Shaolin Kung Fu | Ch'an Buddhism | Damo |
Tai Chi Quan | Chen Style Tai Chi | Chi Gong

Chi Gong (chee-gung) is usually defined as "cultivation of the chi". Chi Gong is an internal system, generally considered to be the genesis of Chinese martial arts, the seed from which all of our present systems grew.

These exercises developed from the first set of movements taught by the Indian missionary Bodhidharma (Damo) upon his arrival at the monastries of China.

Many forms of Chi Gong are connected to internal systems, such as the Ba Gua Chi Gong. Indeed, the systems themselves can be used in this capacity. The basic power of Chi Gong comes from its health aspects.

When we are born we are born with something called Yuan Qi, Pre natal Qi. Later in life most of us forget about this Yuan Qi, until it is needed for us to begin to cultivate it again!
Qi energy no matter who you are, age, gender, race etc, we all have Qi, it runs throughout our body and runs along channels called Jing luo, which are also known in the west as meridians, our Jing Luo are everywhere and connect to all of our internal organs.
Qi energy begins in our kidneys, this is where it is stored, by using our minds we learn to cultivate our Qi in our Dantian which is situated in our lower abdomen, when we inhale we should try to breathe to our Dantian and feel the area naturally expand, similar to how our chests would when we breathe into our lungs. When we exhale we should feel our navels travelling inwards towards our spine. This is abdominal breathing. Whilst breathing we should inhale and exhale through our noses, keeping our breathing natural and relaxed focusing our minds upon our Dantians. From this deep and slow breathing we should feel our lower abdomen's getting warm.

Qi Gong can also be practised with your movement, you can learn to manipulate and move your Qi around your body and by using your mind you can focus it in certain areas. Many different form are used for cultivateing Qi, at Shaolin culture we do so by pratising Tai Ji Quan, Zhan Zhaung, Zuo Ch'an, Ba Duan Jin and many other different ways.
Always remember your mind leads your QI!!

Meditation Zuo Ch'an

Meditation is the cultivation of your mind. Meditation is said to be held strong in the Ch'an Buddhist school, in Sanskrit Ch'an is Dhyana which literally means to sit, therefore the Ch'an schools became known as the school of meditation.Shaolin Temple is the founding place for Ch'an sect Buddhism, created by Shaolin monk Da Mo (Pu Ti Da Mo).

Meditation can be easily practised and you should try to perform it on a daily basis, and not just when you are stressed! You can practise for however long you wish, it is recommended that you start at around 15 minutes and further in your practise sit for extended periods of time.

Meditation has many benefits, mental relaxation, cultivating internal energy, physical relaxation, building awareness, adjusting breathing difficulties, aiding digestion, slowing metabolism and many, many more benefits.

To practise simply sit, wear some loose clothing, close your eyes, focus your mind (find a mantra [mental focus] i.e counting breaths) and just inhale and exhale slowly and deeply. Trying to gradually relax your whole body starting from your head working towards your feet. An important aspect to remember is to keep your neck and back straight, this will help Qi flow around your Dantian, you can also prop your tongue against your upper palate and gently push against it's oral cavity, this shall help to produce saliva, which you can swallow to help cultivate your Dantian's Qi.
Good luck. Please simply sit.

Shifu Yang practices "lifting the sky".