Qigong and Tai Chi classes in Hastings
ABOUT ME
I’m a certified Qigong Teacher through the Shenzhou Association and hold a 2nd Duan in Taijiquan. I’m a student of Master Fumin Wang Guo, 8th Duan of Wushu with the National Wushu Association of China, and President of Shenzhou – National Association of Taiji Culture in Spain.
My path into Qigong and Tai Chi began in 2000, at a point in my life when I needed it most. A demanding job had left me stressed and stretched thin, and injuries from a car accident had left my body in pain. I was looking for a way to get healthier and calmer — what I found instead was a lifelong practice that would shape the next twenty-plus years of my life.
From my first class, I was captivated. What started as small, tentative steps toward recovery grew into a deep and lasting commitment. Over the following two decades, I trained under several accomplished teachers and masters in Germany and Spain, gradually earning my qualifications in both Qigong and Taijiquan.
I now feel privileged to teach Qigong for a living. Having experienced firsthand how much this practice can offer — physically, mentally, and spiritually — I bring genuine warmth and understanding to every class, especially for those coming with their own stress, pain, or uncertainty.
Qigong
The art of Qigong (chi gung or chi kung) originated over 5,000 years ago. Qigong is based on the techniques of martial arts, especially Tai Chi, as well as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and philosophy. The practice involves rhythmic breathing coordinated with movement and visualization.
The main difference between Qigong and other types of exercise is contained within the word itself: “Qi” means life energy, and “gong” means work or method. Qigong is a method of cultivating and balancing Qi. Our Qi flows along specific pathways in the body known as meridians, and where that flow is blocked or absent, pain and illness can result.
In Qigong, we learn to gently open and stretch the joints and muscles, releasing tension that has often been held for years. This helps balance our posture and open the meridians, allowing Qi to flow freely to every part of the body — bringing health and vitality.
Zhan Zhuang
Doing a Lot by Doing Nothing. Would you like to gain an abundance of energy by doing nothing?
By holding a posture in stillness, you develop internal strength, improve your posture and alignment, root your structure, calm your mind, loosen soft tissue, and build the skill of body awareness.
Zhan Zhuang, or “standing like a tree,” is the foundation of internal martial arts and a form of Qigong. Martial artists trained in it as a foundation, since power is generated from a stable root. Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors practised it to cultivate Qi. Musicians training on certain instruments have relied on stillness and steady breath. Across all these disciplines, standing itself came first.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan is a sequenced set of movements rooted in offensive and defensive martial techniques — sometimes called Chinese “shadow boxing” for its recognizable punches and kicks. What sets it apart is the slow, deliberate pace of practice: circular, fluid, relaxed motion marked by grace, balance, and a visible sense of calm. Recent research links many of its health benefits directly to this slowness and attentiveness. It’s practiced well into old age (eighties, nineties, and beyond) and stands as one of China’s most recognizable cultural art forms, with deep roots in traditional Chinese philosophy and self-cultivation.