Qi energy of live Gong work, practice

Qi Gong is an original part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves both movement and still practice. It is a method of energy work to harmonise body, breathing and mental attitude, that has evolved over thousands of years.

With these exercises, all focus is directed towards the body, inside and outside, as well as on all thinking, feeling and doing at any moment. The life energy Qi follows the attention and thus increases its flow. Physical and psychological blockades and tensions can loosen up.

Health is defined in TCM as dynamic and harmonious interaction between body, mind and soul. If this interaction is disturbed by disharmonic patterns, the flow of energy is interrupted and illnesses manifest in the body.

Through continuous practice energy is slowly accumulated and directed towards parts of the body that suffer from lack of energy. Through this process an energy balance is achieved that helps to improve and heal both psychological and physical disturbances and illnesses. Qi Gong can be used as a method of healing through balancing disharmonies.

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There is a common understanding that Patanjali lived in the 2nd century BC. It is his extraordinary merit that he for the first time philosophically categorised and recorded yogic meditation techniques, which had been practised for hundreds of years and had been handed down by word of mouth.
 

Yoga encompasses eight stages:

All eight stages are interlinked.
In the West, the focus is mainly on the asanas as a preparation for the other stages.

There is one exercise that is suitable for all ages and most people called

SURYA NAMASKAR
Translated: Sun Prayer

Its tradition goes back to ancient Vedic times and is assumed to be a body ritual to worship the sun.
Over the centuries it has been incorporated into the Hatha Yoga system.
This exercise cycle of twelve movements that flow into each other are activating the body in its entirety. They have a healing, invigorating, strengthening and activating effect on the whole person.
When we start slowly but persistently we can feel new vitality flow within us in a matter of weeks. The Surya Namaskars have a special effect on the nervous system, the main source of energy. We are not strong and lively thanks to our muscles but through the vital energy "behind" the muscles.
"... the result is a considerable loss of weight, a feeling of lightness of the body, cheerfulness of the mind and being free from illness ..." (from: Das Sonnengebet von Rajah von Aundh ISBN 3-89575-096-4)

The Sun Prayer helps with the internal and external posture when meditating. It is a collective exercise in Eisenbuch.

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The word "eurythmy" is of Greek origin and can be translated as "beautiful" or "true rythm". It was developed by Rudolf Steiner, founder of Anthroposophy, at the beginning of the 20th century.

Eurythmy is "motion-speech“ (Language Eurythmy) and "motion-singing“ (Music Eurythmy). Through motion, certain laws can be expressed that are inherent in language and music and thus reflect order and creation processes of the human organism as well as nature. When someone speaks or sings, these motions are confined to the larynx and neighbouring speech organs. Through eurythmy we try to make them visible on the outside.

To do this, different media like gestures, colours and spatial shapes are being used. Vocals, consonants, sounds as well as all other musical and language related elements are transformed into motion, following given forms. This type of motion promotes polarity as a means of creation. The co-operation of force and counterforce creates lively gestures.

"Language is born from within the whole human being. Let's take any vocal. It always expresses what the soul experiences in the entirety of its feeling. Someone wants to either express that which lives in amazement: A, or he wants to express holding against resistance: E, or he wants to express his  self-assertion, his placing-himself into the world: I. He wants to express snuggling up to something: EI. Everything vocal expresses itself initially as feeling of the soul... The same is true for tones in music: the tone expresses the life of the soul...
Consonants on the other hand, express whatever is happening outside of us. The vocal originates from within, wants to bring the full soul to the outside. The consonant originates in capturing things; however we seize them, if only with our eyes, they are transformed into the consonant. The consonant paints the shape of things..." (R.Steiner)

Eurythmy is being practised as stage art, education (Waldorf schools) and as healing eurythmy in anthroposophic medicine.
It can be practised single, in groups and at every age. It transfers wellbeing, refreshment and harmony to those who practise it. It can loosen up physical and psychological tensions, counteract exhaustion and promote agility. It is especially helpful in a child's development because it supports a healthy and powerful physical and psychological maturing.

Eurythmy is being taught in over 4 years of basic training in special schools. Since 2006, an official internationally accredited academic chair for Eurythmy exists at the Alanus Hochschule.

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