As a senior instructor to qigong, bagua, tai chi and meditation lineage master Bruce Frantzis, Paul teaches most of the qigong sets that comprise his core programme. Frantzis' lineage is directly linked to that of Lao Tse, author of the Tao Te Ching. Read more about the origins of Paul's teachings.
Together with Longevity Breathing, each qigong set is designed to accomplish specific health benefits and has been practised for a minimum of 1,500 years. They are used by hundreds of millions of people daily to maintain health, reduce stress, increase vitality and improve overall quality of life.
Dragon & Tiger Medical Qigong
This Dragon and Tiger medical qigong set consists of seven relatively easy exercises that can help you feel and manipulate your chi.
Practised by millions of people as an effective health system, Dragon and Tiger originated around 1,500 years ago as a form of medical qigong. It works in the same fashion as acupuncture to stimulate meridians and is especially known for combating nervous and physical disorders, and mitigating the effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
When practising Dragon and Tiger, you use your hands and body movements to balance your chi in a like manner to using needles in acupuncture. Each movement is designed to stimulate not just a single meridian, but groups of meridians.
Individual pairs of energy lines in the body are opened and cleared whilst physically stretching open the fascia, joints, ligaments and tendons. This clears the physical and energy bodies of unwanted blockages, enabling relaxation and improved bodily function.
Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body Qigong
Watch a video clip of Energy Gates qigong.
This qigong set lays the foundation for the entire system, including relaxation meditation.
The Dissolving process is applied to systematically and progressively work with the downward flow of chi to:
- Ground and root your energy
- Become aware of physical and energetic blockages inside your body
- Clear any blockages you encounter, allowing you to let go and deeply relax.
Once you have dissolved any physical and energetic blockages--to the extent that you are able--you are ready to energise yourself with physical movements. Cloud Hands, one of five movements that comprise the Energy Gates set, roots the lower body in movement whilst Three Swings energise the three tantiens to loosen and open the physical body. A unique spinal stretch--not found in any other exercise method of any kind that is great for back injuries--completes this powerful set.
Paul will teach Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body Qigong: Release Your Nervous System for Relaxation, Circulation & Vitality in York 21-23 May 2010.
Spiraling Energy Body Qigong
Spiraling uses the same physical movements as Energy Gates qigong, a prerequisite practice, as well as static arm postures to further energy development. This advanced set will teach you how to move your energy in circles, spheres and spirals through your body including how energy is used to move and control your physical body.
The Spiraling Energy Body concentrates on the upward flow of chi, which can dramatically increase your energy level. It is important to ensure that you are ready to proceed with this work by thoroughly dissolving your energy and physical blockages before spiraling is commenced. Otherwise you can make any energetic and physical blockages worse. If your energy is neutral with all blockages having been released no problems will arise.
Marriage of Heaven & Earth Qigong
Watch a video clip of Marriage of Heaven and Earth qigong.
Heaven and Earth qigong consists of a single movement meant to stretch all the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia of the body. Heaven and Earth is one of the easiest and most effective exercises to relieve back, neck and spinal pain and injuries.
With practise, the physical and energetic movements are taken deeper into the fluids of the body--blood, lymph, synovial, interstitial and cerebrospinal fluids. When fully integrated into the body, everything in your body moves as one interconnected whole.
The energetic work found in Heaven and Earth qigong combines the descending and ascending energy currents to move chi through the micro- and macro-cosmic orbits. The energies of heaven and earth are joined and integrated into the body through the lower tantien, the centre point of the body.
Paul will teach aspects of Heaven & Earth qigong at the following 2010 retreat and seminars:
Heal Your Back: Regenerate & Strengthen Your Neck & Spine
London
Circles & Spheres: Creating Central Equilibrium in Qigong, Bagua & Tai Chi
Crete, Greece, 24-30 April
Heal Your Back: Marriage of Heaven & Earth Qigong
London, 8-9 October
Pulsing: Regenerate & Strengthen Your Neck & Spine
London
Bend the Bow Spinal Qigong
Bend the Bow is one continuous exercise that works mainly with the back and spine including the vertebrae, connecting ligaments, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal cord and energies of the spine.
This exercise continues the work of Heaven and Earth qigong and makes the body very open and strong. Proper alignments and execution is paramount. After continuous and ongoing practise, the body gains the quality of sprung steel, which is the main component of fa jin-the ability to release energy (to project a person away from you, for example).
This qigong set is used to correct back problems and improve posture, such as scoliosis, as well as overhaul and strengthen the central nervous system. The energetic movement is from periphery to centre and from centre to periphery throughout the five limbs.
Gods Playing in the Clouds Qigong
Gods qigong was considered within Lao Tse’s school to be the highest form of qigong possible. In Gods you not only combine all 16 neigong into one coherent whole, but you bridge the gap between qigong and meditation.
This qigong set is the oldest and most powerful of the ancient Chinese rejuvenation techniques in existence, allowing even the most experienced practitioners to refine their abilities for maximising energy control and development.
Gods qigong consists of a set of seven exercises that combines the internal workings of all the other qigong sets. You will learn how to cleanse and stabilise the central channel of energy and strengthen your bones and bone marrow. The brain core is energised and negative emotions are cleared from the body, thus bridging the gap between neigong and meditation. All the previous energetic movements are utilised as well as adding spherical pulsation and the Inner Dissolving process.
Paul will teach Gods qigong at the following 2010 retreat and seminars:
Gods Playing in the Clouds Qigong: Balancing the 5 Bows
Brighton, 21-22 January
Gods Playing in the Clouds Qigong: Balancing the Pulse
Brighton, 27-28 May
Circles, Spheres & Spirals in Qigong: Deepening Your Internals by Unifying Kwa & Yao
Dordogne, France, 22-27 August
Gods Playing in the Clouds Qigong: Exercise 7 & the Spine
Brighton, 30 Sept-1 Oct
See Origins to learn how these sets were derived.
As an introduction to these qigong sets, along with Longevity Breathing, you may also practise Tai Chi Circling Hands. TC Circling Hands is also used to help you deepen integration of neigong into your current form, such as a qigong set, bagua or tai chi.