Sacramento Qigong

Pricing

1 hour group classes: 5 classes for $50 (5-class card) or $15/class.

Why choose a 5-class card?
Qigong is like playing an instrument or riding a horse – you don’t figure it out all in the first lesson. Make the effort to really experience Qigong and train with us for 5 classes or more to truly experience the art.

One-on-one private instruction: $60/hour

Private Group instruction: : $80/hr

FAQ

“I’m not sure if Qigong is for me. How can I check it out to see how I like it?”

Easy, come to a class!  Anyone can try a class out.  There’s no prerequisites to attend a class, just your openness and willingness to learn and be a student.  However, Qigong takes some time to unfold, so you must approach this with a special attitude. 

You must abandon all thoughts of achievement and goals if you want to take on Qigong, as this type of thinking will only keep your mind closed and not allow you to truly experience the practice.  So don’t worry, be patient, and come check out a class.  It might take a few classes before you can truly figure out whether this practice is one you want to take on for the rest of  your (long and healthy) life.

“I have never heard of Qigong or practiced any martial or energy art. How will I begin practicing Qigong?”

The movements in Qigong forms are very simple to learn, even for absolute beginners. You can learn the movements within a few sessions, giving you the skills to practice on your own. The movements are done slowly and deliberately, with a focus on natural breathing, so anyone can pick it up quickly.

The first thing you will learn to do is RELAX, this is the most important part of the practice.

We advise that you try to remember a movement or two from class, then practice it during the week on your own time.  It is through repetition that you will memorize and understand the practice.

“What is Qi?”

Qi, sometimes spelled “Chi”, is the essential energy of the universe that is present in all things. We receive our “pre-natal” Qi when we are conceived, and throughout our life we fuel our body with Qi from the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Our bodies are constantly absorbing Qi from the universe, the Earth and from other people.

Through Qigong practice, we purge stale or stagnant Qi and absorb fresh Qi to energize and cleanse the body. Our bodies also hold tension from stress and other sources that prevent us from taking in the maximum amount of Qi. Quantum theory in Western science is already validating the concept of Qi, and you’ll sometimes see it referred to as “bio-electric” energy.

“What age groups can benefit from Qigong?”

Qigong is suitable for any age group. Practicing Qigong can help strengthen bones, give extra energy to aging organs, and provide a sharper and clearer mind. Qigong masters in China routinely live to be over 100 years of age and in perfect health.

For younger people, Qigong is the perfect practice to balance out the fast lifestyles we live.

For older people, it’s fantastic for improving your health, strengthening joints and bones, and increasing your spiritual awareneness.

And for children under 16, it can provide greater mental focus for better achievement in academics and sports. NOTE –  I do find that those under 16 have a shorter attention span and generally have a difficult time with the relaxed nature of the practice – they usually would rather be doing something more active.  However, if a child under 16 can get into the practice, it can be EXTREMELY beneficial for them.

“How does Qigong actually work? Is there a science behind it?”

Qigong is very much a science. Qigong has been a part of Traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and it has been refined by each successive generation.

In the Traditional Chinese medicine system, Qigong works by opening up one’s meridians (energy channels) so that the body can distribute this vital energy (Qi) throughout the body and heal itself naturally. Western science is just now beginning to validate this ancient practice, as these practices have only been available to the West for less than 60 years.

Sometimes Qigong is called “Acupuncture without the needles” since it has a similiar effect in a more broad way. You can treat specific illnesses or conditions with certain movements, or practice general Qigong to heal all parts of the body to bring general wellness. So it is very scientific as it has been studied meticulously for thousands of years.

Western science is beginning to prove how Qigong works, finding that it activates healing enzymes in the body, purges waste fluids (byproducts from our metabolism), brings our brain’s wave down to lower vibrational states which open up our awareness, and improves blood circulation.

Qigong emphasizes “natural” or diaphragmatic breathing, which has a very powerful effect over time. A big part of our practice is becoming aware of our current state of health, listening to our body, and then allowing our body to return to it’s natural state of being.

“How does Qigong differ from Yoga?”

Qigong and Yoga share similarities, but can be different. Qigong and Yoga are broad categories of spritiual practice and both have meditative practices as well as more intense physical practices. In general Qigong, there are no deep stretches and we always practice within the limits of our own body. It is never recommended in Qigong to push your mind or body futher than it’s ready to go that day. Yoga typically has moving and stretching involved; Qigong is more stationary.

This does not mean Qigong is superior to Yoga, both are wonderful spiritual and healing arts. However, for someone beginning the energy arts, Qigong is definitely a low impact, risk-free way to begin. And it’s also great for athletes, martial artists, musicians or anyone looking to bring out more creativity in what they do, or people who are looking to reduce stress. You can even use Qigong to lose weight cure illnesses and diseases.

“How often should I practice Qigong?”

As often as you can! It is good to practice daily, even for 5 minutes. Typical practice sessions should be between 20 – 40 minutes, including warmups and gentle stretching.

Beginning students might try practicing only a few times a week until their bodies get used to the practice. Advanced students might practice for longer periods of time, but it’s more about the quality of practice and less about the quantity. If you are relaxed, you can practice more. If you are not relaxed, you should work on relaxing and only increase your practice when you can relax.

There is no fast track to Qigong success and we place no importance on progressing – we practice Qigong to balance our body and mind, and by relaxing and not worrying about progress we actually bring our bodies into balance much quicker.

We also teach you how to use Qigong in your everyday life.  This way you can use these techniques all day for practical purposes (reducing stress, etc).

“I’ve heard of Spiritual Qigong and Medical Qigong. But what are they?”

Great question. Qigong is usually broken up into a few major categories.

Medical Qigong (which we focus on heavily) is based on Traditional Chinese medicine principles and works to open up the energetic pathways known as meridians. Acupuncture/acupressure is based exclusively on this system. The Qigong movements gently work the 12 major meridians to clear blockages in them, thus allowing the energy to flow freely through the body, which allows the body to function at it’s optimum level.

I go into detail which meridians are worked during specific exercises in class…you don’t need to know much about them. Essentially we work these because stress, busy lifestyles, diets, etc. can all contribute to our meridians being blocked, and clearing them is our focus. And if they’re not blocked, your practice makes them stronger.

Now, Spiritual Qigong is focused more on meditation and obtaining a clear and focused mind. When you do the movements, breathe, and meditate, you become aware of activity in your body that you previously had no awareness of. By meditating you “turn inward” and listen to yourself, whatever your body might be saying.

Basically this meditative state, combined with breathing and moving, brings about unbelievable changes in awareness and perception…everything becomes clearer in your everyday life, and everyday something new unfolds. As you become more sensitive to Qi, you begin to notice it in your everyday life and you see and experience things in a completely different way.

There is also Martial Qigong, where energy is stored up and used to generate power in Martial Arts movements. Monks in the Shaolin Temple always warm up with Qigong before starting their training. My training began as part of my martial arts training, and naturally the two go together.

Understand that these are not rigid categories, where you can only practice one or the other. They are simply grouped by primary focus. Spiritual Qigong is focused on enlightenment and higher thinking, Martial Qigong is focused on using Qi to generate strength, and Medical Qigong focuses on health and healing. But all these groups contain elements of the other groups as well, so don’t get too caught up in the defintions.