Esalen Institute
January 29- 31, 2010
Workshop Description:
Become initiated into how Tai Chi Chuan stems from an ancient lineage of postural initiation which includes four dimensions of purpose: self-healing, spiritual unfoldment, self-defense, and changing your life stance. This perspective, stemming from Dr Mayer’s research, imaginal mytho-poetic exploration, and thirty years of practice from some of the world’s most respected Tai Chi masters, will be applied to the Yang style Tai Chi set. Beginners, more advanced practitioners, and Tai Chi teachers will gain new perspectives and new entryways into the treasures of Tai Chi as a life long practice.
You’ll learn to:
- Broaden your view of the purpose of movements of Tai Chi, and experience how practicing Tai Chi Chuan using these four dimensions deepens your practice.
- Cultivate Tai Chi’s unique ability to simultaneously revitalize and relax as you practice specific self-healing movements and postures for your life-time preventative medicine program.
- Learn how Standing Meditation Qigong is a spiritual foundation practice for Tai Chi that adds an energetic component that can be transferred to your sitting meditation, yoga practices, etc. Tap into Tai Chi’s essence to, synchronize breath and movement, find harmony, develop balance, evoke deep states of equanimity.
- Discover how Tai Chi two-person Self-development practices (commonly called “pushing hands”) are initiatory pathways into enhancing your stance with others and embodying the elements of life.
- Make Tai Chi come alive with Tai Chi Dance, as you find the primordial animal forms of Qigong hidden in Tai Chi movements.
Recommended Books by Michael Mayer: Secrets to living younger longer: The self-healing path of Qigong, standing meditation and Tai Chi.; Energy Psychology: Self Healing Practices for Bodymind Health, (North Atlantic/Random House. DVD: Bodymind healing Qigong (DVD). Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Center.
Schedule
Friday: 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Introduction: The Four Levels of Healing Purpose to Tai Chi Movements.
- Introduction to Movements from the Long Form of Tai Chi-Chuan- 4 Levels of Purpose.
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Standing and Walking Meditation: The Secret to Tai Chi
- Tai Chi First Cross Hands
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Two Person Self Development Practices (Commonly called “Pushing Hands”)
- Tai Chi Chuan: Practices
- The Hidden Animal Forms in Tai Chi Chuan
- Health Purposes of Tai Chi movements
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Powerpoint Presentation: Traditions of Postural Initiation
- Tai Chi Dance
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Review of Tai Chi Chuan set
- Closing Ritual
Short Bio:
Michael Mayer, Ph.D. presents his integrative approach to Tai Chi Chuan/Qigong at conferences, hospitals, and in his Bodymind Healing Certification Programs. Michael is author of twenty publications, including three books on integrating Tai Chi/Qigong with Western bodymind healing methods. www.bodymindhealing.com.
Topics:
- Introduction to author’s thesis regarding the Four Levels of Healing Purpose to Tai Chi Movements.(Mayer, 2004)
- Anthropological evidence for the shamanic orgins of Taiji. The origins of Taiji movements in the animal forms of Qigong. (Mayer, 2004)
- Movements from the Long Form of Tai Chi-Chuan- 4 Levels of Purpose.
- The esoteric meaning of the term Taiji Quan
- Standing Meditation: The Secret Key to Taiji
- Powerpoint presentation: the Ancient, Cross-Cultural Roots of Traditions of Postural initiation
Continuing Education: Nurses, Acupuncturists, Bodyworkers (Check with Esalen)
Longer Bio: Michael Mayer, Ph.D. Michael’s Taiji Qigong background includes training for over three decades in the internal martial arts at the Integral Chuan Institute with Grandmaster Fong Ha where he learned Taiji Quan, Xing Yi Chuan, and Yi Chuan. Some of this training includes Taiji sword, saber and staff, the 108 long form of Taiji Quan right and left sides, the long form of San Shau, and Yi Chuan with Grandmasters Han XingYuan, and Sam Tam. Two person “joining hands” (pushing hands) practice has been part of the curriculum. Michael has also trained with many other masters of medical Qigong such as Dr. Alex Feng in the Five Animal Forms of Hua Tau. He has been a colleague of Ken Cohen, and was the first person to teach Ken the Yi Chuan Standing Meditation Qigong. Michael received a certification in Chinese Health Arts from the Acupressure Institute of Berkeley, CA.
Michael teaches his Taiji/Qigong workshops and classes at professional conferences, hospitals, and universities. He taught a three semester course at John F. Kennedy University called Tai Chi, Qigong, and Psychotherapy; and at The California Institute of Integral Studies he taught two graduate classes on Tai Chi, Qigong, and Energy Medicine.He keynoted the National Qigong Association conference, and has presented many workshops for the NQA including Tai Chi Chuan: Four Levels of Purpose. Michael was chosen to do a Master level workshop at the Eleventh World Qigong Congress in San Francisco (2008). He has offered his Qigong workshops for world-renowned Esalen Institute; and he has certification programs which include Bodymind Healing Qigong for Qigong practitioners/teachers, and a Bodymind Health Practitioner’s Certification Program for health professionals.
Endorsements for Michael’s workshops on Tai Chi/Qigong:
1. Michael Mayer’s practical synthesis and deep knowledge of Qigong and Tai Chi movement forms has greatly impressed me during my years administering the Esalen Institute Movement Arts Program. Michael traces the roots of these practices back to their origins and presents a very usable as well as spiritual approach to these ancient and very valuable systems. He stands out among the many teachers I’ve met and practiced with and has provided me with insights available from no other teacher.
Coordinator, Movement Arts Program
2. In the nineteen seventies Dr. Michael Mayer began his study of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong with me in Berkeley, California. With continuous diligence, devotion, and skill he grows and ages with me as faithful student and friend. It delights my eyes and warms my heart to witness the masterful way Dr. Mayer integrates the ancient wisdom of the East with the psychotherapy of the West.
of Taiji Quan and Yi Chuan Qigong
3. I like your Bodymind Healing Qigong DVD so much that in the course I taught we started with two or three sections of it every day.
4. …Michael Mayer (is) a modern Western Qigong master….
– Dawson Church Ph.D.
Genie in your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention, p.130
Dr Mayer’s Relevant Publications to this workshop:
Mayer, M. H. (1996). Qigong and behavioral medicine: An integrated approach to
chronic pain. Qi: The Journal of Eastern Health and Fitness, 6(4), 20-31.
Mayer, M. H. (1997a). Psychotherapy and Qigong: Partners in healing anxiety. Berkeley, CA:The Psychotherapy & Healing Center.
Mayer, M. H. (1999). Qigong and hypertension: A critique of research. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 5(4), 371-382. (Peer-reviewed).
Mayer, M. H. (2000). Bodymind healing Qigong (DVD). Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing
Center.
Mayer, M. H. (2001a). Find your hidden reservoir of healing energy: A guided meditation for cancer (Audio cassette). Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Publications.
Mayer, M. H. (2001b). Find your hidden reservoir of healing energy: A guided meditation for chronic disease (Audio cassette). Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Publications.
Mayer, M. H. (2003). Qigong clinical studies. In W. B. Jonas (Ed.), Healing, intention, and energy medicine (pp. 121-137). England: Churchill Livingston. (Peer-reviewed).
Mayer, M. H. (2004a). Qigong: Ancient path to modern health (DVD of keynote address
to National Qigong Association). Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Publications.
Mayer, M. H. (2004b). Secrets to living younger longer: The self-healing path of Qigong, standing meditation and Tai Chi. Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Publications.
Mayer, M. H. (2004c). What do you stand for? The Journal of Qigong in America, Vol. 1, Summer.
Mayer, M. H. (2004d). Walking Meditation: Yi Chuan Qigong. The Empty Vessel: A Journal of Comtemporary Taoism, Summer.
Mayer, M. H. (2005). Qigong: An age-old foundation of energy psychology. The Energy
Field, Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Vol. 6, (4), Winter.
Mayer, M. H. (2007). Bodymind healing psychotherapy: Ancient pathways to modern health.Orinda, CA: Bodymind Healing Publications.
Mayer, M. H. (2008). Mind-body treatment for anxiety and panic disorders. California
State Journal of Oriental Medicine, Summer.
Mayer, M. (2009). Energy Psychology: Self Healing Practices for Bodymind Health, (North Atlantic/Random House, 2009).
* Please note: Taiji Quan is the more correct spelling for Taiji, ie. the Pinyin version. In the West the Wade-Giles Tai Chi Ch’uan is more common.
** Many people ask about the difference between Taiji and Qigong. Taiji is perhaps the best known form of Qigong, particularly when it is taught as a healing tradition of energy cultivation and medical Qigong.