Natural Stance

Natural Stance, as the name implies, is the simplest way to stand naturally. A naturally balanced human body responds to the challenge of gravity by bringing itself to a stable position using its bone structure to support its weight and prevent falling. The vertical alignment of the spine allows the body to spend the least amount of energy to maintain a stable, upright stance.
If you are one of the many people leading a sedentary lifestyle you may not know how to keep your body naturally balanced and aligned. If you deviate from your natural alignments, the weight of your body will not be supported by its bone structure, and you will have to engage your muscles to keep yourself from falling. Although muscular tension may prevent you from falling, muscles are never as strong as bones; muscles spend energy while the bones do their work effortlessly. Not only will this make you tired but it will also restrict your mobility and cause discomfort. Eventually, chronically tense muscles will begin to ache from the effort required to keep the misaligned body from falling.
If the body is misaligned, it may try various compensation strategies (e.g., shift the weight between the hips, tilt the pelvis, bend the spine, raise one shoulder or the other, etc.) all of which will eventually contribute to the muscular tension and pain. Learning Natural Stance and addressing the issue of balance between the feet can often help resolve such common conditions as headache, backache, shoulder pain, sciatica, and even scoliosis.
In Natural Stance, the weight of the body is distributed evenly between both legs while the torso and head are resting on the bone structure of the spine. The natural curve of the spine is neither exaggerated nor diminished.  This allows the free flow of energy throughout the organism. If you could visualize the energy field of such an aligned person, their energy field would appear symmetrical and centered.
You can experience Natural Stance by jumping up in the air and landing on both feet as softly as possible with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Notice that the easiest way to do this is to land with you knees bent, letting your quadriceps (thigh muscles) absorb the shock of landing. They are, after all, the largest muscles in the human body, which are most suitable for being shock absorbers. Natural Stance allows you to maintain natural body alignment, distributing most of your weight on the bone structure of your body, rather than the muscles.
Notice how bent your knees are. Naturally, the deeper you squat, the further the toes tend to turn outwards away from the Centerline with the knees following suit. Experiment with bending your knees enough to cover your feet when you look at them. You may ask your practice partner to test how stable you are in this stance. Compare this to other positions where your knees are locked or do not sufficiently cover your feet from sight.
Taking a Natural Stance is an exercise in awareness in its own right. It is an excellent way to begin exploring the practice of Qi Dao.

The Mystery of David Carradine’s death

One of the most prolific and beloved American actors, a famous Kung Fu and Qigong aficionado, David Carradine, 72, was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok. Carradine was in Thailand filming the movie Stretch when his nude body was discovered on Thursday morning. His body was found in a sitting position in the closet of his room, bound by curtain rope around his neck, wrists, genitals and attached to a closet bar.

The mystery of the actor’s demise continues to generate international controversy. After a maid found hiss body in a closet in his Bangkok hotel room, police called it a suspected suicide. But the people who were close to the actor refuse to believe it. The family of the actor have asked the FBI to intervene. Lumpini police chief Col. Samprasong Yenthuam stated that the FBI need approval from the Office of the Attorney General in order to do so.

It seems that the Royal Thai Police have closed this case all too quickly announcing that it was a suicide by auto-sexual strangulation. Instructed by the police, the Swiss Hotel where the body was discovered in room 352, erected a wall of silence trying to cover up a murder. The tourist industry has been severely damaged by the recession and political instability. The murder of a famous film star would be a final nail in the coffin of the tourism industry. Something is rotten in that city seething with crime and prostitution. Any western country would conduct a far more sophisticated investigation.

Bangkok is known as a city of love for sale. Film makers often come to Bangkok to shoot and avail themselves of the pleasures to be found there. Kinky sex is popular and considered no big deal. Could this be a coverup for a sex-related robbery gone awry?

The strange circumstances of the verdict by auto-sexual strangulation trouble not only the members of the Carradine’s family, but many people who knew him. Why indeed would a man of his talent take his own life?

Dr. Bruce Hensel interviewed David Winters regarding the mysterious circumstances of Carradine’s demise. Winters explains Carradine portrayed a bounty hunter in the films. He scoffs at the premise that Carradine died of auto-erotic asphyxiation. Dr. Bruce asks David if Carradine committed suicide. Winters emphatically replies in the negative. According to him, David Carradine was a consummate gentleman, a brilliant actor, and a man for all seasons.

“David would never kill himself …. for sure …. he was happily working and that was all he wanted in life … he was on a roll as Chuck and Tiffany his agents say.  He had many more films to make and money was rolling in.

“David starred in 2 films for me and I knew him quite well as a personal friend and he would not do this when he had a rebirth so to speak as a movie star! When he called me I told him how wonderful Bangkok was, I wish I had never said that now.

“Keith Carradine is right about wanting the FBI to investigate the case.

“This will probably get me killed too…  But someone has to speak for David as he cannot…”

Winters spoke to Chuck Binder and Tiffany Smith, Carradine’s agents. The actor was lined up for work years in advance. People of his social class always have the mandatory gold Rolex watch, diamond ring and gold chain, as well as a wad of spending cash.  No mentioning of this was made by the police.

According to blogger Antonio Pineda, David Winters believes that a katoey, or transexual,  could have easily possessed the strength to murder Carradine. Transexuals are part and parcel of the Bangkok scene. They frequently masquerade as prostitutes and are often indistinguishable from the real deal.

“It could done by a katoey, who would be strong enough and big enough to pick David up and hang him in the closet. I want to see the tapes from the hotel’s cameras and check them out as they may have been tampered with already.”

An investigative journalist David Walker says he and a CBS crew were denied access to view the corpse at the morgue. The security surveillance tapes from the hotel were also unavailable to view.

Another film producer Tom Waller states that he does not believe in the suicide verdict either. He suspects that it was a sex robbery gone wrong, and that to cover the motives, the body had been arranged to fit the profile of death by auto-sexual strangulation, a theory once confined to the genre of psychological thriller novels.

Richard Diran, the author of Vanishing Tribes of Burma, who has seen the pix of the body, bound by curtain rope, in a local newspaper Thai Rath, also questions how Carradine could have hung himself in the closet hands tied behind his back.

“We are not saying it’s an accidental death because we don’t know,” says Tiffany Smith. “Right now we are just letting everyone know that it’s under investigation and we’ll see… I just know he didn’t do this to himself.”

A similar statement was made by Martin Zwieback, a writer-producer-director with 50 years of credits in Hollywood. Martin, who wrote the script for the original Kung Fu series and was a close friend of David Carradine’s, often graces the Bangkok film colony with his presence. It is fitting that an artiste of his stature have the final word in this affair. He remains firm in his claim that Carradine would never commit a suicide. Martin remembers Carradine as one of the great talents of his generation.

From his home in Santa Monica, he wrote, “…David was a gifted and underrated actor. I saw him at a screening of Kill Bill not too long ago. He seemed vibrant and clearly excited by the “second chance” Tarantino’s film had given him. Suicide in the middle of shooting a movie at this point in his life just doesn’t compute…”

Carradine’s dramatic skills were recognized by such directors as Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, and Hal Ashby who cast him in, respectively, 1972’s Boxcar Bertha, 1973’s The Long Goodbye, and 1976’s Bound for Glory. He was also beloved by Quentin Traction, who referenced Carradine’s TV show Kung Fu in Pulp Fiction and later cast the actor as the eponymous villain in his Kill Bill films.

The actor’s family was stunned by the news. In a statement, Carradine’s niece, actress Martha Plimpton, expressed the family’s sense of loss. “My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man,” Plimpton said.

“He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him. We will all miss him terribly.”

Interview with Sam Masich

Interview with Sam Masich

I am excited to introduce to you one of the most remarkable Taiji players in North America today. Sam Masich is one of the most accomplished mid-generation practitioners of Chinese internal martial arts in the world today. Having trained and taught for a quarter century, Masich has studied with several of the great masters of his era from both North America and China including Liang Shouyu, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Jou Tsung Hwa, Yang Zhenduo and Chen Xiaowang. He has taught around the world and is the subject of two internationally airing documentaries. Sam has made some 20 films on Tai Chi and Neijia related subjects.

I am sure that you will enjoy the live interview with him on the talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters tonight. Please go to www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters from 6:00 to 7:00 pm PDT (9:00 to 10:00 pm EDT). Do not miss a rare opportunity to connect with Sam and ask him your most burning questions about Taiji or Qigong. Feel free to call (347) 327-9635 with any questions for this internationally renowned expert in the Internal Martial Arts.

Sam is one of the most recorded internal martial artists of all time. He has been filmed in countless demonstrations, competitions and classes and was the first instructor to publish a video instructional manual on the subject of Push Hands. Through Little Productions, he has produced over 20 instructional films on subjects such as Taijiquan, Push Hands, Qigong and Xingyiquan and has several major instructional video works in development. Sam has served as a martial arts action consultant, trainer and choreographer on various TV programs and stage productions, and is himself the subject of two documentaries on Taijiquan and the internal arts. He is currently working on a feature length documentary entitled ‘Tai Chi People’.

Masich has distinguished himself in competition as a quadruple and septuple gold medallist in national competitions and was a member of the Canadian National Chinese Martial Arts Team competing in China at The World Wushu Invitationals in 1985. In 1994, although formally retired from competition, he was awarded seven gold medals for performances in the Shanghai Oberon Cup, an event involving athletes from more than twenty countries. Since 1989 Masich has refereed and judged in national tournaments and has held a steady position as Chief Referee for Push Hands in the U.S. All Taijiquan Championships.

Qi Dao Meditation Study Group

I would be glad to see you participating in our Meditation Study Group that meets by phone on Friday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 pm PDT. This is one of the easiest and most affordable opportunities to enjoy the benefits of Qi Dao practice without making a serious commitment of time or money. Thousands of people throughout the world have found Qi Dao meditation practices extremely helpful for their self-empowerment and self-realization. I am sure you will find it very beneficial for you, too.

Due to some technical difficulties with our teleconference provider, we were unable to record the last two meetings, so I decided to offer the same teleseminars again. Now, we are going to make it sure that they get recorded in case you miss any of them. The recordings will be available to all members of the group at no extra charge.

Given the economic conditions many people experience nowadays, we are offering a $15 discount on the registration for this group, so you can register for this six weeks series for just $65. If you have the Qi Dao Initiation CD, that is great, because we will be following the same outline as on the tracks of that CD. If you still do not have it, you are welcome to CLICK HERE to order the CD from Amazon.com or to DOWNLOAD THE TRACKS HERE.

If you experience any challenges with Qigong or Qi Dao practice, I would be happy to assist you through phone coaching. But I believe that our Meditation Study Group is the second best option for a long-distance Qi Dao training.

To register, please send via PayPal $65.00 to academy@qidao.org and make sure you have the Qi Dao Initiation meditation CD. In response I will send you the phone number of the teleconference calls we will hold on Fridays, May 22 and 29, June 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Speak to you soon,

Exploration of Yin and Yang in the Qi Dao Movement Practice

When learning the basic Qi Dao movements, you will learn to use both hands, one performing the primary movement and the other performing the secondary movement. Qi Dao respects the philosophical principles of Yin and Yang common in Oriental schools of thought, which oppose as well as complement and balance each other. Like a magnet where the positive and negative poles cannot exist without each other, Yin and Yang movements need to work together to balance and synchronize the body and its energy field. In each spatial plane of movement, such as the sagittal (centerline), frontal (vertical) and transverse (horizontal) planes, there are directions having Yin or Yang qualities.

Yin movements represent the feminine aspect of universal energy flowing forward, downward and inward, each viewed in relation to one’s center.  Yang movements represent the masculine aspect of universal energy flowing backward, outward and upward, again viewed in relation to one’s center. It is interesting to note that Western medical terminology uses the identical categories of direction: anterior – forward, inferior – downward, interior – inward, posterior – backward, exterior – outward and superior – upward.

The basic directional movements of Qi Dao are paired up in each of the spatial dimensions. When one arm performs a primary movement, the opposite arm makes a secondary movement to provide counter-balance. By definition, primary movement is a movement that coincides with the direction of the motion of the body’s center of mass.  The power of the primary movement does not come from the tension of the arm muscles, but from the momentum of the whole body. By definition, secondary movement is usually the movement of the opposite arm in reverse. Most secondary movements have no inherent power because they move in the direction opposite to the momentum of the body.

Forward Push, Closing and Downward Press in this context require transverse motion of the legs – stepping towards the target with the opposite foot from the arm making the primary movement and bringing the weight on the front foot. Backward Pull, Opening and Upper Cut, on the other hand, usually require homolateral motion of the legs – stepping towards the target with the foot on the same side of the body as the arm making the primary movement. Imagine practicing these movements as if you are practicing Tai Chi – slowly and effortlessly.  It will make your practice more meditative and pleasant.  Qi Dao teaches that only harmonious steps can lead you to harmonious goals.

About the Author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the holder of the lineage of Qi Dao that has been fostered in his clan for 27 generations since 1224 AD.  He has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other internal martial arts.  After pioneering Qi Dao Coaching in 2000, he has provided wellness, peak performance and life coaching to hundreds of clients from all walks of life.  His coaching has inspired many professional athletes, speakers, dancers, singers, writers and actors to open up to the infinite source of power that exists within everyone.

Lama Tantrapa is the author of the bestselling book and DVD entitled “Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong.”  Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad.  For more information about Qi Dao Coaching, workshops, retreats, and long-distance learning opportunities, visit www.qidao.org.

What would you ask a Qigong master?

As I am interviewing the top Qigong experts in North America for my Radio talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters, I would love to be able to ask them the questions that you would ask them if you had a chance to. The caliber of the recent guests on the show is very high: Michael Winn, Jim MacRitchie, Bill Douglas, Bernard Shannon, Ted Cibik, and other fine Qigong aficionados. In the near future, we are planning on airing interviews with Bruce Frantzis, Yang Jwing-Ming, Effie Chow, Sam Masich, Suzanne Freidman, Lee Holden, etc.

Please submit your most burning questions on the Energy Arts, and I promise to ask the most frequent and interesting questions during the upcoming episodes of my show, which you can listen to at www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters as well as download the archived episodes on your iPod or any other mp3 player for future enjoyment.

Speak to you soon,

Lama Tantrapa

Why Practice Dream Yoga?

Last year, Academy of Qi Dao produced my first meditation CD entitled Qi Dao Initiation. It introduces some of the preliminary practices of Dream Yoga and the first stage of initiation into the practice of Empowerment. I frankly recommend reading my book before jumping into doing these guided meditations, especially the Initiation track of this CD. Doing so may provide you with more understanding of what is going on and why, because my approach to Dream Yoga is quite special. The Qi Dao philosophy suggests regarding the entire experience of life as a dream, not unlike the dreams you have at night. As I said in the introduction to this album, “By following my teachings of Dream Yoga and regularly practicing these Qi Dao meditations, you will learn to recognize that you are dreaming during your dreams, which is called lucidity or lucid dreaming.

“Being lucid literally means knowing that you are dreaming while having a dream (it applies to both day- and night dreams). It has many profound implications that directly link it to enlightenment. Indeed, being awake in the dream allows you to:

• Recognize that each and every one of the dream characters, objects and experiences in your dreams are products of your own dreaming consciousness

• Realize that all the qualities of your dream characters and the whole dream world reflect back to you those aspects of your consciousness that you don’t identify with

• Learn to identify not only with your own persona, but also with any other dream characters, since they are all parts of the same Dream Being, which will lead you to a deep understanding of everything and everyone, as well as developing compassion

• Heal whatever ails you as well as any ailments of your dream characters by connecting to the unmanifest dreams hidden beneath the ailments and enabling those dormant aspects of your dreaming to manifest in the most harmonious fashion

• Demonstrate that your physical abilities, mental capacities and creativity are limited only by your own inhibitions, ignorance or self-limiting beliefs

• Know that fighting against the flow of dreaming is a sure way to transform any dream into a nightmare and promote further suffering

• Comprehend that being creative does not need to translate into manipulating anything in your dream, but rather into finding more creative ways to be in the flow of your dreaming

• Trust that the flow of your dreaming, however mysterious and unpredictable, comes from the source within you – the dreamer

• Expand your sense of identity from merely one of the dream characters to identifying with the dreamer, also referred to as Dream Being, because on the grand scale, the creator and the creation are one – the entire universe is dreaming itself into existence.”

Imagine now that you can translate all these qualities of consciousness into your daily life. That would be a bona-fide enlightenment, wouldn’t it? As I wrote in my book entitled Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, “What I call enlightenment is being completely lucid and awake to the reality of the dream called life… realizing that the source of your individual dreams is the same as the mystical source of the big dream called life.”

This may be quite a distinct approach comparing to Namkhai Norbu’s and Tenzin Wangyal’s ways of explaining Dream Yoga, although from our private dialogues, I have to say that they seem to be on the same page with me. With all due respect to both Rinpoches, having to stay true to the spirit of Qi Dao, I cannot beat around the bush with doing thousands of ngondros (prostrations) and similar preliminary practices that other Tibetan teachers may view as important for beginners. Instead of teaching my students incantations and complicated visualizations, I teach Harmonious Culture of Movement that enables the beginners to quickly become proficient in both Martial Arts and the wellness discipline similar to Dao Yin and Yantra Yoga. Some meditation practice is also required to pass the test prior to the initiation to the practice of Empowerment at the end of the basic Qi Dao training. Those are the meditations on the Qi Dao Initiation CD. If you not just listen to the practices presented there, but actually explore them, like hundreds of Qi Dao students worldwide, you will find a renewed interest in life and will probably never be the same.

About the Author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the lineage holder of Qi Dao that has been fostered in his family clan for 27 generations.  Affectionately called Rinpoche by his students, he has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other styles of Qigong, Yoga and martial arts. He was primarily trained by his Grandfather, the last Grand Master of Qi Dao. In addition to being a world authority on Qi Dao, he was recognized as an incarnate Bön lama, ordained as a Buddhist monk and initiated into Subud spiritual brotherhood. Lama Tantrapa is the author of the bestselling book and DVD entitled “Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong” and Meditation CD entitled “Qi Dao Initiation.”

Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad. He currently serves the Vice-President of the National Qigong Association. For more information about Qi Dao Coaching, workshops, retreats, and long-distance learning opportunities, visit www.qidao.org.

Happy Year of the Yin Earth Ox!

We are living in quite an interesting time! Even those of us with the most humble beginnings can make a difference in the world nowadays. For instance, I never really thought of myself as a radio personality until very recently. However, after giving many interviews on various radio programs, I found a way to bring a steady flow of Qi-related news to Qigong enthusiasts world over. After a spending almost a year learning all kinds of technical skills and radio jargon, I have finally launched the first Internet Radio talk show called The Secrets of Qigong Masters solely dedicated to the mastery of our Energy Arts.

It just happened so that the first episode of our show aired on January 5, 2009, was the live interview with the Chairman of the National Qigong Association Dr. Bernard Shannon. His knowledge of Medical Qigong and ability to successfully run the International Institutes of Medical Qigong made his name well known among the practitioners of this healing art in the US and abroad. During the hour-long interview, he answered a great many questions submitted by our listeners on the interactive webpage we created specifically for this purpose www.qidao.org/ask.

Of course, we also made it possible to call in with questions during the live interviews, which allowed some of our listeners to ask Dr. Shannon important questions about the effectiveness of healing particular illnesses with Medical Qigong. To listen to this or other episodes of The Secrets of Qigong Masters, please go to www.blogtalkradio.com/QigongMasters. You can listen to this unique show live every Monday at 6:00 pm PST (9:00 pm EST) by simply opening this webpage. If you ever miss a show, you will be able to download its recording from this webpage at any time.

Another renowned Medical Qigong physician and Vice-Chairman of the NQA Dr. Ted Cibik became our guest on the Chinese New Year. He has made health, healing and wellness his passion all his life, and his profession for many years. He is a gifted motivational speaker who delivers unforgettable presentations for conferences and employee appreciation events. He inspires and motivates audiences with a direct, down-to-earth style that includes a healthy dose of dry humor, colorful analogies, with a deep understanding and empathy for how the human mind works. His programs and professional practice have helped many people experienced sudden shifts in consciousness that radically changed their lives forever.

Diagnosed at the young age of 4 with ‘incurable asthma’, young Ted was one of the 10 worst asthma cases that had ever been documented at this time. In order to control these attacks at a very young age, he began meditating at the age of 5 and later researched nutrition aspects and strictly controlled his diet. Martial arts training and weight lifting activities were a part of his wellness routine for building body strength and lung capacity. While the physicians predicted that he would not live to be an adult, he was able to not only survive their predictions, but go on to found his own business in health and wellness to help others. The company began as a personal training and martial arts center under Dr. Cibik’s personal guidance. It later expanded to include a unique blend of Naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicines, nutritional counseling, and breathing/meditation therapies, as well as corporate seminars on health, wellness and self-defense topics.

Dr. Michael Mayer was a guest at another recent episode of our show demonstrating that there are many similarities as well as some differences between the Medical and Psychological approaches to Qigong healing. Both seem to promote health through energy cultivation. On one hand, Medical Qigong practitioners tend to focus their efforts on improving the clients’ conditions by the means of Qi emission and correcting the flow of energy in their bodies. On the other hand, Dr. Mayer’s Bodymind Healing is dedicated more to integrating the self-healing methods for physical and mental health into healthcare in general and into psychotherapy in particular without ever doing a Qigong movement and without mentioning a word about Qigong.

I believe that both approaches may be valid in their respective contexts. Moreover, there may be many other ways to practice Qigong that will be revealed during our further interviews with prominent Qigong healers and teachers. Rest assured Qi Dao also received well deserved attention on our show with its lineage holder answering some profound questions about the deepest meaning of Qigong and its practical applications in one of the recent episodes. I urge you to listen to that interview to find out about the spiritual roots of our art and its contemporary developments, including Qi Dao Coaching – the revolutionary discipline integrating modern coaching methodologies with the ancient Energy Art of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong.

If you have any questions about Qigong in general or Qi Dao in particular, please submit them at www.qidao.org/ask. I will personally make sure to ask the most pertinent questions at the future interviews with Qigong masters and other interesting people invited to be the guests on my show. and enjoy the interviews with the remarkable Qigong masters from the US and abroad. Please visit www.blogtalkradio.com/QigongMasters.

About the Author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the lineage holder of Qi Dao that has been fostered in his family clan for 27 generations since 1224 AD. His unique background is complex enough to include near-death experiences during the war in Afghanistan, receiving a Black belt in Aikido, and ordination as a Tibetan Lama. He had over 30 years of experience in internal styles of martial arts and Qigong being taught by his Grandfather, who was the previous Grand Master of Qi Dao.

Lama Tantrapa is the founder of Academy of Qi Dao, which trains Qi Dao coaches aspiring to develop new Qigong clinics, retreat centers or branches of Academy of Qi Dao. His private practice has also facilitated creative processes of many healers, actors, artists and athletes from all over the world by helping them discover the infinite source of intuition that exists within everyone.

The World Is Transforming Before Our Eyes! Are You Ready to Be in the Flow of Change?

Since America has flipped another page of its history with the recent election, a lot of changes have been happening in this country. All of us, not only in America but worldwide, are astonished by the transformation that this nation is now in the midst of. As I congratulate you with electing Barak Obama the next US President, which seems to be a dream come true to many people, I also wish to encourage you to live your own dreams in all aspects of your life. Although it may be great to finally have a harbinger of change for a leader, each and every one of us must recognize that we are essentially responsible for our own destiny.
You may feel both excited and anxious about your own future as well as the future of our society. I hope that you do not merely survive, but actually thrive during these times of change. How can you prepare yourself emotionally, physically and financially to face the dramatic changes that are ahead of us? Since change is the most constant thing in the universe, the easiest way to enjoy living through it (rather than struggle against it) is by being in its flow. After all, the degree, to which you enjoy greater relationships, health and wealth, depends on your ability to be in the flow.
Everything boils down to it, because everything is made of energy in this world, which is in constant ebb and flow.
I believe that the power of focused gratitude is greater than most of us realize. When you spend time with your family during these holidays, I invite you to experiment with taking some time to tell each other what you are thankful for. Although this may sound a little contrived at first, since you are bombarded with so many news that may distract you from being happy now, this may be an especially powerful thing to do at this point. I hope you recognize that there are multiple opportunities for growth and learning during the difficult times of change. The way you respond to the events
of your life determines whether you fill your life and the lives of others with more things to be grateful for.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces you can tap for your own benefit
too. Take a minute right now to think about the things in your life that you
appreciate. Even if you feel stuck in the trance of self-pity (which may happen every once in a while to most of us), you can quickly pull yourself out of that vicious circle by focusing on things you appreciate. Most people tend to focus on what they don’t appreciate, which only makes them unhappy. Think about it, if you resonate with something, don’t you attract more of it? On the other hand, if you neglect it or simply take it for granted, doesn’t that seem to increase suffering? Since, by definition, you can only focus on one thing at a time, I promise that this will make you feel really joyful and happy very quickly.
We will explore more of the energetic of the Law of Attraction in the next issue. Right now, let me share with you a unique approach to Qigong practice that will help you be in the flow of changes and discover the true essence of the Energy Arts. The following three paragraphs are excerpts from the only book in English on Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong by yours truly.
“When most people think of Qigong, they usually think of ‘doing forms’ – sets of choreographed movements practiced repetitively. I do not believe that the sages of antiquity, who originated Qigong thousands of years ago, had to study any ‘forms.’ Those masters created their systems of self-realization not by practicing some forms, but by discovering their own, authentic ways to experience their true nature. Since they were the original founders, they had no human teachers to emulate. They had to learn from Mother Nature as well as their inner nature. The founders of the oldest systems of self-realization had to rely on the knowledge gathered from their own personal experiences and some anecdotal stories about the miraculous powers of the ancient Shamans. They had to find empirically their own unique methods of being in the flow of Qi and experimenting with it. Such a genuine approach reared great Qigong masters, whose mastery was based on personal observation and exploration, rather than routine repetition of forms. Playing with each other and with different animals was the testing ground for their skills and powers.
“Alas, the tendency of the human mind to be focused on appearances instead of the inner essence eventually reduced many styles of Qigong, as well as Yoga, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, etc., to merely ‘doing forms.’ You would be hard pressed to find anyone who managed to achieve anything profound by emulating their teachers’ external appearances. In order to experience the authentic mastery of being in the flow, you will need to start by shifting attention from forms to the true essence of everything, starting with your own inner nature, which is pure energy.
“Comparing yourself to others is such an insidious tendency that many artists never transcend the stage of mimicking their role models. Yet the entire idea of mastery implies being natural in your art and authentic in your artistic expression. There is one style, however, that does not merely offer more routines to memorize or forms to repeat day in and day out, but teaches to develop the attitude of authenticity from the very beginning while allowing you to be natural. This style called Qi Dao recognizes that the flow is always different from one person to another and from one moment to another. This means that trying to copy the master’s movements or other actions is an attempt to grasp the form of the master’s experience rather than its essence. Such imitation would not enable anyone to be in the flow,
because being in the flow implies being in one’s own flow, not in someone else’s flow. Through the practice of Qi Dao you can learn to be truly authentic by perceiving the flow of Qi within you and throughout the world around you. By developing trust of the flow of changes you can learn to surrender to their flow and let it guide you in living your innermost dreams. Being in the flow will empower you to manifest your dreams effortlessly and gracefully.”
If you wish to read the first chapter of this bestselling book for free, please ask your most burning question about Qigong or its applications at www.qidao.org/ask and receive the chapter entitled Qi Dao Fundamentals as a bonus. We will present your questions to the Qigong masters interviewed for our forthcoming Radio talk show “The Secrets of Qigong Masters.” Although we cannot guarantee that every single question will be answered, as the most frequent questions will receive more attention, you will have an opportunity to listen to the interviews from the beginning of the next year. Moreover, your question will be automatically entered into the contest for the most interesting question, with the panel consisting of the masters we interview. The winner will receive an opportunity to be featured in one of our future shows. Please look for the link to listen to our Internet Radio talk show in the next issue of the Qi Dao newsletter.

About the Author: Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the lineage holder of Qi
Dao that has been fostered in his family clan for 27 generations.  Affectionately called Rinpoche by his students, he has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other styles of Qigong, Yoga and martial arts. He was primarily trained by his Grandfather, the last Grand Master of Qi Dao. In addition to being a world authority on Qi Dao, he was recognized as an incarnate Bön lama, ordained as a Buddhist monk and initiated into Subud spiritual brotherhood. Lama Tantrapa is the author of the bestselling book and DVD entitled “Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong.”

Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad. He currently serves the Vice-President of the National Qigong Association. For more information about Qi Dao Coaching, workshops, retreats, and long-distance learning opportunities, visit www.qidao.org.

Ask the Qi Dao Master… How to survive the current crisis?

Let me share with you today one of the most peculiar aspects of the Qi Dao teachings: most of us live in a world of self-fulfilling prophesies. Whatever we focus our attention on gets stronger, or as the Chinese put it, “Yi Dao Qi Dao,” where awareness goes – energy flows. If we direct all our thoughts towards some undesirable events we are afraid of happening in the future, so to speak, daydreaming about the worst case scenarios that we keep rehearsing over and over in the head, guess what we are most likely going to experience? That’s right; we are going to manifest exactly those scenarios we dread so much!

At this point, you may be inclined to ask a million dollar question: What are we supposed to do now… think only nice thoughts about the economy and hope for the best? Well, believe me; I am far from proposing to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Just like I ask my Qi Dao Coaching clients, I would suggest that you experiment with switching from thinking about the undesirable scenarios to daydreaming about something you resonate with. Just remember that any thinking about the future by definition falls under the category of daydreaming; therefore, you have total freedom to dream up anything you resonate with. Once you actually come up with a scenario that is more acceptable and reasonably realistic, you may ask yourself the following question: How would I need to be in order to live my dream? It does not really matter how far you may be now from the way you need to be to manifest your dream. As long as you are capable of maintaining your vision of yourself being that way – be it stronger, smarter, more creative or simply calmer – you are actually tuning into the frequency of the energy of consciousness associated with that state. Generally speaking, the longer you maintain your focus on a certain state, the more of the energy associated with it will flow through you into every action you take in your daily life.

Now, let’s look at the economy of this country in general for a moment. As any economist would concur, the flow of money keeps the market strong, while any slowing of such flow weakens it. If people and companies do not spend money or circulate goods, the market freezes, mainly because of the psychological reservation associated with spending money when credit is not available. The worst case scenario can become a self-fulfilling prophesy on a national scale as well. So, what is the way to manifest a different, more exciting future? We need to release the grip of fear and tune into another, happier way of thinking. Since there is no way to make others think more positively, we must show an example of such thinking in action. As it were, we have to “walk the talk” in order to influence others.

To put my money where the mouth is, I am opening up my schedule to accommodate the first ten Qi Dao newsletter subscribers interested in receiving a free coaching session from me directly. If there are more than ten applicants, up to twenty more people will be able to receive Qi Dao Coaching on a sliding scale until the end of this year. Right now, Academy of Qi Dao is also willing to provide financing to ten additional students who exhibit a strong desire to enroll in the Basic Qi Dao Practitioner Certification Program. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please email academy@qidao.org today.

Summer 2008 Qi Dao Events

Basic Qi Dao Home Study Course

It has been just over two years since we moved Academy of Qi Dao from Portland to the little tropical island in the Pacific, where my wife Kali worked as an Assistant Attorney General of Guam. In this two-year period, our school has gone virtual by offering numerous teleseminars, video tutorials, podcasts and even videophone coaching sessions via Skype. But most importantly, I have published two books (paperback and hard cover editions of the bestselling book entitled Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong and its companion – Basic Qi Dao Workbook), produced a DVD on Harmonious Culture of Movement, as well as recorded an audiobook named The Art of Being in the Flow and a meditation CD Qi Dao Initiation. If you have already purchased some of these materials, you know why they are known for creating a new benchmark for Qigong publications. That is because they offer something that most other books, DVDs and CDs don’t – the freedom of choice and authenticity in the way the energy arts can be experienced. Moreover, all of these materials are now available in one convenient package called Basic Qi Dao Home Study Course, only 100 copies of which got printed last month, with one half of them already prepaid for.

Now you can learn the basics of The Art of Being in the Flow in the comfort of your home and at your own
pace. Our multimedia materials will make your learning process engaging and fun while transforming
your perspectives on the energy arts and life in general. In addition to learning how to function effectively
in your physical body, Qi Dao encourages you to explore the mind-body integration using energy as the
medium unifying all the aspects of your being. Furthermore, the Course focuses a fair amount of attention
on the states of consciousness that may facilitate (or otherwise hinder) being in the flow, as it guides you
in your exploration of these states.

Academy of Qi Dao coming to North America

Is it a great news or what? Well, since Qi Dao teaches to dispense with such notions as “good” and “bad,” let’s put it this way – we are about to move again. Kali’s contract with the Guam Government has come to an end and we are planning on moving back to North America. Note that we are talking about the continent in general, because we still do not know for sure where the flow will take us this time. Just like thirteen years ago, when I arrived to the States as a refugee and spent a couple of years exploring the North American continent, we may spend a while visiting different places in the US and Canada looking for the place, whose energy resonates with our energies best. Ultimately, we plan to find an ideal place for creating our own retreat center that would be home to Academy of Qi Dao, its student clinic, wellness center, etc.  In the meantime, we are open to suggestions and invitations, as well as appreciate any opportunities to offer teachings in the form of weekend workshops or longer retreats. If you wish to sponsor any Qi Dao events, please do not hesitate to email us at academy@qidao.org at your earliest convenience.

Basic Qi Dao Practitioner Certification Program

As you probably recall from our previous newsletters, Academy of Qi Dao has launched the Basic Qi Dao
Practitioner Certification Program this year. Our first pilot semester this summer proved to be very
educational – not only for the students but for the teachers too. We are currently improving our website
and adding some extras, including some audio and video tutorials, podcasts, Ask the Qi Dao Master blog
and a discussion board for the students. As soon as we implement some of these improvements, the
tuition for the Program is going to rise from $997.95 to $1,299.95. If you are seriously interested in joining
Academy of Qi Dao and aspire to become a Certified Practitioner or even a Qi Dao Coach, now is the time
to take advantage of the lower tuition, because it is going up next month. Call us at 671-488-0607 or
email academy@qidao.org for the packet of enrollment materials today. Once you have gone through
this program and received the Initiation into the Practice of Empowerment, you will never be the same!
 

The main thing distinguishing the Basic Qi Dao Practitioner Certification Program from any other Qigong
program is its focus on building a strong foundation for any further exploration of the energy arts. Most
such arts tend to begin with learning about the meridian system or running the energy currents through
the hands, but instead of that, Qi Dao first teaches you the principles of kinesthetic, energy and body
awareness that empower you to stand, move and breathe naturally, free of self-imposed limitations
and energy blockages. Once you have learned these simple principles and addressed any patterns of
holding tension in your body, you will be more than ready to delve into more challenging and exciting
aspects of our art. By the time you have completed this Program, you are bound to discover how to enjoy
and effortlessly facilitate:

           ·         Vibrant Health

           ·         Energy Awareness

           ·         Spiritual Awakening

           ·         Being in the Flow of Qi.

Harmonious Culture of Movement, energy awareness and lucid dreaming training will help you experience and embody the true essence of Tai Chi and Qigong: how to feel the flow of Qi and how to be in the flow. Our individually tailored Apprenticeship Program is designed to empower you to start practicing Qi Dao Coaching professionally while still mastering the energy arts at Academy of Qi Dao.

If you are seriously interested in becoming a Qi Dao practitioner, your best choice would be to undertake the Certification and Apprenticeship Programs leading to a Qi Dao Coach degree as well as Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Our programs are exactly what many Tai Chi teachers say they wish they had taken before studying anything else. Furthermore, our programs focus a fair amount of attention on the special state of consciousness that facilitates being in the flow, often referred to as Qigong state that is unique to Qigong masters.

Our Basic Qi Dao Practitioner Certification Program includes the following:

1. The Basic Qi Dao Home Study Course

2. Bi-weekly Teleseminars and Coaching Clinics

3. Monthly Qi Dao Coaching sessions by phone

4. A weekend workshop at the conclusion of the Program

The workshop is a very special event, because it allows me to interact with the students in person (some of them may come from as far away as Australia, Canada or Europe), test their skills and conduct a full-fledged initiation into the Practice of Empowerment, which is the cornerstone of the majority of advanced Qi Dao practices. If you are interested in joining the Certification Program, please call us at email to academy@qidao.org requesting an application form for the program before our tuition increases by over $300.00.

My Special Surprise Offer

While we were putting together this newsletter, I was thinking about some extra special ways to add value to this Program that can literally transform your life. I decided to make another irresistible offer exclusively for the subscribers of our newsletter: not only can you enroll for the Certification Program for only $997.95 but you will actually have an opportunity to participate in two workshops instead of one if you enroll by July 31, 2008! All you need to do is email us before July 31 and complete your enrollment to receive a FREE admission to the workshop in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 23, 2008.

If you choose to participate in that workshop without enrolling in the program, please register ASAP, since the tuition is only $150.00 until the end of July. It goes up to $175.00 if registered between August 1 and August 23 or $190 at door. For more information about this event, please go to www.qidao.org/workshops.htm. Space is limited to thirty people only. The first ten registrants will receive a bonus: Qi Dao DVD for FREE!

Join us for the 2008 Annual Qi Dao Labor Day Weekend Retreat at the Oregon Coast

Ecola State Park on the Oregon Coast

In the best traditions of the Bon, Buddhist and Daoist retreats, our Academy presents a unique opportunity to learn and practice Qi Dao in one of the most beautiful areas on the Oregon Coast. It is going to be an invigorating adventure combining Shamanic journeys with the healing power of Nature. Bring your fears, attachments and old beliefs to let go of in the wilderness. Come prepared for moderate hiking and more intimate connection with Mother Earth through the practice of Qi Dao outdoors.

During the retreat, you will explore a number of different aspects of energy arts with the emphasis on the communion between your inner nature with the world of nature at large. Nature can heal all human fears, attachments and illusions by opening your mind to the mysteries of the unknown. In the course of this retreat, you will be able to discuss and experience natural ways of transforming your perception of who you really are – a miraculous energy being. This will provide you with a direct experience of the flow of life force in your body and the world around you.

Join us as for this weekend of learning to see beyond the artificial filters of perception and layers of technology surrounding us in order to experience the true essence of Mother Nature as we enjoy her earth, water and sky. During this retreat, you will have a chance to practice Tibetan Dream Yoga while camping, hiking and exploring some of the most awesome places on the West Coast of America. You will have an occasion to experience practicing Tibetan Shamanic Qigong the way it was practiced for ages – in the wild. This unique event will also combine the meditation and rejuvenation aspects of Qigong and Tai Chi. In addition, you will be able to learn wilderness survival skills and develop friendships with other kindred spirits within our international community of adventurers.

Take advantage of the early bird discount – only $300 if you register before July 31, 2008. After that, the registration is going up to $350. No registration after August 23. The first ten registrants will receive another bonus gift: my bestselling book entitled Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong for FREE! To register, or for more information email academy@qidao.org today.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Namaste,

Lama Tantrapa and apprentices

P.S. If you are outside the US, please feel free to purchase our Home Study Course in Euros. Click Here To Pay in Euros. We will take care of the international shipping for you!