This leads to the question as to whether Qi is objectively real or not. In one sense it doesn't matter. Daoist philosophy, or at least its practical is largely predicated on the existence of Qi. Indeed, beyond Qi Gong and Tai Ji a plethora of practical applications for Qi science (in the traditional Chinese sense of science), from acupuncture and acupressure, to TCM and moxibustion, to Feng Shui, of course the Chinese martial arts, and certain other Dao-based practices I'll merely allude to here. I'm quite open to the idea that there might be forces that, because they are metaphysical, either are hard to measure cannot be measured using Scientific Method, nor falsified by Popperian falsifiability (the measure generally used in the West to distinguish science from pseudo-science). Likewise, I'm sure that there are vital (in both senses) aspects to human existence that get crowded out by the noise and hubbub of Modernity and all that entails so that most people most of the time living a Modern life no longer experience them, so can no longer believe in them (there are some near equivalents of Qi in Greaco-Roman, and Medieval European and Islamic thought, although not the meticulous systematisation we see with Daoism). But even if, at the end of the day Qi were no more than a metaphor for the sum total of the benefits of enhanced neuroplasticisy, better hormonal balance, better exercised and lubricated joints, a stronger skeletomuscular system, a more efficient gut, optimised breathing, and a calmer psyche, so what? It works. At least that's been my experience. Thinking of the tale of the blind philosophers trying to describe an elephant by touching its parts: I suspect that Qi is the elephant, and better circulation, enhanced neuroplasticity, optimised breathing, etc are the ears, tail, trunk, etc. So I'm perfectly happy to park the question of the objective existence of Qi as an interesting but not that impactful philosophical question. The point is that subjectively, I feel Qi.

Right, so Day 6 built well on Day 5, which in turn built well on Day 4. I think over the coming weeks I'm going to repeat those in sequence a few times as the transition from QJ to TC was very skilfully delivered by Sonny, as I said above with a powerful emphasis on the fundamentals. The timings of the Grounding Breaths and Post were very well done, and I could really feel the benefit of them. The outro with shaking and tapping was great, and my body felt very good in the last Post. In the middle of practicing, I was reminded of motorcycle sport (I still ride 50 years after I started, but nowadays just for fun). In Road Racing you are in a racing crouch, in MX and Enduro you generally stand with your body a bit like Horse, or actually a combination of Horse and Post, in fact it was Sonny mentioning "when you're riding a horse" that reminded me of it. A motorcycle defies gravity by the gyroscopic force of the rotating wheels, you steer it by shifting your body weight: all skilled riders know that this is best done from The Centre, in Tai Chi the Yao; this really is the difference between a skilled rider and someone who just messes about on motorcycles. In the slowest competitive sport, Trials, speed is not important as it is scored on points (putting a foot down is a minus point, two feet down two minus points, falling off is three), forward progress is often sub-walking pace, so there is minimal gyroscopic help from the wheels and control of the hands, arms, feet and legs from The Centre (Yao) is literally everything. Even Road Racers who go well over 200 mph on track these days often practice Trials to practice balance, while in Road Racing your butt becomes almost a sensory organ sensing lean angle of the bike relative to body angles (often asymmetric as you tend to spread yourself all over a race bike with weight and limbs positioned relative to lean. Pardon my digression, but that magic phrase "when you're riding a horse" opened up a whole heap of connections between sports not often considered connected! (I have ridden actual flesh and blood horses before, but generally my experiences has been on the steel variety (these days actually lightweight alloy, carbon fibre, and plastic)! Aged 66 I've not ridden competitively for 35 years, and in the course of that I sustained some serious joint and long bone injuries that have come back to haunt me in senior age as osteoarthritis! My practice here is massively helping that! Helping beyond my best expectations, actually.

So yeah, I've completed the 7 Day Challenge, and have been (along with other practice), re-doing Days 3-6, as I think they seem to develop very core, fundamental practices. Still most of my daily practice is Qi Gong, and some basic centre and four directions Tai Chi work. I'd love to jump straight into full sets of forms, but I'm starting to appreciate how poorly Tai Chi is often taught, as it tends to skip, minimise, or even completely ignore the fundamentals. Rooted Alchemy is a refreshing change in that regard. I've found the 43 minute Beginners Guide very useful, and it is easier to repeat regularly once one's done the Challenge than simply repeating days, and it covers much of the same ground. So my plan for the next month or two is: 1) Continue with a largely QG based practice, tapering to more of a balance with TC; 2) To start to incorporate TC walking, I tried it very early on but found it hard to do, but I now realise that beforehand one has to prepare the body, especially weakened legs, with lots of QG, and get the TC fundamentals internalised (still a work in progress); 3) Begin to play with say four full body TC forms, and gradually expand my repertoire (if that's the right word!); All that said and I must emphasise how the health, wellbeing, focus, and peace of mind benefits of my practice so far have massively exceeded my expectations! Any advice on which videos are best to watch in the light of intentions 1-3 above in what order very much appreciated!

Can you ship to UK?

@Kirby Mannon 🕉️⛩️☯️