Frequently Asked Questions about Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, Meditation teaching background, certification and modular individual coaching or healing
Q. What is the difference between Tia Chi Chuan and Qi Gong?
A. Qi Gong is an integrated system of, movement, awareness, energy and meditation exercises, that promotes health, wellbeing and Self-realisation, it is considered to be a form of Integral Daoist Yoga. Tai Chi Chuan includes all of the same components as Qi Gong but is also related to Chinese Martial Arts, either implicitly or in the case of Practical Tai Chi Chuan explicitly. So Tai Chi Chuan includes self defence training or awareness through martial arts practice to help promote health and fitness.
Q. What styles of Qi Gong do you teach?
A. I teach some of the Internal Energy Arts, such as Dragon Tiger Qi Gong and Daoist Meditation, which I studied with Bruce Frantzis and a number of his UK based senior teachers, Chris Chappel and Paul Cavel. I also teach some Universal Tao System , and can give instruction in the Microcosmic Orbit Meditation & Self Cultivation and Dual Cultivation energy practices, which I studied with Mantak Chia and UK teacher Tom Soh. I am authorised by Sifu Dan Docherty to teach the Eight Ba Gua Jin Qi Gong and the 24 WU Nei Gong Yin & Yang exercises. In addition to my Qi Gong training I also undertook from 2003 to 2007 a professional teacher/practitioner training in the Feldenkrais Method with Garett Newel, which I use for one to one hands on healing and Functional Integration work. I also use Feldenkrais, Awareness Through Movement lessons for relating and integrating awareness and movement into daily life.
Q. What Style of Tai Chi Chuan do you teach ?
A. Since 1999 I have studied Wudang Practical Tai Chi Chuan and started teaching in 2003 under the tutelage of Sifu Dan Docherty, I am currently a 7th Level Master (Sifu) of Wudang Practical Tai Chi Chuan, and a certified Advanced Level teacher registered with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain.
Q. What is your meditation experience and background?
A. I started studying meditation in 1989 with the east/western meditation organization the Theosophical Society. Then in 1992 I attended my first Buddhist meditation retreat via Goenka Vipassana Centre in Hereford, and continued with a number of Zazen and Dynamic Meditation retreats with the Osho Centre Multiversity in Puna India.. In 1996 to 1999 I studied Qi Gong and Meditation via The Universal Tao System of Mantak Chia and Internal Energy Arts of Bruce Frantzis. In 2010 to 2011I attended JFK University to study Ken Wilber’s Inegral Theory. In 2012 I was awarded a Post Graduate Certificate in Integral Theory based on my own Integral life Practice and Tai Chi.
Q. Do you provide ongoing teacher training?
A Yes I provide a peer reviewed teacher training in the Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, and Meditative aspects of Wudang practical Tai Chi Chuan. Reviewed by Sifu Dan Docherty and recognised by the Tai Chi Union Of Great Britain.
Q. Do you do One to One individual training/coaching in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Meditation.
A. Yes I provide a modular approach to individual training and coaching for people who would like to pursue or learn a particular aspect of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Meditation or Feldenkrais Method. This is a student centred approach were the individuals particular interest can be the focus of a series of training or coaching sessions.
Q. Do you do individual healing or functional integration work for people dealing with injury, health or other issues?
A. Yes I use Qi Gong, Feldenkrais Method, and Mindfulness Meditation for dealing with a range of body mind and awareness integration issues. A series of bespoke sessions can be tailored to the needs of the particular individual for the purpose of recovering from injury, adjusting to change or to encourage health or wellbeing.
