GREEN DRAGON
Qigong & Taijiquan
_____________________________________________________________
GREEN DRAGON is a Qigong & Taijiquan club that is committed to developing individual potential. It was founded by Michelle McMillan in Guelph, Ontario, in 1994. Being grounded in Earth energy while open to Universal energy is a basis for living in physical, emotional and spiritual harmony. Qigong and Taijiquan (Tai Chi) are graceful, prayerful expressions of life that provide an opportunity to strengthen and explore this connection.
Qigong is a moving meditation. Focusing on the balanced flow of body, breath and energy; participants gain awareness of their vital connection to the cosmic consciousness, learning how to maintain and cultivate it. Benefits of regular Qigong practice include improved health, flexibility, circulation, strength, balance and vitality; supported by wisdom, compassion and patience. It is an effective lifelong exercise that is practiced according to one's personal fitness level. It is generally practiced in a standing position for maximum energy flow but can also be done sitting down. It is ideal for relieving stress, tension, depression and anxiety; strengthening the bones and immune system; enhancing productivity and enriching any energy-based practice. Green Dragon's Qigong routine is mainly derived from the teachings of Dr. Zaiwen Shen, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming and Sam Masich. It includes a warm-up of gentle movement and stretching followed by a combination of Taiji Qigong (Taijiquan movements repeated slowly with intention and focus, following the breath), Balancing the Heart Qigong, Gou Lin Qigong (for cancer prevention/treatment), body-strengthening exercises, detoxifying exercises, meditation and sounding.
Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is an internally-directed martial art that connects powerfully flowing movements in a meaningful sequence. Practicing Taijiquan requires dedicated learning of the choreography (or “set”) of the style (or “form”). There are many styles of Taijiquan. The Taijiquan that Green Dragon practices is a traditional middle-frame Yang style of 152 moves (a transitional set between Chen and Yang styles from Yang Chien Hou through Tien Shou Lin) which is very beautiful in its fluid grace, as taught by the lineage holder, Dr. Zaiwen Shen. Its focus is on the flow of energy through and around the body. Martial art applications and classical Taijiquan principles are discussed to deepen understanding of the physical movement and energetic process.
GREEN DRAGON Classes. Sifu McMillan's teaching emphasis is on developing and appreciating quality of movement and feeling its effects rather than the quantity of moves learned – process rather than goal. Her curriculum studies the principles of the practice as they apply to self-cultivation and health.
Weekly classes are held at Knox Presbyterian Church (Baker Street entrance), Quebec Street, Guelph, on Thursdays from 6:00-8:00 pm. Each class begins with a one-hour group practice of Qigong, followed by one hour of Taijiquan instruction and practice of the set. Qigong provides valuable training for Taiji, as it helps the body become familiar with and comfortable in the movement without having to concentrate on “what comes next” and is the perfect warmup for Taiji practice. For Taiji, beginners are taught basic movements while more experienced practitioners take the opportunity to polish their form. In harmony with the environment, we recognize that everything around us changes as continually as we do. Throughout our learning, we are all always beginners and the benefits of consistent practice are cumulative.
A ten-class credit can be purchased for $100 with no cost for missed classes. Drop-in fee is $12/class. This fee covers both Qigong and Taiji practice but if one prefers to take part in only one practice it is fine as there will be a short break between them. Visitors are not allowed to watch classes. There are no sessions. Classes run year-round, can be started at any time and require no previous experience. Dress is comfortable, loose clothing. Footwear that allows the use of foot muscles and natural balance is preferred (bare feet, socks, light runners).
About the Instructor:
Michelle McMillan has been Sifu of GREEN DRAGON QIGONG / TAIJIQUAN since 1994. She is a Senior Instructor, certified by the Canadian Taijiquan Federation. Aside from her open classes, she has also taught privately at The Probation & Parole Board and has conducted workshops for various facilities, businesses and events such as: The Canadian Taijiquan Federation, YM-YWCA, South-Western Ontario Therapeutic Touch Gathering, Dragon Boat Races, Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, Wellington County Board of Education, the Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts and St. Joseph's Health Centre. Michelle is a Recognized Therapeutic Touch Practitioner, through the TT Network of Ontario. Practicing energy-healing since 1994, she has a keen interest in energy work, which is why her study and teaching focuses on Qigong. Her primary Taiji and Qigong teacher (since 1993) is Dr. Zaiwen Shen (Master TCM and PhD neurophysiology /thermalphysiology) who teaches and researches energy healing in the medical faculty of Osaka University (Japan). Michelle practices and teaches this style, expanding her personal training through Yang style Taiji sword. Michelle also studies with and is inspired by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming of Boston and Sam Masich of Vancouver, incorporating their Qigong styles into her class routines. Michelle is a Director of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation and has been Editor of their quarterly national journal TongRen since 2003. She has received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Guelph, a 3-year Diploma in Museum Technology from Algonquin College, and a Certificate in Arts Administration from Banff School of Arts Management. Michelle worked in curatorial, education and design departments in museums for 15 years followed by 17 years as proprietor of Ki Design – a museum-consulting, Japanese imports and gardening company. She is now Project Manager of the Improvisation, Community and Social Practice project at the University of Guelph; an international project researching creative, improvised music. Michelle's ongoing background in movement training is in dance; most recently 'Raks Sharki', after many spirited years with the Black Sheep Morris Dancers and the Barefoot Drum and Dance Collective.
For further information call Michelle at (519)837-0038 or email: ki.design@sympatico.ca
___________________________________________
Be still as a mountain - Move like a great river
___________________________________________
A note on the name “GREEN DRAGON”: The dragon's cosmic breath is the beneficial energy that swirls around the environment – the life force. Taoist alchemists, in their search for the elixir of immortality, built the foundations for Chinese herbal medicine and the internal martial arts, including Qigong. One lives the “Tao” by observing and following the ever-changing natural flow of universal rhythms. The energetic polarities “yin” and “yang” are held in relative balance as depicted in the familiar “Taiji Du” icon; each giving rise to the other, each embodying the other. The “Green Dragon” is the yin in the yang (the black dot in the white “fish”) represented by the trigram “Li” - fire having in it the energy of water. It is the wood of the east, the mysterious water, the essence (or soul) of the moon. The “White Tiger” is the yang in the yin (the white dot in the black “fish”). When the Green Dragon and White Tiger are united, the elixir of immortality is produced.
Extracted from The Dragon-Tiger Classic; the oldest known Taoist text and a guide to spiritual transformation.
Last modified Jan 13, 2009 by Kim
Taylor
| Sei Do Kai Iaido Homepage | Kim's Big Page of Stuff | Canadian Kendo Federation | Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences |