YiJin Jing and meditation
17, 18 and 19 October, Crete

YiJin Jing

The Yijin Jing is, like the Baduanjin, the Eight Brocade Exercises, and the Liu Zi Jue, the Six Healing Sounds, a traditional qigong method. As with every qigong method, the emphasis in the Yijin Jing is on harmonizing the posture, breathing and mind. According to legend the Yijin Jing was created by Bodhidharma (Da Mo) in the 19th year of the Northern Wei dynasty.  The daoyin, movement exercises, were  practiced in Chinese Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual development.

Yijin Jing, ‘the classical method for changing muscles and tendons’ or ‘the classical method for transforming tendons’, consists of nine daoyin. The exercises activate the lower dantian, a life energy-producing centre in the lower abdomen. By allowing the body’s centre of gravity to coincide with the lower dantian, relaxing the body and expanding the body structure, the qi, or life force, in the lower dantian increases. The qi then becomes a tangible force that can be followed and guided throughout the body. Through movement and intention, the awakened qi is motivated to move to the extremities. Disease-causing factors carried along with the qi are thus expelled from the body.

Yijin Jing daoyin strengthen the muscles and tendons, increase the flexibility of the body, correct the spine, calm the mind and increase mental force; the ability to express qi through intention.
The character of Yijin Jing daoyin varies greatly. Some are performed very gently and others very fiercely. In some daoyin the qi is dispersed while in others it is formed into a concentrated force.

Meditation

Meditation is part of qigong. Within qigong, meditation methods from different traditions are practiced, such as Chan, Tiantai, Tibetan Buddhism and Taoism.
The sitting meditation posture is upright and relaxed. Through repeated practice, the breathing becomes deeper, longer and quieter and the mind becomes calmer. The qi develops into a force, circulates freely in the body and purifies it.
Once this foundation has been laid, the practice focuses on balancing mental relaxation and alertness at increasingly deeper levels. This is the combination of Zhi (stopping) and Guan (looking). Gradually, the qi becomes an increasingly refined force, purifying the body in ever more subtle way while perception becomes clearer and clearer. By allowing the empty mind and qi to remain together, latent functions can develop.

Ruud Raaijmakers

Ruud Raaijmakers has been practicing taiji and qigong for 45 years. For about twenty years, he was a student of Dr Shen Hongxun and his daughter Shen Jin. Ruud learned various taiji forms, qigong methods and buqi, a treatment method that is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In his practice, Ruud focuses primarily on developing external qi and diagnostic skills for treatment purposes.

dates: 17, 18 and 19 October
location: Ammoudara 68 GR-72100 Agios Nikolaos, Crete
time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
workshop fee: € 150,-
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