Training

Foundations of Qigong

Program Description

Foundations of Qigong is a 10-module course that starts in the fall of each year. This multi-year program focuses on developing the foundations of qigong and neigong which is the process of connecting our consciousness and our physical body. Using qigong postures, movements, and breath work, a student will waken deeper energetic centers, circulate qi, and shed patterns that no longer serve a purpose.

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Continuing Education Credits

Massage Therapists

CEUs are available for Massage Therapists.

Introduction to Qigong:: 7 CEUs
Foundations of Qigong:: 15.5 CEUs per module; 155 CEUs per year

Acupuncturists

PDAs are available for Acupuncturists as non-NCCAOM accepted PDAs.

Introduction to Qigong:: 7 PDAs
Foundations of Qigong:: 15.5 PDAs per module; 155 PDAs per year

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Eligibility and Prerequisites

Everyone is welcome.

Applicants should have a deep interest in the subject and be willing to explore their being on a deeper level. Prior to acceptance into the program students will need to have a brief conversation with Stephen Schleipfer to ensure this program is a good fit and the student will be able to successfully complete the program.

Prerequisites for this program: attend an Introduction to Qigong workshop and/or participate in four Neigong classes.

Students of Chinese medicine and licensed Chinese medicine practitioners are encouraged to apply. It would be helpful to have a medical background or have a deep interest in Chinese medicine or self-awareness before embarking upon this program.

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Expectations

Students will be required to train one hour per day and keep a training log.
Students should understand that training will be challenging physically, energetically, and emotionally.
Students should bring a light-hearted attitude for this serious training.

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Format

155-Hour Course — Days and Times

Foundations of Qigong is a 155-hour, year-long program that consists of 10 modules throughout the course of a calendar year.

Each module will be held over the course of a long weekend, once per month for 10 months (September-June). Fridays are taught online in Zoom meetings and Saturday and Sunday are taught in person:
Fridays, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturdays, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sundays, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Each module builds on the previous one, so it is required to take the modules in the given order.

Location (Saturdays and Sundays)

Fulton Community Center
68 SW Miles St
Portland, OR 97219

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Schedule of Classes

2021/2022

Module	Dates
Module 1	September 10-12, 2021
Module 2	October 1-3, 2021
Module 3	November 5-7, 2021
Module 4	December 3-5, 20
Module 5	January 7-9, 2022
Module 6	February 4-6, 2022
Module 7	March 4-6, 2022
Module 8	April 1-3, 2022
Module 9	May 6-8, 2022
Module 10	June 3-5, 2022

2022/2023

Next year will have a similar format of dates as the current year. Dates for the next year are TBD.

Module	Dates
Module 1	September 7-9, 2018
Module 2	October 5-7, 2018
Module 3	November 2-4, 2018
Module 4	November 30-December 2, 2018
Module 5	January 4-6, 2019
Module 6	February 1-3, 2019
Module 7	March 1-3, 2019
Module 8	April 5-7, 2019
Module 9	May 3-5, 2019
Module 10	June 14-16, 2019

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Fees

1^st year: $3,500 for 10 modules.

2^nd+ year students: $2,500 for 10 modules.

Reserve your place with a one-time, non-refundable, $500 deposit by August 30^th for priority.

Payment in full is due before the start of the first module. There are no discounts for missed classes.

If you need to make payment arrangements, email mary@mokuti.net with your request for payment installments. There is a non-refundable $50 admin fee due with your deposit. Payments of $1000 will be accepted Sept/Jan/Apr for first year students, and payments of $1000 will be accepted Sept/Jan for all other students.

All payments should be payable to Daoist Arts of Oregon. Accepted forms of payment: cash or check. Credit/debit cards are not accepted at this time. Bank fees apply to returned checks.

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Return Policy

If you would like to discontinue the training for any reason, please notify us at mary@mokuti.net with your request. You will be refunded a full refund minus $500 plus any training that has already taken place.

If you request a refund in the middle of a training weekend, you will not be refunded for the current training. You will be refunded all other future training for which you have paid.

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Make-up Sessions

There are no make-up sessions. Students who miss a class are encouraged to rely on their classmates to catch them up if they are to continue in the program.

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Topics

Prescription Exercises: Five Element Qigong and various Daoyin exercises.
Principles of Qigong: structure, breathing, opening of joints and tissues, opening various energetic centers and channels, and exploration of various energetic movements.
Personal Cultivation: strengthen and develop a qigong body, releasing emotional patterns, and sitting practices to stabilize energetic centers within the body.
Clinical Skills, such as protocols that address structural imbalances such as neck pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee issues, and many more. General protocols to support various body systems such as digestion, respiration, and elimination. There will be specific protocols that resolve various organ dysfunctions such as migraines, pneumonia, constipation, and many others. Explore how to apply clinical skills to emotional patterns. Includes setting up a safe clinic space for both the practitioner and client.
Sensitivity training, such as the ability to feel the energetic quality of the various tissues, organs and emotions, feeling and absorbing energetic qualities in nature, etc.
See Preview of Modules for more information

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General Preview of Modules

Year 1

Module 1

The focus of the first module is developing proper body alignments, relaxed breathing, and proper body awareness. We will begin the process of activating the lower Dan Tian, the energetic core of the body. In classical Qigong, we need an active energetic system and proper body alignments to allow the Qi to move through the body as efficiently as possible.

Topics

Kua Squats, an exercise to explore experiential understanding of body alignments
Wuji Posture, the fundamental posture that supports Dan Tian activation and teaches proper body alignment
Exploration of the San Tiao, the regulation of body, breath and mind
Basic stretching routines, with a focus on the shoulders, spine, and hips
Activating the lower Dan Tian
Theoretical framework of Qigong practice, Qi, and other essential concepts to support your training
How to set up a daily practice schedule

Throughout the first year there will be a focus on stretching and some core strengthening, as these are essential to developing a healthy Qigong body.

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Modules 2 & 5

In these modules we will train in a set of Qigong movements that systematically opens the major regions of our body, in order that Qi can move more efficiently and smoothly throughout the body. In classical Qigong one relaxes the muscles and stretches the fascia and connective tissues of the body in order to connect the arms and legs to the core and therefore allowing the Qi to move through the essential channels of the body. The first four movements of this Qigong set will be covered in Module 2 and movement 5-8 will be covered in Module 5.

Topics

Ji Ben Qigong, a classical foundational Qigong set
Continue the activation of the lower Dan Tian
Explore center of gravity
Refining body alignments
Stretching and core strengthening
Theoretical understanding of the Qigong body, channels, cosmology and Dan Tian functions

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Module 3

Any classical cultivation method focuses on the breath, because the breath is a crucial bridge between our physical body and our consciousness. During this module we will work on opening the breath. Getting the diaphragm moving in a smooth way will allow the body to relax more deeply, the mind to grow more still, and allows for calmer emotions. We will introduce some sitting practices to stabilize the lower Dan Tian.

Topics

‘Natural breathing’: releasing the diaphragm, front, sides, and back of the abdomen, lower rib cage, pelvis, and back
Diaphragm and rib cage stretches
Various sitting meditation methods
Bao Yuan (Circling the Treasure) practice
Zuo Wang ‘Dissolving’ practice
Theory of releasing, breath, different types of Qi and stages of development

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Module 4

As the body becomes more connected and unified, we begin the process of actively purging Qi patterns that no longer serve a purpose. This process may include physical and emotional releases. During this training we will focus on Daoyin instead of Qigong.

Daoyin uses simple movements and postures that stretch the fascia and connective tissues to encourage the clearing of acquired patterns.

Topics

Wu Daoyin is the main practice
Daoyin breathing
Shoulder girdle stretches
Theory of Daoyin, energetic pathogens, jin jing (tendons and fascia, etc.)
Activating the lower Dan Tian

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Module 6

There are several aspects to classical Qigong training: initially one learns the basic shapes and movements of a Qigong set, then one explores what to do with the tissues. Essentially, the tissue work cannot be externally observed. However, one stretches and moves the tissues very specifically to strengthen the body and activate certain channels.

In this module, we start the process of changing the body from the inside out, beginning with releasing excess tension from the neck and shoulders, down through the pelvis and legs. This is a challenging process, however it develops resiliency in body and mind.

Topics

Releasing and connecting shoulders to hips and feet
Refinements in body alignments
Connecting Fire and Water, Open and Closed postures
Incorporating these principles into previous Qigong sets
Theory of ‘Song’, Water & Fire, Wood Element

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Modules 7-8

By this time, we will have been working for the past 6 months on aligning the physical body and activating the energetic system. Surface tension and acquired patterns may shift and it is time to explore deeper aspects of the body.

Part of our deeper core is supported by our spine, so over the course of these two modules, we will explore the ‘Dragon Daoyins’, four walking sequences that target the spine in various ways and encourage the release of patterns held in the tissues around the spine.

Module 7 focuses on Waking Dragon and Soaring Dragon, these two sets loosen the entire spine and in particular focus on the chest and thoracic spine.

Module 8 will cover ‘Swimming Dragon’ and ‘Drunken Dragon’, which open the lower spine and deeper channels of the body.

Topics

The Four Dragons are the primary sets taught in these modules
Standing Postures to further open the energetic system
Theory: the spine and its energetic components, Fire element, Earth element

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Module 9

In this module we return back to principles similar to those covered in module 6. However, as we work with the Dragons and our spines, we can deepen the releases and refine the connection between the body and consciousness even further.

Topics

Song (releasing & dissolving) in various standing postures
Song in the various movement sequences
Theory: a deeper look at Jing (Essence), Qi (Energy), Shen (Spirit/Consciousness), Metal Element

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Module 10

In the final module for Year 1, we will refine and integrate all the knowledge you learned over the past nine modules. This is to ensure that every participant will have the necessary tools to continue evolving on their Qigong journey.

We will explore Qigong for Women, practices that specifically relate to women and how to adjust one's practice according to the lunar cycle. Additionally,we will work with our natural environment as it can have a direct influence on our energetic system.

Topics

All movement sets
Various postures
Dan Tian work
Dark Moon Qigong
Ping Heng Gong
Theory: Introduction to the energetic anatomy of women, environmental energies, Water Element

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It would be a great honor for Stephen to share this wisdom and knowledge.

If you are interested in the Foundations of Qigong Program, please contact Stephen Schleipfer at 503-892-5160 or stephen@mokuti.net.

We are looking forward to a wonderful journey with you.

Advanced Qigong

Contents

Program Description

Advanced Qigong is intended for continuing students, offering an opportunity to delve deeper into specific cultivation practices.

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Eligibility and Prerequisites

Eligibility is limited to those with continuing participation in Foundations of Qigong and/or permission from Stephen Schleipfer.

Prerequisites for this program: Completion of at least one year of Foundations of Qigong and continuing practice.

Students of Chinese medicine and licensed Chinese medicine practitioners are encouraged to apply.

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Format

Advanced Qigong is taught in five day-long, in-person modules.

Days and Times

Each module will be on a Saturday in two sessions: 7:00 am - 10:00 am and 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm, with lunch in between from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location

Fulton Community Center
68 SW Miles St
Portland, OR 97219.

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Schedule of Classes

2021/2022

Module	Dates
Module 1	September 18^th, 2021
Module 2	November 13^th, 2021
Module 3	January 15^th, 2022
Module 4	March 12^th, 2022
Module 5	May 14^th, 2022

2022/2023

Next year will have a similar format of dates as the current year. Dates for the next year are TBD.

Module	Dates
Module 1	September 7-9, 2018
Module 2	October 5-7, 2018
Module 3	November 2-4, 2018
Module 4	November 30-December 2, 2018
Module 5	January 4-6, 2019
Module 6	February 1-3, 2019
Module 7	March 1-3, 2019
Module 8	April 5-7, 2019
Module 9	May 3-5, 2019
Module 10	June 14-16, 2019

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Fees

$200 per module.

All payments should be payable to Daoist Arts of Oregon. Accepted forms of payment: cash or check. Credit/debit cards are not accepted at this time. Bank fees apply to returned checks.

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Make-up Sessions

There are no make-up sessions. Students who miss a class are encouraged to rely on their classmates to catch them up if they are to continue in the program.

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If you are interested in the Advanced Qigong Program, please contact Stephen Schleipfer at 503-892-5160 or stephen@mokuti.net.

Open Qigong for Health

Format

A 75-minute practice space for patients and students of all levels. No class size specified, all are welcome.

Fees

Free to try for the first time, $15 per class after that.

Free to patients.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

This class is open to all ages and all levels of qigong mastery.

Topics

Explore healthy breathing methods
Discover healthy structural alignments of the body
Release deep tensions of the body
Stretch connective tissue to open joints
Circulate qi (vital energy)

Program Description

This is an informal class where you can practice your qigong lessons and prescriptions. There will be instruction and guided meditation. You may practice, ask questions, get perspective and make adjustments to your personal qigong training.

Neigong

Format

A weekly 2-hour class for students of all levels.

Fees

$100 per 4 classes.

Medical Qigong students receive 50% off of all classes.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

This class is open to all ages and all levels of qigong mastery.

Topics

Discover principles of movement and structural alignments of the body
Explore practices to activate the energetic body
Open energetic pathways in the body
Dissolve physical, energetic, and emotional blockages
Deepen the connection between body and spirit

Program Description

Neigong focuses on the greater internal components that make up an effective Qigong practice, including:

Micro-details of alignments of your structure
Various breathing methods
How to dissolve blockages and tension patterns
How to lengthen the tissues of the body to release stress and accumulated stagnation

Private Lessons

Format

One-on-one, personalized training.

Fees

$140/hour | $1000/day

Eligibility and Prerequisites

None.

Topics

See program description

Program Description

If you have personal goals that need special attention, private training may be for you.

A private lesson is one-on-one training that is tailored to your specific needs. Stephen will talk to you about your goals and objectives and plan with you appropriate amounts of training that fit into your schedule.