AboutDale Napier Expertise Tai chi chuan (taijiquan), chi kung (qigong), internal alchemy (nei gong).
Experience Practicing tai chi since 1977, teaching since 1998; chi kung and internal alchemy, training since 1995, teaching since 1998.
Organizations Vice President of American Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan Association.
Publications Kung Fu Magazine, Journal of American Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan Association
Education/Credentials Primary teachers: Certification by George Ling Hu (Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan, taught by Wang Yen-nien). Jampa Mackenzie Stewart (chi kung, internal alchemy, senior instructor for Mantak Chia). Other teachers with less exposure: Jeff Bolt (Northern Shaolin Kung Fu), Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming (Chi Kung), Master Wang Yen-nien (internal alchemy), Raul Shelton (Shorin-Ryu karate), Dr. Glenn Morris (Bujinkan ninjutsu and budo). Lesser training in judo and taekwondo.
Awards and Honors Gold and silver medals in various tai chi competitions (forms, pushing hands).
Past/Present Clients Confidential, but taught at the University of Houston (2002-2004) as well as many other venues.
what is the difference between tai chi, qi kong and nei kong.
is yoga better than all of these or do these cater to what yoga doesn't?
and would you say that pilates is more rapid alternative to yoga?
Answer Tai chi (taijiquan), qigong, and neigong are all closely related, but different. They are all rooted in Taoism. Neigong involves no external movement, only sitting (or standing) and working internally in what I call "active meditation", which is quite different from Zen meditation, which seeks to still the mind. Neigong involves circulating your qi (chi) purely through mental efforts, which is surprisingly easy to learn to do. It has some deep spiritual paths available to it, and you can learn to do things so astonishing that it is a waste of time to describe them to non-practitioners: they won't understand the description, and they won't believe you.
Qigong (chi kung) is the same thing, only it does use external movements, quite simple ones, and qualifies as gentle exercise. It, too, involves using the mind to direct the flow of qi in the body to make it cleaner, purer, stronger, and well balanced. There are thousands of qigong exercises, many with medical aspects aimed at certain organs and certain emotions.
Taiji is a kind of qigong exercise, but has its roots in martial arts, so that is an added aspect. It is an effective fighting art for those who learn it that way. Many people practice it only for health, as it is particularly good for balance, breath, and repairing leg or foot injuries, and to maintain organ health. One student of mine has lessened her migraines through practicing taiji; her teenage son has learned to sleep easier with the use of qigong. It is excellent for calming, relaxing, and focusing.
Yoga is similar to qigong, but the exercises focus more on breathing and stretching; the Indians refer to qi as prana, and no matter what you call it, it does not circulate as easily when the body is stretched or folded to its limits. Yoga is largely the practice of static postures, while taiji is very dynamic. It will not help your balance or legs in the way that taiji will, but it can help your breath, flexibility and muscle tone. The yogis will tell you that organ health is involved, but I think taiji and qigong are more effective for that purpose.
I do not see pilates as an alternative to yoga, because pilates is dynamic and yoga is static. A lot of people who do one like to do both, because they are complementary, not overlapping. If you do taiji you need neither, but which you prefer depends on personal taste, and how much you like the teacher/class.
