QIGONG CLASSES SPRING 2016

QIGONG in SIX LOCATIONS

1  HAGERSVILLE
2  ST THOMAS - Hillcrest Avenue
3  ST THOMAS - Talbot Street
4  SPARTA (late spring)
5  PORT BURWELL - Private Sessions
6  ST THOMAS YWCA WOMEN'S DAY WORKSHOP

1  HAGERSVILLE

    HALDIMAND ABILITIES CENTRE*
     42 Main Street South, Hagersville
     (in the United Church Community Rooms across the street) 
     Tuesdays 
     March 1 to April 26 (9 weeks)
     11:00 am to 12:30 pm
 
     This is a multi level class.
     The first part of each class will be Level 1- the Eight Brocades.
     This is suitable for beginners, students new to this style,
     and experienced students who want to deepen their practice.
     The second part of each class is for experienced students.
     We will be learning an unusual form of Tai Chi Cloud Hands 
     in great detail.
     Many people who do this particular Cloud Hands
     say that if there were 
only one Tai Chi pattern they
     could do, this is it because of it's great number of benefits.
     FEE: $3 (or more if you can) donation to HAC    

2  ST THOMAS

     10 Hillcrest Avenue
      Wednesdays
      March 2 to April 27 (9 weeks)
      11:00 am to 12:00 noon

    This is a Level 1 - Eight Brocades Qigong class.
    It’s suitable for students new to Qigong, new to this style, or
    experienced students who want to review and deepen 
    their practice.
    If you are physically compromised, 
    you can do this class seated.
    FEE: $12/Class  or  $40/4 Class Pass   

3  ST THOMAS

     412 Talbot Street, rear (to the right of Shoppers Drug Mart)
     Wednesdays 
     March 2 to April 27 (9 weeks)
     1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
  
     This class is for experienced students.
     We will be learning an unusual form of
     Tai Chi Cloud Hands in great detail.
     Many people who do this particular  
     Cloud Hands say that if there were 
only 
     one Tai Chi pattern they could do, 
     this is it because of it's great number of benefits.
     FEE: $12/Class  or  $40/4 Class Passes

4  SPARTA

       Sparta Friends Meeting House
       6387 Quaker Road
       Sundays: 
       May 8, & 15, June 12 & 19
       12:15 pm to 1:00 pm
      
      All are welcome.
      This is Level 1, Part 1 of the The Eight Brocades Qigong.
      Suitable for all levels of fitness.
      Students with physical issues can do this class seated.
      This is a skill building mini-course.
      Committing to all 4 classes will bring the most benefits.
      FEE: Donation to the Meeting

5   PORT BURWELL -  

        By appointment
      Private sessions are an option when:

• Scheduled classes are not available when you are.
• You have done classes before but want only a quick refresher.
• You want to go deeper into your Qigong practice.
• You want to learn at a faster rate than the scheduled classes allow.
• You want someone to help keep you motivated.
• You just want to stay in touch occasionally or regularly with the world of Qigong.
  FEE: $30/session or $100/4 sessions  

   6  ST THOMAS
         YWCA WOMEN'S DAY WORKSHOP
              St Thomas Seniors Centre
              225 Chestnut Street
              Saturday, March 5, 10 am to 4 pm 
              Three workshops, Keynote speaker, and Lunch for $45
     
              Radical to the Core  -   10 am to 11:30 am
              Mary-Louise Starcevic, Physiotherapist
           Jackie Davies, Qigong instructor
          Our lives are so stressful, over stimulated & sedentary,
          we have become disconnected from our physical bodies.
          Learn the role the PSOAS muscle, deep in the body's core
          plays in our physical, mental, emotional, 
          & spiritual well being.

          Register in person or by phone
          Email: ywcastthomaselgin@bellnet.ca
          Fax: 519-631-6411
          Registration Forms available online: 
          www.ywcastthomaselgin.org

*ABOUT THE HALDIMAND ABILITIES CENTRE (HAC)

HAC is a partnership of the Alzheimer Society of Haldimand Norfolk, Brain Injury Services and CNIB Outreach. It offers supportive programs and services to individuals facing challenges related to Alzheimer's disease, dementias, acquired brain injury, physical or developmental disability, visual impairments and/or isolation.
 
In addition, HAC welcomes all members of the community. Even if you do not face challenges, we welcome you to Qigong classes. Qigong can work for everyone because it is 'customizable' to meet the needs of each participant.

HAC requests only a $3 donation from participants so that fees will not be a barrier for anyone.  However, if you are able, please be as generous as you can. Fees for the same Qigong classes I teach elsewhere are $12/class.

And, if you have a skill, service, or gift of knowledge that would benefit HAC clients, please consider volunteering.

ChiFusion Certificate!

I DID IT!

I FINISHED ChiFusion™ LEVEL 3!

David Wells Helping Me Demonstrate an (UN)balance point.

                           
I am going to blow my own horn here.
So far I have submitted close to 8 hours of performance and teaching videos for evaluation to Al Simon, my Tai Chi teacher in Oregon.

Last summer I submitted the second set of ChiFusion™Level 3 videos including about 30 minutes of performance and over an hour of teaching two common Tai Chi stances; Cat Stance and Bow Stance.

This is Al’s comment:
“Hi Jackie, you’ve put me in an awkward position. With your teaching video something has happened that has never happened before and that is, I have nothing to say. An excellent evaluation. I really don’t have any serious criticism or things that need to be changed. I thought it was excellent. I’m speechless. And, it’s really difficult to make me speechless... I really enjoy watching your teaching video and enjoy listening to the way you explain things. Great work - really, really, good work.”

This is high commendation from Al, indeed. He never minces words. If he sees a problem with what I am doing, he is very clear in letting me know exactly what it is and how to change it.
I appreciate that... and his praise.
It means a lot to me to meet Al’s standards.

Fall Classes Start and a Kinesthetic Push-over

I had really thought that I would be a 'real' blogger;
so far being consistent has eluded me.

But, the fall season is starting up and there are Qigong classes scheduled once again at the unique and inclusive Hagersville Abilities Centre.
Please see the Events/Classes page for details.

During the summer I have done some very 'serious' Qigong play - practicing and filming my performance for my Tai Chi Qigong teacher, Al Simon in Oregon, to view and evaluate.

I've included a slideshow of an aspect of Qigong that was part of the curriculum for my practice teaching. It was a very surprising experience.

Briefly, and without getting too technical it is a demonstration of how not to move in the very common Tai Chi Bow Stance used in most Tai Chi forms.

I am doing the stance in the way it is commonly taught.
This is a demonstration of how ungrounded I am using this method.

David simply put his hand on my chest - with no force - it was just a gentle touch - with as much pressure as one might use to tap another's arm to get their attention.

And this is what happened when I assumed the commonly taught position and weight shift in the stance:

 

When I do it using the ChiFusion™style, I shift my weight in such a clearly directed and intentional way that I actually knocked David off balance slightly and using very little force as I did so.

And Now for Something Different!

I created this blog over a year ago, but it just sat here mostly a simple static web site.

Now it's going to be a REAL blog with regular postings about the doings of Learning About Chi,  Qigong, Tai Chi, ChiFusion™happenings, Energy Medicine (i.e. the Western take on energy systems) and other things that relate - or not.



And to start here's Dr. Love doing a rap called This is Why I Do Qigong.

It seems a most unlikely pairing - a Qigong and rap. But it works.
It's fun and catchy and just says what is is.

And to be sure - Dr Love is the real thing - a lineage Qigong holder, a doctor of acupuncture as well a creative fun loving person.

Enjoy!