There are various ways you can choose to from to start making a change in your life. Each of the classes work with the mind, body, breath and energy in different ways. Qigong is a very gentle, yet powerful way for overcoming injuries, pain and illness and giving more energy to do more things. Qigong is excellent for those who like to practice something very simple, that will give measurable results, right away. Qigong can be done sitting, lying down or standing up. It helps generate a smooth flow of energy around the body, releases held tension and wakes up the your own healing system. It can also be used as a meditation and increase energy levels, amongst many other benefits.

There is a lot of research out there that positively promotes the effectiveness of meditation. From creating inner peace, to increasing Dopamine levels, to improving resilience, mental focus and decisiveness. Meditation is simple to do, easy to learn and can be applied to so many situation in your life. You can do it sitting, laying, standing or on a chair or walking. In fact, once you have grasped some of the simple principles and methods of meditation, you can use it in everything you do for enhanced results.

My Kung Fu brother in Scotland, Mark Appleford, gave me a nice description of the difference between a fighting sport, a fighting system and a martial art. All the systems involve the martial side, which is learn how to defend yourself. Seems obvious that you should learn how NOT to get hurt as a priority!

A fighting sport, like MMA looks to increasing your skills to win a match, competition or tournament. It uses fighting techniques from martial arts. It does not focus on your wellbeing or the wellbeing of others, but is an excellent fighting system that has produced many talented fighters.

A fighting system, like Krav Maga, teaches you the most effective way of putting another person down (knocking them out or killing them). It also does not focus on your wellbeing or the wellbeing of others. It has been successfully used in military training.

A martial art, such as Shaolin Kung Fu or Taijiquan, is a complete system of physical, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual wellbeing and growth. As a martial art it teaches you how to defend yourself and defeat an opponent. It also gives you strategies you can apply to your daily life. It works on improving not just your flexibility and strength, but also your inner resilience and capacity to deal with life more positively. It was the system trained not just by the monks, but by the generals and Emperor of China. It teaches you how to cultivate your mind, body, energy and spirit.

It is simple a truly wonderful art that has changed my life and that of thousands of others.

People who want more than just fighting choose the Shaolin Arts.

The exercises in Zen yoga are designed to release held tensions (that can lead to illness, blockages, stress and pain), open and unblock the body in preparation for sitting meditation. They help develop a deeper awareness of the body, and as an opportunity to practice “becoming one” with what’s happening in the moment.

On an everyday level the practice helps you relax at the physical, mental and emotional levels, releasing the things that get in the way of good health and happiness. In addition, the practice of Zen yoga helps develop balance, flexibility, strength, resilience and ease of movement.

Zen yoga provides you with an opportunity to become aware of, investigate and realize where you hold tensions and habitual patterns that get in the way of smooth flow.