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QIGONG

This art known as Qigong (pronounced chee gung), which is defined as internal energy work, is part of the world’s oldest continuous system of natural medicine, developed in China over centuries: traditional Chinese medicine. It is a practice that can at once, be medicinal, martial, and spiritual.

Qigong views a person as a complete field of energy, and that energy of a person’s whole being is what is studied and strengthened. Qigong is also based on the truth that each person is unique and to be respected. Feelings, attitudes, behaviors, and deep psychological patterns are part of the total energy field. Working with the complete field of energy is at the heart of this system of well-being.

There are noted to be 7,000 different styles of Qigong that have been developed over the centuries. The art of Qigong is the result of human inquiry, experimentation, and practice stretching over centuries.

Here at House of Attilius, various forms will be used, but starting off with sets that will be the simplest and easiest to understand; able to be practiced by anybody, young or old, healthy or sick. As well as provide a good understanding of basic Qigong theory so more advanced training can occur.

Qigong is considered one of the pillars of Chinese medicine, but also the basis of most Chinese martial arts, which draws its principles from Daoism and Buddhism. In these principles, Qigong remains the primary means of moving and exercising the body, regulating the breath an calming the mind and/or the heart on the path to spiritual awakening. Qigong works to cultivate healthy Qi (energy) flow where there has been disruption or imbalance. Movement, intention, visualization and breathing techniques.

MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is one of the oldest and most basic skills known to mankind. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness means becoming more aware of what is going on- in the present moment. We can appreciate our lives instead of rushing through them. As we become more mindful this will also help us to be less swept away by current thoughts of emotion, which usually manifests itself as stress, depression, negative thinking, anxiety, anger, resentment or self doubt.

Mindfulness doesn’t belong to any one culture or tradition. Its a way of being for all- part of our birthright- which has been lost to us over the years as daily life has gotten progressively faster.

As one would exercise their body to keep it healthy, you’d benefit from training yourself equally in this area.

Here at House of Attilius, mindfulness is about teaching yourself to be more:

Aware: of your body, mind, and the surrounding environment.
Present: in the moment- right here, right now.
Focused: able to make better choices about where you place your attention.
Embodied: being in your body, and syncing your mind and body.
Accepting: of yourself and others.

Remember this, mindfulness practice can be practiced either Formal or Informal. Examples: Formal can mean sitting during meditation using the breath as focus. Informal can mean making a cup of tea with awareness.

Meditation

Meditation is a heightened state of focus, concentrated into one point, sharply, consciously and purposely. Being free of thoughts might occur with practice, but never forcibly, rather it could be viewed as more of a side effect of focusing your attention.

Their are many concepts and misconceptions of what meditation really is. One of the popular held beliefs is that the practitioner would sit for an extended period of time, motionless, with an empty mind, purposely not thinking about anything. Freeing themselves from thought and emotions, being still and empty. But being in this state as described, needs some adjustments, as thoughts an emotions are an integral part of human nature and can be expected to occur.

When one becomes too busy suppressing their thoughts, with all their brain power directed towards fighting stubbornly reoccurring mental images, there will be little energy left to focus on more important elements of the meditation practice: the real essence of meditation: FOCUS.

Although sitting meditation is a most common practice, at House of Attilius, we encourage to explore various ways to meditate. There are certain ways to practice meditation with- in-or through movement, or laying down on the floor.

Meditation at a basic level has nothing mystical about it, being simply a method of focusing the mind. The experiences and realizations resulting from a prolonged practice may be spiritual or strictly secular, your own experience will much depend on the frame of your own mind. Think of meditation as training for the mind. If you train your muscles, the muscles thicken and become stronger. The same happens to your brain, meditating is just like training your mental capabilities.

THAI YOGA

Based on a combination of influences from India, China, and indigenous Thai traditions, this art form has been handed down through the generations mostly via oral tradition, and is practiced today across Thailand in various forms. Ruesri Dat Ton is the name for Traditional Thai Yoga.

To put this practice into some perspective, Traditional Thai Yoga is a part of Traditional Thai Medicine which also includes Thai Massage (Nuad Bo Rarn) and Thai Herbal Medicine. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine (which have both influenced Thai Medicine) the traditional Thai medicine system is a holistic system that heals by facilitating the free flow of energy throughout the body.

Ruesri Dat Ton (translates to the hermit’s autocure) is a solo Yoga practice. This means practitioners can perform the healing postures on their own without the assistance of a trained massage professional. While some postures may seem challenging at first, the system is, overall, a simple one.

As one engages with diligent practice, an individual can significantly improve his or her own health.

One of the main characteristics of Thai medicine is the simplicity of it. All its therapeutic instruments are made up of essential conceptual virtues. Emphasis is placed on the ability to "feel," to "perceive," and, with practice, to "grow" toward these virtues in order to improve the result of the medicine. Thai medicine may be practiced by anyone, regardless of his or her education. The Buddhist concept of metta is also apart of this. Metta meaning loving-kindness. In other words, the techniques of traditional Thai medicine are often taught and practiced in Thailand in a spirit of loving care, with the goal of providing comfort.

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