Heres a wonderful ~ simple & powerful ~ Taoist meditation practice, which can be done either outside (in a beautiful natural setting is best!), or indoors. Its similar in many ways to Buddhist Shamata sitting meditation practice, but ~ and hence the name! ~ youre standing. (So, for one, its less likely that youll fall asleep J) (more…)

The first time that I saw Jet Lis film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (in a little theatre in Boulder, Colorado) I wept, fairly continuously, for about the first thirty minutes, and after that sat enraptured, amazed & deeply grateful for the beauty, power & truth that I felt being emanated from the film. Two days later I returned, for my second viewing. By the third time (all week-day matinees: cheaper & less crowded), the theatre clerks & I exchanged amused glances of recognition. By about the fifth time I was definitely feeling sheepish, if not downright embarrassed, by what I imagined was being perceived as clearly-addictive behavior. But I didnt care! I saw the film, over the course of about a month, no fewer than seven times. Each viewing revealed some new wonder, some previously-unnoticed level of meaning, or just an exquisite detail, that my eyes, ears & heart hungrily consumed. (more…)

Today Qigong is most often referred to as any set of breathing and Qi circulation techniques that are capable of improving health, preventing illness, and strengthening the body. Qigong is slow meditative exercise for the body, the breath, and the mind.

Qi is the vital force behind everything, everything is Qi at differing densities; quoting Einstein, matter = energy times the speed of light squared. Gong is cultivation, effect, attainment. Qigong can be translated as cultivation of vital force. It regulates the balance of Yin Yang energy returning the body to a balanced, normal physiological state. (more…)

I was introduced to the martial art of tai chi chuan first of all, by meeting a Yang Style master by the name of Wu Hongliang. At the time, I attended regular hatha yoga classes, but had just found a Chinese girlfriend who is now my wife. Master Wu agreed to take me on as his only British tai chi chuan student and he insisted I began regular training on a daily basis and continue to do the tai chi chuan exercises he taught me each day, in order to benefit mentally, physically and emotionally. (more…)