocket, and a lot of her pains went away. Amazing stuff! Powerful!!!! J. Carruthers — N.J. Michael Winn is a modern sage. His Fundamentals 1-4 is an encyclopedia of knowledge and he presents it with extreme clarity. If you want to study qigong or just learn about how energy functions in your body-mind, study with Michael. Grateful Student — Illinois Succinct, comprehensive, consistent explanation of Daoist (Taoist) thinking
I have been studying tai chi for 13 years, first yang style, then chen, then began doing chi kung almost exclusively after studying with Grandmaster Feng in Illinois in August 2000. During these years of practice, I have gathered bits and pieces of information about energy development, daoist thinking, and modes of practice (sitting, standing, forms, etc.).
What has been missing for me is the big picture, a way to put it all together, that is presented to me in a way that I, an English-speaking westerner, can understand. In your workshops, which I’ve just taken in fall 2002, you have provided me with this missing piece. Here is what keeps me coming back:
1. Succinct, comprehensive, consistent explanation of Daoist (Taoist) thinking. I have tried to get this from my Chinese teachers, and could just never before (primarily due to language barriers & cultural differences) see how it all hung to gether (yin-yang theory, five phases etc).
2. Explanation of the "why" and the "how" of the physical practices. For years I have heard, "focus on your dan tien".... but I never understood why or how. I am now able to feel movement in and through my dan tien that I have never felt before. Your portal concept was revolutionary for me!
3. Simple movement practices that give quick access to practices such as the
microcosmic orbit. I have been practicing the orbit for a few years now, but
after learning your form in Chi Kung Fundamentals, I can feel the orbit
much more clearly, have a better understanding of what was blocking it
before, and how to unblock, also a better understanding of how to teach it to
others.
There is much more that I could say, but this is a good start.
I'm really glad to have someone of your teaching ability who is willing to share!!
Sandra F. Seeber, MA, MAEd, LPC — President, Synergy Clinical & Consulting Services, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC Fundamentals 1-4 at Heavenly Mountian was Best Retreat I Ever Had
Taking the Fundamentals 1-4 at Heavenly Mountian in the Blue Ridge Mtns of North Carolina was a great experience. I'm very impressed with the energy that was there, and what was generated by all our practice. I wish I had known about Qigong 20 years ago. The food was great, and the people there were quite interesting. It was better than any vacation I've ever had.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what I liked the most, because the experience got progressively better with each passing day. I was so filled with Qi that I didn't sleep long at night, perhaps only 3-4 hours, yet I never felt better! The Microcosmic Orbit started occuring spontaneously on its own which was very interesting.
Some of my experiences include the opening of the Dan Tien (with pulsations back and forth all over the place), the hormonal and energy rush from the Bone Breathing, the feeling of having a 6 inch bubble of Qi rush up my spine after doing the Feldenkrais and back-neck stretching, doing the most energetic 5 Animals (as a group) that I've ever experienced, and the vast internal openness after doing the Ocean Sky and Great Heart Breathing was awesome.
With all that said, I now think after looking back the the Inner Smile Meditations were the high points. I have in the past seriously underestimated the power of that meditation form.
Wednesday morning when we did the Inner smile was the most profound.
My Dan Tien opened up and I saw what looked like a worm hole coming out of it, with a gold ball circulating around the opening. As it continued to expand I saw the virtues coming out from the opening, love, kindness, strength, integrity, trust, etc.
The opening grew so large as to fill my field of vision, and then two gold balls circulated about the opening. I could see a field of stars in the portal, and then a deep black emptyness. A very gentle and kind voice said, that I wasn't quite ready for the next level yet, but that after a few months of experience, just a few, that I would be ready to move on.
I think I'll keep practicing the Fundamentals....... I'll be glad to go back to heavenly Mountain next summer. Please share with your staff that the retreat facilities, food, and energy was great there. Bob (Florida) — You Vastly Improved my Martial and Medical Qigong! I have been practising
Shaolin
Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan for 6 years, so I have a very deep feeling of
qi
throughout my body and a very wide understanding of martial and medical
qigong. Recently, I have been studying your inner smile, 6 healing sounds, microcosmic orbit, chi-self massage, etc. and they are just out of this world.
I have already been
practising methods like Yi Jin Jing (Sinew Metamorphosis), 18 lohan
hands,
and many other methods. However, your methods are unlike these, in that,
they work with all the organs and emotions and they do not neglect a
single
part of the body. It is also so effortless and comfortable.
I am already
in
very good health (as I am young), but I found that the Healing Dao
system
has invigorated my life even further than what martial or medical qigong
has
to offer. It is with these unique and highly effective methods,
especially
the macrocosmic orbit, which has helped to improve my martial ability
significantly. I wish to express my deepest gratitude.
J.F — Michael Winn is a Great Tour Guide of your Inner Landscape
I have been changed fundamentally by practicing Michael Winn's Qigong Fundamental methods; it's been a return Home for me.
I've been practicing martial arts on and off for 33 years - Judo, Karate, Tae kwon do, Kung Fu, and Tai chi. Each provided a piece of the puzzle, but none satisfied the deep yearning I've feeling since I was young. Most martial arts schools during my search had a feeling of secretive distortion of an underlying truth.
Michael Winn has actually succeeded in translating into reality the Taoist practices for westerners. The process requires an awareness of the significant differences in physiology, diet, world outlook, and lifestyle between China and the West. Michael very successfully bridges this very difficult divide. Michael Winn demystifies the obscure without diminishing the Mystery.
His approach is not a dumbing down of esoterica for westerners. It is a deeply heartfelt offering of a great teacher. Using the qigong & inner alchemy methods he teaches, I have learned how to increase my energy levels, to relieve stress, and to deepen my awareness of my Self, and of All That Is. I look forward to a lifetime of discovery along the Way. If you are looking for the same, I can’t recommend him highly enough.
Growling tiger, Playful monkey; his smiling Five Animals Qigong guided me on a tour of my inner landscape. Take a trip to your inner jungle and learn to tap into the power inherent in your Self. Whether you’re a beginner, or a lifelong searcher, Michael Winn has something to offer you. I highly recommend his dvd’s and retreats! M. Leger —
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