Qigong is an ancient, evolving, and wholistic system of health and wellness developed in China thousands of years ago.   "Qi" is the Chinese character for "life-energy", and "gong" means "work". Therefore, qigong means working with the life-energy, learning how to control the flow and distribution of qi, and in doing so, learning to improve the health and harmony of body, mind, and Spirit. The practice of qigong includes various different postures, movements, breathing exercises, self-massage, visualizations, and meditation.   During the practice of qigong, one learns to develop a one-pointed, meditative quality focus, becoming more deeply aware of one's posture, breath, and intention, throughout the practice, as well as in any given moment in one's life.

Within the martial school of qigong is taijiquan, an effective martial art that when regularly practiced also confers health and meditative benefits similar to other forms of qigong. Chen Style Taijiquan is the original form of taijiquan from which all other styles have arisen. It is characterized by its lower stances, more explicit spiraling movements, and the balance of both slow and fast movements. The system traditionally includes empty hand forms, weapon forms, and two-person drills (push-hands).

The foundation and essence of all qigong and taijiquan is Wuji Qigong, seated and standing meditation. It is with this essential foundation that one begins to truly embody the age old adage of "stillness in movement, and movement in stillness." Taiji (Supreme polarity - yin / yang) arises within Wuji (Supreme non-polarity / Eternal Nothingness). Taiji is the continual flux and dance of polarities, whereas Wuji is forever still, boundless, and unchanging. Therefore to relax into Wuji in the depths of meditation is to find the eternal, infinite center of all things, present even in the midst of movement and activity.

The relationship between Wuji and Taiji can be compared to the ocean and it's waves. The ocean may take different forms in the waves that arise, though the essence of the ocean, which is water, remains unchanged. Taiji is always in Wuji and Wuji is always in Taiji. This is what is represented in the Taiji symbol. While yin and yang are continually in flux (Taiji), there is also the unchanging, empty circle containing them (Wuji). This is the same idea as Shiva and Shakti in the yoga tradition, just different symbols and terminology are used to describe the same Universal Energy.

Recommend Reading: - “The Tao Te Ching,” by Lao Tzu (translated by Stephen Mitchell)

“In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added.

In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.

It can't be gained by interfering.”

~ Lao-tzu ~