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Taoist Meditation & Qigong:
Exploring Inner Space through
Posture, Movement, and Stillness
  
A Winter Weekend Workshop with:
Taoist Adept and Taiji Master
Harrison Moretz
&
Alexander Technique and Taiji Instructor
Shoko Zama
Facilitated by:
Local Taiji Instructor
Matthew Sieradski
Saturday and Sunday, January 24th and 25th, 2009
9:00AM to 12:00PM
Located at:
Avalon Lodge
5210 Canyon Drive
Eugene, OR 97405
Cost:
$75 for entire workshop or $40 for one day only
Limited Scholarships Available
To Register:
Contact Matt at 541.579.1153
or matt@eugenehunyuan.com
Curriculum:
Inner Space
Taoist practice seeks to harmonize inner and outer reality by investigating and cultivating inner space - the domain of the body's subtle energy and the mind. Through releasing blockages that obstruct deeper levels of inner spaciousness, we gradually harmonize our inner and outer experience, eventually transcending the boundary between them and returning to the source of all phenomena.
Posture - Energetic Alignment and Seated Meditation
Taoist meditative practice emphasizes the importance of simultaneous physical and mental relaxation and attunement. This workshop will focus on establishing the physical frame necessary for entering stillness. When the proper frame is accomplished, the body's subtle energy, or qi, flows freely and fills the body. This fullness of qi is pleasurable, nourishes the health of the body, and provides the foundation for deeper meditative experience. Shoko will personally work with each participant from the perspective of Alexander Technique to help correct imbalances in posture that prevent one from sitting comfortably and properly. Chairs to sit on will be provided. Please bring your own cushion if you prefer one.
Movement - Taoist Self-Massage and Qigong
Auxiliary practices to sitting meditation have a long history in the Taoist tradition. In this workshop, we will introduce seated self-massage methods and standing qigong practices that greatly benefit contemplative practice as well as health.
Taoist seated self-massage (also known as Daoyin) helps to nourish the body's organs and subtle channels as well as to open qi blockages in the body. Qi blockages may arise as impediments to meditation practice and may be caused by improper sitting posture. Their rectification greatly improves meditative stabilization. These methods are reinvigorating, restorative, and comfortable. They are profound but simple and may be performed by anyone.
The standing qigong sets from the Hunyuan Taiji system are elegant and effective self-cultivation methods. We will be working from two sets during this workshop: Hunyuan Gong and Fangsong Gong. For more on these methods, see: About Qigong
Stillness - Nourish the Qi, Settle the Heart-Mind
True stillness is the complete non-impediment to movement, and as such, represents our true nature. For this quality of our inner experience to be recognized, however, we must perceive directly with a mind and heart that is neither distracted nor distraught. Taoist practice affirms that this is best done through first nourishing the body's life force - the qi - and then allowing the mind to settle naturally so that the Heart's true nature can shine forth. This workshop will emphasize quiet spaciousness and gentle guidance towards that goal.
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