Chan Ssu Gong

 Chan ssu jing is what you develop from this important Qigong. I have studied this for many years and last time I counted it consists of over 35 movements. The development of spiral movement is one of the most essential energies in taiji. You have to understand the spiral action to fully grasp how you apply power in taiji. In Chen Xin's 'illustrated explanations of Chen family boxing he devotes a whole chapter on on spiral force (chan ssu jing).

The neigong benefits are tremendous, you soften up and improve elasticity of the joints of the body. you learn the essential of taiji, to be relaxed, extension and the turning and twisting power. because the movements are done slowly you create many health benefits. You create blood flow in the muscles tendons and joints without putting a lot of pressure on them. According to TCM you open the meridian channels and allow the body to flood with Qi giving the body the benefits of a better immune system and nutrients.

A key to Chan Ssu Gong, the movement has to be coordinated from the center of the body. Every rotation should be like pulling silk, slow rotation of the arm around the long finger when rotating outward (Ni-chan) and when rotating back around the small finger (shun-chan). (more to come)

Hunyuan Qigong

  Hunyuan neigong/qigong is the foundation of hunyuan chen taiji, it has its roots from Grand Master Hu Yaozhen Xinyi Liuhe Quan and Grand Master Chen Fake. When training hunyuan inside the body one trains Jing, Qi and Shen. These are the foundations of training neigong one has to understand how these work in the body and how one trains them from a Chinese way of thought.  When training neigong the "outer" part of the body is trained. The bones, tendons and muscles are smoothly stretched and extended to give  nutritional workout to the body. As a medical practitioner this is one of the most important parts to recovery from sickness and illness that I'm concerned with.

  The most important part of hunyuan neigong is to train the Yi (mind-intent) to learn to control the qi of the body and not the Li (muscle power). In order to come down to this level the spirit has to be calm and the body comfortable. Hunyuan qigong stresses nurturing the original Qi in the body, through strengthening the original and mixing the original Qi you build up a strong internal Qi.