PENG, JI, LU & AN

Learn How Peng, Ji, Lu and An Manifest to Create the art of tai chi

In the initial 10 months of my tai chi curriculum, I’ll teach the choreography of the First Section of the Yang Style Long Form (up to Cross Hands), which can be practised as an efficient and effective Short Form. Along with the Yang style movements, I’ll cover in-depth the sequence of the four primary energies (peng, ji, lu and an) which drives all tai chi forms.

• New students – this is an excellent opportunity to learn a genuinely internal tai chi form.

• Existing stylists – we will build on earlier teachings offered in London and online, allowing you to take your practice to the next level.
  
  
  

1) TAI CHI CLASSES

2 x 30-minute classes per month

I offer step-by-step instructions on each move while explaining in-depth how the energies of peng, ji, lu and an manifest and intertwine to create the art of tai chi.

The Yang form that I teach is derived from that of Yang Cheng Fu, a direct descendant of the Yang family, as I consider it to be a superb balance between ease of learning and depth of internals, making it a practice well-suited to the spectrum of practitioners, from beginners to highly experienced stylists.

The internal techniques I teach conform to all the principles of the16 neigong system as directly taught to me by my teacher, Taoist lineage holder Bruce Frantzis, in 35 years of private and public tuition.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Topics to be covered in the first 10 months with the purpose of generating the deep connections in the body necessary to practise tai chi well are:

• The Choreography of the Yang Style Short Form — the container for all internal techniques and the vessel through which the essence of tai chi is taught.

• Bend-and-Stretch Techniques — that which is responsible for generating an internal practice by breaking habitual tension responses in the muscle groups and re-training the nerves to use smooth, circular, relaxed motion.

• Open-and-Close Techniques — which are responsible for increasing the depth of internal practice and generate a soft, relaxed body and mind. “Pulsing” techniques, as they are also known, open the doorway to the realms of qi.

• The Four Primary Energies — peng, ji, lu and an which produce the flavour, quality and effectiveness of tai chi by separating and combining yin and yang energies.

• Deep Energetics to Bring Alive the Relevant Six Snakes — which serve to generate deeper connections and energetic flows within the body during tai chi practice. (The Six Snakes are covered in-depth in my Membership programme, months 7-12. I highly recommend joining Membership and studying qigong before or in conjunction with tai chi as all the foundational lessons and essential neigong are presented through qigong … and covered in my Membership programme accordingly.)

In Months 11-20, for those who wish to move further into the Yang Style Long Form, we’ll continue into the Second Section (up to Cloud Hands), which can be practised as an efficient and effective Medium Form.

Teachers & Aspiring Teachers

In the first 10 months of tai chi classes, I cover all the material I’ll present and which will be required for Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form Teacher Certification (Levels 1-3) in London, 31 August- 7 September 2024.

2) FOLLOW-ALONG PRACTICE

1 x per month

Follow along as I repeat the movements learned in the Yang style classes of the month plus all previous months, so you can link postures into fluid forms. Embedding the choreography deep within your body-mind is what generates the flow and rhythm of tai chi.

3) TAOIST BREATHING & MEDITATION

As an essential aspect of Water Method training, my Taoist Breathing and Meditation series is available to stream 24/7 for the duration of your Membership.

Follow along to 23 guided practices to learn and practise whole-body breathing and the Dissolving process.

4) TAI CHI AREA Q&A

Post feedback and questions for me at the bottom of every Tai Chi Area page. I answer training questions at least once per week. All training comment strings with other students are published for the benefit of all.

HOW IT WORKS

You will receive two 30-minute tai chi classes and a guided practice each month. Simply log in to your account (created or linked at checkout) at https://www.paulcavel.com/account/login to stream classes and guided practices 24/7 and download them to your devices (as MP4s) for the duration of your Membership.

This is an ongoing Yang style tai chi class series, which you can pause or cancel at any time.

See our complete training policies.