History
T’ai Chi Gong originated from T’ai Chi Chih. And T’ai Chi Chih was created in 1974 by Justin Stone, a T’ai Chi Chuan master. He found this ancient form of movement difficult for many people to learn. It often took a long time for students to learn the entire form and feel the benefits of this activity. So, Stone designed new “Chi Kung” moves based on T’ai Chi Chuan and the ancient Asian principle of the tao. He began teaching this new form: T’ai Chi Chih, in Albuquerque, New Mexico the same year.
This new form has spread quickly without hype or professional promotion. There are now over 1,500 accredited instructors, and T’ai Chi Chih is taught in many countries around the world. T’ai Chi Chih students find this form easy to learn, and beginners often feel the beneficial results within the first weeks of practice.
Robynn Honeychurch began learning T’ai Chi Chih in 1991. In 1992 she attended the teacher’s accreditation course in Denver, Colorado, led by Steve Ridley, the Acting Head of T’ai Chi Chih at the time. Along with her T’ai Chi teaching certificate, she has a BFA, public school teaching certificate, hypnotherapy certificate and a master level Reiki therapist certification.
Over the years she has integrated powerful Qi Gong breathing, affirmations and visualization practices with the T’ai Chi Chih moves which has evolved the practice into an even more powerful, effective form. She now calls this form T’ai Chi Gong. She has produced a practice video which has helped many students who wish to keep working on their movements between in-person classes.
Growing Research on the Benefits of Qigong
Suddenly, the 21st century has brought a surge of interest in wellness and health promotion strategies [Roger Jahnke, OMD]. One of the most rapidly growing of these is Qigong. It is an ancient Chinese moving meditation, proven effective for a wide range of diseases and conditions. There is now an estimated 29 million people practicing Qigong daily for preventative medicine and self-healing.
The basic health enhancement concept of both Qigong and Tai Chi (one of the most common forms of Qigong), is to purposefully manage posture, movement, breath and mind focus. The goal is to balance and direct energy within the body, to activate self-healing, and create homeostasis.
Exciting new research points to Qigong and T’ai Chi’s amazing self-healing, health maintenance, disease prevention, and chronic disease management benefits [Tom Rogers, Qigong researcher]. The findings of numerous clinical trials reflect that Qigong and Tai Chi provide relief from symptoms and ailments such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, surgery, stress, pain, depression, osteoporosis, chronic hypertension, neuromuscular problems, cancer, and lack of balance.
Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah called Qigong “the secret to anti-aging” due to its natural ability to help the body heal itself.