Welcome to
THE SEVEN DAYS QIGONG RETREAT on AMORGOS ISLAND
September 4th – 10th 2011
Taught by Teacher of Qigong Panagiotis Kontaxakis

QIGONG IS AN ANCIENT CHINESE PRACTICE WHICH RELEASES OUR ENERGY AND REGULATES OUR BODY MIND AND BREATH
Qigong improves health, exploits potential to achieve the harmony inside the body by adjusting movement, breath and mind in practice. It distinguishes itself from other physical exercise with awareness for breath and mind, and with the unique integrated state of “three adjustments into one” (adjust mental activities, adjust posture and movement and adjust respiration type).

During these seven days we will learn
• Chen Xiyi Twenty-four Seasonal-division Gymnastics part 1
• Ermei stretching exercises Shen Zhang gong – Shen (stretch) - zhang (open)- qong(work)
• Ermei five element chanting musical notes “Five Elements & Five Musical Notes Fitness”
• Ermei 1 minute sequence exercises
• Big Dipper five zhang and whole body meditation
• Yi Jin Jing - Muscle and Tendon Strengthening exercise
• Ermei Faji gong [ consists of dynamic, walking, sitting and lying practices]

The practices taught in this retreat are a selection of various schools of qigong and particular from:

Chinese Health qigong association system:
Health Qigong originates in China and is to be shared by the whole world to create a healthy and happy life. The main subject of the entire retreat course will be the teaching of the standing qigong form Yi Jin Jing - Muscle and Tendon Strengthening exercise, compiled by Chinese Health Qigong Association. Health qigong was formed officially by Chinese government to promote the treasures of Chinese civilization and culture.
Chinese Health Qigong Association began to form new ways of presenting ancient forms of Health cultivation exercises combined with various scientific elements and knowledge together with an updated aesthetic in the way they were presented for the needs of people of the modernized societies. Every year there is a beautiful international competition qigong games organized by Chinese Health Qigong Association. At the end of our sixth day the group will perform the Shier Duan Jin qigong form accompanied with beautiful music.

Yi Jin Jing - Muscle and Tendon Strengthening exercise

The earliest description of Yi Jin Jing exercises can be found on a 2000 years old brocade painting named 'Illustration of Qi Circulation' (Dao Yin), which was unearthed in the 1970s from an ancient tomb in Changsha, Hunan, China. From 526 AD on, monks of the Shaolin Monastery played an important role in the evolution of the Yi Jin Jing exercises. The earliest account of the modern 12-movement exercises is included in the Illustrations of Internal Exercise compiled by Pan Wei in 1858 in the Qing Dynasty.
As traditional Yi Jin Jing relies heavily on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of the Five Elements - metal, wood, water, fire, earth - different school of the exercises have evolved, emphasizing this aspect in many works. The Health Qigong Yi Jin Ying absorbed the cream of the traditional 12-routine Yi Jin Ying exercises together with a modern scientific approach. The movements form a continuous integrity, focusing on tendon stretching and bone flexing and combining softness with strength. An essential part of the routines is natural breathing and the integration of mind and body with a relaxed spirit to make the circulation of the vital energy (qi) as unimpeded as possible.
Yi Jin Jing movements require a full range of stretching, bending, flexing and twisting in multi-directional and wide-ranging motions of the bones and related joints. As the bones are flexed, the muscle groups, tendons and ligaments are also stretched. This improves the blood circulation, nutrition supersession in the soft tissues of the motion-related areas, increases the flexibility and pliability of such soft tissues as muscles, tendons, ligaments and enhances the mobility of the bones, joints and muscles.
The exercises are centered on the twisting, flexing, and stretching of the spine, with the waist as the axis and are conducted at a slow and even pace. Such movements help to stimulate spinal and nerve cords to make them function more effectively, together with the exercise of limbs and internal organs. Strength, when required, is applied in a gradual manner and the muscles should be relaxed to combine strength with tenderness.
The Yi Jin Ying movements have been proven to be able to improve health, fitness, prevent diseases, lengthen life and improve intellect. Regular, correct practice has very impressive effects on the respiratory system, flexibility, balance and muscular strength. It may also help to prevent and cure diseases of the joints, digestive, cardiovascular and nervous system.

From Ermei school of health cultivation:
Ermei Taoist Alchemy School of medicine and health cultivation, a 800 year
legend, is the outcome of 5000 years of history of Chinese health
cultivation. Ermei School was originated from the Ermei mountain in Sichuan
province of China. Contents of Ermei health cultivation school has been
passed on among only a small group of people in the past and they have strict
requirement for the students and the descendants. Therefore very few people
know and understand about it. Although people knew very little about Ermei
health cultivation it has great influence to the traditional Chinese
medicine and the Qigong. Many popular forms of qigong around the world today
are created and developed in inspiration from the Ermei school.

Ermei Faji gong [consists of dynamic, walking, sitting and lying practices

]

This is actually the first form of the Ermei school of Taoist Alchemy school of Medicine and health cultivation. It is aim to open the middle part of the body or the second Dan Tien which controls the Qi of the body. It has elements of sound, hand positioning, opening closing upward downward spiritually graceful movements. The whole serious of Faji gong will be taught with the dynamic exercises, sitting exercises, walking exercises and lying positioning exercises.

Ermei stretching exercises Shen Zhang gong
- Shen (stretch) - zhang (open) - qong (work)
In order to open a way for energy to create changes it needs motivation,
destination, space and time to make them happen.
Our body with this set of simple stretching positions gets to a state where
the body expands in lines and the whole body becomes the destination for energy
to make changes. So changes happen and mind becomes the quiet witness
detached in simple listening and watching... which becomes a spiritual
stretching.
These practice of stretching's have nothing to do with normal stretching.
They are the foundation course of Taoist Alchemy school of Medicine and
health cultivation, they are the foundation or warm up exercise for higher
level qigong forms, an essential exercise for qigong therapist and a
supplement that can be used for chronic diseases.

Ermei five element chanting musical notes “Five Elements & Five Musical Notes Fitness”
It’s the practicing of gathering energy and moving inside our bodies to feel more. Five Elements constitute the material world. Five solid organs correspond with the five elements (earth – spleen, metal – lungs, water – kidneys, wood – liver, fire – heart). Unbalance among these elements will lead to illness. Through singing the musical notes of each elements energy frequency, holding the special hand gesture of each element and doing specific dao yin exercises [Taoist yoga simple movements] we experience the total spectrum which consists our inner world.

Ermei 1 minute sequence exercises
Ermei 1 minute breathing exercise
The 1 minute breathing exercise could be very helpful in adjusting your mind
and emotions, release stress and pressures preventing depression and nervous
breakdown. When you feel nervous this is a perfect solution to calm you down. It
cultivates your qi and promotes circulation of qi and blood and thus increases your
vitality.
Ermei 1 minute five element meditation.
The purpose of this meditation is to cultivate the mind. It helps to enhance the ability to regulate and control the mind and consciousness through visualization of the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The five elements theory is a unique knowledge of Chinese culture and it categorizes the universe and everything within it into five categories. This 1 minute meditation helps you understand the five
element theory through visualization with the corresponding body movements
and rebuilds the bond with nature. The 1 minute five element meditation is an excellent exercise for those who have a stressful daily life.

Chen Xiyi Twenty-four Seasonal-division Gymnastics

The characters ? Dao (guide,lead) ? Yin (draw out)- means to use the mind/intent to guide the qi and blood, this can be done while standing, sitting, lying down, with complete stillness using only intent or with slow calm movements + intent to facilitate the movement along meridians. Zhan Zhuang is a Daoyin practice.

Sitting practices called ?? "Neidan" (internal alchemy) are a bit different but some of them are technically a Daoyin practice.
The Chen Xiyi 24 Daoyin Qigong Method (er shi shi ssu shih tao yin fa) seated and standing exercises designed to prevent diseases that occur during seasonal change. They work according the changes in season and weather in the solar year, which is divided according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Each of the two positions is associated with two seasonal divisions of every month. Every position is practiced at a given time of two hours with each of the main meridians that links to an inner organ of Viscera. The time of the practice and Viscera in turn are accompanied by the five elements in their nature of male and female; dry and wet; and cold and warm.
.
MEDITATIONS IN THE GREATNESS OF NATURE
All natural things, including humans, grow within and are influenced by the natural cycles of heaven Qi and Earth Qi. Since we are part of nature we must understand heaven Qi and earth Qi and respect them. Then we will be able to adjust ourselves when necessary to fit smoothly into the natural cycle and learn how to protect ourselves from the negative influences of nature, this is the major goal of Qigong practice. Heaven Qi is the biggest and most powerful. This heaven Qi contains within it the earth Qi, and within this heaven and earth Qi lives humans, with their own Qi
The Sun, Moon, Big Dipper and Polar star are major sources of heaven Qi. The Chinese people believe that Human Qi is affected and controlled by Heaven Qi and Earth Qi and that they in fact determine your destiny.
• Meditation of central channel
The meditation of the central channel coordinates us with our natural mind and brings us in contact with the centre of our being. Through this meditation we can calm our chatty, garrulous minds and broaden our contact with the light energies and good vibrations of the stars of the Big Dipper.
• Big Dipper five zhang and whole body meditation
A practice done in the evenings were we receive direct nourishment from the lights of the stars of the Big Dipper. It affects the cells of our whole body, strengthens our life energy and spirit.

The daily program:
7.15 pm – 8: 45 am Morning exercises (meeting at the hotel Askas)
8.45 am-10 am Breakfast
10 am-1 pm exercise
1 pm – 4 pm Lunch and rest
4 pm – 6:30 pm exercise
After 6.30 pm free evening (join the group going for dinner to different small villages or for an evening meditation with Big Dipper if clouds allows us)
The 4th day is free (there will be an option to do a walk in the mountains)

What to bring:
a small pillow slightly hard for the exercises and the sitting meditation,
comfortably cloths for exercise, t-shirts to change in lesson when/if you are sweating, a small towel for the exercises
shoes of Tai Chi or very lightweight exercise shoes (in the Studio IRIS we are without shoes)
hat, shoes for walk or sports shoes, sun protection, sunglasses,
a sweater (the nights can be quite chilly) and of course your swimsuit.

Prices: Whole workshop 300 euro. Ask for hotel prices, food, transportation costs.
Registration: before July 20
Information about the retreat www.iris.amorgos.net
Contact Miss Karin Oscarson tel:0030 22850 73545 - 6934984775
Also www.taocenter.gr or www.chikung.gr and info@taocenter.gr

Panagiotis Kontaxakis: a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science of University of Athens and ex-national champion and record man in track and field while he was also applying systematically in his trainings Chinese yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Daoist meditation, qigong and athletic psychology.. Panagiotis began his study and his practice in Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong and meditation since 1983 in Switzerland, New York, Thailand, China, Mongolia, Boston, Los Angeles, Japan, Turkey, Minneapolis, Washington. He is a researcher of Qigong, he holds the title of Master in Qigong and he has dedicated his life in spreading Qigong around Greece. He began to teach in Greece individually and in groups from 1988. 1992 he opened GREEK HEALING TAO CENTER which functions until today under the umbrella of the Athletic Association of Cheerful Dragon.
Panagiotis Kontaxakis has studied Qigong in different places around the world for more than 27 years. Today he represents various authentic Qigong organizations in Greece (formal representative of Chinese Health Qigong in China, holder of 5th genealogy of Wu Style Tai Chi – internal student of Grand master Li Bing Ci- head of Northern Wu Style Tai Chi in Greece, Senior Instructor of Master Mantak Chia, formal co operator of the University of Sport of Beijing in Qigong, representative of Dr Yang Jwing Ming as assistant Qigong instructor).
Further he has created the Centre of Science and Research of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong “Cheerful Dragon” where every year many known teachers are invited to teach their valuable practices and teaching skills. He is the President of Hellenic Health Qigong Association and Master coach of Health Qigong.