Traditional Chinese Internal arts encompass a spectrum of human refinement techniques stemming from Taoist practices.  These arts are wonderful whether it’s martial arts/self-defense, energy work, physical fitness, consciousness exploration, and even more.  As an added benefit, they have been designed in such a way that someone can focus on one thing and, through consistent training according to correct principles, can still cultivate all the others as well.  

Qigong, meaning “energy work,” is a part of all of them and has myriad ways of training just that aspect, some of which will be familiar to people who practice different systems that stem from both the East and the West.  

Taijiquan, or Tai Chi, is one of the three main Neijiaquan, or Internal Martial Arts- the others being Baguazhang (Bagua) and Xingyiquan (Xingyi or Hsing I).  While there is significant overlap in all three practices, each also has its own flavor and skills that are exemplified.  Taiji, for instance, has its basis in the 13 original practices which consist of the five steppings (front, back, to the left, to the right, and in the middle) and eight Jing (expressions of energy); Peng, Liu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, and Cao or Ward-off, Roll Back, Press/Squeeze, Push Pull Down, Split, Elbow, Shoulder.  These combined with correct breathing and posture along with what’s called Silk Reeling (the whole body moving as one unit in a smooth and round fashion) give Taiji its look and feel.  

Here at Stella Luna Counseling and Wellness, our Operations and Wellness Manager, (Sifu) John Cosma, runs private classes in Taiji and Qigong as well as a selection of meditation modalities.  The classes are meant to be able to instruct the individual to such a degree that they have their own practice to be able to expand upon, cultivating and refining it in how they feel is most beneficial to them.  He has almost 25 years of experience, most of that time as an instructor, to draw upon to help make sure that each person can be met where they are at and guided to where they want to be.