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 mid-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.

Dream Being - the missing link between The Secret and The Power of Now

Let me share a bit of my understanding of the connection between The Secret and The Power of Now. Of course, this is going to be a watered down version of my teachings, because of the space limitations here. In my recent book Qi Dao - Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, I introduced my translation into English of an interesting term that should help us out on our quest. The term is Dream Being, which may be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is synonymous to the Dao or the Source of the dream called life. Some may call Dream Being the Creator, although the dreamer of the dream and the world of the dream are not separate essentially, because everything in the dream is a projection of the dreamer’s consciousness. Therefore, the Creator and the totality of Creation are one. Our dream called life just appears to have all kinds of appearances of things and events made of nothing else than pure energy… that is why I call it a dream. Isn’t everything in a dream made of nothing else but the energy of consciousness that we tend to perceive as though is has some recognizable forms and names?

The process of manifestation of the dream is something happening moment by moment, which you can observe when your attention is focused on the present moment. Now is the only time when the process of manifestation occurs. So far we have been going hand in hand with The Power of Now. If we are interested in learning more about manifestation, the way to know anything about it requires being present in the dream. This is what I call Dream Being as a verb, which is also synonymous with being lucid in the dream. The moment you realize that you are dreaming, you may also realize that manipulating the world of dreaming is not what Dream Being is about, since it is not the ego that is the source of the dreams, but a much deeper aspect of your Being that is the deeper aspect of everyone of us, our common true nature. If you recognize that trying to manipulate the flow or struggle with it is the easiest way to turn the dream into a nightmare, you are ready to just enjoy being in dreaming. Dream Being as a verb means being in the flow of your dreaming, surfing the wave of manifestation as it were. When you experience Dream Being as such state (or process) of being in the flow, you are literally living your dreams! There is nothing that you strive to manifest or obtain, because you are enjoying the ride on the wave of manifestation empowered up by much greater power than your ego.

I consider this pretty close to essence of the teachings presented in The Secret, albeit the presenters may not fully aware of the intricacies of their own teachings. We tend to teach whatever we need to learn the most, do we not? I am also open to any suggestions and critiques, as I would like to learn how to share this teaching well in English, which is my third language.

Please check out my recent book The Art of Being in the Flow for more information on the basics of Qi Dao, my family style of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong and my teachings of Dream Yoga.

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 authored a 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.