Ba Gua and Marriage of Heaven & Earth Retreat

wonderful opportunity to experience the profound nature of Ba Gua Zhang and The Marriage of Heaven & Earth in the beautiful setting of Tourné in Southern France.

All phenomena arise from and return to the same source. This 5 day retreat focuses on two aspects of internal energy: releasing and charging. The external forms will be Ba Gua, the taoist circle walking martial art. Participants can look forward to learning movements that very quickly give a boost of energy. We’ll be using that boost initially to detect blockages and imbalance in the body and mind. Later, having cleared, that energy boost can be used for any of life’s pursuits.

We’ll learn how to walk the circle for meditation and as aerobic exercise although as always, the emphasis will be on gently working up to 70-80% of our maximum.

We’ll also work as a group and in pairs generating ‘spatial’ energy, allowing what has been generated to radiate into our environment, be it our home or the river. These are natural practices, there is no mystique. We simply need to recover our awareness of the natural process. Finally, we see that the giving and the getting are the same.

Ba Gua Zhang means 'eight trigrams palm boxing'. It is among the most effective of all martial arts and is associated with the I Ching, the book of changes of which it is said to be the moving and bodily application. The practice will be taught essentially as meditation and healing techniques.

Because of the amount of heat and energy that Ba Gua generates, each day will begin and end with standing dissolving and the energy gates programme and spontaneous chi release to ensure thorough cleansing. In this regard, the diet on the course will be supportive of deep tissue and liver cleansing. Ba Gua is generally more energetic than tai chi and is well suited to those whose restlessness prevents them from reaching deeper states of meditation.

The health benefits are more intense than those of tai chi, but the art requires time to allow to develop gently. The course is open to all who have experience of the energy gates programme or any other form of tai chi or nei gung.

The 5 days will involve movement and stillness and it is hoped that each participant will directly perceive the twisting wind power and the gentle cooling and clearing feel of water. During the course participants will also be able to make use of the natural environment to support their practice and work.

During the 5 day retreat there will be plenty of opportunity to explore and enjoy this very special venue and surrounding countryside and also enjoy the benefits of delicious home cooked organic food.

When's the next retreat taking place?

Friday 11 – Wednesday 16 July 2008, Tourné in France.

More information about the venue

Retreat Booking

How to get to the venue

Syllabus:

1. Fu style ba gua chi gung for developing spiraling energy. [based on the
tradition of Fu Zhen Song as taught by Liang Quiang Ya]

2. Standing postures: dissolving and ba gua specific postures

3. The basic walking techniques as taught by BK Frantzis [in the tradition
of Wang Su Chin and Lieu Hung Chieh]

4. Stepping techniques

5. Circle walking for meditation and health

6. The single palm change as taught by BKF and Wang Su Chin