Tao Mae Form 1 Part A

Qigong can be described as a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one’s mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, and focused intent. 

Physically, slow gentle Qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; tonifying vital organs and connective tissue; and promoting circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial fluid, lymphatic fluid).  However, Qigong’s gentle movements do much more than stretch your ligaments and muscles; they work to harmonize your body. Certain movements help your Qi, or energy, move through the various meridians (energy pathways) in your body. When your Qi can flow freely through your body, you remain as Nature intended—healthy and balanced.

The first form of Tao Mae Qigong cultivates the practice of moving with the breath. The footwork moves in four directions symbolizing the balance of north, south, east and west, and the four seasons summer, autumn, winter, spring.

The hands are held a the Middle dan tien focusing our energy at the hearts centre with mindful breath. This heart focused breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and the relaxation response, and feelings of positive emotion influence our mind and body in a healthy way reducing the effects of stress.

The pushing hand, or Gum Sao, represents our gentle interaction with the world as we extend this heart focused intent outwards.

Key points:

  • keep the knees soft and your centre of gravity lowered slightly
  • centre yourself with the inhale
  • exhale as you step forward and push the hand gently forward
  • keep the hand soft with the palm open
  • start the practice of Form 1 with your preliminary Qigong breathing
  • Practice the first part of Form 1 each morning for the next 2 days so that you can learn the movement and cultivate a harmonization of mind, body and breath, before moving on to part B. This will allow you to embody the movements in a physical and practical approach, not just learn the sequence from a theoretical or mental standpoint.