What is the solution to this challenge? Get a personal trainer, who would keep pushing and nagging to stick with the program? Get into a group exercise class, where you would feel the peer pressure to keep up? Repeat positive affirmations every day, so you stay on track with the self-discipline?

I have tried all of these and many other options that are quite popular among the “gym rats” and everyday exercisers alike… and I still did not feel that either of them was natural or fun. Dreading the workout is not a way to train, especially if you are doing it for a living, and I was running my own gym in downtown Moscow, Russia back then. After many months or trial and error, I managed to distill the quintessential principles of training into a uniquely easy to learn and fun to practice program combining strength and endurance training.

What? You may doing a double-take, because normally training is either aerobic – for endurance – or anaerobic – for strength; however, your eyes did not lie to you. I mean exactly that – the program you are about to discover for yourself seamlessly integrates the best of both worlds: the most balanced way to build tremendous strength as well as the cardio-pumping aerobic exercise, which you may adjust to fit to your individual needs on the fly. All of this combined with the low-impact, smooth and circular culture of movement that is completely free of jerky, start-stop motions that may damage your joints and tendons, causing more harm than good. Instead, this program is based on the most harmonious and efficient culture of movement that can be used not only in your training, but throughout your daily life.

In order to really appreciate this program, consider its four main principles:

1) Enjoy the training days more than the days of rest;

2) Feel better after the workout than before (and no soreness the day after);

3) Have so much fun exercising that you would want to exercise more every day;

4) Get the results quickly and consistently, which builds confidence in the progress you are making.

Please enjoy watching the video below and subscribe on the right to receive more videos about this program for free:

In 1993, Professor Johnson furthered his clinical studies at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center and at the Acupuncture Institute of China, Academy of T.C.M. He was the first foreigner from the Acupuncture Institute of China invited to treat patients in the Medical Qigong Clinic at the Xi Yuan Hospital of T.C.M. (featured in Bill Moyer’s special “Healing and the Mind”). There he interned as a Doctor of Medical Qigong Therapy, specializing in the treatment of cysts, tumors, and kidney dysfunctions.

In 1993, Professor Johnson also interned as a Doctor of Anmo Therapy at the Orthopedic Traumatology Clinic of the Hu Guo Si Hospital of T.C.M. (in Beijing, China) specializing in Chinese bone-setting, traumatology, and tissue manipulation. His training in somatic regulation also includes Neuromuscular Therapy, Psychophysical Integrational Therapy, Advanced Visceral Manipulation, and Advanced Cranio-Sacral Therapy.

In 1995, Professor Johnson obtained his Masters Degree in Medical Qigong Therapy from the Medical Qigong College at the Hai Dian University in Beijing, China. He then received his clinical license as a “Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine” specializing in Medical Qigong and Anmo therapy. Please enjoy the interview with him at www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters.

Bruce Frantzis is the first known Westerner to hold authentic lineages in Qigong, Bagua, Tai Chi, Hsing-i and Taoist meditation. He trained for over a decade in China and also has extensive experience in Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Kundalini Yoga, energy healing therapies, as well as the Fire and Water traditions of Taoism.

Since 1961, Bruce Frantzis has followed the 3,000-year-old Taoist tradition of warrior-healer-priest by studying, practicing, teaching and writing about energy arts including: Qigong, energetic healing therapies, Taoist meditation, and Martial Arts. The heart of his tradition is the cultivation of Qi, the internal energy that connects the mind, body and spirit to the underlying consciousness of the universe (Tao).

Bruce Frantzis developed a practical, comprehensive system of Energy Arts Programs, enabling people of all ages and fitness levels to increase their life-force energy and attain vibrant health. Some of his instructors have founded their own schools. His books, CDs, DVDs, instruction manuals and free articles offered through his monthly newsletter help to teach Westerners China’s Energy Arts and support his commitment to disseminate the practical Taoist tradition. Although a spiritual tradition, most students practice Taoist energy arts secularly for stress reduction, healing illness, and maintaining health and well-being.

So, given all these inconsistencies and discrepancies, who do you call a Qigong master? To start with, let’s establish that “master” in this context means “a person with a high level of skill and knowledge.” To paraphrase one of my guests named Jeff Smoley, master is a person able to do something very difficult, that even well trained people strain to do, and make it look too easy… someone capable of teaching even the most complex and difficult aspects of one’s art in a clear and concise manner. The reference to one’s art form is not incidental here, since we are trying to clarify the meaning of “master of Energy Arts,” as Qigong can be translated into English. Observing some masters in related disciplines may help us on our quest.

There are several disciplines and art forms historically related to Qigong, including, but not limited to Taiji, Bagua, Xing Yi, and other Internal Martial Arts. Perhaps, examining the ways people achieve a similar status of a master in those disciplines may help us determine who should be called a Qigong master. Unlike most fields of studies, Martial Arts provide an excellent method for testing and distinguishing those with high levels of mastery from all other practitioners. If you prevail over most or all opponents, you qualify to be called a kung fu master (whatever style you specialize in). If you get beat up when push comes to shove, you have ways to go.

It takes years or perseverance and diligent training to reach such a level of mastery, which is beyond the comfort zone of the vast majority of aspiring martial artists. Most enthusiasts also tend to dabble attempting to learn one style after another, qualifying only to be called proverbial “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Throughout my career as a professional martial artist, I also saw many of those, who claimed that they could defeat anyone and using some demonstration of kata or choreographed form to prove the point. In my humble opinion, doing forms may be a fine exercise, but that never makes anyone a real master. But what does then?

In addition to perseverance, another crucial element of mastery seems to be proper training, preferably, by a real master. As it were, having a role model of mastery is essential for becoming developing mastery. Of course, mindlessly following the steps of the best master does not lead to any kind of authentic mastery. The way I explain this is very simple: you become a master by learning to be in the flow; and you can neither be in your flow nor in your master’s flow as long while copying his steps, moves or mannerisms. Therefore, when a true master is in the flow, he or she also serves as a role model of authenticity at the same time.

I noticed that people often view mastery as a destination, while I view it as a process of becoming more and more masterful. This journey has no final destination, because there is always more to learn; however, as we progress along the path, we gain more experience. As it were, the more experiences we have, the more experienced we become. Generally speaking, being experienced, which may mean being more knowledgeable or skilled in our arts, is what sets masters apart from the laymen, even though this division is never clearly defined and depends on each person’s point of view. What is appears to be an advanced skill to one may seem rather basic to another.

So, how can you tell apart those, who achieved certain degree of mastery, from all others involved in the same field of study? I would say that creativity, audacity to think outside the box, ability to integrate different bits and areas of knowledge, and teaching capability, all these qualities are distinguishing traits of an authentic master. Unlike the fine arts or music, for instance, most masters of Energy Arts is likely to apply their skills to their daily lives, so the lines between the arts and lifestyle dissolve. In final analysis, the more one lives one’s art, the greater one’s level of mastery usually is.

Mastery eventually leads to transcending the desire to compare oneself to others, which is mostly helpful or necessary on the initial stages of this journey. Without any competition, it would be virtually impossible to distinguish progress or even find motivation to persist along the path. Without any appealing goal, it would be difficult to maintain the course. Yet, with practice, competition and goals fade away and the enjoyment of the process of self-improvement becomes the predominant driving force of the true masters. This also distinguishes authentic masters from those who seek recognition from others, without which they would not believe in their own mastery. This authenticity leads to self-realization that, by definition, cannot only be experienced internally. Of course, this also leads to realizing that there is no “self,” but that would have to be a topic for another article.

About the Author:

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the 27th lineage holder of Qi Dao, also known as Tibetan Shamanic Qigong. He has been practicing  Qigong, Dream Yoga, Meditation, and Internal Martial Arts for over thirty five years, primarily trained by his Grandfather who was the paragon of the Russian Martial Arts and Qi Dao Grand Master. His background is complex enough to include serving in the Soviet Army’s Special Forces, being kidnapped in the Ukraine and surviving several near-death experiences.

Lama Tantrapa was ordained as a Buddhist monk in three different orders and initiated into Subud spiritual brotherhood. In addition to being a Tibetan Bon Lama, he studied with a number of Qigong and kung-fu masters, great teachers of Yoga and meditation, as well as Native American, Hawaiian and Siberian Shamans. He is also trained in Cultural Anthropology, Meta-coaching, Hypnosis and NLP. When living for two years on a small tropical island in the Pacific, 7000 miles away from the majority of his students and clients, he pioneered a novel method of conducting Qi Dao sessions over the Internet called Qigong Coaching. In the last decade, he has provided wellness, peak performance and life coaching to thousands of people of all ages and from various walks of life. He is also a bestselling author of several Qi Dao books, executive producer of the film Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, creator of CD albums Qi Dao Initiation and The Art of Being in the Flow, publisher of the Basic Qi Dao Home Study Course and other multimedia learning materials available at www.qidao.org.

In addition to being the publisher of the new ezine called Mastery Journal that you can read at www.mastery-journal.com, Lama Tantrapa is also the producer and host of the Internet Radio talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters that you can enjoy at www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters. He is currently working on creating an Internet TV program dedicated to Qigong miracles called The Flow Show.

Being in the flow, expansive awareness, enlightenment, lucidity, vibrant health, physical power, beauty, equanimity, wisdom, freedom, spontaneity, balance, harmony, compassion, kindness, and abundance.

I believe that one way to translate my values into the context of our group is by sharing them and inviting those who resonate with them to join the group. If your values match or come close to mine, you are welcome to email me at lama@qidao.org to find out how to join our group ASAP. We have space for just five more people with some serious expertise in Qigong (and/or related disciplines) and strong desire to collaborate with other Qigong masters.

Mantak Chia was born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1944. Recognized very early as having great potential for spiritual development, he was initiated into meditation practices by Buddhist monks at the age of 6. While studying in Hong Kong, he learned Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido and Kundalini Yoga from a variety of teachers. His pursuit of Taoist teachings lead him to meet the White Cloud Hermit, a Taoist Master originally from Central China, living at that time in the mountains not far from Hong Kong. Master Yi Eng was to become Master Mantak Chia’s principle teacher. Over a period of five years, Master Yi transmitted to Master Mantak Chia the most sacred and closely held Taoist practices, formulas and methods of internal alchemy, culminating in the Reunion of Heaven and Man. Realizing that as transmitted to him, these Immortal practices could not easily be absorbed by western students, Master Mantak Chia undertook to integrate them with his studies in western physical anatomy. Through this process he created a unique view of the internal aspects of these practices. With the Universal Healing Tao system, he has created for the first time, a way for any individual to quickly get to the essence of subtle practices whose real purpose has been shrouded in secrecy for millenia. The author of dozens of books, booklets, videos and CDs describing the theory and methods of these practices, Master Mantak Chia has taught hundreds of thousands of eager students the principles of Taoist internal practice over the past 40 years. He has certified hundreds of Instructors and Practitioners to help in the transmission of these teachings.