My First Qigong Class

In 1974, Tai Chi teacher Justin Stone created a Qigong form called Tai Chi Chih. It is comprised of 19 simple, non-taxing exercises, all performed with steady focus on softness and continuity. Tai Chi Chih was the first Qigong form I learned, back in the 90’s. I was going through a miserable, stressful time back then, and entered the classroom that first night with a chip on my shoulder, wondering if it would be worth the effort. The movements didn’t feel like the sort of exercise I was used to, but they did feel good, in a way I couldn’t explain. As I followed the teacher’s movements, I can remember feeling as if a tight coil inside me was beginning to unwind. It wasn’t until afterward, on the bus ride back uptown, that I realized how energized yet calm, and even happy, I felt.

This week I’m excited to share a few Tai Chi Chih exercises with you. I think you’ll appreciate how they support our goal of moving with ease, relaxation, and focus. You know “the 70% rule”? The magically liberating and powerful technique of using only 70% of your full effort when doing a movement? Tai Chi Chih is all about that. These exercises are safe and do-able for any level practitioner, yet they build tremendous amounts of qi. They’re fabulous for establishing a solid foundation for other styles of Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, or any movement practice, really. I hope you can join me!