Classes

Taoism is a practice of self-cultivation that invites us to explore the way we function as well as our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. There are many branches of Taoism, and although the Da Xuan Taoist tradition shares common origins with other religious or monastic Taoist traditions, this tradition is specifically non-cultural and non-religious. We are concerned with the development of the qualities of the human being and as such our practices are open to all, whatever their culture or background.

In the Da Xuan school, we are primarily interested in engaging in daily practice, which will gradually reveal the details of how we function while building up an excess of resources and energy that will enable us to have the vitality we need through our pursuit. Although there are various philosophies covering what we do, students are not asked to adopt any particular beliefs, but rather to continue practising in order to discover where that leads us - through direct, personal experience. Practice brings more information, more information leads to better decisions, which help us live our lives with more fluidity and joy.

We approach our practice in a balanced and centred way, and therefore we need to take into account the spectrum of opposites (Yin and Yang) in the human being:

  • the physical body (Yin)

  • the breath/circulation (Yin+Yang)

  • the mind (Yang)

In order to find balance within ourselves, we place equal importance on each of these aspects, giving them equal attention in our practice. We develop universal qualities, as well as abilities linked to each of these aspects, allowing us to discover the possibility of fully expressing our own individuality.

"If you do it, it works"

- Master WTX

Bodywork and Qi Gong

The aim is to develop strength by training the weak points in our structure, improving alignment and coordination, and helping unwanted tensions to relax.

Bodywork, followed by Qi Gong, helps to develop the qualities of the human being. These qualities are relaxation, grounding and union. They correspond to both our physical and mental aspects.

A distinction is made between external work on the body and internal work based on the breath. The aim is to generate more vitality and power, when the body is prepared, strengthened and freed of its blockages.

We train these qualities with exercises ranging from extremely simple to complex forms of the internal martial arts:

  • Taiji Quan

  • Xinyi Quan

  • Bagua Zhang

  • Ziran Men (natural boxing)

Working the body is one of the three treasures of Taoist training. It enables us to develop a stable and relaxed Yin - a manifested structure - which is the anchor of the Yang. The quality of our Yin reflects the quality of our Yang and vice versa.

Dao Yin

Dao Yin, or Taoist yoga, is our specialty here at Da Xuan Montreuil. It is a very ancient strengthening practice based on standing, sitting and lying postures. Practising it helps to develop a stable alignment of the spine, coupled with relaxation and bodily flexibility.

It is a highly physical practice at first, and benefits can be seen quickly with daily practice. Backpain is a widespread problem today and is often linked to muscular weakness. By strengthening the postural muscles, micro-tensions and even the most debilitating chronic pain can disappear. Furthermore, true inner silence cannot be experienced if there are still tensions linked to bodily weakness.

We use our alignment to receive the energy of the world through the Chong Mai, the extraordinary vessel of the body's Central Axis.

Breathing & emotional work

Breathing practices enable us to increase our respiratory capacity for greater vitality, improved circulation, dissolving stagnations and developing a genuine exchange with the environment.

The breath, and the development of vitality, is one of the three treasures of Taoist training and self-knowledge. It is the inner energy that enables us to function, and to accomplish what we wish in our activities and in our lives.

Quintessentially, breathwork is what enables us to take in new energy, and to let go of superfluous tensions that burden us. The techniques taught in this class enable us to develop abundant, powerful Qi that circulates without obstruction. This is what makes good physical and emotional health possible.

In fact, it is thanks to the breath that we can gain a deeper understanding of our emotions, and begin the real work of acceptance so that we can live our daily lives better, as well as overcome our past traumas. In Chinese medicine, it is said that unresolved emotions are the primary cause of internal illness.

Mind practices

We train our mind to focus and help it to relax. In this way, we can better understand how it works and how it plays tricks on us.

Through structured work and very precise techniques, taught and practised within the Da Xuan Tradition for 1500 years, we will develop a better understanding of our mind, its mechanisms and its blockages, in order to overcome them.

This in-depth knowledge is based on a twofold approach:

  1. developing a solid attention to stay focused longer

  2. cultivating a capacity for openness, observation and listening, to ourselves and to others.

By working separately on the capacity of our attention to focus and to open up, we will discover the union of the two in Conscious Awareness, Presence. It is only through this conscious and structured work on our mind that we will clarify the way we perceive the world, and therefore transform the way we live our lives.

Working the mind is one of the three treasures of Taoist self-cultivation.

Group classes in Montreuil:

  • Monday 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday 12:15 p.m.- 1:45 p.m.

  • Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Only Dao Yin)

Private classes upon request (online or in Montreuil)