Taoist Nutrition

If you want to live, you must eat wisely. But eating wisely may not prevent you from becoming sick. Something is missing from the grocery-bought, or common, regular foods. Yet if these inadequate, or “weak” foods can support our life, then “strong” foods must be able to strengthen and protect life. This kind of reasoning has driven Taoists to investigate herbs.

Herbs are plants, animals, and minerals that are ingested or applied externally to the human body to prevent and heal physical illnesses by adjusting the flow of vital energy and supplying the better materials for regeneration of body cells or tissues.

Herbs are really our forgotten foods. Because of their often disagreeable taste or smell and our lack of knowledge concerning their utilization, our forefathers eliminated them as food and later generations ignored them.

How Do Herbs Work?

Herbs, like regular foods, work by adjusting the flow of vital energy in the entire body of the human being. This is accomplished by increasing the energy where it is too low and decreasing it where it is too high. When human beings absorb the properties of the herbs, they also absorb the vitality of the herbs.

One very important principle of Herbology is that herbs must be always used in a combination or recipe. “There is not one thing that is absolute”

Every individual is unique so there is no single solution to a particular symptom which will work with everyone. With the Personal Health Survey we will determinate your specific needs through a detailed assessment of your current physical, emotional and mental health.

In China’s golden age, herbs were used as the primary method of preventing and healing all diseases. Herbs of all kinds were used to heal the vital organs and tissues of the body and preventing illnesses of all kinds. Pristine health was available for all people of this ancient society. Over the centuries the ancient, and always secret, methods of how to combine and use the herbs were lost. After 30 years of painstaking research of secret family manuscripts, Dr. Stephen T. Chang has reestablished this ancient knowledge. It is once again available to benefit the increasing number of those concerned with non-chemical prevention and healing. Technological advances allow that we may extract even greater purity and nutritional value. These fine powders possess greater capability for immediate absorption awaken your chi energy

Introduction to Taoism

What is the Taoism?

Taoism is a spiritual system developed in ancient China, probably dating back to shamanistic practices of six thousand years ago. The goal of Taoism is difficult to put into words and ultimately remains a mystery. However, it is associated with unity, wholeness, and being fully present and alive in the moment. The practices have been refined over thousands of years to achieve physical, emotional, and spiritual harmony, regaining our natural state of wisdom and vitality.
Healing Tao System

The Tao system is a total Body-Mind-Spiritual practice. Even though it may look complicated, it is pretty simple and easy if you learn and practice it step-by-step. It is more important to practice and to enjoy the practice than to constantly try to learn more and more.
The Practice of Being Present

A strong foundation in being present and alive in the moment will benefit our practice. To be fully present, one can release thoughts and emotions of the past and the future. Western psychology often takes the position that focusing on and understanding the past can lead us to a better future. Instead Taoists empty themselves of these concerns and perspectives. They believe that the past and the future serve only to distract oneself, from the ultimate goal – residing in the Tao where the greatest energy and peace is possible. Release judgment! Addressed in all coursework
Taoist Meditation

Transform Stress into Vitality
Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds

Learn simple exercises and meditations that can counteract the effects of stress in our daily life. These energy transforming exercises are simple and only take 20 minutes a day to practice, yet they have powerful and long-lasting effects. This class includes the Inner Smile, the Six Healing Sounds, Nei-Kung, and breathing exercises. This class is an excellent introduction to the many aspects of the Healing Tao, and can also be used as an advanced practice.
Microcosmic Orbit Meditation

Opening the Microcosmic Orbit is the ancient foundation for healing, martial arts, and the practice of being present. This meditation allows energy from the navel center to flow up the spine, to the head, and returning down through the chest back to its origin. Energy circulates naturally through this orbit unifying the physical, emotional, and spiritual centers. Being present and releasing all resistance to this natural flow, achieves rejuvenation, longevity, and healing.
Fusion of the Five Elements I

In this practice of Taoist Internal Alchemy, you will learn to neutralize the negative emotions of worry, sadness, arrogance, anger and fear back into pure energy by anchoring the source of the emotions in the bodily organs, and establishing a balance through the Five Elements control cycle. The purified energy is crystallized into a radiant energy pearl within the inner cauldron. This pearl is then circulated through the Microcosmic Orbit, attracting to it the external Chi of the Three Forces: Heaven, Earth, and Cosmic Force. The formation and circulation of the pearl plays a pivotal role in the nourishment of the soul or energy body. Pre-requisite: Microcosmic Orbit Meditation.
Fusion of the Five Elements II

Fusion II practice uses the crystallized energy of the pearl to nourish the positive emotions or virtues of kindness, joy, fairness, courage, gentleness and compassion as a natural expression of inner balance. This virtue energy is then condensed into the pearl and used to open the three Thrusting Channels in the core of the body. In addition, the pearl is directed to open the Belt Channels which encircle and protect the nine major energy centers of the body. Pre-requisite: Microcosmic Orbit Meditation, Fusion I
Fusion of the Five Elements III

The third level of Fusion of the Five Elements completes the cleansing and opening of the eight extraordinary vessels, activating the Yin and Yang Bridge and Regulator Channels. This makes the entire body extremely permeable to the circulation of vital energy. Additional practices of circulating energy for protection and sealing of the aura are also included, as well as a condensed and concise daily practice incorporating all three levels of the Fusion practice. Pre-requisite: Fusion II
Chi Kung/Nei Kung – Internal Taoist Yoga

Iron Shirt Chi Kung I

Powerful internal and external Chi Kung practices for use in martial arts, healing, and meditation. Iron Shirt develops a flexible, “steel-like” body, strengthening the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These standing and moving Chi Kung postures create extraordinary health, strength, and vitality.
Iron Shirt Chi Kung II: Changing the Tendons

In this second level of Iron Shirt Chi Kung, the standing and moving postures from the Iron Shirt I become more refined. When the body is more unified and connected, it can become a single unit of movement. This practice develops true internal strength. By reestablishing this connectedness within the body, we become more natural and intrinsically powerful. This ability has been long coveted and sought after by martial artists and is also an essential component in healing and transmitting life-force. Pre-requisite: Iron Shirt I
Iron Shirt Chi Kung III: Bone Marrow Nei Kung

In the third level of Iron Shirt, you will learn how to cleanse and grow the bone marrow, regenerate sexual hormones and store them in the connective tissue, tendons, and marrow, as well as how to direct your internal power to the higher energy centers. This level of Iron Shirt works directly on your organs, bones, and tendons to strengthen your entire system beyond its ordinary capacity. An extremely efficient method of vibrating the internal organs enables you to shake toxic deposits out of the inner structure of each organ by enhancing Chi circulation. This once highly secret method of advanced Iron Shirt, also known as the Golden Bell System, draws the energy produced in the reproductive system into the higher energy centers to carry out advanced Taoist practices. Iron Shirt Chi Kung is one of the five essential branches of Taoist Esoteric practice.
Golden Elixir Chi Kung

A beautiful and graceful Chi Kung form consisting of eleven postures designed to gather the subtle energies of the golden elixir for healing and spiritual transformation.
Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chi Kung: Thirteen Movement form

This Tai Chi form consists of thirteen movements or postures. This practice develops strength, continuity, and the ability to move in all directions. The main emphasis is on structure, alignment, and the ability to move as one unit. Tai Chi is the art of effortless power and is the moving meditation. The beginner’s class emphasizes posture, good alignment, correct movement, and internal energy structure. The benefits include enhanced physical health, strength, and longevity.
Tai Chi Chi Kung II

This form is similar to Tai Chi-Chi Kung I, but focuses on the ability to move quickly while staying connected to our intrinsic energy. These circular movements are ideal for developing strength, rooted ness, and the ability to move as one unit. This course goes deeper into martial arts applications for self defense.
Tai Chi Chaun (24 posture Mainland China Form)

This is a beautifully constructed form which has become a standard form to learn the principals of the Yang Style Tai-Chi.
Taoist Sexology

Taoist Secrets of Love
Healing Love Through the Tao

Sexuality is an integral part of the Taoist spiritual practice. The more we understand about the Tao of Sexology, the healthier the body and the emotions will be. The transformation of sexual energy into healing will help relationships by evolving them, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Learning these secrets of managing male and female sexual energy can improve sexual performance and relieve tension. Also the practices can help improve menstrual, menopausal, hormonal and prostate conditions and can be practiced alone or with a partner.
Chi Nei Tsang – Hands on Healing

Healing Self-Massage

Through simple yet powerful massage techniques, we utilize our energy to strengthen the body and its internal connections. Combining massage with the energy of one’s awareness helps dissolve resistance which contributes to the aging process, causing stress and disease. This practice strengthens the internal organs and improves our senses and awareness.
Chi Nei Tsang I

A powerful hands-on healing technique that utilizes the five major systems of the body: vascular, lymphatic, nervous, muscular, and chi. These systems are connected to the abdominal center, where unreleased stress and tension may cause obstructions. Through simple manipulations of the abdominal area, we can release physical, emotional, and mental resistance that can cause illness. Learn Five Element body diagnosis and how to transmit healing energy to others without depleting one’s energy. This powerful practice is long-lasting and can be used for self-healing.
Chi Nei Tsang II

Chi Nei Tsang II works primarily with the opening and releasing of trapped energy within the body. These trapped energies can weaken the nervous system and the internal organs, and disturb emotional energy. Releasing this resistance within the body can help reestablish the mind’s clarity and our natural state of good health. The body regains its equilibrium and intrinsic strength tao for healing.

Taoist Healing

The ancient Taoist, by observing and contemplating the working of the universe, devised a theory to explain the balance of the complementary and antagonistic units of which it is composed. The characteristics and relationships of these dynamic units are explained in the Theory of the Five Elements.

There are two cycles that illustrate the interaction between these elements: the cycle of generation, in which each element generates or produces the succeeding element, and the cycle of destruction, in which each element destroys or absorbs the succeeding element.

Because the universe maintains balance through the interplay of the Five Elements, our bodies, a microcosm of the universe, are thought to achieve mental and physical harmony in the same way. Energy flows through the body via the meridians and their respective organs and bowels in well-defined cycles. The cycles depicting the flow of the energy within the body mirror the two cycles that depict the interaction between the five elements in the following manner:
Fire – Heart
Small intestine
triple heater
(endocrine glands)
Heart Constrictor
(blood vessels)

Metal – Lungs
Large intestine
Skin
Water – Kidneys
Bladder
Bones
Earth – Spleen-pancreas
Stomach
Muscle Wood – Liver
Gallbladder
Nerves

If the energy within an organ is not balanced, that organ, rather than being able to effectively support the organ succeeding it on the meridian circuit, wil adversely affect, or will be adversely affected by, another organ.

In showing that the cyclic interaction between the organs and bowels is identical to the interaction between the elements, the Taoist not only provided a means by which the sayings, “That which is above is the same as that which is below” and “The microcosm reflects the macrocosm”, can be realized and understood, but they also provide a means whereby the interaction of energy between the organs and bowels can be accepted as fact in that the basis for the interaction is founded upon the very same logic whereby the five elements is instincitvely realized to be true.