Further- in the realm of Asanas of Hatha Yoga, many modern yogis especially use yoga in a secular style as a form of physical exercise, and it is very useful as such. Taken out of the context of Yoking to a Universal Deity or Foundational Source, it becomes simple a way to maintain vigorous health. The problem is that it tends away from the touchpoints of meditation, Prana, and internal pathways, and becomes stretching. Stretching is good, healthy activity, but it often stops at the muscle , perhaps opening some of the muscle and tendon connection. It can become somewhat shallow in it's effect. I am not knocking it, and I think it is absolutely necessary, but to gain high levels of energy flow requires spending time in the ligaments, fascia and bone. The methods of Internal stretching, Daoyin and Martial QiGong contextualize the energy in a manner not unlike the spiritual path that originated Hatha Yoga- finding a way deeper into the body using the mind, the intention, and ultimately the Spirit to open Chakras, or Dantien, centers of energy which are Important to both Indian and Chinese mystery schools.

I have used many methodologies to activate energy and spirit in my life, I always come back to these three, Qi Gong, Martial Art, and Yoga. However, I find both Qi Gong and Yoga inside the Martial Arts. The asanas of Yoga are a wonderful method of opening up the body, and I have practiced Iyengar and Ashtanga Yoga almost as long as IMA, I always found them to be most effective when moving between poses, maintaining the inner flow of Prana/Chi/Qi rather than holding tightly to a stasis. That always led me back to Taiji and Bagua, where the muscles and joints were activated not only by stretching but by twisting the fascia, getting to the bone and root energy. So why "As Yoga" ? I feel that the concept of "Yug" the Sanskrit root of the word "Yoga" has deep meaning, including "Yoke" as in to attach, to harness. I want to use the idea of attachment, non-attachment, to the body, to the world, to the Universe, in order to fill my practice with meaning, personalize my Tao to manifest a true inner form. The word brings notions of work, effort, and joining with self and others to carry on traditions that have many common ancestors, and yet more common offspring. Namaste.

If you have landed on this page, Welcome! You may be interested in Martial Arts, QiGong, Yoga, TaiJi, BaGua or some combination thereof, if so we are on that same path. I have been studying these arts since the early 90s, and they have brought me so much that has enhanced my life- I look forward to sharing my knowledge and helping people of all levels of experience use the internal arts to unlock some of the energy they have inside themselves to heal and find the wellspring of power and energy within us all.

In the Classroom page, I am starting with some foundational writing about my philosophy of martial arts as it intersects with internal health, mobility and meditation. Have a look! I'm new to the Skool format, so any feedback or idea offering are well appreciated.