TERRY DUNN'S TAI CHI FOR HEALTH & QIGONG FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Tai Chi Form Classes; Qigong For Health For 1st Responders; Intermediate Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and Flying Phoenix Qigong; 14- hour FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG WORKSHOP, JUNE 23 to 25 !!
I. TAI CHI FOR HEALTH: 60-part Short Form and Tai Chi Sword Form of Grandmaster William C.C. Chen—plus form refinement and applications for self-defense.
Sunday Classes No. 47, 48, 49, 50 = May 7, 14, 21, 28: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.
Graceful in movement, slow in tempo, relaxed in perfectly natural postures, Tai Chi form practice improves circulation, respiration, metabolism, flexibility, and the neuromuscular function—agility, balance coordination, and proprioception. This weekly 90-minute class will teach you the 60-posture Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form created by my teacher, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen—along with applications of the form for self-defense. The class will provide basic to intermediate instruction in Push-hands (fixed step sparring) for students at all levels. Once properly learned, the Short Form practiced slowly three times consecutively imparts marked energization, vitality, fitness.
In addition to learning William C.C. Chen’s subtle Tai Chi body mechanics that develop muscle-free, “toes-to-fingers” energization that leads to the high-level skill that our style calls the “slow fa-jing”, you will also learn different ways of perfecting each of the 60 postures in the Yang Short Form--that I first learned from my teacher’s classmate, GM Abraham Liu from 1980 to 1992, which I have practiced and taught for 30 years. My detailed step-by-step instruction in the Short Form and form refinement each week will be supplemented by a warm-up module done at the start of each class comprised of selections from a wide repertoire of classical Tai Chi conditioning exercises that I’ve acquired over the past 49 years. This 20-minute module will utilize time-proven methods such as:
1. The Silkweaver’s Exercise - an ancient classical excellent Qigong exercise that’s easy-to-do and teaches 4 basic and essential stances for Tai Chi, wonderfully opens and closes the chest and back, does a superb job of relaxing the intercostals with one knowing it, promotes toes-to-fingers energization, and even introduces one to reverse breathing.
2. GM Abraham Liu’s 3 foundational Yang-style exercises: A. “The Gentle Bear”— “Wave Hands Like Clouds” pattern in bow stances and ma-bu followed by the “Brush Knee” pattern in the same; B. Alternating Play Guitar and Lifting Hands exercise with 90º steps; C. Left-right Alternating “Snake Creeps Down” Figure-8 Exercise
3. Qing Dynasty Imperial Guard Exercises - Practiced by the Qing emperors’ palace guards from 1644 to 1912. (As taught by Master George Xu in the early 1980’s during his workshops at the Taoist Sanctuary in San Diego.)
4. Master James Lau King’s 5 Loosening Exercises
5. Chen Style Chan-Su-Jin (“Silk-reeling”) exercises—by Master John Fey and one by Master George Xu
Joining the Livestream Session
Zoom Meeting ID: 893 1017 7261
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89310177261?pwd=alZSanFDdXdHTUxZNC9rTzNMMFlEZz09
FEE: $30 per class; $210 / 8-class series; or $450 / 16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com)
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My background in Tai Chi Chuan: 43 years of experience in the Cheng Man-Ching lineage of Tai Chi Chuan, having previously studied with Master William C.C. Chen's two classmates from Taiwan, the late Masters Abraham Liu (1980-1992) and Benjamin Lo (13 summer workshops in La Honda, CA, 1980-1992)—learning the Professor Cheng’s 37-posture Short Form and his 108-posture Long Form. I taught Tai Chi form and push-hands on my own for 20 years starting in 1993. Then I met GM William C.C. Chen in 2012 and have been doing advanced studies and teaching under his auspices to this day.
[ My full martial arts biography is at: http://www.taichimania.com/tdbio.html ]
With Grandmaster William C.C Chen at a Los Angeles workshop.
II. QIGONG FOR HEALTH FOR 1st RESPONDERS: TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD + FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG
Sundays 4 - 6 pm EST. Classes No. 139, 140, 141, 142 = MAY 7, 14, 21, 28
Our 139th Livestream of Qigong For Health For First-Responders is set for this Sunday, May 7 from 3pm to 4:30pm Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada), with 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A immediately following.
Each class immerses you in two (not one, but two) authentic and powerful ancient Taoist monastic systems of Qigong that impart tangible, visible, repeatable, and verifiable health benefits.
(1) Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) Qigong - Each class begins with a half-hour practice of the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, a classical distillation of the Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Meditations.
(2) Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditations(“Fei Feng San Gung”) imparts tangible energizing and rejuvenating effects—and deep meditative states of consciousness— in surprisingly swift manner—within 30 to 45 minutes of practicing any combination of the 8 basic standing meditations or 24 seated meditations. The allostatic (restorative) effects of FP Qigong practice continues long after one’s practice has ceased.
"Flying Phoenix Qigong practice significantly elevates parasympathetic tone. 90 minutes of practice of this Qigong is restorative in real time and over time afterwards."
- Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, M.D., M.P.H., IOC Dip. Sp. Med. Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Public Health Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology (December 2019)
Joining the Livestream Session
To experience the profound health benefits of these two rare and extraordinarily powerful Taoist Qigong arts that are easy-to-do and profoundly restorative holistic health practices, and join a lively worldwide community of students dedicated to holistic health, personal growth, self-empowerment, spiritual fortitude, sign up for the next Sunday session:
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 872 7703 0824
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87277030824?pwd=dXdyVHd0QnBMWVZlR2htVWtYdlF4QT09
FEE: $40 per class; $280 / 8-class series; or $500 / 16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com) before 1:00 PM on the day of he class) —or send an email to zenbearinc@gmail.com asking to be sent a Paypal money request that you can use any credit or debit card to pay.) You will then be sent the Meeting Password by 2pm
III. INTERMEDIATE QIGONG & BASIC KUNG FU
Tuesdays 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Classes No. 133, 134, 135, 136 = MAY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30:
May 2 will be the 133rd intermediate-level Qigong & Kung Fu class of this ongoing weekly series (from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST). This course concentrates on the intermediate and advanced levels of the two rare and powerful Kung Fu/Qigong systems: Tao Tan Pai (Taoist Elixir Method”) Nei Kung created in the Tang Dynasty and Ehrmei Mountain White Tiger Kung Fu, created in 1644 by Taoist monk Feng Dao Deh, the latter which includes Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Qigong, its health safety “net” and one of its cornerstone Qigong systems.
Prerequisites for joining the Intermediate class have recently been adjusted—please note:
1. Proficiency in all of the Flying Phoenix standing Qigong exercises up to and including “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” moving meditation—i.e., proficiency in performing all the meditative exercises in Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of Chi Kung For Health DVD series. —i.e. you should have “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” moving meditation memorized and be able to do it and its breath conrol sequence from memory and with the eyes closed.
2. Proficiency in the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga—and familiarity with the overall sequence of TTP 31 Basic Meditations—as acquired through attendance of two 3-day TTP Qigong workshops at Eastover Estate over past 3 years, or 3 months of weekly community classes.
Course Agenda:
1. Warm up with the Tao Tan Pai Cane Form.
2. Instruction in the basic Tao Tan Pai Monkey, Crane, Snake, Tiger, and Dragon forms.
3. Refinement of “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” (2nd most advanced Flying Phoenix moving meditation)
4. Refinement of capstone exercise, “Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditation”, aka, the Long Form Standing Meditation (on Volume 4 of CKFH).
5. Instruction in “Monk Serves Wine”, advanced seated FP Meditations (#9 - #24)
** NOTE: The following advanced arts (#6 - #10) are available only to students whom I have been certified as instructors in Flying Phoenix Qigong and/or Taoist Elixir Method Basic 31 Meditations:
6. Instruction in the Advanced Flying Phoenix Qigong (9 standing moving meditations)
7. Instruction in the Bok Fu Pai “Eagle Claw Ten Hook Attack Form”—as seen here:
8. Instruction in the 8 Sections of Energy Combined (“Bat Din Gum”) Kung Fu System—as seen at the top of this section.
9. Introduction to “10,000 Buddhas Ascend To Heaven” Meditations
10. San-shou (free sparring). Includes learning how to make the Mok-Gar “Browns” techniques street-effective.
JOINING THE INTERMEDIATE COURSE LIVESTREAM: Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm EST
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 828 6280 6822
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82862806822?pwd=VWpGRkQ3LzN6RDNZYUhweXRYNTRuUT09
FEE: $60/ class or $440 / 8-class series or $800/16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal to zenbearinc@gmail.com or via Zelle to terencedunn@gmail.com (before 4:00 PM on each day of class) to receive the Zoom Meeting Password by 5pm EST.
IV. June 23 to 25: 3-day, 14-hour immersive FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG WORKSHOP — Zoomable! Mark your calendars!
At Tao Retreat (Han Chinese Culture Assoc.): 33 Tao Road in Catskill, NY
On June 23, 24 and 25, I will be conducting a 14-hour immersive workshop in Ehrmei Mountain Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Qigong. This will be my first FP Qigong workshop of this year and sixth workshop at Julia Li’s beautiful "Tao Retreat" in Catskill, NY.
< The seven 2-hour sessions of this workshop are Zoom-able >
Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit down, and watch this most recent Youtube video showing my demonstration of 12 of the 24 seated Flying Phoenix Qigong meditations collectively called “Monk Serves Wine”—done in a row, plus scenes from past workshops of the Flying Phoenix standing meditations and advanced practices such as “Feng Dao Deh’s 10 San Gun Meditations” and “10,000 Buddhas Ascend to Heaven.”
There's qigong and there's qigong. Then there's Flying Phoenix Qigong—that stands out from other Yogic arts created in China, India, Tibet, or anywhere else in the world in the way that it remarkably fulfills the 5 essential functional criteria of any authentic Qigong system--as defined by the late great Master R.K. Shih (elaborations by me are in italics):
(1) prevents disease by elevating immune levels;
(2) cures disease and disease symptoms by inducing allostasis without adding stress to the system;
(3) strengthens the body--by, in the words of GM Doo Wai, "bringing all the organ functions under the regulation of the subconscious mind";
(4) improves intelligence and thereby increases longevity (for starters, by developing the mental function of visualization through a totally unique and ancient ingenious method); and
(5) develops latent powers (e.g., clairvoyance, clairaudience, remote viewing, remote healing, psychokinesis, kung fu, seeing all forms of energy that go unseen by the consensus reality, etc.). (Btw, if a so-called "Qigong" does not develop and manifest latent powers, then it is NOT qigong!!)
Practitioners in their 50’s, 60’s, and older—including myself— have reported that their hair color changed from grey to its original color when they started practicing the FP Qigong seated meditations taught in Volume 7 of my DVD series.
Most astonishing and revelatory for practitioners is the common Flying Phoenix Qi phenomenon where the tangibly energizing and rejuvenating effects experienced during a practice session set on again several hours later in an unexpected total-body Qi-envelopment of the most pleasant and sublimely healing nature. One example: see the spontaneous testimonial on Youtube titled, “Rori Kanter describes dramatic pain relief after her first class in Flying Phoenix Healing Qigong.”
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The 3-day immersive workshop, June 2 to June 4, consists of 7 two-hour sessions with 2 sessions on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday at these times (EST):
Wednesday: 3pm - 5pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Thursday: 10am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Friday: 10am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm EST
TUITION
$350 early registration
$385 day of workshop
$55 for each of the seven 2-hour sessions
• ZOOM PARTICIPATION:
$40 per 2-hour session or $250 / all 7 sessions [Zoom log-on links will be emailed to registrants the day before the workshop begins]
• Please send payment via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com •
mitakuye oyasin
(Lakota prayer-greeting that means “To all my relations” or “All are related”, or “Help and Health to all my Brothers and Sisters” )
Sifu Terry Dunn
P.S. Music Pick of the Month: “Come As You Are”
—that is, the excellent Playing For Change cover of Kurt Cobain’s hit on Nirvana’s second album, “Nevermind”— featuring fine musicians worldwide, including L.A.’s Chelsea Williams and Memphis’s Citizen Cope. Not only is this one of my favorite rock songs that's on my all-time Top 20 list, but it's got a gutsy groove and lyrics that make this diversity of worldwide talents one super-harmonious voice. Plus the diggeridoo Not to mention, seeing the wonderful Chelsea Williams who I used to see busking on the 3rd Street Promenade--where she used to busk for years to make ends meet until she attained stardom--makes me a bit homesick. And Citizen Cope is my favorite male blues-rock singer-songwriters of his generation. Gawd, I'm getting old. Last time I got excited about young rising stars was when Lissie came out in 2010 with her musical lesson in alchemy, "Record Collector"! Seriously.
Enjoy!