Wuji Qigong

Class update

2010-11-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

FYI:
Regular classes will resume the 2nd and 4th Wednesday after the thanksgiving holiday. Please call to let us know you are coming!

Classes merge with Living Well, Dying Well

2010-09-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

We will resume classes next month, I'll be out of the office until then. The second and forth wednesdays of each month will be strictly for meditation practice, while the first and third wednesdays will be 6:30-8pm Living Well, Dying Well class.
For more information, visit www.livingwelldyingwell.blogspot.com

The Truth of Silence

2010-08-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Many people have some ambivalence about silence; they fear it, or don’t value it. Because we only know ourselves through thinking and speaking and acting. But once the mind gets silent, the range of what’s possible is immeasurable. So first you taste the silence. Then you realize that it’s not a vacuum or dead space. It’s not an absence of the real stuff; it’s not that the real stuff is the doing, the talking, and all that. You get comfortable in it and you learn that it’s highly charged with life. It’s a very refined and subtle kind of energy. And when you come out of it, somehow you’re kinder, more intelligent. It’s not something that you manufacture—it’s an integral part of being alive. And it’s vast. We’ve enclosed ourselves in a relatively small space by thinking. It binds us in, and we’re not aware that we’re living in a tiny, cluttered room. With practice, it’s as if the walls of this room were torn down, and you realize there’s a sky out there.

-Larry Rosenberg, The Art of Doing Nothing (Tricycle, spring 1998)

Quotes

2010-07-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

“Whatever joy there is in this world all comes from desiring others to be happy, and whatever suffering there is in this world, all comes from desiring myself to be happy.
But what need is there to say much more?
The childish work for their own benefit, The Buddhas work for the benefit of others. Just look at the difference between them!”

- Shantideva

No class this wednesday July 7

2010-07-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

There will be no class tomorrow, July 7'th as I'll be away to teach up north. We'll be back next week!

Why we Meditate

2010-05-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Where do our problems come from? Traditions that emphasize meditation for spiritual development usually recognize that "spirituality" is nothing other than understanding the mind and how our minds actually work. And our problems in life come from our mind. Outside circumstances in our lives vary constantly, and are unpredictable. They are not the source of our suffering. The source is the 6 inches between our ears...
If we are to look for control somewhere, working with our minds, looking inward, would be a good place to start. Its in how we perceive our world and circumstances that we have control. So we meditate to work with our minds, with our perceptions, because we recognize that our perceptions make us happy or sad, frustrated, angry, joyous etc. And perceptions are a choice, we have control over them if we practice having control. This is very good news!
Somewhat ironically, our basic meditation technique is a process of letting go of thoughts and feelings and control, letting thoughts be, letting them float away as they do naturally, or simply not holding onto them with a death grip. This process, over time, changes how we handle life, how we deal with everything that comes up in life. Isn't this what we want? To have a comfortable mind regardless of outer turmoil? "Stress" does not exist until we bring it into existence, artificially and contrived, in our mind. Meditation helps short-circuit this process. And the result is relaxation.

April schedule changes

2010-04-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Class will not be held April 21'st, as I'll be away. We are scheduled for class each week in May.

Let's all keep practicing!

Enjoying Stress

2010-03-29T12:19:00.003-07:00

Hello Qigong'ers,

It seems we're due for an update. Class is on every Wednesday, same as always. If it is ever cancelled, it will be posted here and at our front desk (call 774.6251 to check).

There is a guiding principle for this class and for my work in our office:

Healthy bodies enjoy movement; Healthy minds enjoy stillness

It seems to me like our minds are more imbalanced than our bodies, so lately we have been focusing on meditation. Soon we will be incorporating more Wujigong, a shamanic-qigong style from early Taoism.

Also, we have recently began working with Tonglen meditation, a special practice to change our relationship to life's challenges, extend kindness to others, and to relax into stress. FMI, come to class.

All we ever have to do is relax.

New Classes Resume in January

2009-12-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

Warm Winter Greetings!

Here is our schedule for January-February:

6:30-7:15pm, every Wednesday night throughout January and February. We'll be focusing on shamatha meditation with some other eastern techniques mixed in, such as Qi self massage, stretching and Acupressure to assist us in sitting meditation.

Remember, all are welcome, so please invite friends! Our purpose for this class is to introduce people to meditation and qigong, and assist people in developing a daily practice.

You may call to register at 774.6251, or drop in. Calling ahead helps us know how much space we need.

November-December schedule

2009-11-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow Qi cultivators!

Here's our schedule for the next few months:

Nov 4: Class is on
Nov 11: No class, I'll be in Colorado for a qigong training
Nov 18: Class is on
Nov 25: No class due to holiday
Dec 2: no class, I'll be out for meditation retreat
Dec 9: Class is on
Dec16: Our Last class till January 2010

Seasonal Balancing

2009-10-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,

As we transition from season to season, there are many things to consider in order to keep healthy. Many traditional systems of medicine including Chinese medicine state very firmly that people are more likely to become ill at the change of each season, because our natural environment influences our health. Our geography influences our health as well. We are best to adapt to local conditions, and to eat what grows in season, locally. The energy of food grown in El Salvador may not resonate with my energy here in Maine.
Seasonal changes alter the energy around us, and we transition from season to season with internal energetical movements as well. For example, as fall becomes winter, the predominant energy of Lung, in the metal element, must transition to Kidney, in the water element. A smooth transition helps ensure health.
Qigong and diet are two ways we can help move the energy along gently. Acupuncture is another method. We'll talk more about this in upcoming classes.

End of September Update

2009-09-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Next weeks class, sept.30, will be cancelled, as I'll be out of town. We'll resume the following week. Below are a few links for some enjoyable videos related to meditation and qigong...

http://www.pemachodronfoundation.org/bill-moyers-with-pema-chdrn/

http://www.shambhala.org/meditation/

See Ya'll soon!

September Update

2009-08-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

This coming wednesday, sept. 2, class will be cancelled, as I'll be out of town. However, class will resume next week with a new set of yoga postures designed to warm us up for seated meditation. I hope to see you there!

Max

PS:
Currently reading: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, Highly Recommended!

August Update #2

2009-08-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

August 19 and 26 class will be cancelled, as I'll be out of town on both those dates. I hope everyone has a personal meditation session instead :)
As this class evolves, I find myself inclined to emphasize meditation over Qigong. It is my belief that for the most part, we need to work on our minds more than our bodies. Given that the mind controls the body, and that happiness and suffering are truly "all in our heads", perhaps we all need to meditate more.
Most situations we find ourselves in, throughout our lives, will be outside our control. What is within our control is our mental response to them. That is completely within our control, if we train our minds properly, which takes us back to meditation.

This class is an introduction to meditation and Qigong. For those interested in pursuing either more seriously, some of the links posted below may help.

August Update

2009-07-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Please note that class on Wednesday, August 19'th will be cancelled, I'm off that week for a meditation retreat.
If you are looking for some light reading on the topic of meditation, let me recommend "Turning the mind into an ally" by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. This is a great intro book which puts into perspective the importance of meditation.

For meditation cushions, visit www.samadhicushions.com

Recommended Qigong and Meditation schools

2009-06-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

The following are some of my favorite schools and teachers whom I have personal experience with. If you are looking for further studies in authentic Qigong or meditation, from distinct lineages, check these out.

www.Shambhala.org/
www.daoist-qigong.org/
www.taichiheart.com/aboutsifu.html

Local to Maine, see www.shambhalabp.org/ and www.karmecholing.org/

Meditation is all over the news

2009-06-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Using meditation for stress reduction is merely the tip of the iceberg, but it makes the news regularly. Here's a few links:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/01/mindfulness.training.stress/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/04/mccartney.meditation.concert/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/05/meditation.stress.reduction/index.html

WuJi QiGong

2009-05-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Wuji Qigong Blog!

Wuji Qigong is a special class offering by me, Dr. Max Jacobs of Jacobs Chiropractic Acupuncture. This class was inspired by two of my acupuncture teachers, who suggested teaching this basic form to patients and the public. Were it not for them, this would not be happening.

I practice several forms of Qigong and Taoist/Buddhist meditation which I have learned from several notable teachers, but this class is meant strictly for the presentation of Wuji Qigong as I have learned it from Taoist healer Jeff Nagel, L.Ac. In addition, basics of meditation will be presented, incorporating concepts from several different lineages. We'll touch on these and discuss how to learn more, for those who are interested.

Qigong and meditation togather represent the highest forms of healing from traditional Taoist medicine of China. They are practices you can do on your own, anytime, to improve your health.

In the coming weeks you'll find modern research here related to meditation and qigong, and class updates. Lastly, I believe in presenting this material for free to anyone interested because it is important to me that people learn it. Sometimes classes such as these are expensive! I believe the material is too important to deter people with high costs.

Wuji Qigong
Wednesdays 6:30-7:15 at JCA
138 St. John St. Portland
Call 774.6251 to register. Bring a cushion.

2009-05-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

2009-05-18T14:20:00.000-07:00