Qigong & Tai Chi with Jonathan
by Gentle Dragon Transcendence & Stone Hill Retreat Center
Tai Chi is a lifetime practice of creating and restoring energy, balance and easeful movement to your life.
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NYTimes article
Jonathan has more than 30 years of experience in Tai Chi. He has taught this art form in Lancaster for over 10 years. Incorporated into the instructional form is a practice of mindfulness and Qigong (breathwork). The lineage of Jonathan's Tai Chi style is from the highly regarded Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing. It is a shortened Yang-style form pasted down through Master Benjamin Lo, with whom Jonathan studied before his passing.
Jonathan's Tai Chi Background
Jonathan first began his practice of Tai Chi in 1988 upon entering the Navy. Before that, he studied hardstyle karate forms as a youth and through college, but was finally drawn to the more gentle and internal approach to martial arts. After completing a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware and entering into U.S. Naval Service, he learned the Yang Style Long Form from his first teacher, Alan Tillotson near Jonathan's family home in Delaware.
After 6 years as an officer in Nuclear Reactor Operations and practicing his Tai Chi while on an aircraft carrier, George Washington (CVN-73), Jonathan remained in the Virginia Beach area where he was able to focus on Tai Chi, Massage Therapy, Holotropic Breathwork & meditational practices. There he learned the Cheng Man-ch'ing Tai Chi style short form and practiced for ten years under the Benjamin Jeng Pang Lo (1927-2018) lineage at the Tidewater Tai Chi Center.
Master Benjamin Lo was Professor Cheng-Man-Ching’s principle disciple in Taiwan and emigrated to New York City at the request of, and to help the Professor introduce Tai Chi to the West. In the late 90's, Jonathan’s understanding of the art was deeply enriched during workshops by Master Lo on the East Coast when he would travel from his home in San Francisco.
Jonathan has been teaching Tai Chi, Qigong and mindfulness practices in the Lancaster area for about 10 years. He has over 30 years of accumulated practice in New York City, Washington DC, Virginia Beach & the San Fransisco Bay Area.
Discover the Tranquility and Health Benefits of Tai Chi!
Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, is renowned for its graceful movements and numerous health benefits. Whether you're seeking physical fitness, stress relief, or a way to cultivate inner peace, practicing Tai Chi can be an enriching experience. Join us on a journey of well-being and harmony as we explore the incredible benefits of Tai Chi.
1. Enhances Physical Fitness:
- Builds strength, flexibility, and balance.
- Improves cardiovascular health and lung capacity.
- Promotes joint health and reduces the risk of falls.
2. Reduces Stress and Promotes Relaxation
- Gentle, flowing movements help release tension and promote relaxation.
- Increases mindfulness, reducing anxiety and improving mental well-being.
- Enhances the body's natural energy flow, fostering a sense of inner calm.
3. Boosts Cognitive Function:
- Engages the mind-body connection, sharpening mental focus and concentration.
- Studies suggest it may help improve memory and cognitive abilities.
- Supports overall brain health and mental resilience.
4. Cultivates Emotional Balance:
- Tai Chi's slow, deliberate movements promote emotional stability.
- Helps manage stress, depression, and mood disorders.
- Fosters a positive outlook, enhancing emotional well-being.
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5. Promotes Better Sleep:
- Regular Tai Chi practice can improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia.
- Relieves physical and mental tension, aiding relaxation before bedtime.
- Encourages healthy sleep patterns, leading to more restful nights.
6. Strengthens Immune System:
- Regular practice of Tai Chi may enhance immune system function.
- Reduces inflammation and supports overall immune health.
- Provides a gentle form of exercise suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
7. Community and Social Connection:
- Joining a Tai Chi class offers opportunities for social interaction and making new friends.
- Connects individuals with a supportive community focused on well-being.
- Participate in group sessions or partner exercises to enhance the experience.
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What is Qigong?
Qigong is a holistic system of coordinated body postures, movements, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. It's rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy, with the goal of promoting the flow of "qi" (vital energy) throughout the body to enhance well-being. Qigong practices can vary widely, from gentle, flowing movements to more strenuous exercises, and they're often used to improve physical fitness, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of balance and harmony in both the body and mind.
What to expect in class.
Each Tai Chi class is preceded by 10 minutes of Tai Chi style warm up exercises to stretch and tone the body & reconnect to the breath. This is followed by a 20 minute Qigong practice, a deeply relaxed and flowing breathwork session conducted in a lead-and-follow style format during which elegant music plays in the background.
Each Qigong postural movement is carefully crafted to reinforce several of the 5 Tai Chi elemental principles. (These are listed briefly in the next paragraph.)
The second half of class will focus on learning a sequence of movements called postures as first developed by Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing for Western practice. The postures are scripted around Five Principles: Relaxed breath, body upright, separation of weight, wrists and hands held straight yet fluid, and flexible waist as the commander. These precepts are explained in detail as a part of the instruction and mindfulness practices Jonathan provides.
