How is Dragon & Tiger different from other forms of qigong?

There are many different styles of qigong that originate from various eastern traditions.  Qigong practices can range from standing to having over a hundred moves and vary on areas of focus and methods of practice.  One of my teachers equates the use of the word “qigong” to the word “car” to which there are seemingly endless different makes and models.

Dragon & Tiger qigong is designed to connect with and move qi through the acupuncture meridian channels of the body.  One of its greatest strengths is that the set is designed to achieve maximum potential benefits through only seven movements.  Dragon & Tiger is considered a high caliber qigong set which is one of the reasons why it is appealing to many practitioners.

Is Dragon & Tiger qigong the same thing as tai chi?

In general qigong and tai chi have similar roots stemming from China and both are designed to cultivate the movement of qi within the body.  There are some overlapping concepts and principles and delineating between them can be confusing to someone just looking in from the outside and new practitioners.

To explain the difference here I am just going to focus on what is physically seen with the eyes by most people.  Many people who enjoy Dragon and Tiger qigong like that it is only seven movements that repeat and build on one another rather than learning a longer series of movements or form (common in tai chi).  Some of the core concepts and principles practiced in Dragon & Tiger’s movements can be integrated into tai chi and other movement practices.

If Dragon & Tiger Qigong is only “seven movements” can’t you just teach it to me in an hour?  Can I do drop in classes for workshops offered?

Although Dragon and Tiger consists of seven “simple” movements many of them are intricate and build on one another.  Allowing time for the nervous system to relax and process each movement helps create the foundation for integrating the next.  This general learning concept has found itself to be true in most cases regardless of an individual’s base level of coordination.

Teaching multiple new concepts too quickly can cause the nervous system to shut down.  I relate this to opening up more programs than a computer can handle all at the same time…the result is usually the computer freezes up.  If we try to add too much too soon our bodies can become overwhelmed and have a similar response.  

Ideally classes are structured on average over a 10-12 week time frame.  This provides participants the opportunity to practice and integrate the material each week before adding on additional components.  Due to the nature of how this course is structured and the material is taught, it is not available for “drop ins”.

What do I need to wear and bring to the class?

Bring an open mind and a sense of humor…it took our bodies a long time to get where they are and it is important to be kind and patient with ourselves.  

Wear comfortable clothes that do not inhibit movement and flat comfortable shoes (or socks/barefeet) if it is conducive to the environment.  Bring water and a notebook for notes (optional).

I look forward to connecting with you soon!