Classes
clan 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 Taoist traditions. The origin of this tradition is specifically non-cultural and non-religious. It is dedicated to the development of the fundamental qualities of the human being. As such, its practices are open to everyone, regardless of culture or background.
The emphasis is placed first and foremost on committing to a daily practice, which gradually reveals the subtleties of how we function, while also building a surplus of resources and energy. This vitality provides the necessary support for our path of inquiry and evolution.
Although various philosophies may illuminate what we do, students are not asked to adopt any particular belief. Rather, they are invited to continue practicing, in order to discover for themselves — through direct, personal experience — where this path leads. Practice brings more information; more information leads to better decisions; and better decisions help us live with greater fluidity, clarity, and joy.
Our practice is approached in a balanced and centered way. It therefore takes into account the spectrum of opposites — Yin and Yang — within the human being:
the physical body (Yin)
breath and circulation (Yin and Yang)
the mind (Yang)
In order to cultivate inner balance, each of these aspects is considered equally essential. They are given the same attention in our practice. In this way, we develop universal qualities as well as capacities related to each of these aspects, opening the possibility of fully expressing our individuality and unique potential.
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 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, 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:
developing a solid attention to stay focused longer
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.
Private classes upon request (online or in Montreuil)