CPD20 Yuan Qigong: Heal your Heart, Heal your Body

Biyome welcomes you to learn from two incredibly talented teachers to offer the healing practice of Yuan Gong Qigong for an incredible four-day intensive retreat in Brisbane.

Fiona McLaughlin:

Fiona McLaughlin, a seasoned Ren Xue Yuan Gong and Life Cultivation teacher. Fiona’s personal healing journey with Ren Xue began when facing a dire health prognosis, including fibromyalgia and adrenal fatigue. Through dedicated practice, she not only regained vitality but discovered a harmonious way of being. Specialising in Yuan Ming, Fiona guides others on the path of growth and wisdom, helping them break free from damaging thoughts and emotions. With a full-time practice, Fiona leads classes, workshops, and retreats, impacting up to 300 participants. She also offers one-on-one sessions, nurturing connections to the heart and true self, fostering profound self-realisation and wisdom. Join Fiona on this transformative journey to a healthy, happy life. Learn more about her teachings here

Shane Ricketts:

Shane Ricketts, is a dedicated Ren Xue & Yuan Gong Qigong teacher and an Osteopath practicing cranial osteopathy. He advocates for the body’s innate ability to heal with the right tools and energy response. Having explored various healing modalities, Shane found his transformative path in the teachings of Yuan Tze, the founder of Ren Xue. After rigorous training, he became a qualified Zhineng Qigong and Ren Xue & Yuan Gong teacher. Shane’s daily practice reflects the profound healing power of Ren Xue & Yuan Qigong, and his mission is to share this transformative journey with you for health, happiness, and growth.

Yuan Tze, the founder of Ren Xue:

History of Qi Gong

Qi Gong is a widespread therapeutic practice of Chinese origin. The word Qi Gong (气功) comes from Chinese and means enhancing or cultivating the energetic essence of the person (Jahnke et al., 2010).

The history of Qi Gong practice goes back 5,000 to 7,000 years. There is archaeological evidence from the times of the Yellow Emperor (2690-2590 BC) of using stone probes to regulate and control the circulation of energy (气, Qi). Later, the Chinese imperial dynasty, the Han Dynasty, also mentioned Qi Gong in their texts (A.D. 20-220). (McCaffrey & Fowler, 2003).

Uses of Qi Gong

Qi Gong practice was used for different purposes throughout different Chinese societies. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasises the preventive and curative purposes of Qi Gong. According to Confucianism, this practice improved mortality and prolonged life. Though a form of exercise, medicine, and philosophical tradition, Buddhism and Taoism also integrated Qi Gong with meditation (Liang et al., 1997). Instructions for Qi Gong are paraphrased as “mind the body and the breath and clear the mind to distil the Heavenly elixir within” (Jahnke et al., 2010).

Qi Gong has been practised for thousands of years to optimise, balance, cultivate and restore the energy (or 气, Qi) of the spirit, body, and mind. (McCaffrey & Fowler, 2003; Dudeja, 2019). This becomes possible via the positive effect of Qi Gong practice on the Qi channels/paths. The latter is a holistic, coordinated and mutually interactive system (Dudeja, 2019).

Scientific Benefits of Qi Gong

Practising Qi Gong promotes psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being in many ways.

Traditional Chinese medicine practices Qi Gong to treat several health conditions, including but not limited to (McCaffrey & Fowler, 2003):

• Allergy
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Digestive problems
• Headache
• Cardiovascular diseases
• High blood pressure
• Kidney diseases
• Liver diseases
• Low back pain
• Obesity
• Paralysis
• Rheumatism
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease

However, the promotion of the scientific benefits of Qi Gong is not limited to traditional Chinese cultural beliefs. A large body of scientific research has also supported the positive benefits of the practice. For example, a review of randomised control trials has shown that Qi Gong promotes bone health and significantly reduces blood pressure (Jahnke et al., 2010).

Like other meditative practices, Qi Gong greatly benefits the mind. This practice makes you more energetic throughout the day. It relieves stress and anxiety while also helping filter negative thoughts and perceptions, allowing for better coping with stressful situations. In addition, Qi Gong increases self-confidence in managing your life. Due to the positive effects of Qi Gong on the mind, it is highly recommended to practise Qi Gong to clear the mind before going to sleep (Dudeja, 2019; Jahnke et al., 2010). A few minutes of Qi Gong practice balances muscle tension and improves posture (Dudeja, 2019). This practice also relieves pain and improves flexibility and range of motion in people with arthritis (Dudeja, 2019).

Yuan Gong Qigong

Yuan Gong Qigong is part of the Ren Xue system. Ren Xue translates to “The study of human life” and is used to help practitioners achieve greater health, happiness, a sense of well-being, and realization and wisdom. It looks at the whole of the person and their role and place in the universe.

It helps us find inner harmony through practices that elevate body, heart, and consciousness, which in turn helps us create outer harmony – in our personal relationships, with society, and with nature.

Yuan Gong Qigong is a system that helps to transform each individual person’s life beginning from the physical and external aspects, moving deeper to the internal, and then working on the transformation of the heart and consciousness.

Yuan Gong Qigong practice helps to improve/promote health, gather Qi to depleted areas and unblock Qi where there is a blockage. The benefits of Qigong are often first experienced on the level of physical health. It can also help to work very deeply on life, including the level of the emotions and mind.

Yuan Gong Qigong is a practice that incorporates gentle, graceful movements and still meditations to bring about healing and positive transformation. It uses the body, mind and breath to create a peacefulness, joy and positivity to our life which has a profound effect on our ability to heal.

Ren Xue has been developed by renown teacher, Yuan Tze, drawing on his deep level of understanding and practice in a range of traditions, especially Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Qigong, Traditional Chinese Medicine, martial arts and Tai Chi.

Yuan Qigong is made up of 9 different methods with three stages.

FIRST STAGE: EXTERNAL TRANSFORMATION

To improve and strengthen the whole body through gathering, integrating and transforming Qi.

Methods:

1. Tian Yuan – Gather universal Qi into the body; improve the quality, quantity and flow of Qi
2. Di Yuan – Strengthen Qi in the three Dantians; learn to keep the awareness inward
3. Ren Yuan – Work on the body at a deep level; promote the flow of Qi in the channels

SECOND STAGE: INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION

To effect internal change on a deep level, enhancing the organs, channels, Central Channel, Qi Lun.

Methods:

4. Xia Yuan – Strengthen Qi of the organs
5. Zhong Yuan – Open four channels and connect six Qi Lun
6. Shang Yuan – Open the central channel and develop the central line

THIRD STAGE: XIN AND SHEN TRANSFORMATION

To transform and uplift Xin Ling, Human Nature and patterns of consciousness in order to attain realization and wisdom.

Methods:

7. Tong Yuan – Cultivate and develop the essential qualities of the heart
8. Ling Yuan – Transform and uplift unhealthy patterns of the consciousness
9. Ming Yuan – Use COMPLETE Awareness in every moment to attain realization and wisdom