MENTAL HEALTH
BALANCE FOR OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING
MEDITATION TAI CHI CHUAN QI GONG YOGA
TAI CHI CHUAN
For most beginners, the introduction to Tai Chi practice begins with the Beijing form, a hybrid form of easy-to-learn movements. This means that Tai Chi practice is free from the constraints of a particular tradition and can be practised and developed with qualified Tai Chi teachers.
In 1956, the National Sports Committee of the People's Republic of China revised the Beijing form and compiled it from various Taijiquan forms.
Repetitions were eliminated and levels of difficulty build on each other. With the Beijing form, Tai Chi Chuan became a popular sport in China.
Shadow boxing is usually practised with the Beijing form. Practitioners learn a relatively small number of 24 movements, allowing them to concentrate more on their inner work – yet the Beijing form still contains all the basic movements needed to practise Tai Chi Chuan.
Practising requires less time and less space.
Today, the Beijing form is a compulsory subject at Chinese Tai Chi schools.
The Beijing form is borrowed from the Yang style.
Teaching book Beijing form – with foot diagram and exercise poster
The book by Tai Chi master Foen Tjoeng Lie "Taijiquan. Short Beijing form: Chinese shadow boxing. " is a textbook for the Tai Chi Beijing form with many pictures, descriptions of the movements and foot positions.
Introduction, philosophy, basics and the Beijing form itself, each figure is explained in sequence, with several photos showing the directions of the movements of the legs, arms and body with arrows - as an extra, there is a foot diagram
(so you can quickly find the position and direction for each Tai Chi figure) and 2 exercise posters for the complete Beijing form
(so you can quickly recall the execution of a Tai Chi figure).
The spiral binding keeps the book open and prevents it from closing on its own, which is very helpful when learning.
It is the most comprehensive textbook on the Tai Chi Beijing form published in German:
Taijiquan. Short Beijing form. Book
Teaching DVD Beijing form – for self-study and in-depth learning
24-movement ‘Beijing’ form of the Yang style. Each Tai Chi figure is demonstrated, then explained, and can then be practised with the teacher. Views from different perspectives. Tai Chi teacher Andrew Dabioch teaches the Tai Chi Beijing form in 162 minutes on the DVD: Instructional DVD
The Tai Chi short form of the Tai Chi Yang style = Beijing form
as a video for beginners in a slow version suitable for following along!!!
Figure 01: Awaken the Qi (Awaken the Chi. The beginning. Starting position. Introduction. The opening form. Wu Chi basic stance. The initial posture. Qui Shi.) *
Figure 02: Divide the mane of the wild horse (Divide the horse's mane evenly. Divide the wild horse's mane left/right/left. Divide horse's manes, both sides. Zuo / You Ye Ma Fen Zong.) *
Figure 03: The white crane spreads its wings (The white crane spreads its wings. The white Crane spreads its Wings. Bei He Liang Chi.) *
Figure 04: Brush the knee (Knee stroke and thrust. Stroke the knee left/right/left. Left/right knee stroke and turned step. Brush knees while walking forward. Brush knees on both sides. Zuo/You Lou Xi Ao Bu.) *
Figure 05: Play the lute (Play the lute. Play the pipa. Play the guitar. Play the lyre. Play the lyre. Shou Hui Pipa.) *
Figure 06: Chase away the monkey (Ward off the monkey. Chase the monkey backwards. Retreat left and right and chase away the monkey. Turn back to hunt the monkey. Zuo / You Dao Juan Hong.) *
Figure 07: Grasp the bird by the tail, left (Catch the bird by the tail. Catch the tail of the bird. Catch the sparrow by the tail. Catch the crane's tail. Grasp crane's tail. Lan Que Wei.) *
Figure 08: Catch the bird by the tail, right *
Figure 09: Single whip (The whip. The single whip. Dan Bian. The single whip.) *
Figure 10: Cloud hands (Move your hands like clouds. Hands in cloud stream. Hand Waving in Cloud Stream. Yun Shou.) *
Figure 11: Simple whip *
Figure 12: Mounting the horse (Ask for directions and stroke the horse's back. High strike on the horse. Knock the horse's back. Rein in the horse. Knock the Horse's Back. Gao Tan Ma.) *
Figure 13: Right heel kick (Kick with the right heel. The right heel kick. Heel kick with the right. Kick with the right Heel. You Deng Jiao.) *
Figure 14: Fists to the ears (Hit the ears with the fists. Hit the opponent's ears. Hit the opponent's ears with both fists. Hit the ears with the wind. Hit the Opponent's Ears with both Fists. Shuan Feng Guan Er.) *
Figure 15: Turn, kick left (Turn and kick with the left heel. Turn around and kick with the left foot. Turn the body and kick with the left heel. Turn and kick with the left heel. Turn around and kick the left foot. Zhuan Shen Zuo Deng Jiao.) *
Figure 16: The snake crawls on the ground (Striking downwards to the left and standing on the left leg. The snake crawls down and the golden rooster stands on one leg – the left. Rising from a low position onto one leg on the left. Creep leftward and stand on the left leg. Zuo Xia Shi Du Li.) *
Figure 17: Golden rooster on one leg – left and right (Push down to the right and stand on the right leg. The snake crawls down and the golden rooster stands on one leg – the right. From the low position, rise up on one leg to the right. Creep rightward and stand on the right leg. You Xia Shi Du Li.) *
Figure 18: Beautiful woman at the loom – left and right (Working at the loom. Shuttle weaving on both sides. The beautiful weaver at the loom. Left/right posture when weaving. Shuttle Weaving on both sides. Zou/You Cuan Zao.) *
Figure 19: The needle on the sea bottom (Retrieving the needle from the sea bottom. The needle on the sea bottom. Needle on the Sea Bottom. Hei Di Zen.) *
Figure 20: Spreading the arms like a fan (Fan on the back. Unfolding the fan. Fans on the Back. Shan Tong Bei.) *
Figure 21: Turn, strike back (Turn, block, parry and strike. Turn around, strike right with fist. Turn around, defend downwards, parry and strike. Turn body, deflect, redirect and strike with fist. Turn around with Parry and Punch. Zhuan Shen Ban Lan Chui.) *
Figure 22: Half-circle step / Defend / Step forward, block and punch (Close. Open and close. Pull hands back and punch as if closing a door. Apparently Shutting. Ru Feng Si Bi.) *
Figure 23: Cross hands (Crossing hands. Hand crossing. Shizi Shou.) *
Figure 24: Wu Chi basic stance / The conclusion (Conclusion. The final form. Ending. The Concluding Posture. Shou Shi.)
QI GONG
In Hamburg and at other Tai Chi Chuan workshops organised by our ‘Taijiquan und Qigong Netzwerk e. V.’ (Taijiquan and Qigong Network), I had the pleasure of meeting Christel Proksch, a doctor of German studies from Bremen.
Christel introduced and taught us a form of qigong she had brought back from China. It was specially developed for tumour patients.
Fan Teng Gong. An ‘ancient Daoist qigong’ that had been kept secret for a long time. In 1987, it was first published by Master Lu Xue Zhe from Qing Huang Dao and quickly gained fame in China. Master Lu Xue succeeded in curing a general of cancer with it.
Unlike Guoli Qigong, Fan Teng Gong, which translates as ‘EVEN NORMAL PEOPLE CAN FLY’, belongs to the category of silent Qigong. This makes it ideal for weakened tumour patients.
It is a very effective, high-energy Qigong. A kind of standing meditation in which certain Qi centres are ‘irradiated’ with one's own hands. This initiates cleansing processes.
The liver's functional energy is made permeable and harmonised. During practice, the body temperature is measurably increased. Similar to hyperthermia treatment.
Fan Teng Gong is a self-contained exercise system with 10 main exercises, 2 cleansing exercises, 3 exercises for energy absorption and a sitting meditation.
Health for the future of our children
An attempt at an explanation and certainly not a magic formula. Various approaches to defining health and children
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The WHO has developed guidelines that summarise scientific findings and make them available to all countries. The aim is to reduce the burden of risk factors on children. This involves very complex issues such as pollutants. In outdoor and indoor air, in soil, in water. Inadequate water supply and food, often contaminated with pollutants. Poor hygiene conditions, lack of sanitation. Environmental disasters, armed conflicts, wars.
Electromagnetic, ultraviolet and radioactive radiation. Noise, a difficult social environment.
European Union – WHO Regional Office for Europe
Article 8.30 of the European Charter of the Rights of the Child enshrines the right of the child to a clean environment. Children are more vulnerable than adults to the health effects of environmental pollution, especially during their growth phase, and are therefore particularly in need of protection.
German legislation
According to Article 20a of the Basic Law, the state is obliged to protect the natural foundations of life in responsibility for future generations.
The Child and Youth Welfare Act requires in §1 paragraph 3 no. 4 the creation and maintenance of positive living conditions for young people.
Our memory makes us as humans something very special. In theory, it gives us the ability to look back and understand things. But how do people deal with this ability?
Health as a school subject
In a study conducted by BKK Vivida and the ‘Zukunft Gesundheit 2021’ foundation, well over 84% of young people between the ages of 14 and 34 would like to see health as a separate school subject. This would enable them to form their own opinions and not be so helplessly at the mercy of politicians who generate fear and panic.
Because facts are like a jigsaw puzzle. And this never forms a complete picture. In science, there is no such thing as ‘it is and remains so – basta’. Paradigm shifts are part of everyday life. Because every day, the groundhog learns something new. It is important to communicate the provisional nature of facts and to convey this in a way that is comprehensible to everyone in all media.
In science, of course, there are also hard facts that are recognised when they have been proven by independent experts in experiments. And yet, the statement that there is no definitive truth in science also applies. It is always a process of trial and error. Always open to new insights.
Very few of the discoveries that led to Nobel Prizes were made ‘to order’. In most cases, they were even unintended phenomena that were then specifically investigated.
Recognising that every person on our planet is unique, we will try to provide an insight into the wide range of possibilities for maintaining good health in a forward-looking and sustainable manner at the trade fair. This includes those who are not genetically optimally equipped by their grandparents and have been confronted with various pre-existing conditions since birth.
Our goal is to show a cross-section of how everyone can approach their topic individually. In theory and practice.
In order to approach this philosophical topic in a practical way, it is beneficial to have already engaged with and experimented with different ways of dealing with ourselves and the outside world that affects us. Even if this has not been the focus of interest so far. It is never too late to get started. Relaxed, stress-free – without having to prove anything to anyone.
What has often been offered to prospective academics as a general studies course in the evenings can also be experienced in real life at adult education centres and other educational institutions.
Sustainability
Sustainable is what lasts. Sustainability is just as difficult to define as health.
Those who leave a ‘sustainable’ impression are not easily forgotten. An influence, an experience or an insight can have such a lasting effect on us humans that we revise a fundamental decision, change our thinking and possibly even our lives. Sustainability requires genuine commitment. It is not enough to think and act in the short term, like managers and politicians who are guided by quarterly figures or election periods. It is rare for these individuals to take a long-term perspective.
Those who think and live sustainably, in ecological and other matters, transcend their own existence beyond their own mortal selves to a sense of belonging to past and future generations.
Sociologist Harald Welzer asks the question that everyone should ask themselves: ‘How will I have lived?’
Only focusing on the future perfect tense can motivate us to shape our future now, so that one day we will have shaped it in such a way that we and those who come after us can feel at home in it.
The paradox of the concept of sustainability lies in the fact that it means both preservation and change.
DUDEN
Sustainability is a long-lasting effect. It is a temporal, i.e. a time-related concept.
Brundtland Commission
The Brundtland Commission's definition became the basis for all further environmental agreements.
‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’
ECOLOGY
The principle that no more may be consumed than can be regrown or made available again in the future.
Sustainability through active design. More design, less waste
It is a daily challenge for designers to maintain and harmonise the trinity of economic efficiency, ecology and social issues.