How We Teach

In Lotus Nei Gong we try to  take a rounded approach to teaching.

In weekly classes we teach in a very ’hands on’ manner. We like students to be able to ‘feel’ how their arts should be working rather than just understanding intellectually. Teachers will assist students with getting into the correct positions and show them how to feel their joints opening and their energy system awakening. We do not believe that it is enough for the teacher to run through the form at the front of the class with the students following along. People do not learn like this. The Daoist arts are physical arts with a need for students to know exactly how each movement and position should feel within their body. For those training in the martial aspects of their style we allow students to experience the use of martial applications gently at first and then increase the pressure and force until they can recreate the strikes and locks of their style.

Assisted Awakening of the Energy System

Nei Gong and Qi Gong students are assisted in getting their alignments correct and then at slightly higher levels are assisted in feeling their internal energy moving inside the meridians system. The teachers may assist with the awakening of the Dan Tien when students are ready and again the emphasis is on experiencing the various stages of development rather than simply understanding them intellectually.

Theoretical Lectures

This form of teaching is the same on our residential courses only here several teachers will work with the group and teaching is carried out intensely over several hours each day. In the morning all students are led through early meditation practice to continue with the development of their consciousness. On the courses we also have theoretical lectures which are usually given by Damo. These are an hour or more in length and delve into Chinese culture, the arts and philosophy. They range from fairly fundamental to very complex depending on the level of the students in attendance.

In short we attempt to cover every method of teaching so that the classes and courses are suitable for everybody, no matter what their learning style. We place an emphasis on ‘experiencing’ everything and never use the imagination. In our opinion there is too much use of imagination in the internal arts, particularly Qi Gong. If you are not sure whether or not your experiences are just your mind then they probably are. Energy work can clearly be felt and it is rarely subtle when part of your energy system awakens.