Tai Chi & Qigong

10th to 17th May 2011

What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi Chuan (meaning Supreme Ultimate Boxing or Yin Yang Fist) is rooted in a Taoist philosophy and practice of moving meditation.  The practice of Tai Chi has many variations (or families) and is most popularly practiced as a solo form.  This is to perform a series of gentle, slow, relaxed movements that link together and with practice, become a moving meditation.  The practice of the ‘form' helps the body to deeply relax whilst the postures flow one into the next.  These movements have the effects of improving the physiological, mental, emotional & spiritual wellbeing of the practitioner.  We therefore, like to say Tai Chi means Supreme Ultimate Art or something so fantastic that it makes us feel good.

Tai Chi has been known in China for centuries to be beneficial to good health and effective for helping many conditions and disease.  Tai Chi may relieve pain, stiffness & stress, improve memory, balance, posture, heart and lung function, enhance the flow of Qi (Chi), integrate body & mind and improve relaxation.

What is Qigong?

Qigong is two words that translate as Qi (pronounced Chee, and also seen as Chi) meaning ‘vital energy' or ‘life force' and Gong (pronounced Gung and also seen as Kung) means ‘to work hard or practice for a long time - like all the arts' but together simply ‘energy exercise using the breath' or ‘energy cultivation'.

                                                                    Tony Hardiman                                    Vicky Ahern

TONY HARDIMAN has been practising & teaching Martial Arts since 1958 and is a highly experienced Chi Kung & Massage Therapist, treating many conditions using ancient, gentle physical techniques with no drugs.  He has held regular classes, courses & seminars for many years in Chi Kung, Chi Healing, Chi-Do Martial Arts and Chi-Do Therapy and is a Gold Medallist in Tai Chi 24 Forms (2009).  He is the Founder and Master of Chi-Do Healing and Martial Arts having practiced Judo, Karate, Aikido and other arts for many years before founding his own art in 1999.

Tony is qualified to practice Acupressure, Massage and Chi Kung as well as Sports Therapy and Sports Electro Therapy.  He is a highly skilled practitioner and lecturer on Complementary and Alternative medicine practices.  

VICKY AHERN has been practicing Tai Chi, Chi Kung (Qigong) & Chi-Do Martial Arts since 1999 and has been focusing on & teaching Tai Chi & Qigong since 2004.  She has trained under several Masters and continues her development with regular Seminars & visits to China and is a Bronze Medallist in Tai Chi 24 Forms (2009).  She has experience teaching in Colleges for Higher Education, Further Education and her own regular private classes for people of all ages and physical abilities. 

Her experience in Tai Chi comes from practice of Modern Beijing forms based on the Yang Style - 24 Forms & 32 Sword Forms & Taiji Kung Fu Fan Form (Combination of styles).  Her Chi Kung (Qigong) experience comes from her practice of Chi-Do Chi Kung, Tai Chi Qigong 18 Forms (Shibashi), Open & Closed Palm Qigong Forms (LTCC) as well as more recently the modern Wu Qin Xi (5 Animals Play) & Ba Duan Jin (8 Treasures).

Vicky is also qualified in Chi-Do Therapy, Massage, Acupuncture and is currently studying towards a further Diploma in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Chi-Do Chi Kung

The arts of Chi-Do Chi Kung are designed to lay the foundations of self healing with Chi energy and eventually, the ability to help others.   The forms were designed by Master Tony Hardiman in 1995, after a lifetime of practice in the healing arts. They are a means of directing the Western mind in particular, to the ancient arts.  Having now been taught to some 800 people, the value of these forms is well established.  In the classes in Crete, you will learn the Five Elementals Form that is the opening section of the 26 Form.   Hopefully, the group will learn enough to practice at home and derive benefit for many years to come. 

The visualisations start with the forest, then the water element, the earth, the aether or cosmic energy and fire in that order.  Such is the potential, we will start simply and progress deeper into meditations as the week goes on.

TAI CHI & QIGONG AT THE MISTRAL HOTEL 

During the 5 days with Tony and Vicky you will learn a variety of Tai Chi & Qigong as we will be taking a selection of forms to work on and develop.  For beginners, this will give a good introduction to a few different styles and for those who are already experienced in these or other forms, another layer of development will be gained and practiced.

What do the sessions include?

Warming-up exercises

Qigong (Chi Kung)

Learning the Form

Winding-down exercises

Meditation

Sessions

After a light breakfast   -   1.5 hours of Tai Chi & Qigong   -   8.30am - 10am

Please make sure you do not drink alcohol before the sessions.

Wear comfortable loose clothing and flat shoes (not flip flops).

Bring plenty of fresh water to drink.