Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 2, Issue No.

3

Answers to Common Tai Chi and Qigong Questions
by William Ting
Book Review
SoItcover, 222pp.
ISBN: 978-1-4653-1007-1 . Xlibris Corp. USA.
2011 $19.99
I recently had the honor and privilege oI partici-
pating in a qigong workshop with Master William
Ting. At that workshop, many questions were raised
about various aspects oI tai chi and qigong training.
Master Ting did a beautiIul job in answering all the
questions in a lucid, concise manner. In conversing
with him privately he told me that he would soon be
completing a book on tai chi and qigong. This is the
book he was reIerring to.
This book consists oI answers to 65 questions
involving diIIerent aspects oI tai chi and qigong arts
and training. It is not an instruction manual on any
particular tai chi or qigong Iorm. I believe both in-
structors and students oI these arts can appreciate the
wealth oI 40 plus years experience oI his training in
Bagua, Tai Chi , and Qigong as a closed door stu-
dent oI Grandmaster , Lu Ji-Tang. The questions
addressed in the book came Irom practitioners oI
these arts writing to his website, questions Irom stu-
dents in his classes and Irom the many programs he
has taught over the years. One may consider this
book to be an ideal primer Ior Tai Chi and Qigong
students.
One oI the highlights oI the book was his answer
to Question 4 " What are the 24 Musts of good
posture?" As with any athletic endeavor including
Tai Chi and Qigong , the author states that " With-
out proper posture, there is no way to attain an in-
ternal balance and connection between the parts
of the body; proper posture allows the physical
frame to move around its central axis, uniting mind
and body." The author oIIers 24 postural align-
ments, 5 vital body connections and discusses the
three major bows that need to be Iormed by the body
Ior proper connections. There is enough inIormation
in the answer to suIIice all levels oI qigong and tai
chi practice to improve on body alignments.
As an integral part oI tai chi training one must
practice push hands. It is through push hands that the
martial applications oI tai chi can best be explored.
Question 35 asks " What are your suggestions for
improving Push Hands skills?" In his answer
Master Ting reminds students that push hands re-
quires a solid Ioundation in Tai Chi principles and
the importance oI sinking, expanding and turning
May-June 2012

Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life)
which are Iundamental in all qigong practice. Yield-
ing is one oI the key diIIerences between tai chi and
other martial arts. The serious student must attain
calmness oI mind, relaxation oI the body, balance,
unity oI movement, awareness, and learn how to
neutralize, control and release in that order when
applying and practicing push hands.
In answering Question 63 , a beautiIul deIinition
oI tai chi is given, i.e. " 1ai Chi is a practice of inte-
grating the essentials of life, mind , body and ener-
gy, into unity and wholeness." This neatly sums up
the essences oI tai chi training. Throughout the book
there is oIten reIerence to the Classics oI tai chi and
qigong literature upon which these art Iorms are
based. The last question, number 65 asks " What is
the ultimate secret of 1ai Chi and Qigong " The
response given was " .to me, it is that there is no
secret...1he secret of 1ai Chi and Qigong poten-
tially lies within every person who takes up prac-
tice. It all depends on how well one understands
the basic principles, how well they assimilate them
into their practice, how often and how long they
practice, and how well they execute the movements,
both internally and externally. "
Through the questions and answers one can see a
thread oI principles and practices that make up and
integrate these two art Iorms. When reading the
questions and answers, perhaps new questions will
emerge that you wish to explore with your teacher
and/or do your own research. I encourage you to go
to Master Ting`s website www.silvertigertaichi.com
and see what he has to oIIer in terms oI workshops
and materials.
Salvatore Casano R.N.,
PhD a registerea nurse
with a PhD in Holistic
Health, ana is an ATCQZ
certifiea Tai Chi ana
Qigong instructor. His Tai
Chi ana Qigong fourney
began over 20 years ago
while working as a chemis-
try instructor, when he felt
the neea for a more holistic approach to health care. Par




ticipating in many programs ana profects relating to
health, Dr. Casano eaucates the community on living a
healthier lifestyle to avoia obesity ana aiabetes, ana as a
way to reauce stress. Over the years, he has learnea from
many masters incluaing Bill Philips, Marc Issacs, Rich-
ara Chu, as well as two ATCQA aavisors, Dr. Roger
Jahnke, ana Bill Douglas. Dr. Casano, along with his
wife Jeronica, often sofourn together on his healing path,
as they use their skills in helping others connect the mina,
boay, ana spirit. They have four aault chilaren, seven
granachilaren, ana a cat, 'Tiger.`