The Inner Dance School of T’ai Chi and Qigong

Patrons:Grand Master Yang Zhen Ji (China) Son of Yang Cheng Fu
Lineage Master Wee Kee Jin [New Zealand].

Principal Teacher:
Altair de Almeida (Near Malvern and Worcester & Internationally).

Area Teachers:
Soozie Fernley-Weiner (Crediton, Devon), specialising in Qigong for the mentally, physically challenged.
Barry Sant (Worcester)

Patrons:
Grand Master Yang Zhen Ji (China) Son of Yang Cheng Fu
Lineage Master Wee Kee Jin [New Zealand].

Principal Teacher:
Altair de Almeida (Near Malvern and Worcester & Internationally).

TaiChiPage1

Area Teachers:
Soozie Fernley-Weiner (Crediton, Devon), specialising in Qigong for the mentally, physically challenged.
Barry Sant (Worcester)

How can Tai Chi help you?

Research worldwide and my extensive experience since 1980 (41 years) shows:

*Improved balance (Balance worsens in 30% of those over 50)

*Better coordination

*Better poise

*Graceful movement

*Improved concentration

*Better agility

How can Tai Chi help you?

Research worldwide and my extensive experience since 1980 (42 years) shows:

*Improved balance (Balance worsens in 30% of those over 50)

*Better coordination

*Better poise

*Graceful movement

*Improved concentration

*Better agility

How can Tai Chi help you?

How can Medical Qigong (Chi Kung) help you?

Research worldwide and my extensive experience since 1980 (41 years) shows:

*Reduces stress

*Develops a Calm Mind

*Improves stamina

*Stronger limbs

*Greater strength (Qigong was used in China centuries before guns were invented to strengthen their warrior’s vitality and health)

*Improves Health (Qigong was used during the Cultural Revolution in China to improve the health of the nation. Now there are Qigong wards in many hospitals in China. It is also taught in most schools.

*Improved Immune system. (Qigong is used in several hospitals in China, treating diseases as varied as cancer, arthritis, M.E., etc.)

*Decreases aches and pains.

*Increases Vitality

How can Medical Qigong (Chi Kung) help you?

Research worldwide and my extensive experience since 1980 (42 years) shows:

*Reduces stress

*Develops a Calm Mind

*Improves stamina

*Stronger limbs

*Greater strength (Qigong was used in China centuries before guns were invented to strengthen their warrior’s vitality and health)

*Improves Health (Qigong was used during the Cultural Revolution in China to improve the health of the nation. Now there are Qigong wards in many hospitals in China. It is also taught in most schools.

*Improved Immune system. (Qigong is used in several hospitals in China, treating diseases as varied as cancer, arthritis, M.E., etc.)

*Decreases aches and pains.

*Increases Vitality

How can Medical Qigong (Chi Kung) help you?

:* Medical Qigong is a specialised form of Qigong over 2500 years old. It is used to strengthen specific organs and Meridian pathways. Meridians are Channels around your body that allow Qi (Life force or energy to flow), akin to water flowing through a pipe. As a Consultant Acupuncturist with over 30 years experience, Altair works with these Meridians in detail, and so can help his Medical Qigong students understand and direct their own healing with greater clarity.

New Medical Qigong and Tai Chi Classes in Malvern – Let go of stress, the Easy Way

Regain: Vitality, Stamina, Strength, Calm, Improved Health and Balance

Altair specifically uses Mindfulness techniques to help you change habits that create tension to new habits that let go of tension, at mental, emotional and physical levels. These can be used daily in your life, to create a peaceful life, not only on class days!

For newcomers to Tai Chi or Qigong, who are committed to investing in their health and wellbeing a taster class is offered at a reduced investment of £5 when you complete the registration form:
Tai Chi & Qigong Registration Form

******Please note your details will never be disclosed to third parties.******

Tai Chi Classes in Malvern

Venue: Christchurch Hall, Avenue Rd, Malvern, WR14 3YA. The hall is at the back of this magnificent church. Parking on the side of the church

Date: Mondays, 7 to 8.00pm Qigong £10. When you pay for 4 weeks in advance, your cost will be discounted to £32 (£8 per class) *

8.00 to 8.30pm Tai Chi £15 (Including Qigong) From 1st February 2023, if you pay for 4 weeks in advance, your cost will be discounted to £48 (£12 per class) * The terms of this discounted price, is that if you miss a class, you don’t get a replacement. You do it by Standing order. You can cancel at any time, but please tell me when you start to pay this way, or if you decide to cancel. Thank you. I believe that I give the best classes in the 2 Counties, so it’s a very reasonable price. Please take into account that my Acupuncture expertise of over 30 years, helps to explain why we do what we do in terms of energy Meridians, Acupuncture points etc. I don’t believe that any other Tai Chi or Qigong teacher has this background, nor depth of Lineage Master training. From that background, I am able to explain why certain points or parts of your body are hurting and how to change your condition.

It is not possible to do Tai Chi on its own, as Qigong comprises the Roots and Trunk (stability) of this ancient healing system. Tai Chi is equivalent to the branches, leaves, flowers and fruit. Each has its own jewels.

Please email me for my bank details for BACS transfer. Cash is the alternative. No cheques please. My bank doesn’t like them and charges a fortune to process them. Sorry!

Tai Chi Classes in Guarlford

Venue: Guarlford Village Hall (Signposted)

Date: Thursdays 4.30-5.30pm £10 or £48 (£8 each) for 6 classes paid in advance*. Paid in cash or BACS. No credit cards/cheques. * The terms of this discounted price, is that if you miss a class, you don’t get a replacement.

In 2009 Altair was given the title of Honorary Vice President of the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain, the UK’s largest register of qualified teachers, for services to the community.

Study Development

This video gives an overview of my Tai Chi-Qigong classes. The Sword form is taught once students have a sufficient grasp of the Tai Chi form.

https://youtu.be/mdVLp4YLJGI

What this video cannot show is that in every class, much emphasis is put on bringing my students attention back to their bodies, away from the ‘chattering’ mind. This is to enable them to take this relaxing state, letting go of excess tension, into their daily lives and habits, also called Mindfulness. This is called ‘Still Mind, Flowing Body’. This way works much faster than just practicing in class or occasionally at home. It allows life to flow more gracefully, by enjoying the Tai Chi principles every day.

This study is a natural development, not a series of techniques. The aim is understanding and Mastery of Self, not technique.

T’ai Chi is an ancient Chinese system of movement. It has developed through the centuries to promote harmony in body, mind, and spirit. Through a series of calm fluid movements, one learns to harmonise with oneself. You have probably seen documentaries of China, where invariably a short clip is shown of people doing slow, graceful movements in the park. That is the T’ai Chi form. The form is a series of flowing movements linked seamlessly together.

With practice, it induces a deep state of relaxation, at the same time sharpening mental clarity, awareness of oneself and the environment. T’ai Chi literally translated means ‘Supreme Ultimate’. This refers to the attainment of the highest state of body-mind-spirit possible, with diligent practice. In Spiritual circles (not religious ones) this is known as Self Realisation or Enlightenment.

Altair previously taught the Yang family long form as taught to him by Lineage Master Chu King Hung. He did this for 20 years and enjoyed doing so.

However, when he met Lineage Master Wee Kee Jin in 2001, he realised that he’d at last found a Chinese Tai Chi Master willing to teach the ‘internal secrets’ often only taught to the very few ‘indoor students’. So he chose to start again, from scratch as it were, and learn the Yang form created by GrandMaster Chen Man Cheng and adapted by Chen’s indoor disciple, Lineage Master Huang Shen Shyan. This form which uses the 5 Relaxing Movements (see below) enables students to connect deeply to the Qi (Lifeforce) and feel it flowing. This is where the Martial Art and Healing technique that Tai Chi can be at it’s deepest levels blend. This level of teaching is not taught in the usual Chen Man Chings Yang form. There are only a handful of teachers around the world that teach this publicly. Altair feels privileged to have studied this form with Wee Kee Jin and is very happy to teach it to those willing to do the groundwork, which is intense, yet very fulfilling.

Literally translated Qigong means ‘the Way of Energy’. Originating roughly 5,000 years ago (according to historians-see below) it predates the more well known T’ai Chi by several centuries. When I visited the Xian Museum in China, housing the famous Terracotta Warriors, I saw a vase that clearly showed ‘stick figures’ doing a series of movements. I realised it was a series of Qigong exercises, although this was not mentioned on the notes about the vase. The vase was dated 5400 BC. That means that Qigong is at least 7,000 years old! Until relatively recently Qigong was a closely guarded secret. This was because it was used by warriors to develop strength, vitality and stamina. With the advent of modern warfare, guns etc, its original purpose was no longer needed. These same dynamic exercises can be used to improve health and vitality.

The Five Relaxing Movements

These are the internal exercises that enable our students to understand the Tai Chi Principles at the cellular level, not just at the mental level.
To view descriptions of these please click here.
To understand what our school seeks to teach at a much deeper level, please click here.

Zhineng Qigong

Zhineng Qigong is an astounding form of Qigong Altair studied several years ago. In his Qigong training, it had more profound effects than anything he’d previously experienced in 30 years of Tai Chi and Qigong study and practice. The 2 videos below give some indication of the power of this system. The second video gives one explanation of why it works, but that is by no means the full understanding of why Zhineng Qigong is so powerful, yet so gentle in its practice. To find out more about the creator, Professor Pang Ming, and a brief history of this system please click here

The Five Relaxing Movements

These are the internal exercises that enable our students to understand the Tai Chi Principles at the cellular level, not just at the mental level.
To view descriptions of these please click here.
To understand what our school seeks to teach at a much deeper level, please click here.

Zhineng Qigong

Zhineng Qigong is an astounding form of Qigong Altair studied several years ago. In his Qigong training, it had more profound effects than anything he’d previously experienced in 30 years of Tai Chi and Qigong study and practice. The 2 videos below give some indication of the power of this system. The second video gives one explanation of why it works, but that is by no means the full understanding of why Zhineng Qigong is so powerful, yet so gentle in its practice. To find out more about the creator, Professor Pang Ming, and a brief history of this system please click here

Zhineng Qigong

Video 1: Ultra Sound recording of the dissolving of a Bladder cancer tumour, in under 3 minutes

Video 2: Gregg Braden, Metaphysician, gives one explanation of why the tumour dissolves, and the scientific implications of this.

Both T’ai Chi and Qigong have been used for many centuries to promote health, stamina, and longevity. The Chinese used their advanced knowledge of body, mind, and spirit which created systems like Acupuncture, to design these exercises. The exercises work on many levels.

By correct use of the body, better posture hence improved blood circulation and muscle tone are achieved. By focusing the mind, discipline is strengthened, the mental ‘chatter’ is quietened and stress is thereby reduced. Awareness and perception of energies within the body are developed. All these contribute to a strengthened immune system, hence improved health.

The ‘Inner Dance’ is so named because Altair is passionate about enabling students to connect with their own Inner Dance or Spiritual Journey.

Health is not only an absence of disease. It also encompasses having a positive, ‘bright’ attitude to life; the ability to change what needs changing and to accept what cannot be changed with equanimity.

The ‘Inner Dance’ has a dual meaning. We start from the premise that we are all magnificent Dancers in the Dance of Life, whose magnificence may sometimes by hidden. By learning to shake off unnecessary negativity we move through to discover unexpected power.

The second premise is that each person is unique. Discovering our own ‘Inner Dance’ or Spiritual Way is what life is all about. Through a process of increasing self-awareness we learn to embody our aspirations and move more fully into the world.

The school was founded by Altair de Almeida in 1988, in Malvern. Since 1984 Altair has been guided by various Spiritual Masters and Avatars including the late Barry Long and Mother Meera. He is also an Acupuncturist, Biodanza and Shiatsu practitioner/ teacher.

Our central premise is that when we envelop our ‘Inner Dance’ we attain peace in ourselves and thus contribute to Peace on Earth.

To embark or deepen our ‘Inner Journey’, to re-align ourselves with our own ‘Inner Dance’. To become more fully functional Human Beings rather than Human Doings [i.e. living according to other peoples beliefs rather than our own life experience – the greatest teacher].

Using the T’ai Chi Classics – an ancient yet simple set of guidelines as a basis and the Yang form as a platform, we release our assumptions about life, ourselves and each other, and fall into the immediacy of the moment, learning to meet life as-it-is, opening the door to spontaneity and Greater Aliveness. Using the ancient T’ai Chi and Qigong exercises as the main tools Altair also uses Accelerated learning music to enable students to learn faster, making it more enjoyable.

Mystery School teachings are shared to enable those who want to deepen their contact with Life,Love,Joy and Peace to do so, without the ‘friction of living’ one would normally have to endure before these qualities normally surface.Altair also uses his knowledge of Acupuncture and Shiatsu which he has been involved in since 1982,to enhance his students understanding of their body and mind and how to rectify various presenting problems.

The Yang form
is taught in weekly classes. Students are not pressurised to learn the form in a given period as everything depends on finding the correct attitude of mind, mental and physical relaxation and acceptance of Self, and individuals vary!

The Wu Short form
as taught to Altair by Bruce Frantzis (USA) is also taught from time to time.The speciality of this form is the healing of injuries of the joints in particular, and improving health in general.

Zhineng Qigong
is taught fairly regularly in the first hour of each class. It harmonises the exchange of Qi (or Life force) between the practitioner and nature. It is simple and gentle in it’s application, yet very powerful in it’s effects, as can be seen in the videos above.

The Dance of the Five Elements
is a not-so-structured form of Tai Chi, that Altair learned from it’s creator, Chungliang Al Huang, in the 1980’s. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. In Chinese Medicine these elements encompass the 12 meridians, or energy pathways. Each element has emotions, seasons, tastes, colours, sounds etc connected to them.It is a metaphor of the how the human system is wired up. Through the movements, we learn to balance these elements. For example, the Fire element is linked with Joy, or lack of it! Through the movements we can help increase our sense of Joy, so that it permeates our life.Another element, Metal is linked with structure, like the frame of a house. If our structure is weak, our lives can be without balanced bounderies; we may allow others to regularly run rough-shod over our ideas etc, or the opposite, imposing our will on others- and all the shades in between! Again the movements can help us balance the sharp edges.

The 18 stance Tai Chi-Qigong form
(also called Shibashi) combines the strengths of Tai Chi and Qigong. It covers all the major muscles in the body and all the meridians too.It helps to move Qi or life-force faster than most forms, because each movement is repeated several times. In Chinese medicine, the blockage of Qi is considered to be the cause of dis-ease(more details under Acupuncture). Tai Chi & Qigong help to smooth the flow of Qi and therefore enhance health and wellbeing.The DVD on sale under the product tab, covers this form is detail. It is easy to follow at home, as it is presented in ‘real time’ ie each movement that is performed is followed by the player at home. Both front and side views are shown.

The Yang Family Sword and Partner Work
Sword.jpgThe Yang Family Sword is also taught. The sword is only a symbol of extending one’s energy and using it in a balanced way with external objects. It is not meant for cutting someone’s head off! It would then, for example help with scaffolding or moving any objects. Partner Work brings a new dimension to the art. Single Push Hands, Double Push Hands, and Bagua [Pa Kua] Qigong are taught. These help the student to become more sensitive and responsive to a partner’s movements. It helps to develop the sense of space and timing. With diligent practice the T’ai Chi Jin [internal force] is developed. This is where the self-defence and healing aspects unite.

The principal focus of the classes is the form. However Stationary Qigong, Moving Qigong and in more advanced classes Spontaneous (Fire) Qigong exercises are also taught. These exercises open specific energy pathways and help to clear mental and emotional blocks. In advanced classes deeper levels of the form are taught:- ‘Open/Closed’ form, Spiral Energy form and Chi form.

Ultimately the self-defence and healing aspects of the art cannot be separated. They go hand-in-hand.
To deepen this process day / weekend / fortnightly courses are offered here and abroad. Master teachers from around the world are also invited to teach at special events.

Teacher training is geared to the individual after several years of practice. The T’ai Chi process is a life-long journey always learning and opening to new dimensions and experiences, hence the name ‘Supreme Ultimate’.

Specialised Qigong and advanced classes

Stationary Qigong, Moving Qigong (see Zhineng Qigong ) and in more advanced classes Spontaneous (Fire) Qigong exercises are also taught. Fire Qigong is very rarely taught in the West. These exercises open specific energy pathways and help to clear mental and emotional blocks.

Background of Study

To read more about Altair’s extensive background of study in T’ai Chi & Qigong please click here.

For more information on Tai Chi and Qigong classes please contact Altair here. You can also find details of classes here.