Qigong

qi is the Chinese for circulating life energy and gong means to work with, so the modern term qigong is literally "working with qi." It is sometimes written Chi Kung.

After more than two millennia it is still used daily in China in hospitals and shaolin temples as well as in millions of households. It's effectiveness has been demonstrated in the west in recent years and today thousands of britons are feeling the benefit.

An old term for qigong was daoyin, which means leading and guiding, and this refers to the use of breathing and attention to gently manipulate our energy.

Emei Shan Qigong uses a set of eight movements to gently order and build internal energy. Ba Duan Jin, or The Eight Brocades, works in a similar way.

Zhan Zhuang relies on quietly holding a standing posture to increase energy and to encourage it's free flow, and to settle and focus the mind.

Classes usually include loosening techniques and exercises to improve sensitivity to Qi. All of the methods can be adapted for use in advanced illness or limited mobility.

Watch below Rowing In The Gentle Breath from the Emei series or download from here.

Download details of Qigong For Bodyworkers Workshop

Download details of Emei classes

Gordon qualified as a Yoga teacher in 1973 and began training in qigong the following year. His original teachers included Masahiro Oki and Michio Kushi, and he trained with Li Dexun at Chengdu College of Traditional Chinese Medicine during 1984. Later he studied with Shen Hong Xun and Master Yang Lian Cun.

More recently, he completed training in Core Energy Management , bringing his skills in the traditional disciplines into a completely contemporary framework.

He has taught qigong in Britain, South Africa and Spain since 1985.