Originally Posted by
GLW
In regards to learning qi gong, I tend to advise people to find a good teacher and do it privately.
This is exactly the opposite of what I tell people to do in regards to Taijiquan or any other form of CMA.
For martial art training, group practice for beginners is best. It allows the student to get in shape, removes the pressure they might feel being the "only one" there. In regards to basics, as you do them, with many people in the class, you get a break after each technique waiting your turn...and so on.
Then I tell them, when they get beyond the basics stage, THEN do private lessons in addition to the group class.
For qi gong, however, the key is to practice. Same for meditation. Once you learn the approach in meditation, what is the purpose of a group class if you are doing it on your own? If you are truly meditating, the other people in the class disappear. You are the one that sinks into yourself and becomes empty of thought...so the group environment serves only to have a place, maybe camaraderie, on occasion, some small corrections.
For qi gong, it is similar. Once you learn the movements or postures, occasional time with the teacher for corrections is good, but group classes really serve no purpose (except that the teacher may like to do it all at one time).
For example, I can teach a person 13 Posture Taiji Qi Gong in a couple of hours. I then provide them pictures and descriptions of the postures....and they are off to practice on their own.
Of course, I could drown them in minutia that only practice will deal with anyway..but why? So, they go off and practice...then come back a bit later for review, being checked, questions...
They will develop and learn at their own pace...not mine or a classes'.
An example, in 13 Posture Taiji Qi Gong, there are 13 different postures with several movements in each posture. The movements are to be combined with breathing. Early on, I was practicing and my wife chose to join me. After about 15 minutes of her trying to do it all at my respiration rate, she almost passed out. You see, for me, at my relaxed qi gong level, I will be doing no more than 4 breaths per minute and usually it is something like 2 or 3...for 2 that is 15 seconds inhale, 15 seconds exhale. When she tried to do that and mix with MY movements that mixed with MY breathing, she had problems.
In a group class when I am doing corrections for qi gong, I do not practice. I lead people and tell them when to change to the next posture. If I practice, I can't see them. Also, when I practice, the other people disappear...so teaching or leading a class is not what I am about at that time. When leading a class, I will constantly be telling them to NOT go at the rate the others are - but at their own rate.... So, in a group class, you have many people doing basically the same thing...but all at different speeds and different points.
So, I would suggest that instead, do the private lessons for the method...go off and practice it, come back and ask questions and get correction in private instruction. You will spend less money but your practice time is totally geared at what YOU are working on and not on a group situation.