Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Internal Arts, Sifu Mikelo Signes

Learn about our approach which marks us out from the rest. Internal Arts, Tai Chi and Chi Gong offers you an alternative path. From the very beginning you will learn how every part of your body is involved, you will incorporate your breathing, and learn the correct way to move. What the traditional method will show you only after many years of practice, we will teach you from the very first class.

Just as in any building, the importance of a good structure is everything. The correct body posture is essential to achieve a balance between joints, muscles and tendons. In this way, we avoid multiple problems that can be acquired in our daily lives when we’re not aware of the excessive stress we are submitting our bodies to. With correct posture, we also improve our capacity to breathe properly. Less stress, improved oxygenation. Let’s start with the most fundamental things.

From the soles of the feet we draw on the earth energy. This is then transmitted through the legs to the hips and from there we direct it to whatever upper part (energy of heaven) we that we want to move. Knowing the right pressure to apply, and when, is fundamental when carrying out correct movements.

Armed with the knowledge of the correct posture, breathing, and control of weight changes and hip movements, gained from classes 1 and 2, we carry out the complete warm up routine. Here we put into practise all these fundamental elements to achieve the goal that we’re aiming for in this first course.

All Tai Chi movements have an intention behind them. The martial facet of Tai Chi goes hand in hand with its therapeutic aspect. The right amount of stretch or stress makes the difference between an effective and ineffective technique. We will explain a number of exercises which we carried out in the warm up routine of class 3, from their martial, or defensive point of view.

Chi Kung, also known as Qi Gong, has an exclusively therapeutic focus. In contrast to Tai Chi, the movements don’t have a martial intention. It’s the ideal complementary activity to combine with the rest of the classes on this course. Chi Kung provides numerous benefits for our health and well being. In this class we carry out the first four exercises of the well known routine Eight Pieces of Brocade.